Is it all in the power of the mind?

Question

Since returning from overseas i have had depression, i didnt realise for a couple of months before i got help and now it has been almost 6 and i am not much better as i feel i let everything get too bad, i am on medicatino and seeing a counsellor but i dont notice much difference, some people tell me i'm like this because i choose to be and its up to me to change it, i'm really sick of being tired all the time and not feeling well in the morning and never smiling and struggling to eat, etcetc and having no fun, i have been trying to do exercise but dont have much time due to work, other people say i have to find happiness within.....do you think it is all in the power of the mind?

Answer 1

Not all. If your brain doesn't produce enough serotonin or endorphins, thinking yourself happy won't work. It will help. Your brain creates it's chemicals based on the food you eat. Garbage in, garbage out.

Answer 2

Some but not all people and doctors believe it is all in the mind. I don't believe clinical depression is all in the mind (by that I mean treatable by will power) because I have had extreme suicidal depression and recovered by a combination of medications and talking myself out of it. Before there was so much stress on medications there were ways and successes to treat depression by will power. I cite an old book (still available from Amazon. com):

Abraham A. Low MD: "Mental health through will training"; Willet Pub. Co., Glencoe IL, 1997 This book has been in continuous publication since 1950 The author was founder of Recovery Inc., which therapy groups may still be in operation.

Medications do help but like all medications they may have side effects and require participation on the part of the patient in changing their thinking habits and attitude.

You mentioned returning from overseas/ If you are a veteran the Veterans Administration has programs for veterans which include recovering from depression and PTSD. Try:

www,va.gov

in this case.

Mention to your counselor the book by Dr. Low and see if he thinks it will help you recover from depression. He should know if recovery groups are still available.
Comment 10:15 PDT I cheated; I posted a question similar to yours and have received 6 answers that were pithy. If you go to my profile and look up the question about depression being cured by will power you can review the answers.

Good luck, good health, peace and love! Mad Mac

Answer 3

I'm sure if you've been to doctors you have heard it been called an imbalance... or they say you have an imbalance... the truth of the matter is nature is going through an imbalance, societies are imbalanced and we are all experiencing different levels of imbalance... what the doctors don't tell you is how to correct this imbalance within you..... most imbalance is cause by spiritual imbalance...that is because most cultures by now think that if you participate in religion that it deals with it... the truth is that religion is the primary cause of spiritual damage and imbalance... We are each born spiritual, emotional, mental and physical.... would you give away your rights to a group of strangers to rule your emotions your mind your body.. like religion rules your spirit?
spirit seems abstract to us because we have never been taught to take care of it.... and to regain balance you need to take care of each part of what we are born with... emotions usually hold the information of how to approach the spiritual aspect of our being but again because of religions we often become apathetic and or judgemental about others and life.... not knowing your particulars I've posted on my 360 a few ideas on how to deal with negative energy... it's not weird and it could help.... 3 posts are Temper Tantrums April 08, 2007, On Depression April 08, 2007 and Dealing with Negative emotion April 08, 2007 http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-vYykSFw2fqOksDXTUdx_bQ--?cq=1&list=1
I had depression for 30 yrs... doctors and their pills don't help... positive outlook, life experience and a few creative ideas of my own did... and when stressed... 3 tokes of a joint (marijuana) before bed time. and I slowly escaped the trap of depression. I hope this helps and good luck.