Doing Well Versus Feeling Good: The Self-Esteem Debate

205122 Resource 190283 190808 190808 1211950606355 1212599363212 Controlled Anxiety, Depression and Resilience

Is there a family relationship?

If we bring up depression fairly regularly on this blog, it's only because it is a pervasive problem that can occur even in the most average of families. Further, depression both affects and can be affected by <a title="Relationships and Depression" href="item/193146" target="_blank">relationships</a>. Discussions about this subject often approach it from the back end. How can depression be treated once it has been diagnosed? Obviously this important question can't be ignored. Depression is a global problem that can have lasting consequences within families, and causes are often nuanced and multi-layered. Researchers are learning that biological, social and psychological factors often interact, not only to produce depression but also to ameliorate it. In fact, the most successful treatments for severe forms of depression often include a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacology: treatment of the biological factors along with sociopsychological factors.But as the adage says, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Considering the fact that the average age for onset of childhood depression is significantly lower today than it was 50 years ago, it makes sense that researchers are actively working to come up with that precious ounce. If families could somehow learn how to prevent stressors from triggering depression, what would that mean for future generations? So—leaving aside bipolar disorder, which is currently considered treatable but incurable—what are the emotional or psychological states that most often lead to the more common forms of depression? Severe and persistent <a title="Stress" href="http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=1896&terms=stress+depression" target="_blank">stress</a>, <a title="Childhood Anxiety" href="http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=5452" target="_blank">anxiety</a> and <a title="Grieving" href="http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=2166" target="_blank">grief</a> are three major transit systems that can potentially speed individuals and families down that road. Anxiety disorders in particular are known to co-exist with depression in as many as 58 percent of cases. But researchers believe there are actions families can take to increase resilience under these circumstances, and to prevent depression from taking hold.Resilience, in psychological terms, describes the capacity for humans to withstand the stressors that can otherwise lead to depression. We will have more to say about family resilience studies in future posts, but in the meantime a wealth of information on the topic can be found on the Web site for the <a title="American Psychological Association" href="http://www.apa.org/releases/templetonwinner.html" target="_blank">American Psychological Association</a> (APA). 9 application/xml false childhood anxiety depression resilience Doing Well Versus Feeling Good: The Self-Esteem Debate Why the self-esteem movement has not succeeded in alleviating depression and unhappiness. http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=4488 Don't Worry, Be Happy Because the brain has plasticity, or the capacity to change throughout life, our predispositions may be more malleable than we think. http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=1331 Bouncing Back: Relationships as the Core of Resilience Psychological resilience refers to the ability to bounce back from misfortune, change, trauma or loss rather than succumbing to depression. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, individuals and communities have greater resilience when their core attachments to home, community and the future remain intact. http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=4132 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; Avant Browser; SU 3.011; .NET CLR 1.0.3705; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; InfoPath.1; .NET CLR 2.0.50727) 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 gstepp 66.125.198.98 false true false false true 191587 false false true false false false true 206067 Resource 191587 173239 190808 1212718123413 1215029706767 Controlled Depression, Bipolar Disorder and Resilience

Acceptance and Action Add Up to Well-Being

When two of my three children were diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 17, I passed through the valley of grief and all it's uncomfortable but necessary crags and crevices:Denial -- "There must be a mistake, a misdiagnosis. Let's just get this kid feeling better and get on with our well-laid plans. They're top students and good athletes. They've got things to do!"Anger -- "I cannot believe a loving God would do this to my children. Their minds are their greatest assets, the source of their (literal & figurative) brilliance; and he's turned those minds into their vilest enemies."Bargaining -- "If we do everything right, follow all the doctors' orders, take all the meds, be the perfect parents, family, kids, this will go away."Depression -- "The children we had are gone. Sure, part of them is still here, but they have been undeniably altered. We grieve."Acceptance -- "We can work with this. It is what it is. We will find love and joy and happiness and peace within the parameters we've been given. We will examine our finest gifts and qualities and use them to the best of our abilities. We will have strong, loving relationships regardless of diagnoses, or challenges, or choices. And we will incite change in the world to make it a better place for people with serious mental illnesses."<ul><li>I transferred my writing skills from gardening and horticulture to all issues mental health. </li><li>I started a website, <a href="http://www.katemclaughlin.net">www.katemclaughlin.net</a> , and blog to support, inform and encourage those with mental illness and the people who love them. </li><li>I wrote a highly-acclaimed book, "MOMMY I'M STILL IN HERE," that chronicles our journey of grief, acceptance and success.</li><li>I speak to groups whenever and wherever I can to spread the word about mental health, resilience, and living well. </li><li>It works!</li></ul> 9 application/xml Kate McLaughlin on YouTube An on-the-spot interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEz8W43k3wc false Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.0; SLCC1; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; Media Center PC 5.0; .NET CLR 3.0.04506) 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 168.103.56.242 false true false false true 190283 blog blogsite/FamilyMatters/web