More Fizzle + Reasons to be UP ... + Down + GOMER is back!

mental health MON

"Fizzling? Drop & Roll!" was the title of my sectional at the LEA Convocation in Grand Rapids, MI, last FRI 10/14. Here's the description which I submitted:  “Feel like you’re burning out? Working w/someone who may be burning out? Gain insights into symptoms & causes of burnout & depression, drawing upon research & my own personal experience. Learn from Scripture & where to get help, including resources such as counseling, Grace Place, & Shepherd’s Canyon Retreats.” I actually had the idea for this sectional before I officially entered my "sabbatical * phase. Already years before I succumbed to an unusually bad case of burnout/depression--one that I did NOT bounce back from, unlike previous bouts, I had come to the conclusion that professional church workers & their spouses & families may be especially susceptible & vulnerable for a variety of reasons & felt that I had some worthwhile information to       
share. 
      BIG NOTE! Although I "customized" this presentation to my audience at the Lutheran Education Association, I think the research I included in my presentation has value for others who may be victims of burnout and/or depression.
      ANOTHER BIG NOTE:  I've chosen to document my other sources, since I am NOT a MHP. 
      ONE LAST SET OF CAVEATS:  No two people's symptoms are exactly alike. No two people will respond to the same strategies alike.
      OKAY, I PROMISE . . . THIS IS IT! If there is one underlying thesis to my presentation, it might be this. [Underlying thesis follows.] Based on my experience, anecdotal evidence from & re:  others, & research, one of the things I set out to accomplish was to convince those in attendance that what may be perceived as a case of "burnout" may in fact be a case of clinical depression.

* Otherwise known as long-term medical disability & "semi-voluntary" leave-of-absence

IS CLINICAL DEPRESSION A WELL-KEPT SECRET? **

• It can be concealed behind proud masks of dignity, fear, necessity. [Example: "If people know I'm clinically depressed, they will treat me differently; they will judge me."]
• We’ll lie to our spouse, boss, families, friends, ourselves. [Guilty as charged.]
• The stigma of having others learn can be embarrassing . . . [despite living in an information age where so much more is known about depression.]
• We can convince ourselves that our inability to function is a character flaw, personal insufficiency, and/or lack of motivation.
• We fool ourselves into thinking that we could overcome this if only we were able to work harder. [PERSONAL SHARING FOLLOWS! Because of my issues, I couldn't keep up with the responsibilities of my job. Solution? Stay in my office more. Keep the door shut more. Stay at school longer each work day. Stay at school longer on Saturdays. Go to school immediately after church on Sundays. Work at school on Sundays after supper time. Continue to fall farther & farther behind.]
• Someone may ask, “How ya doin?" . . . 
•  . . . & there's a good chance we may respond, “I’m doin’ fine.” [I call this the "Liar, liar, pants on fire" response.]
• So it's estimated that as many as 2/3 who need help may not be getting help.
• [A SUBTLE & SUBVERSIVE ALTERNATIVE QUERY FOLLOWS!] “How long has it been since you’ve really felt like yourself?” [This may catch a person off-guard. At best, it may help you engage him in a productive conversation about his mood. At least it may get him thinking, even if he responds w/the "Liar, liar, pants on fire" response.}

WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION? **

For reasons either here-to-fore or subsequently examined, it's easy for those who are clinically depressed to blame themselves for their mood disorder. Not so fast! Here are some research-based causes.

1. A chemical imbalance in brain neurotransmitters not regulated properly [Otherwise, why would anti-depressants & other psycho-tropic meds work? OK, I suppose the cynics among you/us could point to a placebo effect.]
2. A family genetic pattern—history [PERSONAL REVELATION ALERT! As my siblings & I shared memories about grand-parents & parents, then checked some of our theories & memories against memories of other family memories, we became convinced of a history of mental health issues on at least one side of our family ancestry.]
3. Chronic stress floods the body w/stress hormones + increases our biological  vulnerability to depression. [PERSONAL REVELATION & SPECULATION ALERT! I think this was true to my case. QUESTION? Then why do some people seem to cope w/chronic stress w/o succumbing to mood disorders while others succumb?]
4. Significant losses in life can be a catalyst:  death, divorce, separation, losing a friend, getting fired or laid off or RIF’D, house burns down, floods.  [PERSONAL REVELATION ALERT! Family trauma; experiencing the death of both parents & my wife's father within 4 months; cancer surgery for both my wife & I {We are both cancer-free.}; several cycles of cluster headaches; finding out that I would not be returning to my position at LHNE . . . ]
5. An attitude of “Nothing I do matters or influences the quality or outcomes of my life.” [Guilty.]
6. A sense of personal helplessness oR lack of control over the circumstances of my life can promote depressive thinking. [PERSONAL REVELATION ALERT! Family trauma, conflicts & stress re:  my position @ LHNE, continued mental health issues despite continued mental health treatment, lack of spiritual progress despite more time devoted to spiritual health]
7. Persistent, life-long negative thinking [PERSONAL REVELATION ALERT! I always thought of myself as a relatively optimistic, "glass is half-full," think & expect the best of people" type of person, but as I sunk deeper into depression, I think I flipped.]
8. Unresolved anger at self, others, or some unchanging situation that you have no control over [Since I became pretty convinced that I had experienced burnout several times in the past but always bounced back, yet this time I was NOT bouncing back, some of this anger was directed at myself. Some was directed at people I worked with for attitudes & behaviors that ordinarily I could slough off. Some, to my great shame, was directed at my wife.]

MY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:  Despite perhaps more widespread understanding & acceptance of mood disorders, their remains a stigma attached to depression, anxiety disorders, OCD [often a source of jokes], & others. However, medical science probably has more treatments available for these conditions than ever before. Plus, the plethora of information that is "out there" potentially makes it easier to "self-diagnosis" & get help and/or recognize when someone else may need help.
      I included "Causes" because I think identifying & understanding at least some causes can help alleviate feelings of guilt for being clinically depressed. However, as a mental health specialist & I discussed at a Shepherd's Canyon Retreat last year, merely identifying a cause such as "family history" may help you understand your depression; it won't necessarily help you get better if you let it go at that.

** SOURCE
Yahnke, Dr. Beverly. “Depression:  Understanding the Pieces of the Puzzle.” Lutheran Hour Ministries brochure, 2013.

REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC...CHEERY...UPBEAT...HOPEFUL!

For years I have told everyone who'll listen that my favorite vegetable is onion rings. Alas, someone very close to me--someone, I might add whom I AM related to by marriage--has never gotten around to making a homemade batch of these delectable taste-treats. In fact, I can't remember that we've ever tried "store-bought" OR's at home. Well, as I was shopping at Wal-Mart today, I bought a bag of "Red Robin Crispy Onion Rings" to accompany my crispy fish sandwich(es) for supper. I know they're healthy because (1) they're vegetables; & (2) they're baked.

From "Ask Marilyn" in Parade Magazine (10/16):  "People on the streets seem to be getting younger & younger! At what age will I be older than most people? Michael W. Brace yourself, Michael. If you've passed your 38th birthday, you're already older than half of the u.S. population." Marilyn vos Savant. [Thanks, MVS . . . ]

REASONS TO BE ANXIOUS...DOWN...                  DOWNRIGHT DEPRESSED...

Tagline from Drudge Report (10/17):> "Officials warn of 'long overdue' solar storm, EMP flare dangers . . . Could 'end modern civilization as we know it' . . . " [God promised He wouldn't send another FLOOD to destroy the earth. The Bible doesn't say anything about EMP, although my Hebrew & Greek are a little rusty."

> It's raining in L.A. & people are losing their minds . . . " [After the latest round of announcements from celebrities who say they'll leave the country if DT is elected, how will we know the difference?]

G.O.M.E.R. *

Taglines from Drudge Report (10/17):

• "SURVEY:  Half of MEN shaving legs . . . " [Title doesn't elucidate whose legs they are shaving. Still disillusioned me enough to prevent me from reading story.] *

* Disclaimer:  There were times during my h.s. & jr. college BB career when I had to shave both ankles & both knees because of athletic tape. I'm just sayin'.] 

Column by Cal Thomas in Lincoln Journal Star (9/14):  "Namecalling coarsens dialogue . . . " [Green Party & Libertarian candidates WISH somebody would start calling them names in order to provide them at least a little name recognition among voters.]

Re: She-Who-Should-Have-Been-Indicted-By-Now

Column by Marc Thiessen in Omaha World Herald (10/17):  "Clinton threatens religious liberty . . . " [Only if you're a white, conservation Christian who is pro-life.]

Re:  He-Whom-I-Have-Not-Endorsed

Column by Charles Krauthammer" in OWH (10/17):  "Trump's words endanger rule of law . . . [Only if you think HC should be convicted of perjury & treason w/o an actual trial.]

* Grumpy Old Men & Their Elucidating Rants"