 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / March 2008Happy thoughts
I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to some stunning realizations. I am a very lucky person. The other night I was deranged over a cat that came to our back door... but we have a back door and I have a we to be part of, and if I am careful with money for the next two months until things pick up at work I will be able to help this new foster, the one we already have and take care of the needs of the rest of the pounce. I also did some looking, and it is amazing to me that there are so many news groups about so much, I found several on pain management, several on depression, and I even saw the one that Gramby looked at about grief when her husband passed away. I am lucky to live in an age where all of these groups, so specific the needs of the posters are available... and lastly but not least: -I am lucky to have met Dan in person and I am lucky he was such a good human salve for Harri. -I am lucky that I got to know Pam during her lengthy hospital stay, I know she thinks I helped her, but talking to her helped me as well. -I am lucky to know several on this group just from the postings here and the occasional emails, knowing there are like minded people who enjoy their cats and take comfort in their love is very gratifying to me. -I am lucky that with the help of this group and one other I have managed to get my best friend Gramby sucked into the world of cats... I am only a little frightened that she might try and make me grow another unfortunate plant. Lee and I am very fortunate that you guys don't criticize spelling mistakes, Lee > I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to some > stunning realizations. [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Lee Well, you could try and grow catnip. I came to this group when my husband died and I needed some laughter and to make new friends. Sharing stories about our cats and, on occasion, our sorrows has been so good for me. This group filled a lot of lonely days, and nights. >I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to >some [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Lee *very wide innocent eyes* hmmm err I guess I didn't actually tell you we bought two of those last summer for the cats, put them in the TV room to keep them safe... the cats really enjoyed the dried leaves, Lee > Well, you could try and grow catnip. > [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > > > > Lee Should have known. Guess I will grow some and bring to you. Leaves dry, the right way!!! > *very wide innocent eyes* > [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] >> > >> > Lee all the plants in the world thank you, Lee > Should have known. Guess I will grow some and bring to you. Leaves dry, > the right way!!! [quoted text clipped - 56 lines] > >> > > >> > Lee > *very wide innocent eyes* > > hmmm err I guess I didn't actually tell you we bought two of those last > summer for the cats, put them in the TV room to keep them safe... the > cats > really enjoyed the dried leaves, Lee Tried to grow nip. The cats ate them off at the stalks. So I tried it outside. Cats came from all over to roll in and eat the leaves. Tried it in a planter hanging from the ceiling. Do you know that Pine Cone can leap as far as 6' in a horizontal direction and land in a hanging pot and graze the plant down in less than 10 minutes? I know that now. Someday, maybe I'll find a way to grow the things. Pam S. who has to buy the fresh stuff and still loses it the first day to cat predations Well, when I did grow it, I used a plastic cloths basket, more of a hamper a tall one. Put it is the garage at night. You are right though you have a lot of visits from cats you never knew wear around. >> *very wide innocent eyes* >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Pam S. who has to buy the fresh stuff and still loses it the first day to > cat predations >> *very wide innocent eyes* >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Pam S. who has to buy the fresh stuff and still loses it the first day to > cat predations The one I planted last summer in an outdoor pot inside a cage survived. It got big enough to stick out of the cage and Molly ate that as it grew. The cage has deteriorated over the winter, but the plant is alive at the base and now sturdy enough I don't think Molly can kill it. After all, it is in the mint family. Have you ever tried to kill mint once it takes hold? Jo Kind of like wild onions, once you got it, you got it. >>> *very wide innocent eyes* >>> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Jo > I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to some > stunning realizations. That's the thing that has be scratching my head. I know perfectly well that I have things very, very good. I have a wife I love and who loves me, we have 6 beautiful kitties to share our lives with, we have a house, we both have jobs, we both have vehicles we can use to get to work and back. Our kitties are healthy and are able to play safely in the back yard, we're both healthy, our families are more or less healthy. I have two wonderful groups of cat-loving people to talk to and share things with, and have actually met a couple of those wonderful people - and LIKED them. I live in a country where I don't have to worry about people from another country shooting at me or my family (so far :)). I've got medical and dental insurance - sucky insurance, but way better than no insurance. So the fact that I feel so down all of the time really seriously makes me wonder what kind of biochemical black magic can make me feel that way in spite of all these positive things. I guess what I realized is that how I feel isn't going to always be the way I want to feel but I can stop look around and at least feel some gratitude, and for me, not dwell on the really crappy way I can feel, Lee > > I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to some > > stunning realizations. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > wonder what kind of biochemical black magic can make me feel that way in > spite of all these positive things. My friend, and I do consider you a friend, so long as you keep looking for the positive, that is what matters. Dwelling on the downside can't help. I have a list by my puter of the good things and the bad in my life and, the good outnumbers the bad. So, where and when will your story be published . I did one of those poetry things that was supposed to be for a prize and it turned out to be a scam, in my opinion, two years later they are still trying to get money from me to publish my poem in a book. >> I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to >> some [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > wonder what kind of biochemical black magic can make me feel that way in > spite of all these positive things. > My friend, and I do consider you a friend, so long as you keep looking for > the positive, that is what matters. Dwelling on the downside can't help. I [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > in my opinion, two years later they are still trying to get money from me to > publish my poem in a book. Last year's book was published around June, I think. The coffeehouse web page is at http://www.cafe-diem.com/cafediem/ames.htm (they really, really need to clean up their web site). The page describing the contest from 2006 is at http://www.cafe-diem.com/cafediem/. I can't seem to find the page for the current one. >> I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to >> some [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > wonder what kind of biochemical black magic can make me feel that way in > spite of all these positive things. All the positive thinking in the world won't cure depression with a biological base. Neither does have vs. have not. There are lots of treatments out there. One of them will work for almost everyone. And not all the side effects are bad. I stay on Paxil all the time now, because it helps with pain management and it prevents migraines. Since I can't take most pain killers it really helps. Jo but that is my point you have so made for me, you can't take many pain killers, and have migraines, I suffer those, but you worked at until you found something that works for you and that is just a fabulous thing to me, Lee > >> I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to > >> some [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Jo Migraines are nasty things, I know. I found out mine were caused by MSG (monosodium glutamate), a flavor enhancer, mainly used in Chinese/Teriyaki food. But it can also be found in gravies, soups, salad dressings, anything. I have to be very careful, read labels and IF we eat out, I always ask if there's msg in the food. Also, you might want to avoid chocolate (a favorite comfort food for me), red wine, and sharp cheddar cheeses. I got a magazine from a hospital yesterday and there was an article about migraines in it. PURRS that you can get rid of them. Love Kyla "Stormmee" > but that is my point you have so made for me, you can't take many pain > killers, and have migraines, I suffer those, but you worked at until you [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] >> >> Jo >> I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came >> to some stunning realizations. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > makes me wonder what kind of biochemical black magic can make me feel > that way in spite of all these positive things. Thats the difference between 'pathological' depression and 'situational' depression. Everyone is going to feel times of sadness and lowness in their lives, and its perfectly understanable when a close friend and/or relative dies, or you lose your job or you break up with someone etc etc. Tahts *situational* and will lift once the *situation* gets better and/or the grief starts to heal. The depression that isn't related to any particular situation is the type where you know intellectually things are OK, but thats not how it *feels* -a nd htas because of some brain chemistry going awry. I find when I'm in a routine and I get bored, depression starts to nibble at me. Thats when I have to get out, break the routine, and go do something different (and preferrably outside, in the sunshine). And yes, as much as I hate to say it, heart-rate elevating excercise really does make a difference to my mood. Not htat I *like* doing excercise (I'm a couch potato by preference) but it makes a noticable and almost instantaneous improvement in how I'm feeling. A brisk walk with Fluffy always helps (she tends to walk me rather than the other way around) Yowie > Thats the difference between 'pathological' depression and 'situational' > depression. Everyone is going to feel times of sadness and lowness in their [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > situation is the type where you know intellectually things are OK, but thats > not how it *feels* -a nd htas because of some brain chemistry going awry. Well, I can't argue with that, because I'm sure that there are many people who have a biochemical thing going on, myself included. But sometimes I also wonder if some of my depression isn't situational. Not in the sense of a temporary and easily identifiable situation, such as those you mentioned, but in the sense of an environment that I've lived in so long that I don't even realize it's not healthy. It just feels normal. And I don't think I'm the only one. I think people are more and more isolated, and lots of people are very lonely. In years past, people lived with their extended families, or they lived near their parents and started their own families in the same community where they grew up, and so did their siblings. Communities and families are a lot more fractured now. I do realize that there are some families we're better off being away from. But even if you come from a bad family and you're glad to have gotten away, that doesn't mean you stop needing the things that family and community used to provide. What has replaced those things? I'm glad for those who have found or created their own families and communities and are fulfilled by that, but I think for a lot of people, there isn't a good replacement. And so many people are in that situation, that it just feels normal to many of us. So we don't consider that loneliness and a lack of belonging, security, and continuity might be the cause of depression for many people. This is not to say there isn't biochemical depression. But sometimes I think we're medicating people who are suffering not from bad brain chemistry, but from 21st century life. Joyce  SignatureTo send email to this address, remove the triple-X from my user name. "Daniel Mahoney" < >> I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to >> some [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > wonder what kind of biochemical black magic can make me feel that way in > spite of all these positive things. May I offer you a BIG HUG??? That might help:) Kyla >I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to >some [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > know > she thinks I helped her, but talking to her helped me as well. Which reminds me, girlfriend. I can't find your phone number. I wanted to call you, but can't. Can you email me, or call me if you still have my phone number? Pam S. who loved her talked with Lee, even if she don't remember them very well. > I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to > some stunning realizations. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Lee That is great! We all should remember to "Count the Blessings". By the-ay, when I was a child, I learned a song by that name. I think of often. MLB I actually heard that song the other day and was surprised I remembered most of the words. Counting blessings can help when you feel down. Even if the words don't mean much. I am a list maker and the good always outweigh the bad and, so long as that is the case, things are pretty good in my world. >> I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to >> some stunning realizations. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > By the-ay, when I was a child, I learned a song by that name. I think of > often. MLB one of the best way I ever learned to count blessings was at the end of each day, no matter how horrid the day you write down 3 things that make you grateful, can be as small as I didn't spill the cat food, after a week you will see you have a pretty good life, Lee > > I have been thinking about all of this talk of depression and I came to > > some stunning realizations. [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > By the-ay, when I was a child, I learned a song by that name. I think of > often. MLB Does I didn't murder Willow for bending another curtain rod count? > one of the best way I ever learned to count blessings was at the end of > each [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] >> By the-ay, when I was a child, I learned a song by that name. I think of >> often. MLB I am guessing that should be on HER list, Lee > Does I didn't murder Willow for bending another curtain rod count? > > one of the best way I ever learned to count blessings was at the end of [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > >> By the-ay, when I was a child, I learned a song by that name. I think of > >> often. MLB
|
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.