From The New York Times, book reviewer and best-selling author Andrew Solomon writes, “Not so long ago, the mere fact of writing that you had suffered from depression conferred a badge of courage, but such confessions have devolved into a dull mark of solipsistic forthrightness. Famous people use such disclosures to persuade you that they are just like you, perhaps even more vulnerable; it’s a way of compensating for the discomfort attached to their glamor. Indeed, in an increasingly stratified world, people with any modicum of privilege may reveal their depression as an assertion of their common humanity. Clinical misery has taken over from death as the great equalizer. Vanity of vanities, all is depression. Into this morass daringly comes Daphne Merkin with the long-awaited chronicle of her own consuming despair, ‘This Close to Happiness: A Reckoning with Depression.'” Read the entire article here.
Diving Into Hell: A Powerful Memoir of Depression
Coming to Terms With Depression
In her new memoir, This Close to Happy, Daphne Merkin writes about how she’s made her way through life, not despite, but with depression. She tells NPR’s Scott Simon that sometimes she just has to push herself through bad days. “At really bad times, I will admit I don’t get up,” she says. “I sort of languish, or sleep. But mostly I try and combat it by assertions of will. Which is not the same as saying, ‘Pull yourself up by your bootstraps,’ though … there’s a point at which these assertions of will don’t help. But otherwise, I think there’s a way of negotiating depression, like, talking to it. Saying, ‘you can do this, you’ll be OK, try going outside, try sitting at your desk.’ You know, kind of coaxing oneself.” Listen to the interview here.
Should I Tell My Students I Have Depression?
From The New York Times, Abby Wilkerson writes: “The new class I was teaching — “Composing Disability: Crip Ecologies” — was one of several first-year writing seminars offered at George Washington University. Given the focus, it was likely to be a challenge for at least some of the students. And it was presenting a particular challenge to me. Even before the class began, I was anxious. I have depression, and I wondered: Should I acknowledge it in the class? Would the students benefit if I did? I wanted to be sure I knew what I was doing, for everyone’s sake, before taking the leap. But I was not at all certain. The idea of disclosing in the classroom made me feel conflicted and vulnerable.” Read the rest of the story.
3 Things Entrepreneurs Need to Do When Dealing With Depression
Chris Myers writes in Forbes magazine: “Since I first began writing about the struggles with anxiety, depression, and uncertainty two years ago, I’ve heard from hundreds of entrepreneurs who are in desperate need of help. I’ve been humbled by the response, and do my best to connect with each person in a timely manner. Invariably, the number of people who reach out spikes this time of year, no doubt due to the pressure of the Holidays and reflection that takes place at year-end. With that in mind, I thought it might be an appropriate time to share an excerpt from my latest book, ‘Enlightened Entrepreneurship,’ in the hope that it provides solace to fellow entrepreneurs who might be suffering”. Read the rest of the story.
27% of Medical Students Are Depressed
Time Magazine reports that doctors have far higher rates of depression than the average person. According to a new analysis, that elevated risk is present even before they become doctors, back when they’re in medical school. Researchers analyzed nearly 200 studies of 129,000 medical students in 47 countries. They found that 27% of medical students had depression or symptoms of it, and 11% reported suicidal thoughts during medical school. Medical students were two to five times more likely to have depression than the general population; their depression prevalence ranged from 9%-56%. Read the rest of the story.
‘The Impact on Society is Enormous’ in Legal Profession, Depression, Addiction Hurt Clients, Too
CBC News reports: “Ten years ago, litigation lawyer Michele Hollins was a ‘perpetually happy person,’ with twin daughters and a partnership in her Calgary law firm. Then, depression struck. For a while, Hollins was able to hide her illness at work, then go home and ‘become a complete automaton,’ she says, unable to eat or even muster the energy to get ready for bed. Read the rest of the story.
‘A Funny Thing Happened . . .’ New Podcast Finds Humor in the Depression-Comedy Link
Depression isn’t funny, right? Or is it? In a new podcast premiering this week, humorist and MPR host John Moe looks at the links between depression and comedy through conversations with nationally respected comedians who discuss their struggles with mental illness. The podcast, which is available for download on iTunes, Spotify, and other sources, is sponsored by HealthPartners as part of the health plan’s Make It OK campaign. Moe’s show is called, fittingly, “The Hilarious World of Depression.” Read the rest of the story.
Six Ways to Sweat Out Stress
CNN reports that calming activities such as yoga and meditation can be very effective stress relievers, especially when integrated into daily life. However, sometimes stress, like steam trapped under the lid of a boiling pot, needs a more powerful release.Although many forms of exercise counter stress by boosting endorphins (our brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters), recent research points to higher-intensity exercise offering increased mood-enhancing benefits. According to a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in August, moderate and high-intensity exercise demonstrated a greater beneficial impact than low-intensity forms. Read this News.
Bipolar Can Be Difficult to Diagnose and Even Harder to Treat
The Washington Post reports about 2.6 percent of adults. The disorder can be hard to recognize and harder to treat. Combining medications often brings substantial improvement, but some patients experience side effects and show minimal improvement. Researchers, who have found that bipolar disorder is inherited more than 70 percent of the time, hope to identify drugs to target the 20 genetic variations known to be associated with the disorder. Read the Story.
Yoga Breathing May Help to Reduce Depression
New research finds that a breathing-based meditation practice helped alleviate severe depression in people who did not fully respond to antidepressant treatments. Investigators from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania discovered breathing practices associated with Sudarshan Kriya yoga significantly improved symptoms of depression and anxiety. Read the Story.
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