Depression Expert Merely Me shares Depression management news and commentary at MyDepressionConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292 http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292 http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/48926/visible Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:17:00 -0000 Merely Me I had written the following piece in a journal I was keeping about my depression following a very difficult day I had with my son who has autism.  He had a major meltdown in a public library and I remember feeling so frustrated and depressed.  I went to the gym later that day in order to attempt to get rid of some of my negative energy.  When I am feeling depressed I want nothing more than to be invisible.  I try to... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/48926/visible http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/50512/conversation Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:41:00 -0000 Merely Me I received a packet in the mail some months ago.  It was from my sister. I opened the thick manila envelope to find a stack of papers with a little purple post-it attached.  "Not to worry.  There is nothing wrong with my health.  It is just time I thought about such things.  Please sign on the highlighted lines and send this back to me."   She even drew a little... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/50512/conversation http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/50074/faith-drumstick Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:35:00 -0000 Merely Me Well, it is that time of year again. We seem to just gloss right over Thanksgiving and rush head long into Christmas. I don't know about you but every year I experience depression during this time of year. I have so many memories of traumatic holidays to combat. Yet there are happy memories too and moments where I feel true gratitude. Here is a story I wrote about one of those times where grace is sometimes found in the most unlikely... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/50074/faith-drumstick http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/49040/importance-play Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:42:03 -0000 Merely Me Remember summers as a kid?  Staying out until the street lights came on.  Do you remember what you were doing at the time?  I have visions of playing games like IT tag or kick ball.  There were wagon rides down steep sidewalks.  Homemade stilts my best friend's father made.  Tree houses and cherry popsicles. And on rainy afternoons there was always Monopoly  and popcorn.  We had fun.  We knew how... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/49040/importance-play http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/48920/experience Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:44:37 -0000 Merely Me I had written a post recently about my son's experience in taking Prozac entitled, "I'm an Aardvark and I'm Happy."  Based on his good experience with this anti-depressant I was ready to take the plunge myself.  I had resisted the idea of using medication for my depression for several decades.  The only other prescribed anti-depressant I had used was Pamelor back in my twenties.  I had just had a miscarriage and was seriously... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/48920/experience http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/48911/flavors-sadness Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:06:37 -0000 Merely Me The Many Flavors of Sad   There should be more words to describe the endless varieties and subtleties of depression. As a life long sufferer of depression I feel I have tasted most of the flavors of sadness.  If you have ever been depressed I know that you too will recognize the variations I will now describe.   The Pain of Grief and Loss   Every November I get the blues because a friend of mine passed away on... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/48911/flavors-sadness http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/46296/pain-important Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:40:00 -0000 Merely Me I was watching a news show one evening and they did a segment about a little girl named Gabby who had a rare medical condition called CIPA (congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis).  This little girl could basically feel no pain. Living without feeling pain seems on the surface, as though it would be wonderful, but in fact it is shown to be much more of a curse than a blessing.  This little... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/46296/pain-important http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/47247/lonely-people Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:39:00 -0000 Merely Me Who can forget the Beatle's song, "All the Lonely People"?  Every time I have heard it in my life I ran to the radio to change the station.  It is a song which depresses me to hear it and especially the mournful refrain.   "All the lonely people, where do they all come from?All the lonely people, where do they all belong?"   There are no shortage of songs about loneliness.  I will offer up only a couple more.&nbsp... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/47247/lonely-people http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/46284/aardvark-happy Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:38:00 -0000 Merely Me I'm an Aardvark and I'm Happy!   When my son who has Autism began taking Prozac for the first time, this is the song he sang to me.  The lyrics are from the PBS children's show, Sesame Street:   "I'm an aardvark, and I'm proud! I'm an aardvark, and I'm happy! I'm an aardvark, If I try to be specific And a little scientific, I am feeling quite terrific!"   After some terrible months of great mood swings, crying... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/46284/aardvark-happy http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/46346/getting-to-know Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:34:01 -0000 Merely Me You know that song don't you?  "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you..."  I had a co-worker who would sing that song as well as other musical show tune numbers when he was feeling happy.  But I digress.  The title of my post alludes to the fact that I wish to get to know you, my reader.   One of the marvelous things about writing on a site such as Health Central is that I have the opportunity to... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/84292/46346/getting-to-know