[HM2Viking]

LONDON (Reuters) - Depression is more damaging to everyday health than chronic diseases such as angina, arthritis, asthma and diabetes, researchers said on Friday.
And if people are ill with other conditions, depression makes them worse, the researchers found.
...
"Our main findings show that depression impairs health state to a substantially greater degree than the other diseases," the researchers wrote.
The team used World Health Organisation data collected from 60 countries and more than 240,000 people to show on average between 9 percent and 23 percent had depression in addition to one or more of four other chronic diseases -- asthma, angina, arthritis and diabetes.
The most disabling combination was diabetes and depression, the researchers said.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?ali...modsrc=reuters

[Marie_LPN]

I can believe it.

Unfortunately, because depression cannot be seen under the microscope, there are those people who just don't understand how damaging depression is.

[deeDawntee]

I believe it because I live it. Fortunately, I have done all the right things to support myself through the ebb and flow of depression... medication and therapy. In spite of years of treatment, it still rears its ugly head. At the very least I know that it will improve if I give it time and I can continue to work, for the most part, through the worst of it.
The most important thing is to find treatment and have ongoing support. It IS a chronic illness...you don't finally recover from it, you must manage it for the rest of your life. Once I made peace with that fact, it became a lot easier to manage.

[earle58]

elaborating on what marie_lpn said, i find our society places depression and other mental impairments, on the lowest list of priorities:
totally oblivious to the effects depression has on our physical well being.
for those living with the chronicity of illness, theirs is a double barrier to successful healing/mgmt.
even for those who are not chronically (physically) debilitated, depression can and does slow the recovery process.
yet depression continues to be stigmatized.
and so, many live in quiet desperation.

and since depression can elicit feelings of hopelessness, few can effectively advocate for themselves.
compound that with the fatigue and apathy that accompanies depression, the onus should be on the pcp to address their pts physical and mental needs.

and to make a point, i'll be curious to see how many read this thread...

leslie

[Grace Oz]

I read it, Leslie!

Unless you personally have experienced depression, or lived with someone who suffers from it, I do not think a person can truly understand or appreciate just what it's like.
Much like a midwife who has never had a baby.
One can study it, read all about it, THINK they know about it, but .... unless you have personally walked that journey, you really have no true idea of it's impact.

While society is much better informed today than in the past, we still have a lot to learn and much to overcome in relation to this debilitating illness.

I wish all sufferers respite and peace as they struggle to conquer this affliction.

[HM2Viking]

I went through a very bad time at work a few years ago. I was bullied by a boss to the point of being in a "reactive" depression. It truly was one of the darkest periods in my life. I am beginning to believe that depression kindles chronic illness rather than the other way around.

[bassandtea]

It's something I can believe.

Depression is a horrible illness and can be made worse because of a lot of the attitudes towards it, although that has been slowly changing, although more needs to be done.

[sharona97]

Originally Posted by deeDawntee

I believe it because I live it. Fortunately, I have done all the right things to support myself through the ebb and flow of depression... medication and therapy. In spite of years of treatment, it still rears its ugly head. At the very least I know that it will improve if I give it time and I can continue to work, for the most part, through the worst of it.
The most important thing is to find treatment and have ongoing support. It IS a chronic illness...you don't finally recover from it, you must manage it for the rest of your life. Once I made peace with that fact, it became a lot easier to manage.

Rearing it's ugly head is right on the nose, Dee. I became severly depressed after my missed DX, and the S/P complications. See Nurses with Disablities forum. For me it's a day by day task that once seemed like an impossible one to face. Now with every flare up I find myself using all I have to fight it. To keep the peace!

Thanks.

.

[Michael076]

Originally Posted by HM2Viking

I went through a very bad time at work a few years ago. I was bullied by a boss to the point of being in a "reactive" depression. It truly was one of the darkest periods in my life. I am beginning to believe that depression kindles chronic illness rather than the other way around.

Wow in my last career i suffered from depression for three years doing outside sales because I was alone on the road traveling alot away from family and friends. When I look back I think I have suffered from depression since college. For some reason I tried to deny it. I must say since changing to a career in nursing I feel less depressed and as long as I keep my mind occupied I will not let my mind enter those dark cavernous places. I really related to what you said about reactive depression I made myself so sick that it manifested with physical syptoms of the GI tract/rectal bleed/stomach pain. I went to the ER thought I had collitis or IBS but apparently it was a transient illness which I never suffered again. I think the brain and the intestinal tract are definatedly linked.

The weirdest thing is in public I put a very happy face on and no one would ever know that i get depressed from time to time. I actually listened to Lucinda Bassett and she helped a great deal in restoring my confidence and getting me back to work. After being layed off it was hard for me to even pick the phone up and talk to people. It is so strange but no one could understand I literally would sleep all day avoid contact with anyone, very bizarre...I came along way looking back now .....Well good luck...

[angelladyclaire]

During my worst bouts with depression, there have been days that I didn't want to shower or brush my teeth. I can see how someone who stays in the depths long enough would have negative health effects. Its amazing its taken this long to publish a connection.