Pain, Depression, and Reflux

Troy Said:

Is this a sign of mental illness or depression?

We Answered:

I think it's normal. A lot of people do it.

Hell, I do it. I do it a lot. But most of the time I know deep down that things really won't be fine.. or that things really will work out.

It's just your way of trying to make yourself feel better temporarily.

Steve Said:

How do you overcome a mental block/writer's block and is this a sign of depression?

We Answered:

The relationship between writer's block and depression is a complex one. Lethargy and apathy are among the typical symptoms of depression; so if you're having trouble motivating yourself to write, it may be that your writer's block is just a product of a deeper problem for which you should seek help. Depressed people often suffer from a lack of confidence and low self-esteem, which can obviously make creativity pretty difficult. If you don't like yourself very much, then you're unlikely to have much faith in your writing.

Paradoxically, many distinguished writers and artists have been chronic sufferers from depression. The poet Sylvia Plath, who made great art from anguish so acute that it eventually drove her to suicide, is one extreme example illustrating the way that depression can actually spark creativity.

One Researcher admits:

I find the best stimulation for being able to write is severe depression. Both quality and quantity are easy when in the slough of despond.
For some people, writing is a means of releasing emotional pain, and thus finding relief. A poetic Researcher explains the process like this:

When I write poetry it externalises the emotion. I quite literally cannot feel the emotion again, and I can only touch it by re-reading the poem.

When a poem wants to be written, it bangs on the inside of my skull, demanding to be let out. I was in a relationship last year, and was very aware of the physical aspects of it. I wanted to write a poem, but it just would not let itself be written.

It was not until several months after the relationship was over that I realised that the physical and the emotional were metaphors for each other. Duh! When I did eventually write the poem, it took me seven minutes flat!

Feed your Head

In their classic 1960s hippy anthem 'White Rabbit', Jefferson Airplane advised, 'Remember what the dormouse said/Feed your head'. This was widely interpreted as a call to ingest the kind of illegal chemicals that might well leave you thinking that you'd been getting sound advice from a dormouse - a course of action that a responsible Guide like this one could not possibly advocate.

Nevertheless, there is much to be said for the idea of 'feeding your head'. The right nutrition is necessary for creative health as well as physical health, as this Researcher points out:

Another possibility, perhaps also related to certain types of lethargy and depression, is proper and enhanced nutrition. Certain supplements, such as vitamin B-12 and phenylalanine, and other 'brain foods,' can stimulate creativity quite remarkably.

Some recommend the herbal extract, ginkgo biloba, as an all round 'brain enhancer'. Also, the technique known as 'inversion therapy,' can be useful. This is commonly called, 'doing a headstand'! Basically, it all boils down to what the dormouse said!

However, the same Researcher points out that even the pills you buy from a health food shop can be unhealthy if you overdo it:

Some individuals have pre-existing medical conditions or allergies and may exhibit undesirable side effects from over-enthusiastic dosages of some vitamins - or even herbal teas.

Avoiding the wrong foods and drinks can be just as important as getting the right ones, as this Researcher says:

Another frequent cause of lethargy is milk products. Try cutting them out for a couple of weeks and see if things improve.

Vitamin C is good, too - it's an antioxidant. Echinacea is also good, but shouldn't be taken for long periods, it's more of a short term solution.

And getting a regular quality and quantity of sleep helps. Lots of people suffer from progressive sleep deficiency - it's our lifestyles.

When it comes to dietary supplements, could it be that the traditional British remedy is best?

Have a cup of tea. That is the solution to all problems, especially writer's block.

Kenneth Said:

If someone has a fear of death or someone dying is this a mental condition or a sign of depression?

We Answered:

anxiety disorder
Mike RN

Ronald Said:

Depression?

We Answered:

I have suffered from depression for over 10 years, and I have family members and friends that also suffer from it. I know that my brother had lots of trouble sleeping at night and staying awake during the day. I lost interest in my favorite things to do and hanging out with friends, and I gained weight. My friend lost weight. My friend also stopped caring what she looked like, and quit taking care of herself (like not showering, not bothering with makeup or brushing/fixing hair--esp. since she used to). My mom even told me that I stopped making eye contact with people. Some talk of suicide, or topics like they wish they weren't alive, or the world wouldn't care if they were gone. I guess, overall, look for odd behaviors or ones that make you uneasy.

The most important thing is that you get help for her if you feel she is suffering. She may be mad at you, but chances are, you might save her life. Many people aren't even aware that they are changing and are depressed. That was true for me. I had no clue that I had changed so drastically. My mom was the one who recognized it and got me help.

If you feel you can't talk to her, talk to her parents, your parents, or perhaps a teacher or counselor. Don't feel like you have to do it yourself. They can help.

Charlie Said:

how to do i convince a loved to seek mental help?

We Answered:

I wonder if she will do for you what she will not do for herself. Maybe you can set up the appointment, then tell her you need her help. Go with her.

Priscilla Said:

Is this considered normal or does this sound like a sign of serious depression or other mental problems?

We Answered:

It takes more than a change in sleeping habits to indicate a mental disorder. Depression is a normal emotion, one 0f 6-8 basic ones you are born with. You need it in order to live as it is a signal to change course, your thinking, behavior or environment are not the best for you. Depression has become a diagnostic fad in the USA as many think they have it as a disorder whereas it is normal and comes and goes. To be a disorder it has to be extreme and/or prolonged which is called "clinical depression".

Instead of sleeping in till 11 or 12 stay awake so you can get your circadian rhythms back to normal. Go to bed at a decent hour and get up "with the chickens". "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." B. Franklin. Look up "clinical depression" and "circadian rhythms" in a Yahoo! web search.