JANE'S MENTAL HEALTH SOURCE PAGE

Welcome to the June 26, 2007 edition of carnival of depression, bipolar disorder, and mental health journeys. Here are my four selections for this edition of the carnival. Entries were chosen based on original content, theme relevance, and “personality”. Congratulations to Mercurial Scribe, BP Professional, Chris614, and James Bishop.

mercurial scribe is not feeling that great due to the seasonal change. Some people are especially prone to seasonal-related mood changes, and for some, symptoms may be triggered by weather changes. I personally love the time when weather becomes warmer and the sun is out earlier and longer, and those who experience symptoms associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder find they may need a certain amount of (sun) light to feel well. For others, like the mercurial scribe, the changing season brings a change in mood that may be dark. Hang tough, mercurial scribe.

BP pro does not enjoy his appointment with the psychiatrist: “Going to the psychiatrist, waiting in line at the pharmacy, setting a new appt and keeping it . . . these things are a drag, but still I do them… eagerly.” This is a short post, but is the reality of managing an illness like bipolar disorder. The alternative, as BP pro alluded to, is worse than the drag of seeing the psychiatrist. For your information, a 5150 refers to the involuntary confinement of a person deemed a danger to himself or herself and/or to others (see more from Wikipedia).

JANE’S PICK I love Chris614’s article, I Should Be Happy All The Time! One of the reasons why depressed people tend to be perfectionists (and vice versa) is an all-or-none mentality or a black-and-white mindset in a world that is just plain gray. I tend to have a “black or white” mindset, and this created a lot of upset and angst that did little but to make life miserable for myself and others around me. Thankfully, as I got older, my mind became more open and my mindset less rigid, and this has done wonders for my mental health. Chris shares a detailed article that helps us examine the realities of “being happy all the time”, and how we can adjust our expectations for the world we live in.

James Bishop describes Ecotherapy as “a way to improve mental health, by being active outdoors and in a green environment.” I’m curious to know how many people participated in the first study James mentioned that concluded the benefits of ecotherapy or “green exercise” on depression. Also, without having the original study in front of me, I’m wondering if the authors would note a potential confounding factor: exercise. Studies have shown the benefits of exercise in patients with depression. How would “a walk anywhere” compare with “a walk in the park” for improving depression symptoms? Even with these questions, it makes sense to go outside for a walk – and keep your credit cards at home.

Thank you for contributing to this edition of the carnival. You may submit your personal stories and articles for a future edition here. Until next time!

Photo Credit: Field of Yellow by Steve Woods and Sunset Landscape by Ali Taylor.