Concerning Fetterman, I'd like to say something.
Last edited Sat Feb 18, 2023, 07:04 AM - Edit history (2)
I'd generally vote for someone who has made it through major depression (or continues to fight it) vs. voting for just about anyone else. The same goes for people who have faced enormous heartache in their lives (ie: Joe Biden's familial losses).
I've battled major depression officially for 24 years, and was most likely undiagnosed for many years before that.
It never really goes away, but once it is controlled, you're a better and stronger person than you ever thought you were. When your depression is controlled, after having it for many years, you see the world differently. You see people differently. You're more empathetic to the plight of others. You're stronger, and you're wiser. You're gentler. You made it through the worst battle of your life, and you carry a sense of pride for making it through that battle.
In short, you become a better human being, or maybe you just recognize and take pride in the fact that you always were a great human being, only you never recognized it before.
I encourage anyone suffering with depression to seek treatment. I encourage you to understand that how you view yourself while depressed is not how others see you. You are valuable, and you are only feeling the way you do because you have an illness. And that illness results in your brain trying to kill you. That's all depression is, in obvious layman's terms.
People who have depression travel to hell and back quite frequently. They are strong people, and they deserve our high respect, not our pity. And the people who succumb to the ravages of this illness deserve our high respect as well, because it was an illness that killed them, just like other illnesses sometimes kill.
Depressed people are not crazy. Quite the opposite in fact. Depression is an illness like any other, and the supposed "stigma" that some people equate to it is misinformed bullshit.
Fetterman has recovered from a stroke, he takes things to heart, and he's been under tremendous stress. I think he's going to be alright. He's doing what he needs to do to mend himself. And I think he will prove to be a tremendously talented senator. And if it happens that his depression treatment does not improve his condition to the point where he can work, it's our loss, but he will still be a person to be loved and admired.
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Man, accidents can really mess you up, guess we are lucky the body heals as well as it does or we both might be goners. Also thankful for the helpfullness of some pot and pot products. I don't think my head nerves will get any better at this point, I just have to get better at managing it and always remember to put on sunglasses before I go outside. I also got a very large non-slip mat for the bathroom & one for the shower so haven't fallen since I had the 2 incidents in 2019.
Hopefully both of us can manage our brain symptoms and thrive!
Much appreciation and respect.
To lark, I have to ask, can you see ghosts now? (It's sort of the premise of a current TV show.) 
Again, my heart goes to everyone who struggles with depression and other mental health challenges. I often feel broken and useless, and it never helps when some people suggest, even subtly, that maybe I'm just a teeny bit lazy. There was a time in my life when I was always happy to do whatever I could for others. Now, there are spans of days or weeks when I can barely manage the most basic functions for myself.
Just saw this smilie--boy, there are times when it just like this: 
(The cross doesn't quite work for me though.)
Obama: Children like me
By BYRON TAU
01/06/2012 02:28 PM EST
Via CBS's Mark Knoller, President Obama took a little time to chat about kids over lunch today with the winners of a campaign contest.
"I do very well with that demographic," he said. "They think I look like a cartoon character with big ears."
https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2012/01/obama-children-like-me-109875
BTW President Obama might have taken years off his life meeting w/all the Sandy Hook Parents and the Families of the
Teachers who had their loved ones killed @ Christmas. He went all grey in under a month after that. He would be briefed
about who was coming in to see him and then meet w/them and after 3 or so visits he would go out to the hall and cry,
smoke a cigarette, and then pull himself together to meet more of the families.
I had problems with getting seriously depressed when reminded of some heartbreaking events in the past.
I told my therapist that part of my inspirations for seeking help was The Sopranos. If Tony could see a "shrink", I figured next time I hit a rough patch, I would ask to see a therapist. It was a good idea.
I'm on Celexa and one unexpected effect is I don't seem to want to drink. I saw it is also used to treat alcoholism. I don't drink very often but every few months I like to walk to one of the bars within range and have a few. I think about it and just decide I don't really feel like it. Kind of weird but I guess it saves me a little money and a hangover. 
“I drank to drown my sorrows, but the damned things learned how to swim.”
Beautiful OP, and a great thread. Thank you.
So my sis and I were the ones in our immediate family who got fratzed. She also got the severe social anxiety disorder that curtailed our uncle’s career — curtailed her career as well.
A couple of years back we had a phone chat about the Black Dog, and I told her it has its own doggy door in my house — which made her laugh.
Even when chemicals cause depression, often that comes from experiencing, even witnessing trauma, loss, and grief.
My old therapist: "There are two kinds of people in the world -- those who have problems and know it, and those who have problems and don't know it."
Krishnamurti says: "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
The caste stresses, and the loss, harm, and damage that ripple out to us should be zeroed in on, rather than just the depressed persons who are appropriately responding. No one chooses to be depressed because of chemical imbalance or societal sicknesses.
But many who adapt to a sickened, weakened society end up sicker by many measures than the depressed -- they choose to focus on the causes of depression in others, even project, rather than "look in the mirror" as Swalwell told Republicans. They choose easy judgment of those more attuned to the whole of reality than they.
They prolong the sick society and others' suffering.
Your encouragement makes humanity progress. Thank you. 
Thank you writing this. I had depression for many years when younger, found the treatment good for me and am no longer using anti depressents and couldn't be more stable or happier now. Like you, I didn't even realize I was depressed. Mine was caused by a biological default in my brain with my nerve cells not transmitting and receiving efficiently. I'm so glad Senator Fetterman didn't ignore it. 
My best wishes to Senator Fetterman. He did the right thing and he should just take the time to get better. That is his focus.
Depression is terrible and hard. My mom has it. I never was a depressive person but now get bouts of it due to what my mom and I have been through. Your post is very encouraging.
“… results in your brain trying to kill you.” Powerful statement.
We need more research into this… there’s damned too much siphoning of tax dollars by republicans.
Appreciate your openness/truth and wishing you continued positivity!
Thank you so much for sharing your incredible insight.
