[quote]I am in full agreement that a positive attitude & outlook is important & extremely beneficial and this is something that comes with time following a diagnosis.
However, with regard to feeling down and utterly depressed, which can be as a result of many factors for each individual, I disagree entirely that it is a matter of "choice". While it is perhaps nothing to do with "the rest of us", our support will no doubt be beneficial & appreciated by those who choose to share their experiences and I would encourage all who feel comfortable with sharing to do so.[/quote]
Hi Angie Jayne,
Clinical depression is no joke and can be overwhelming and support should be garnered wherever it is available. But the sort of depression I was/am talking about is that connected specifically to or with Multiple Myeloma.
Receiving the diagnosis of MM with its terminal prognosis can also be overwhelming and can take the person involved into a very dark place… a place where it is very easy to give in to negative thoughts and negative actions. Trying to come to terms with treatment while in this frame of mind can be devastating for the patient and extremely difficult for the carer/s.
It is my contention that that person should try to fully understand the nature of MM, the types and length of each treatment and the overall prognosis of the disease. The type of support available on this board will show time and time again, through personal endeavour and experience that a positive approach to both the disease and the forms of treatment, gives a much more positive outcome than when tackled with a negative, defeatist attitude. Remember, I am not talking about people with a history of depression or somebody who has clinical depression… I am talking about those who find out that they have a terminal disease and who allow themselves to be overwhelmed by that fact and the treatment that comes with it.
Those people have a choice. They can give in to dark thoughts and take some sort of comfort from dark places or they can learn from the experiences of those who have gone before them and take comfort from the positive approaches and outcomes that those people offer as a way forward with MM.
You give 5 examples of places to go to share their experiences of depression, anxiety and fear… and I have no doubt they offer good advice… but it is my contention that visiting such sites can confirm anxieties, fears and forms of depression that may not yet truly exist.
I woud encourage anyone who visits or joins this site to take a good look around… not only at this board but at the whole site in general. The people who frequent this board have all been there… received the requisite support and experiences, make friends and use all of this to move on with a far more positive approach and outlook than when they first came on board. sometimes is is just too easy to give in to dark feelings and say 'Help me because I can't help myself'. I believe that we help people help themselves… through a positive outlook in a supportive environment and as often as not that is all they need.
Of course, if true depression sets it that is an entirely different matter.:-|
Regards
Dai.
DaiCro 12 years ago.
