Cure for Depression

[Cante_Miyaca]

If you are easily upset, don't read this. I will not respond to childish rampages, insults, etc. That's just plain silly.

"Cure for Depression"

--"Forget yourself and go to work."--

I don't disuased the idea of chemical imbalances in the brain, health, sleep, and all that good stuff. However, I do believe that we create many of the problems wtihin ourselves. Today, I'd like to mainly talk about depression. There are times in life when we are depressed-we lack sleep, good eating, a good attitude, etc, like when you need time to greive over the death of a loved one or you're just really going through something that is difficult for you. Everyone has those times, good and bad. Sometimes we let that time prolong; we allow ourselves to be depressed, to let it horde over our lives. While I'm sure many of you agree that this is not a healthy practice, far too many people do it. The question is...why?

Why are we so depressed? What is the REASON for the whining, the crying, the self manipulation? Do people do it because they want attention, because it's an excuse to not look at the real world? Every rhyme has a reason, as it goes. It's like a massive poison, of self-satisfying self-pity. Don't get me wrong; there are times tha one might be depressed, or simply need to cry. But I'm talking about CHRONIC depression. You cannot always be sad about something going on in your life. Instead of wallowing in self pity, people need to get off their butts and do something about it. Harsh? To some. But it's a real cure: get outside of yourself! If you want others to bear your burdens, start bearing other's burdens. Forget yourself and go to work. There is nothing like a healthy dose of getting outside your box of life and exploring the world and all it has to offer. If you're always thinking about how depressed you are and never replace those thoughts with being thankful for what you got, then you're going to just be shooting yourself in the butt. You'll be creating children in the future who want nothing to do than to satisfy themselves. Selfishness is a major factor of depression. So is pride.

Humility brings forth the need to see others as they really are. To truly love, without spite. It clears your vision of the world around you and brings you closer to God. Imho, the only thing that can make you EVERLASTINGLY happy is God. If people turned to God instead of booze to fix the world, we'd be a whole lot better off. A true saint of God isn't one who neccessairily belongs to one sect; but one who has charity. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself aunseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth."

There is is, plain and simple. The cure for depression is, essentially, charity. Charity suffers long, it endures without respite. Rather than crying about how the world is so horrible, one who is full of charity rejoices in living, thanks God for His gifts, no matter how bitter life may be, and is kind. One who is full of charity is selfless; they think of others before themselves. They worry not about such simple, frail things about who has a nicer car or computer, who got their elf to lvl 60 and who didn't. Someone who is filled with chairty is not prideful but humble, seeking no evil, seeking truth, is not easily provoked, and beareth ALL things.

Charity never fails. It's an everlasting, pure trait. It's something everyone of us needs. Perhaps if we were all a little more full of charity, then perhaps we wouldn't have so many divorces and broken families. Perhaps people would be less selfish, not worrying about how much money they have or what they look like, or the "quality" of material things of life. These focuses dull the spirit, decay the soul. If we are truly to solve all the problems in the world, then perhaps we first ought to look at charity.

A flat tire will not fix itself by complaining. The tire will be fixed when you get up and do. The problem with depression is that it has you right in a cesspool of pity. You don't move forward. You sit and stew or move right back. Isn't it interesting that the Adversary uses such easy tools to take us away from our true goal? That when we focus upon ourselves, we loose the ability to see what's in the future? Depression. Are we using it for good, or for bad? The Lord said, "Be of good cheer and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you and will stand by you." So, really....what's stopping you from being happy? Are you determined to let he Adversary win...or God? How often will you seek to pity yourself instead of loving others, showing true care, not simple pity, for others, by actions and not word alone?

These I things I say in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

[kona0197]

Cure for depression? Mountain Biking. :)

[tree]

1st Corinthians 13:4-8 ??i hope you never , ever experience true depression. it is not caused by self pity or laziness. it has to do with a serotonin imbalance in the brain. i have suffered all my life, but i am now being healed as we speak. i am slowly getting off my meds and am beginning to think and function normally. true depression is like living in hell on earth. it is crippling and debilitating and usually accompanies other debilitating disorders such as anxiety,panic attacks and a fear that stays with you that no matter what you do it wont go away. i suffered from these and a few more that i wont bore you with. but next time you make a statement on some thing get all the facts and unless you truly experience some thing , dont throw stones at any body. people who want attention or are lazy and make excuses are just that,but true depression sufferers want to be functional and productive people and with doctors help and some medicine and a whole lot of prayer,mabey some day they will. as far as the sleep disorders that come with it ,, its not just a weekly thing . its a continual on going condition. try going without sleep for 2 or 3 months at a time,you are so exhausted but you just cant fall asleep and when you are lucky enough to do so it is restless so you are still just as tired when you do get up. see what and how your body feels after that !!!!!!! you need to get the facts and apologise to the people on this site who seen your totally unfair ,judgemental post. as far as the scripture you posted , mabey you ought to pray and study it a lot harder!!!!!!! oh by the way! i dont have time to deal with people and their self-righteousness,,, thats heavenly fathers job !! as far as kicking people when their down where did you get your DEGREE?????

[Elgama]

if you find the fact I disagree with you upsetting don't read on but I wasn't having someone who is depressed just reading a post that was unsupportive and lacking in care (however correct the basic principles are), I know what your post would have done to my husband to have read your post just a few months ago and it would have set him back many months in his recovery. Every person with depression is different but FORGETTING HIMSELF and putting family and the Lord first were what caused him to crash and kept him bed bound for a long time. His depression was crippling. We have since found out it was caused by eating meat (his mission was in Dallas Texas no wonder he came back not right) - that started him feeling less sore and miserable but he came out of it not sure who he was or what direction he wanted to go in, our family was in a mess financially and emotionally.

I am very proud of my husband but without his own hard work and putting himself first for a time he would still be harassed and depressed - instead he has dealt with the issues that nearly destroyed him and sorted out his diet. And of course without help from the Lord we wouldn't have done it - but as well meaning and correct as GO TO WORK and FORGET YOURSELF maybe it can do more harm than good to the person who wonders why they can't it can increase feelings of uselessness. My advice is do what you can, the Lord knows what you are going through and as long as you do what you are capabable (to others and yourself may not seem like much) - He is proud of us.

-Charley

[WillowTheWhisp]

People who suffer from depression are not 'feeling sad' or 'needing to cry' or 'whining'. People who suffer from clinical depression are not creating their own hell. Would anybody create that black hole? Would anybody endure it if they could end it? If 'getting off their butt and doing something for somebody else' would solve their situation don't you think they would jump at the chance?

You have absolutely no idea.

Yes feeling a bit badly done too and mooching about with the 'nobody has a life as lousy as mine' attitude is not productive and serving others can be a kick up the rear end that such lazy self centred people need.

BUT, people like that are not people suffering from depression. People suffering from depression are not people who are depressed. It's an unfortunate word which has been used to describe a condition which is nothing less than hell on earth.

Someone suffering from depression cannot go out there and DO anything. Sometimes they can't even string two thoughts together in their head. Sometimes they aren't even sure they HAVE a head! Trying to formulate one thought can be difficult enough.

Imagine this scene:

A young woman suffering from depression accompanies her husband to a park where he sees a friend nof theirs sitting on a park bench. He says to the wife, "Look, Pat is over there. Why don't you go over and talk to her." The wife looks at him with a blank expression, trying to understand what he is saying to her and all she can reply is, "What about?"

How on EARTH do you imagine she can go out there and do anything for anyone?

Do you not realise how guilty someone feels when they suffer in this way? The depressive themselves feels like what is wrong with them is somehow all their fault.People tell them to snap out of it and they can't because they don't know how so they feel guilty. Especially if they are a member of the church. They feel even more guilty because we are supposed to be full of joy aren't we?

They are ill.

Would you have so little compassion for someone dying of cancer?

If you saw someone with a broken leg would you tell them to run a marathon? Telling someone suffering from depression to get up and do something for others is harder than expecting someone with two broken legs to run for miles and win the race.

Please do not make them feel even worse. They already feel bad enough.

[tree]

hello i am sorry for being ugly to you and ask forgiveness ?? all tho the lord is healing me, and the president in relief society has gotten permission to pray for me a calling in it. i am excited about it !! i know heavenly father will see me through it to where i can do a job well done.well i am going to try and go to sleep, i have a family to take care of. wish me luck!!! ha! ha!

[Elgama]

hello i am sorry for being ugly to you and ask forgiveness ?? all tho the lord is healing me, and the president in relief society has gotten permission to pray for me a calling in it. i am excited about it !! i know heavenly father will see me through it to where i can do a job well done.well i am going to try and go to sleep, i have a family to take care of. wish me luck!!! ha! ha!

There was nothing ugly in your response it explained how you feel - maybe more understanding and more talking and one day we will have really productive ways to help depression sufferers, honesty is so important if my husband had known how to express himself the ugly way I treated him initially would not have happened it was people with depression willing to talk that helped me help him- without online people talking I would never have thought of trying an elimination diet with my husband and seen the dramatic improvement taking beef and pork out of his diet would make, our family has ended up mostly vegetarian as a result and we are all much healthier and less depressed - but no trained person gave us the information and the key to my husbands illness it was another sufferer. Not everyone's is caused by food intolerance but clearly it played a part in my husband's (as did his Father's death, Gran's death,immigration troubles, miscarriages, being out of work lol the list goes on) - but as long as the meat remained in his diet he could not deal with the reactive depression. This is why I believe the advice to forget yourself is also bad, when phrased like that - forgetting himself and helping me and his Mom grieve being there for us, meant he had to be stronger than he was capable of being and that breaks my heart that it was his sacrifice for me that played a part in how he felt.

One day we will hopefully learn to treat people with mental illness better - I have Fibromyalgia which some Drs treat as much but having watched my husband go through depression I know what I deal with on a daily basis is not depression I get down and find it difficult but thats different, my pain and fatigue, dizziness and everything else combined is much easier to deal with than my husbands black hole.

You sound amazing Tree, I am very fond of your nickname my daughter was named Elana which means Tree in Hebrew, so she could grow strong and wise and be able to withstand things - your posts sound like you have the strength and wisdom that a tree symbolises to me. And we'll put you in our family prayers.

-Charley

[WillowTheWhisp]

Tree, I saw nothing ugly in your reply.

[Cante_Miyaca]

I think before any of you should post, you should not assume. :) I have gone through depression and suicide, and I have helped many other people overcoming their depression. As for the rest of your responses, I shall read upon these things later when I am awake. Nor do I mock anyone with depression, and do agree there are many chemical imbalances, etc, which was previously stated.

[WillowTheWhisp]

When you were suicidal could you actually have done anything to serve anyone else?

[Cante_Miyaca]

Of course! I am capable of whatever I choose to be or do. I have a choice in all things. All is a pretty big word. I was suicidal for many years; it's not just one moment, or a couple of months, but took a whole lot of help from Father to overcome; mainly through knowing Him, and that, frankly, is the only reason I came out of it--the Atonement of Christ, which is, essentially, charity. Just because a person might be suicidal does not render the incapable of love or service.

[WillowTheWhisp]

I am really finding this very difficult to understand because I know that when someone is down at the bottom of the deepest blackest pit of depression to expect them to climb walls as slippery as glass, which are taller than the highest building, with no footholds and expect them to get to the top and be able to do anything at all for themselves let alone for other people can seem like asking them to climb Everest unassisted or to dive to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean without oxygen. If you could do those things when you were suicidal then you are amazing. I can say no more.

[Cante_Miyaca]

*Hugs* I had a difficult childhood; and I know that many had worse. Only this last December, my parents threw me out in the cold. Kick me straight out the house, decided that they didn't want me anymore. (I had been there recovering from my blood disease.) I'm the kind of person that can laugh when she breaks her leg. But more specifically, what I was speaking about is more directed towards young teenagers. There is a growing "market" for depression. I have noticed on SO many forums and in SO many lives how depression seems to be the outlet, the answer, the facet, instead of focusing on the real problem--THEIR lives. Granted, some things cannot be fixed, it's true.

The point, or my point of what I'm trying to make, is teach non-depression. A healthier way of young teens and older people alike to "treat" depression. It is often said when you place your focus upon someone else, then your burdens, in return, are lifted. And the point is true. I mean, if your car gets stolen, you can be happy about it or you cannot. We have the given right, the given choice, to choose how we will respond. And if we are struggling with depression, then we can ask Father to remove the problem, or we can look into ourselves and see what's going on. The REASON, once again, we have that depression. Once you fix the real problem, odds are, you won't be depressed about that certain situation. If you can't fix it, you got to let it go, which is easier said than done, lol.

Also, a note:

I was sexually abused. Father helped me; did the best thing for me. I went to China and taught English as a volunteer. It is through life experience that I have learned that serving and loving others heals, uplifts, and cleanses.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Once you fix the real problem, odds are, you won't be depressed about that certain situation. If you can't fix it, you got to let it go, which is easier said than done, lol.

BINGO!

That explains the difference between 'being depressed about' and 'suffering from depression'. Yes indeedy the former can be alleviated by turning outwards towards others rather than inwards towards self. However, the latter doesn't revolve around something which can be fixed or let go of. It isn't 'being depressed about' anything in particular. It is an illness. A person who is feeling down because things around them are bringing them down can equally be suicidal but it's not the same as being totally empty and not even knowing how to be human which doesn't have an external cause which can be either rectified or ignored. It's almost impossible to explain and this is why I do wish there was a different name for it rather than 'depression'.

It's like the word 'shock'. People say "Oh I was shocked to see, hear, learn of...." such and such. There is also the term "suffering from shock" which medical reports include when someone has been in an accident. It doesn't mean that they were shocked by what happened in the sense that they went, "Oh my goodness, what an awful accident!" it means that their body was physically affected by what happened. It manifests in a decreased blood flood throughout the body and if prolonged, it may result in permanent cell damage and ultimately death. Can you see the difference there?

[Elgama]

There are several types of depression - but everyone is different for my husband he had to learn to put himself first not to put us first.

-Charley

[pushka]

I have been struggling with recurrent depressive symptoms since my teens, I worked, I socialised for the bigger part of that time, however nothing completely took away the underlying depression that would rear its ugly head, without any notice, anytime, any place, anywhere, under any circumstances.

I have tried submerging myself in voluntary community work, producing information newsletters and such, and still the depression breaks thru...it isn't reactive depression although I have had times when that has occurred too, it's organic, my daughter is going thru hell at the moment, as she suffers from depression too, she's only 19 and constantly contemplates suicide, she struggles to remain in college and wants a career as a Play Therapist, but is afraid that she will not be allowed to have that career if she is labelled 'depressed'...how do you think that makes her feel? How do you think it makes me feel, to think that this is the legacy I have left her...depression..it aint a good feeling at all, and I would gladly give it up tomorrow if it were possible.

Btw, I recently returned to the Mormon church, thinking, in part, that it would help with my depression..maybe 'cure' it once and for all, but no, it's still there, I'm still struggling, and you know what is the hardest thing to do when you lock yourself away all day and avoid people and places? The hardest thing is to reach out to somebody, even your best friend, and ask for help to get outside and DO SOMETHING...if only it were as easy as you make out..

[WillowTheWhisp]

If you go back through past issues of the Ensign you'll find that it is acknowledged that there are a great many sufferers from depression within the church.

We once had a Bishop who told a sufferer that they would be fine once they had repented of their sins because he'd read in the Book of Mormon that 'despair cometh because of iniquity' - not a very clever thing to say to someone already feeling guilty for being a sufferer was it? I believe he had totally misinterpreted that scripture. Are people who have terminal cancer made to feel guilty for being ill and told to get up off their death bed and do something for someone else?

[Elgama]

I really feel for you Pushka - right now its a possibility I have given my daughter my Fibromyalgia or she has episodes of depression and she is only 4, how is she supposed to climb out of where her genetics have placed I am sure she will

-Charley

[pushka]

Thanks for your comments Willow and Elgama, I'm sorry if I sound a little down/hopeless about it all today, but since Monday my daughter has slept with me every night, cos she can't bear to stay in her own bedroom with her thoughts, she sleeps as soon as she comes home from college/work, then wakes up and broods about what's going on, or not...she hates feeling this way...

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter Charley, and hope that she does manage to climb out of where she is too!

[Elgama]

Sorry to hear its a rough time Pushka, I'm down too but not depressed just down, we have just lost the car, managed to get Ellie to school and Richard to work and we are going to try living a month without one, seems a bit daunting right now, also quite trivial really (we do live 3 miles from nearest proper bus service) but its come on top of struggling financially with all sorts and think i may be pregnant I do get depressed in first trimester, that was when I really gained true empathy for Richard.

Does your daughter meditate? I tend to use meditation when I am down but I know its difficult to do, it would help Richard at his lowest if meditated with him before bed because he slept bigger. The thing that got him back to work was hypnotherapy, he really struggled to discover just who he was again.

-Charley

[WillowTheWhisp]

I can relate to a lot of this because some of what I'm going through at the moment involves several family members and one in particular, a teenager suffering from depression and already under stress with exams and pressure to choose career options. It's so complicated too that for the past few days I have spent most of the time in tears due to inability to help and because of the different things which have added to the problems. There is NO WAY this child could do anything to serve anyone else at the moment when even getting to school is a major ordeal right now. A teenage child shouldn't want to be dead.

[NeuroTypical]

Hi Cante_Miyaca,

I'm glad that you were able to pull yourself out of your depression through willpower. Many people can. But many people can't.

Sometimes, the reason for the whining, crying, self manipulation is because people want attention, or it's an excuse to deal with the real world. Sometimes, it's something out of their control and comes from an imbalance.

Despite your claim, sometimes chronic depression means you are "always be sad about something" and you can't just will yourself out of it. Sometimes, it's not "wallowing in self pity", and sometimes, people lack the agency "to get off their butts and do something about it".

"Forget yourself and go to work" can cure many things, but it is not a cureall for all depressive ills. You are correct, "Selfishness is a major factor of depression. So is pride." But that is not true for all depression.

There are illnesses that will not be helped by humility and true love and charity.

I'm so glad that our church leaders understand this stuff. Here are seven Myths about Mental Illness, by Alexander B. Morrison, Ensign, Oct 2005, 31–35.

Myths and misconceptions about mental illness unfortunately are found among Latter-day Saints just as they are in the general public. These harmful attitudes include the following:

1. All mental illness is caused by sin. Make no mistake about it—sin, the deliberate breaking of God’s commandments, does indeed result in behavior that is hurtful to self and to others. And for every transgression there must be a consequence or punishment. The demands of justice are inexorable, unless the person concerned invokes the power of the mercy provided by Christ’s Atonement by repenting of the sin and recognizing Christ as his Savior.

The truth is that many faithful Latter-day Saints who live the commandments and honor their covenants experience struggles with mental illness or are required to deal with the intense pain and suffering of morally righteous but mentally ill family members. Their burdens—and they are many—can be lifted only by love, understanding, and acceptance.

2. Someone is to blame for mental illness. It is a common human tendency to blame others or oneself for whatever goes wrong in life. Many victims of mental illness wear themselves out emotionally by futile attempts to remember something they, their parents, or someone else might have done that resulted in their suffering. Some blame their problem on demonic possession. While there is no doubt that such has occurred, let us take care not to give the devil credit for everything that goes awry in the world! Generally speaking, the mentally ill do not need exorcism; they require treatment from skilled health-care providers and love, care, and support from everyone else.

Most often, victims blame themselves. Many seem unable to rid themselves of terrible though undefined feelings that somehow, some way, they are the cause of their own pain—even when they are not. Parents, spouses, or other family members also often harrow up their minds trying futilely to determine where they went wrong. They pray over and over again for forgiveness when there is no evidence that they have anything of note to be forgiven of. Of course, in the vast majority of instances none of this works, for the simple reason that the victim’s thoughts and behavior result from disease processes which are not caused by the actions of others, including God.

Ascribing blame for mental illness causes unnecessary suffering for all concerned and takes time and energy which would better be used to increase understanding of what actually is happening—to get a complete assessment and proper diagnosis of the illness involved, to understand the causes, to get proper medication and learn behavioral and cognitive techniques that are part of the healing process. As victims, loved ones, and all the rest of us increase our understanding, then patience, forgiveness, and empathy will replace denial, anger, and rejection.

3. All that people with mental illness need is a priesthood blessing. I am a great advocate of priesthood blessings. I know, from much personal experience, that they do inestimable good. I know too that final and complete healing of mental illness or any other disease comes through faith in Jesus Christ. In any and all circumstances, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, our lives will improve and become richer and more peaceful as we turn to Him. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,” He said. “… Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28–30). He and only He has the healing balm of Gilead needed by all of God’s children.

We must understand, however, without in any way denigrating the unique role of priesthood blessings, that ecclesiastical leaders are spiritual leaders and not mental health professionals. Most of them lack the professional skills and training to deal effectively with deep-seated mental illnesses and are well advised to seek competent professional assistance for those in their charge who are in need of it. Remember that God has given us wondrous knowledge and technology that can help us overcome grievous problems such as mental illness. Just as we would not hesitate to consult a physician about medical problems such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, so too we should not hesitate to obtain medical and other appropriate professional assistance in dealing with mental illness. When such assistance is sought, be careful to ensure, insofar as possible, that the health professional concerned follows practices and procedures which are compatible with gospel principles.

4. Mentally ill persons just lack willpower. There are some who mistakenly believe that the mentally ill just need to “snap out of it, show a little backbone, and get on with life.” Those who believe that way display a grievous lack of knowledge and compassion. The fact is that seriously mentally ill persons simply cannot, through an exercise of will, get out of the predicament they are in. They need help, encouragement, understanding, and love. Anyone who has ever witnessed the well-nigh unbearable pain of a severe panic attack knows full well that nobody would suffer that way if all that was needed was to show a little willpower. No one who has witnessed the almost indescribable sadness of a severely depressed person who perhaps can’t even get out of bed, who cries all day or retreats into hopeless apathy, or who tries to kill himself would ever think for a moment that mental illness is just a problem of willpower. We don’t say to persons with heart disease or cancer, “Just grow up and get over it.” Neither should we treat the mentally ill in such an uncompassionate and unhelpful way.

5. All mentally ill persons are dangerous and should be locked up. Sensational and incomplete media reports have conjured up stereotypical portrayals of the mentally ill as crazed and violent lunatics, dangerous to others as well as themselves. The truth is that the vast majority of people with mental illness are not violent, and the great majority of crimes of violence are not committed by persons who are mentally ill. 1

Furthermore, over the past 40 years, as effective medications for mental illness have become available and effective support programs have been developed, it has been shown that most mentally ill people—like those with physical illnesses—can live productive lives in their communities. They do not need to be locked up. Like everyone else, most mentally ill persons receiving proper treatment have the potential to work at any level in any profession, depending solely on their abilities, talents, experience, and motivation.

6. Mental illness doesn’t strike children and young people. As noted by the National Institute of Mental Health, the truth is that an estimated 10 percent of children in the United States suffer from a mental health disorder that disrupts their functioning at home, in school, or in the community. 2 The majority of children who kill themselves are profoundly depressed, and most parents did not recognize that depression until it was too late. I reiterate: no one is immune to mental illness.

7. Whatever the cause, mental illness is untreatable. As mentioned, during the past 40 years numerous medications have been developed by the multinational pharmaceutical industry. These products have proven of inestimable worth to millions. They are not perfect, nor do they work effectively in every instance—far from it, unfortunately. But we are getting closer to the day when physicians will have available effective drugs which are specific in correcting the biochemical lesions concerned, without the side effects which too often limit the effectiveness of medications today. I have no doubt that such developments, which we are already beginning to see, will result in striking advances in the treatment of mental illness over the next decade.

LM

[tree]

i am crying HAPPY tears. thanks for all the support and i chose tree as my user name for that exact reason, to be strong and planted by the waters of JESUS! elgama i know your daughter will be wise and strong with parents like you!!! i will keep every one on this site in my prayers . i might not remember all the names but heavenly father does. lots of love , tree

[Elgama]

What a lovely thread this has turned into thanks for starting it

I just wanted to share my day has just got a huge amount better - after a rotten week we have managed to work out living without the car, and I sat and did some sums and realised how much better off we will be without the car and we can pay off all our debts earlier hopefully as early as July at very least December. When my husband called to cancel the insurance we were only a few days within the cooling off period (it gets renewed automatically every year unless we cancel it) - which means we just have to pay an administration fee.

-Charley

[WillowTheWhisp]

Thank you so much Loudmouth Mormon for that quotation by Alexander B. Morrison from the Oct 2005 Ensign. It says it all so much better than my feeble attempts earlier.

Perhaps if the first post in this thread had said words along the lines of "Hey I suffered from depression but no longer do and this is how I overcame it." then others may have joined in to congratulate the poster and wish them well - however, it may also have led to people continuing to think that was THE way to 'cure' depression.

From the many subsequent posts we can see that it is far from the be all and end all and that in fact Church leaders have stated as much. For that alone, and for the fact that others have come out in support of those currently suffering I thank the originator for bringing up this topic so that we can all learn from it. I hope that people will no longer continue to blame sufferers for not curing themselves.