Episode 42: "Elementally You" — Depression & Mormon Women Part III

Right click here to download the mp3.

Art by Jarosław Kubick

In the final segment of our discussion, we talk about ways we hid our depression or magnified our depression (what made things worse) and ways we helped our depression (what made things better).

The panelists will be watching the comments to respond to questions.

Here is a summary of the resources and other things that helped us.

Process:

• Name the problem
• Identify root causes (often things from the past) and work through them
• Figure out what triggers depressive episodes
• Remove triggers (get out of situations that make things worse)
• Build relationship spaces where you can find happiness and peace and emotional strength ("family" by choice)
• Choose your spirituality and interaction with the church
• Get out of overly-stressful or abusive situations and take care of yourself
• Become an advocate, speak up

Techniques:

• Journal writing and blogging
• Writing in supportive communities (online forums)
• Creating: Art, music (eg. playing piano), dance (eg. choreography), crochet, etc.
• Therapy, working through the past
• Movement
• Breathing
• Focusing on sensory input from the five senses to come to the present moment
• Yoga
• Energy healing: BodyTalk
• Getting out to the things that are "elementally you" (eg. hike the petroglyphs)
• Spend time outdoors, get outside when the spiral down starts
• Using prayer as contemplative reflection
• Identifying the good and the beautiful
• Massage and chiropractic
• Hot showers
• Light therapy and vitamin D
• Reading books on topics that pertain to your hurt

Food Related

• GAPS diet
• Candida Cleanse
• Eating potatoes before bed (with no protein) to help to raise serotonin levels

Books, Audio, and Online Resources

• "The Soul in Depression" from On Being with Krista Tippett (audio)
• Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel
• An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison
• The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner
  
• The Dance of Intimacy by Harriet Lerner
  
• Mood Cure by Julia Ross
• The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen
• Come to Your Senses by Stanley Block and Carolyn Block
• Move Your Body Tone Your Mood by Kate F. Hays
• Eating in the Light of the Moon by Anita Johnston
• Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon
• Women who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés 
• Solace for Mothers online forum

Episode 41: "Walking the Labyrinth" — Depression & Mormon Women Part II

Right click here to download the mp3.

Art by Karim Fakhoury

In the second part of this panel discussion, Sybil, Amelia, Jenne A, Lisa, and Kendhal discuss situational vs chemical depression, accepting and owning their depression, and vivid dreams that lead to understanding aspects of the self.

We also talk about the mentality of "there's one right way to deal with this" and how that doesn't work with depression; how there is a need to find what works for you, moment to moment.

We then discuss medication and depression and the stigmas attached both to taking it and not taking it, trying to find medication that works, weaning off medications. We also talk about therapy.

To comment and for resources, please see Part III.

Episode 40: "Be Yourself (within certain parameters)" — Depression & Mormon Women Part I

Right click here to download the mp3.

Art by Adam Martinakis

Despite how common depression is, there is a lot of denial and secrecy attached to it. In this panel, Sybil is joined by panelists Amelia and Jenne A, and guests Lisa and Kendahl to discuss their experiences in living with depression.

In this first part, we discuss depression in Utah and how  the idea of being a perfect Mormon woman can contribute to depression. We also talk about our own symptoms of depression. Here is a list of those symptoms:

Symptoms of Depression

• apathy and detachment; difficulty connecting with the living world and being a part of what is happening
• a sense of powerlessness
• inward blaming, self-faulting, feeling worthless
• excessive sleeping; also insomnia or difficulty sleeping; being highly self-critical
• physical numbness or pain
• asthma and breathing problems
• mental darkness; feeling under a low ceiling
• difficulty getting out of bed
• self isolation; being tense and withdrawn
• irritable bowel syndrome
• migraines
• feeling like the body is falling apart; feeling old and in pain
• constant hopelessness; feeling unable to make life feel worthwhile
• eating too much or too little
• disrupted daily living
• being mean/angry at people you love
• helpless crying
• absence of appetite (for food, sex, things that usually bring pleasure)
• escaping (into food, television, books, etc.)
• inability to concentrate or focus; inability to "get things done" (normal, daily things)
• being emotionally numb or overly dramatic (no middle ground or normal functioning)
• being an appendage to someone else, not able to be the main character in own life (things happening to you rather than being an active agent)
• feeling suicidal 

To comment and for resources, please see Part III.