Many of you wrote to say I suggested yoga and diet can cure depression. In no way do I believe that. Depression is a disease such as any other and requires medical attention, love and support. I suggested medical counseling in a previous column, but I wish I had been clearer in my belief that seeing a doctor for depression is essential. Here is a sampling of the feedback:
I’m writing to comment on the letter from “Blessed and Happy Woman,” who lectured about how she overcame depression with yoga, dietary changes and some other claptrap. Sounds to me like she was less depressed and more sad.
She needs to understand chemical depression is a very real and harmful thing that cannot be overcome by eating broccoli and offering platitudes about how amazing you are in the mirror every morning. In fact, treatment for actual major depressive disorder has about a 65% effective rate, and the remaining 35% just suffer through life until their depression kills them by suicide or disease brought on by the stress and anxiety of depression.
Please inform your readers that to implement the “cures” that Blessed and Happy Woman suggested for people actually suffering from depression will end in misery and disaster.
I suggest “Blessed and Happy Woman” study depression and its effects on individuals and families, and perhaps turn her smug condescension into learning how to shut up and listen and understand the perspectives of other people. It’s not all about her.
“Blessed and Happy Woman” was a bit off. Prayer and diet cannot “cure depression.” You mentioned the counsel of a doctor, but I want to stress a doctor is absolutely necessary when dealing with mental health issues.
People still have such a fear of mental illness, but it is no different than a physical illness. People have no fear disclosing they have asthma and need medication for it. It’s so sad people still live in fear of disclosing their mental illness.
You had an awesome opportunity to speak about the power of seeking professional help, but you responded meekly, not with the response I expected—that she should get into counseling and anyone in the same position should as well. You dropped the ball.
As one who has suffered from clinical depression my whole life, I feel your response was lacking.
There are different kinds of depression. “Blessed” seems to have entered her depressed state after her divorce. I applaud her for doing everything she could to help herself, but for the clinically depressed and those with mood disorders, depression does not go away with simple improvements in personal habits.
The necessary treatment for one suffering from clinical depression is often psychological counseling along with antidepressant medications, along with many of the “tips” those trying to be helpful offer.
I am sad your response missed the chance to clear this up. The clinically depressed deserve the dignity of understanding.