ferretrunner

Kwil, You're going about it the right way. Do the research and discuss it over with your prescriber. Remember, not everyone will get the side effects listed. If the med doesn't work for you after you've given it a trial run, go back to your doctor and try something else. Don't give up.

You're spot on. Enjoy the missionary lessons and ask all the questions you want. If you don't receive an answer right away, keep studying and praying. It takes more time for some folks than for others. Take care and best wishes for your journey!

Alicia, Nice answer about obedience! I liked the examples you used. Jesus taught that He came not to destroy the (old) law but the fulfil it. It can be rather confusing, though, as we still follow some of the Old Testament. For example, we still hold the 10 Commandments but we don't have the same dietary retrictions laid down in the Old Testament.

Congrats!

There is a HUGE difference between a bad day and clinical depression. There is a difference between a string of bad days and clinical depression. There is a difference between having the normal emotion of sadness and clinical depression. Medication does NOT "cover up" symptoms- it addresses the imbalance of the neurotransmitters in the brain. I somehow doubt the Elder was referring to medical issues such as depression when he said that. And my guess is that you're taking the quote out of context. If that is truly the Church's position, then the Church is counseling its members to continue to suffer needlessly because it "builds character" and "God wants them to." I am not saying medication is needed in every situation. However, there are times it is clinically indicated. Statistics are that 1 in 4 adults will suffer from some form of mental illness in their lifetimes. 25% of the population. I can show you research in peer reviewed, professional journals that support the use of CBT and medication to treat depression. Can you show me the same for your viewpoint? Notice I said "peer reviewed." Meaning the research was properly conducted scientifically. I don't disagree with some of what you're advocating: diet and healthy lifestyle do improve some mental health symptoms. LOL. I'd love to see you work with someone suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and tell him to just change his diet and he'll be okey dokey. Wait! No, I don't. I don't want to see the individual decompensate....

A. What do you get when you cross... A banana with a red silk dress? A pink slip. A canary with a mole? A miner bird. A cat with a lemon? A sourpuss. A chicken with a bell? An alarm cluck. A dog with a cantaloupe? A melon-collie baby. A dog with a chicken? A hen that lays pooched eggs. A dog with a daisy? A collie-flower. A dove with a high chair? A stool pigeon. A duck with a steamroller? A flat duck. A fawn with a hornet? Bambee. A ham with a karate expert? Pork chops. A hedghog and a snake? Two yards of barbed wire. A hummingbird with a doorbell? A humdinger.

There was a Blonde and her husband. One morning the husband leaves for work and the blonde gets up. She's determined to prove to her husband that blondes arn't dumb, by painting the kitchen. When her husband gets home he says to his wife "Honey why do you have 3 coats on?" The blonde says, "Well the directions on the paint said to use three coats for best results."

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee". The husband said, " You are in charge of the cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee." Wife replies, "No you should do it, and besides it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee." Husband replies, " I can't believe that, show me." So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and shows him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says: "HEBREWS"

It would be nice if it could happen. Mr. Obama doesn't seem to effective. It's weird- the democrats have control of House, Senate, and White House and are not capable or willing to make all the "changes" that were promised. LOL. Politics as usual. Protect big business and the uber rich at the expense of the middle class and poor. Gee, I sound like a socialist. I'm really not- I just think the country got their priorties mixed up and started chasing money at the expense of things that really matter in the long run.

Bipolar disorder exists. Please STOP telling people that a diet can cure them. I agree that medication isn't always the answer. But, if his diagnosis is accurate, all the vegetables in the world will not cure the disease. Yes, excercise, sleep, sunlight, and a healthy diet are all components of a holistic approach to treatment of mental health issues. The other parts are therapy with a qualified, trained, and I would recommend licesned therapist and possibly medication. When I was providing mental health therapy, I worked with my clients to establish healthy living routines as part of their recovery. One problem I see often is people get on medication and don't necessarily get the therapy part. Or the therapist doesn't match or isn't very good. What to look for in a good therapist: 1. Training- what level of education does the therapist have? Does the therapist have any speciality training? 2. What type of theoretical approach (es) does the therapist use? (ie Cognitive Behavioral, Solution Focus, EMDR, Reality Therapy, etc). 3. What license/ certification does the therapist have? 4. Have there been any complaints? You can check this on your state health department website in most states. 5. Rapport- do you trust this person? Do you feel accepted? Do you "gell." 6. Treatment plans- you should be involved in setting your treatment goals- your therapist can act as a guide. 7. Experience- how many years has the therapist been in practice? This is a rule of thumb. Some less experienced therapists can be very good at what they do but may not be the right match for extremely complex situations. They just don't have the experience base yet. If you are seeing a "younger" therapist, is the therapist receiving supervision or consultation with a more experienced therapist? Sometimes, that can be a very successful "team." Like everything else in life-- you get out of therapy what you put into therapy. If you have "homework"- do it. Practice the skills. If you run into trouble with it, talk to your therapist about what is hard. Maybe there's another way. Be proactive and involved. The biggest piece- you have to be willing to change and put in the work. Change may take a lot of time. Learning new behaviors and skills can be difficult and breaking old behavioral patterns can be very challenging. Don't give up.

I so understand your struggle. I think most people face a similiar point in their lives, whether they are converts or born in the Church. There comes a time they must know for themselves that the Church is true. You can't live on someone else's faith. For me, it took 5 years from the first missionary discussion. Of course, I can't say I prayed for a testimony or attended Church for 5 years straight! I came and went, explored other faiths, and eventually was baptized. A lot of the reason why was the ward at the time. When I went to another ward after I moved, my testimony was challenged. Unfortunately, it eventually waned. I can't say I have a "church horror story" or something awful happening. It was more a benign neglect- and some unkind and judgemental Sisters in RS. So, after almost two years away, I went back to Church Sunday. I have moved again, so it's a new ward. The experience really spoke to me. I met the RS President, was invited to dinner this past week with her family and the missionaries. After talking together, the missionaries and I decided to go through the lessons again, just like I'm an investigator. My only advice: stay with it. Even when I was out of the Church, there was much about it I still appreciated and agreed with. There will probably always be things I question. I can't just accept something as true unless I think about it, ponder it, pray about it, struggle with it.

I'm glad your friend is doing better. What works, works. But, for some, the antidepressants are a blessing. And there are some that have few, if any, side effects. They're not "inherent." Everyone responds differently to meds.

There's another way to look at it. Things happen in God's time. Perhaps there was a reason it took so long for your friend to get a job. Maybe the job that was best for him or where he was needed wasn't available earlier, or he wasn't ready for it yet, or someone else wasn't ready.... So, perhaps it was in God's plan to bless him with the job all along. Does that mean we shouldn't pray? No. We need to pray- for our own connection with God. And also, every parent likes it when their children ask for help politely and say thank you for the help after. Assigning cause/ effect in matters of faith can be difficult. Unlike a science experiement, we really don't get to "see" the "evidence."

Suicide is a greatly misunderstood issue. Suicide Awareness Week is this month. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 92 suicides are completed daily. There is one suicide attempt every 38 seconds. There is no 100% accurate profile of someone who is suicidal. Some warning signs include: Ideation (talking/ writing about suicide, death, dying), Substance abuse, Purposelessness, Anxiety, Trapped, Hopelessness, Withdrawl, Anger, Mood Changes. IS PATH WARM? People may also give away possessions or listen to music that talks about death and suicide. People who have a history of mental health diagnosis, have attempted suicide in the past or have a family member or close friend who has completed suicide are at increased risk. People who have a suicide plan are at increased risk. Not everyone will show the same symptoms of being suicidal, just like not everyone will show the same symptoms of the flu. Some myths: Asking someone about being suicidal will "plant the idea" in their head. No. You won't cause someone to become suicidal by asking about suicide any more than a doctor asking you about your chest will cause you to have chest pain. If someone really wants to commit suicide, there's nothing that can be done. No. Often there are underlying conditions that can be treated. Also, helping the person to resolve some of the problems and address the feeling of being alone and overwhelmed may help. More people consider suicide than ever attempt it. There are talkers and there are doers. If someone is talking about suicide, they are thinking about suicide. Most people who attempt suicide tell someone before. What you can do: ask. Listen. Know where and how to get help. Don't judge and be supportive. Encourage the person to get professional help. If you think the risk is immediate, take him/her to the ER or call 911. This is a great website with links about suicide, including links for those who know someone who has completed suicide. The statistics come from a VA program called "Operation SAVE." I didn't include the veteran specific stats. Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Research, Education, Training Talisyn, Military 1 Source also provides referals to services for active, guard, and reserve. It also is a resource for families. Military OneSource 1-800-342-9647. They do referals for services in the local area. I found the link I was looking for yesterday. This is the VA website for OIF/OEF services: Returning Service Members - Operation Enduring Freedom / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF)

He's also not asking for money, at least not directly. He's asking for advice about a different culture and country. I think he's probably legit.

It's ok to talk to her. You joined because of your testimony, correct? She also believes. You know who you are and what you're about at Church. Talk to her, get to know her and see if she's available and you both want to go out. Do something casual with her to get to know her as a person. And get involved with the young adult activities. Being with other young singles is important also. We're social beings, not just spiritual.

Good thread. I struggle with not feeling I belong in either setting. I tend to look at all sides of an issue and often see points the other side has. I'm moderate, which can be problematic in a more conservative Church. I'm moderate, which can be problematic in a liberal society. But, I keep feeling pulled back toward the LDS Church for some reason. I love it/ I hate it. LOL. That's not schizophernic, that's Multiple Personality Disorder.

Talk to your doctor about your current symptoms and meds. It takes awhile to find the right balance that manages the symptoms without troublesome side effects. I understand what you mean about not wanting to have to take meds your whole life. Look at it this way: if you were diabetic and needed insulin, you'd be on it your whole life. Or if you needed heart medication. Bipolar is similiar. It's a medical condition caused by imbalances of neurotransmitters in your brain. With the right meds, you can have a normal, productive life. I have seen people not taking meds lose everything- house, job, spouse, children, freedom (jail), and suicide. Get the priesthood blessing. Let the Spirit direct the blessing.

Congrats to your son. The one thing I definitely missed out on being a convert- the chance to go on a mission.

Talisyn, I hope your brother is doing better. Is he connected with services with the VA? Each VA region has a OIF/OEF coordinator to help the vets connect with services. He can also be seen at Veteran's Outreach Centers. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Your brother can find the closest VA center on that website- and locate the OIF/OEF coordinator. For general information: National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273- TALK (8255) This line is available 24/7 for anyone. They provide crisis support and referral services to the local area. If you're a veteran, press option 1. This connects the veteran with someone trained to work with veterans. It also serves as a referral to the local VA for further assistance. The Suicide Prevention Coordinator in the VA is notified and contacts the vet on the next working day to help connect him/her with services or other assistance. I'm happy to see an open discussion of this topic. Suicide is hard to talk about. But, we can save lives by being willing to talk- and listen- and act.

LOL. Wouldn't be the first time I missed irony. I get used to people hammering me for not necessarily fitting the "role" that I'm a bit sensitive to it. I think being a stay at home mother is a beautiful thing- if it is possible financially for the family and the woman feels that is her calling. Or the man feels it's his. Stay at home dad. I just don't like seeing any person, male or female, being "pushed" into a role they don't want to embrace. Anyway, diversity is what makes life interesting. Tolerance is not easy- and sometimes may not be appropriate.

You ask good questions. :) I'd like to share my own answer to #4; why missionaries are so important. I am a convert to the Church. The first day I met a missionary companionship (they always travel in pairs, called a companionship) I had just completed a long run and was checking my mail. The missionaries had an appointment with someone else in my apartment complex and were having trouble finding the building. I lived and worked there for several years and never figured out the numbering system, but I digress. I walked them over to the building and asked them "What do you guys do anyway?" I ended up taking the discussions. They taught me about what the Church really teaches, not what society thinks they do. They also helped me out in a real bind. I was (still am) a reservist. I got mobilized on a Friday night and had to report Monday morning. This was at the very beginning of the Iraq invasion. I had to move out of my apartment and put everything in storage. I called the missionaries. They got some men from the Church to come over after their service on Sunday (Superbowl Sunday, no less) and help me move the stuff in storage. That is what missionaries do: they teach about the Gospel and they serve in the community. And they serve members and non-members alike. They also have authority to baptize. It wasn't until several years later- and many different missionaries- that I joined the Church. Each pair were polite and respectful. They understood my struggle, invited me to participate in Church, and prayed with me. The missionaries aren't paid for their service. The missionary and his/her family actually pay the expenses of a mission. The young men and women who apply and are called to a mission truly are volunteers in service. Go to this link: LDS Mormon Network On the left side of the page is another link to a corny, but informative, video about missionaries and what they do. I may try to answer some other questions tomorrow. But, I have to get to work early in the morning and had better head off to sleep now. Good luck on your report!

If I remember the missonary lessons correctly, we all had a "vote" in the plan. We all agreed to take on a physical body and the challenges that go along with being human. That implies we had free will or agency in the spirit form. In that vein, I would imagine Satan did, and does, have agency too. Perhaps what really "screws" him isn't what he did- it's that he won't (or can't) repent?

Suicide happens when people are overwhelmed, feel trapped, scared, alone, and hopeless. There can be many underlying mental health conditions, such as depression. When someone gets to that point, their ability to make rational decisions is severly compromised. They truly do not recognize the impact of the action: they're not thinking about family, about sin, about hope, about the future. I truly believe that God looks at someone who completed a suicide with compassion. Jesus healed many who were sick- I believe the same healing applies. I am sorry for your friend's loss.

True. A good therapist is grounded in theory. We know how to listen, how to build rapport, and when and how to place an intervention. I'm trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and tend to use it as my primary. However, I also use Solution Focus therapy, EMDR, and other approaches as indicated by what the client(s) need. Ryan is spot on with many of his comments. Sometimes you have to try out several therapist before you find a match that fits the situation and the people involved. OP, I hope you and your wife find the healing you need. Don't give up. Have your wife get a physcial exam as well. There may be an underlying physical issue such as anemia, hormonal, or thyroid issues. Also, explore the possibility of depression. There is a long term, low level, chronic form of depression called dythimia. It is often missed in diagnosis, as it does not present exactly like the major depressive disorders that are commonly seen. People with dysthymia can be very functional, do well in school and profession, but just feel an underlying sadness and discontent.