is accepting depression necessarily a good thing?

[RK]

is it a good idea to enter into a mind set that you are depressed and therefor increase your perception of your self as a person who is depressed? I've been thinking about going to the doctors to see if I can receive some help with my mood, which often consists of unusual amounts of depression, anxiety, restlessness, pore concentration etc. But I fear that doing so may simply lead me into a world where I further concern my self with my own mental state. I think I'm already engaged in a bit of a vicious cycle with that kind of thing.

Obviously there's a certain amount of stigma associated with this type of thing, not just put on you by other people but also by your self. so I'm not entirely sure whether it's better to cross the line and try to tackle the problem from the standpoint of someone who is irrefutably depressed or someone who is trying, and on occasion succeeding, to stave off depression.

just wondered if anyone had had any similar thoughts on the matter?

[alex1973]

Thats an interesting question. I see what you mean, that by accepting it you start to dwell on it and label yourself a depressed person. Some people I know have indeed done that.

All I can say though is that acceptance of an illness is your first step in moving foward. Accept its a part of your life but that it doesnt define your life or personality. Just like any illness, its better to recieve any help and treatment you can get that can be beneficial. Dont deny yourself that but dont fall into the trap of seeing yourself solely as a depressed person but a person who happens to have depression at times.

I recently took up Aikido, a martial art. I asked on an Aikido forum if it was acceptable for me to train while taking an anti-depressant. Everyone who answered said yes, it is something that aids you and it is no different than taking any other medication say something for blood pressure fore example. Dont deny yourself any help you can get that can help you feel abit better. Anti-depressants in themselves are never the answer but finding the right one for you can help improve your mood somewhat.

[Buttercup]

A very interesting question

I'm bipolar & as part of my acceptance I am drawing up a plan with my support worker. The idea is that you learn to recognise the early signs and can help yourself by doing little things to try & nip the episode in the bud. This applies to both depressive & manic episode.

Transferring this to unipolar depression then the same is true. By accepting you know what you need to battle and can do little things to aid your own recovery as well as accepting help possibly in the form of meds.

[Catbrian]

I can see exactly what you mean, but sometimes acceptance is half the battle; you can then look for strategies for coping.

[Sweetpea]

I have personally found that by accepting the fact that I suffer with depression has helped me to cope.  It has taken me years of fighting it to accept it and this has helped me deal with it.

S x x x x

[hippychick49]

It took me a long time to accept that I was depressed. But once I accepted I was ill, I found the strength to get help. I am feeling so much better now but by acknowledging I had depression means I am aware and I hope that I have put in place strategies to avoid another episode. If I do get depressed again, I hope I will recognise it and seek help so much sooner.

[Pip]

For me it was a matter of accepting I suffer with depression but it doesn't define me as a person.

[stewart]

Hi RK,
a good question you ask, i would say that accepting it would be a right thing.
talk to your doc, and remember it is in confidance, the doc could perscribe medication that will help.
this condition it there whether we choose to accept it or not, i would think that denying this could just add stress and maybe confusion to life.

[Zaf]

It took me a long while to accept that depression is always going to be part of my life but having done so I can now take steps to learn to live to it

Z xxx

[RK]

Thanks for the replies. Sorry I'm only just replying, to your reply's. :)

[musicken]

Only just seen this thread, but  Yes, I think that it's a positive thing to accept depression as a part of me. Without accepting it I can't recognise the signs, and attempt to keep it under control.

[sophie21]

For me, recognizing and then accepting that I have depression was such a positive and helpful thing for me to do. It stopped me putting the blame and guilt on myself for the things that I could no longer do, because I finally realized it wasn't my fault - I have an illness.

[Zaf]

I've thought about this a lot and I think its been good for me in this last episode, I'm not sure if the answer would have been the same several years ago.

Now I realise its something I need to manage and not feel guilty about, in a way its a disability - if I was an amputee or in a wheelchair my disability would be obvious but depression is a hidden disability and as such I think more difficult to come to terms with because of other people's preconceptions of the illness

Z xx