lightNlife
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<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/09/are-cf-patients-more-prone-to.html">Are CF Patients More Prone to Depression?</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/06/vitamin-b-and-depression.html">Cystic Fibrosis, Vitamin B and Depression</a>
CF aside, depression, specifically manic-depressive disorder runs in my family. For many years my coping skills were enough to help me combat anxiety. As my CF progressed and things became increasingly stressful, I noticed that I was not able to keep up with normal activities because the depression was weighing me down, and the mania was keeping me from being able to get enough rest.
My first experience with anti-depressants was about 5 years ago following a severely traumatic and disruptive event in life. At that time I didn't have a counselor or therapist who knew enough about CF to really work with me to find the most appropriate solutions.
More recently (about a year ago) I brought my concerns to my CF doctor. Yes, it was very difficult to admit that I was feeling "out of control" or like I was "screwed up" somehow, but I figured if I can't share information about my mental health with my doctor, then I have no hope of getting the right treatment. He recommended a wonderful psychiatrist who sees a lot of CFers. My experience with her has been great! She helped me find medications that did not interfere with my CF meds, and we found a combination that does well to combat the anxiety that goes along with my particular "flavor" of depression.
It's very common for people with chronic illness to have issues of depression. The daily rigor of trying to manage life as we do can certainly take its toll. Medication may not be the right solution for everyone; For those like myself who do take anti-depressants, it's important to remember that medication alone isn't the solution either. It takes a combination of taking care of your physical health, surrounding yourself with the right type of emotional or spiritual support.
I highly recommend the book <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Genes-Focus-Family-Books/dp/1589971965">Blue Genes</a>. It does an excellent job of explaining the different types of mood disorders and making the reader feel hopeful that whatever they're going through can be dealt with once the right resources are utilized.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/06/vitamin-b-and-depression.html">Cystic Fibrosis, Vitamin B and Depression</a>
CF aside, depression, specifically manic-depressive disorder runs in my family. For many years my coping skills were enough to help me combat anxiety. As my CF progressed and things became increasingly stressful, I noticed that I was not able to keep up with normal activities because the depression was weighing me down, and the mania was keeping me from being able to get enough rest.
My first experience with anti-depressants was about 5 years ago following a severely traumatic and disruptive event in life. At that time I didn't have a counselor or therapist who knew enough about CF to really work with me to find the most appropriate solutions.
More recently (about a year ago) I brought my concerns to my CF doctor. Yes, it was very difficult to admit that I was feeling "out of control" or like I was "screwed up" somehow, but I figured if I can't share information about my mental health with my doctor, then I have no hope of getting the right treatment. He recommended a wonderful psychiatrist who sees a lot of CFers. My experience with her has been great! She helped me find medications that did not interfere with my CF meds, and we found a combination that does well to combat the anxiety that goes along with my particular "flavor" of depression.
It's very common for people with chronic illness to have issues of depression. The daily rigor of trying to manage life as we do can certainly take its toll. Medication may not be the right solution for everyone; For those like myself who do take anti-depressants, it's important to remember that medication alone isn't the solution either. It takes a combination of taking care of your physical health, surrounding yourself with the right type of emotional or spiritual support.
I highly recommend the book <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Genes-Focus-Family-Books/dp/1589971965">Blue Genes</a>. It does an excellent job of explaining the different types of mood disorders and making the reader feel hopeful that whatever they're going through can be dealt with once the right resources are utilized.