Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Is depression/anxiety a symptom of AS?

My dear, we do need smarty pants Harvard types to tell us that when there are still people around who think that all you need to do to cure your depression is change how you think. Would that it were not so.

Warm hugs,

kat,

thanks for these articles!

Truth be told, I was completely intolerant of depression in others until I came down with it myself. I remember clearly telling my sister that her friend just needed to open her curtains each morning, and get on with her day. I had no clue that depression can come with debilitating leg weakness, light sensitivity, and nausea. I hope to never feel like that again. This is nice to hear what everyone has to say. I suspected quite a few KickAS'ers knew a thing or two about the subject. I love it here:)

my mother was always telling me "if you just think happy thoughts, you will be happy......." and similar sentiments. about 15 years ago, she had a mental breakdown. turns out she had something from her past growing up that she had repressed like 45 years and finally it came out. all those years, she tried to control the depression herself by trying to think happy thoughts. it did not work. after her breakdown, she never again ascribed to the "think happy thoughts" formula. she has been on antidepressants for the last 15 years and has been happier these last 15 years than she was most of her life. if only she had not tried to deal with it herself by "trying to be happy" and had gotten the help that she needed, she could have actually been happy.

That's the thing, depression that goes beyond situational (and even then) must be treated. A combination of talk therapy and meds is the best way to go sometimes. There is no shame in taking anti-depressants, but often, people fear it would be a sign of weakness.

The thing is, especially when someone is living with the pain of arthritis, treating the depression will also help to deal with the pain. Conversely, treating the pain will help to deal with the depression. There are many non-med based techniques that can help ease both (relaxation, meditation, prayer, stretching, exercise, good sleep, proper diet), but it's hard to wrap your mind around that when you're in the midst of pain and depression. That's where a truly good therapist can come in handy.

Warm hugs,

It was not changing my thinking that helped me it was changing the company I kept and the lifestyle I lead

When I was younger I spent a lot of time around people that I thought could help me get 'my head right'. How wrong I was about that LOL

Most of the folk I new then were proper messed up themselves, and when they were saying things like 'don't worry, be happy' or 'Think positive' or ' Speak only of nice things' actually was a way for them to faff me off whilst they came moaning to me about their stuff and to get me to sort their stuff too LOL

As you know I had an illness at that time, but other folk told me that I did not and that I was imagining it, or exagerating, sympathy seeking, the lot. I spent many a long time trying to get people that should understand to understnad but they would not.

When I was trapped in this mess I became very poorly, first and foremonst with the IBS, sacroiliac problem, flare problem and so on, but with the neglect I also became poorly with my mind, very confused about whether or not my illness was real, constantly obsessing how I could get others to understand, and I became very depressed with the helplessness

In the end I developed a lot of addiction problems, bread, pasta cake, diet coke, chocolate, cigarettes and so on. All this stuff on top of my very parculiar flare thing and IBS thing made me feel like I was a crazy person

Anyway, to cut a long story short to get to a better place with all this Ihad to get away from all the people that were bullying me. It was hard because I actually loved many of the people that thought I was a fool. But me staying around people that could not or would not help me, was creating coals for my back. I had to put my health and my emotional welbeing above all the crazy comments I got from other folk

I had to start looking after me as if I was the only person in the world LOL

I know this sounds incredibly selfish and it was, but the truth is this, if I had not made the decision to put myself and my health above everybody else I would not be here now, and I am absolutely certain of that

I had to create resources all around me that would cushion me in every circumstance, getting me well became my only objective. It became a mission and anything that got in my way, including people I loved dearly, had to go

Now do not get me wrong I did not turn all aggressive and nasty towards the folk that were telling me my illness was in my head but their problems were real, I just kindly slipped away

I told folk that I was never home so it would be a waste of time calling around and later I told them I had no phone and other stuff. I got away from all the people that were making my life hell with the 'psychological advice' and instead I started listening to my own advice

My own advice was that no matter what was wrong with me, no matter how serious this complaint was I could improve my lot by eating sensibly (which I had worked out meant no porcessed foods and low carb), adding useful vitamins and mineral, and doing very very gentle excercise that I enjoyed like gardening walking in the park etc

I started to read the stuff of folk I new had good ideas, like Weston Price, Paul MCKenna, joyce Meyers etc, and I started putting their DVds and CDs on in my house, car etc, so that all the time I was listening to supportive comments, not glib one liners that had clearly been meant to put me down, like so many of my friends and family had been using in the past

I simply would not listen to people that were insinuating I was weak and feeble minded, instead I searched for situations that made me feel good about myself

these situations often had a lot to do with music and nature and art and comedy. So I focused on these four areas and built more nad more of this stuff into my life

I developed a job where I would be incharge and all day long I would do only things I enjoy. I joined groups where the folk thier fitted into my ideas of how a good life should be lead

Along the way, I made many mistakes, invited fools into my circle and got involved with things that lead to similar stuff I had left, like ' folk that love to argue, bend my mind and so on ' but my skilss got better and better and I learned more and more how to get away from folk that were not good for me and that would not help me to get well

I used nutriton to help me overcome my addictions, all of which I have now concurred. I used fun excercise to help me get my body stronger, and now although I am not as strong as the average person I am significantly stronger than I was. i brought home lots and lots of great books, DVDs CDs etc and buit up a collecting I can listen to any time and I also gather tonnes of fun activities I can do when ever I want. I kind of became a loving parent to myself, making sure the very poorly side of mr physically, mentally and emotionally got the best of what it needed to get well

I have to go now but remember no matter what your illness tells you or even what other people tell you you are a valuble person that desrves to be loved in a special way by you

Love Joanne

Thanks for this comment. I have always felt physical disability was a character defect in myself, but curiously not in others! The same with depression/anxiety. I am the first person to support someone if they need to get help or are having a difficult time. But me? That's where I've had to learn to treat my own self with respect and caring courtesy. Like you, I've become dependent upon excellent nutrition and exercise, and cut out the chemicals.

I notice a pattern with most posts. People say "its not your thoughts its a chemical imbalance or something like that. But then they say "I spent most of my day thinking about killing myself or "how bad I felt". This is what I'm talking about. Thoughts lead to feelings. all the time. Most people are not aware they can control there thought processes which in turn will control their emotional field. No harvard study will tell you this. No medical person will tell you this. All medical people will tell you it's rooted in a "chemical inbalance" and you have no control over that. that is just how medical people roll. I know I'm in the medical profession.
I'm not interested in making people believe me or buy into my thinking. I borrow everything from my yoga philosophy teachers I've had for 20 years. I didnt invent the stuff. It's merely my perspective on things. You guys have your perspective. Continue to believe what you may. and live with those consequences.

I hope severe depressive illness never happens to you. If it does, my guess is you will feel differently. Severe clinical depression takes away your ability to control your thought processes at will. I'm assuming you don't agree with the DSMIV diagnostic criteria.

You may be right Wendy. All I have is my current perspective on the way I view things.

I'm sure if depression is allowed to take hold it will eventually cause all kinds of measurable problems in the body. then it can be verified as organic in nature. No doubt.