[Crook32]

[*Beth*]

Yes! And I'll add that depression is not a choice, it's a physical disorder.

[FluffyDinosaur]

Yes, it would be so nice if people could get this through their heads so they could stop telling me to just think positively and go do something fun. That's like telling someone with a broken leg that they would be fine if they would just make an effort to walk normally. I've been pushing through despite everything for years now, and yet the illness doesn't magically go away. This is why I rarely tell anyone what I'm going through.

I'm also starting to really resent the overhyping of meditation and mindfulness in relation to mental health. It's nice that there's a push for more understanding of mental illness these days, but I feel like that movement has been hijacked by people who never had severe mental illness. They just went through one rough patch at some point and now they go around telling everyone that meditation is the magic cure for all mental illness. It's actually harmful for the general public's understanding of real mental illness as opposed to temporary dissatisfaction with life.

I hate it because it totally trivializes what all of us with more severe conditions like bipolar and schizophrenia are going through. Now whenever someone finds out I'm bipolar it's almost impossible to convince them that it's a lifelong condition and I'm not taking these meds just because I haven't heard about meditation yet. I sometimes find myself having to defend the fact that I take meds because some people appear to think it's just an easy solution for people who don't want to put in the effort to really "work on themselves," like taking vitaming supplements because you don't want to put in the effort of making healthy meals. I'm not choosing to live in this hell because I'm "afraid of change" or "too lazy to try something new." To me, insisting that meditation would "cure" me is just another way of saying you don't think bipolar is a real illness, that it's "all in my head," and that I have only myself to blame for it because I don't try hard enough.

[fern46]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

Yes, it would be so nice if people could get this through their heads so they could stop telling me to just think positively and go do something fun. That's like telling someone with a broken leg that they would be fine if they would just make an effort to walk normally. I've been pushing through despite everything for years now, and yet the illness doesn't magically go away. This is why I rarely tell anyone what I'm going through.

I'm also starting to really resent the overhyping of meditation and mindfulness in relation to mental health. It's nice that there's a push for more understanding of mental illness these days, but I feel like that movement has been hijacked by people who never had severe mental illness. They just went through one rough patch at some point and now they go around telling everyone that meditation is the magic cure for all mental illness. It's actually harmful for the general public's understanding of real mental illness as opposed to temporary dissatisfaction with life.

I hate it because it totally trivializes what all of us with more severe conditions like bipolar and schizophrenia are going through. Now whenever someone finds out I'm bipolar it's almost impossible to convince them that it's a lifelong condition and I'm not taking these meds just because I haven't heard about meditation yet. I sometimes find myself having to defend the fact that I take meds because some people appear to think it's just an easy solution for people who don't want to put in the effort to really "work on themselves," like taking vitaming supplements because you don't want to put in the effort of making healthy meals. I'm not choosing to live in this hell because I'm "afraid of change" or "too lazy to try something new." To me, insisting that meditation would "cure" me is just another way of saying you don't think bipolar is a real illness, that it's "all in my head," and that I have only myself to blame for it because I don't try hard enough.

Assumimg the chemical imbalance hypothesis is correct, meditation can actually hinder some patients. It really all depends on your current state and what would be appropriate to bring you into greater balance. Also, its really difficult to reach transcendental meditation levels when you're ruminating.

I think meditation and mindfulness are great tools, but they are one of many and have limitations, especially when they are subjective tools that have varying effects on individuals.

I'd rather see there be a movement educating us that our strategy for wellness will be unique and complex and it is a moving target. I'd like to see a menu of tools available and information about what they are generally good for and where you can go to get them or learn more information.

I'd like to see someone invent the technology necessary to actually test neurochemical levels the way we test blood sugar for diabetics. Right now, the best we can do is test urine for the byproducts of these chemicals. Those tests in no way indicate current levels and yet every drug on the market for us claims to work by balancing chemical imbalances. It shouldn't be this hard...

I don't truly understand all of the aspects of clinical depression, but I know enough to know it isn't easy to overcome and there is no magic bullet. Hugs to all who suffer. I'm hopeful things can change for the better. You deserve more.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

Yes, it would be so nice if people could get this through their heads so they could stop telling me to just think positively and go do something fun. That's like telling someone with a broken leg that they would be fine if they would just make an effort to walk normally. I've been pushing through despite everything for years now, and yet the illness doesn't magically go away. This is why I rarely tell anyone what I'm going through.

I'm also starting to really resent the overhyping of meditation and mindfulness in relation to mental health. It's nice that there's a push for more understanding of mental illness these days, but I feel like that movement has been hijacked by people who never had severe mental illness. They just went through one rough patch at some point and now they go around telling everyone that meditation is the magic cure for all mental illness. It's actually harmful for the general public's understanding of real mental illness as opposed to temporary dissatisfaction with life.

I hate it because it totally trivializes what all of us with more severe conditions like bipolar and schizophrenia are going through. Now whenever someone finds out I'm bipolar it's almost impossible to convince them that it's a lifelong condition and I'm not taking these meds just because I haven't heard about meditation yet. I sometimes find myself having to defend the fact that I take meds because some people appear to think it's just an easy solution for people who don't want to put in the effort to really "work on themselves," like taking vitaming supplements because you don't want to put in the effort of making healthy meals. I'm not choosing to live in this hell because I'm "afraid of change" or "too lazy to try something new." To me, insisting that meditation would "cure" me is just another way of saying you don't think bipolar is a real illness, that it's "all in my head," and that I have only myself to blame for it because I don't try hard enough.

I agree with the ideas around all of this. But, meditation is beyond critical for me in managing psychosis anf anxiety. It allows me not to take Klonopin, which aggravates my depression.

[Fuzzybear]

I agree. I also agree that nobody ‘wants’ to be depressed

[FluffyDinosaur]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

I agree with the ideas around all of this. But, meditation is beyond critical for me in managing psychosis anf anxiety. It allows me not to take Klonopin, which aggravates my depression.

Sure, no doubt that it has benefits for some people. I just wish it hadn't taken over the whole mental illness debate the way it has, to the extent that anyone with mental illness practically gets meditation shoved down their throat now. I have no problem believing that meditation can help people remain balanced and focused, but I don't believe for a second that it's enough to cure a major depressive episode, and it's the many claims that it can that I resent.

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

Sure, no doubt that it has benefits for some people. I just wish it hadn't taken over the whole mental illness debate the way it has, to the extent that anyone with mental illness practically gets meditation shoved down their throat now. I have no problem believing that meditation can help people remain balanced and focused, but I don't believe for a second that it's enough to cure a major depressive episode, and it's the many claims that it can that I resent.

We are in total agreement.

[neverending]

I cannot meditate. They tried guided imagry in one of my hopitalizations in the 80s. Normally I do not hallucinate but trying to do imagry actually morphs into hearing voices etc and makes everything worse. I refuse to do any type of meditation exercise. And my doctors and therapists accept that and do not try that type of therapy w me.

Again, as I am always saying, all of us are different. None of us can be put in a box saying this absolutely works for everyone w bipolar. Whether its meds, suppliments, types of therapy, whatever.

It really angers me when people seem to think there is a one size solution that fits everyone.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

.....

I'm also starting to really resent the overhyping of meditation and mindfulness in relation to mental health. It's nice that there's a push for more understanding of mental illness these days, but I feel like that movement has been hijacked by people who never had severe mental illness. They just went through one rough patch at some point and now they go around telling everyone that meditation is the magic cure for all mental illness. It's actually harmful for the general public's understanding of real mental illness as opposed to temporary dissatisfaction with life.

YES!!!

I hate it because it totally trivializes what all of us with more severe conditions like bipolar and schizophrenia are going through. Now whenever someone finds out I'm bipolar it's almost impossible to convince them that it's a lifelong condition and I'm not taking these meds just because I haven't heard about meditation yet. I sometimes find myself having to defend the fact that I take meds because some people appear to think it's just an easy solution for people who don't want to put in the effort to really "work on themselves," like taking vitaming supplements because you don't want to put in the effort of making healthy meals. .....

Absolutely!!!

I'd like to see your post on billboards in every town and city in the country!

I will say that healthy breathing helps to calm my moderate anxiety. I mean, hyperventilating is never a good thing. But too often (frighteningly so) meditation invites in "bad" images/psychotic thoughts, etc. I have explained it to people and they don't seem to get it.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

Sure, no doubt that it has benefits for some people. I just wish it hadn't taken over the whole mental illness debate the way it has, to the extent that anyone with mental illness practically gets meditation shoved down their throat now. I have no problem believing that meditation can help people remain balanced and focused, but I don't believe for a second that it's enough to cure a major depressive episode, and it's the many claims that it can that I resent.

I agree, I don't believe that meditation alone will cure a major depressive episode.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I'd like to see your post on billboards in every town and city in the country!

I will say that healthy breathing helps to calm my moderate anxiety. I mean, hyperventilating is never a good thing. But too often (frighteningly so) meditation invites in "bad" images/psychotic thoughts, etc. I have explained it to people and they don't seem to get it.

I've found that guided imagery sometimes invites in ''bad'' thoughts. It rarely helps my anxiety when it's severe (and can make it worse). I agree that healthy breathing helps calm anxiety when It's moderate (I find this too)