Gift of Depression

The Single Cell Knows [Redux]

When we have emotional pain/trauma so intense that it could shatter bones, the most yielding of ourselves – the soft, connective tissues of our bodies step in to absorb as much pain as they could absorb, such that we can muster up a smile on our faces day after day, such that we can go [...]

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If You Knew Your Child Would Suffer What You’ve Suffered…

What would you tell him or her? I’ve been thinking about a collaborative book project – an inspirational book – written by mothers and fathers who have suffered from depression and bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. We all desperately hope that our children don’t get these genes, but suppose some of them do. What [...]

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I Blog About Mental Health to Save My Own Life

by Jane Chin, Ph.D. As part of American Psychological Association’s effort to help people recognize the importance of good mental health, overcome stigma, and seek out professional mental health services when needed, here is why I have been blogging about mental health since 1998: To Save My Life from the Death Grip of Depression. If [...]

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The Letter That Saved My Life

How writing those “last letters” helped this woman realize that she loved life – and specifically – she loved writing as part of her being alive. People constantly told me life would get better and I said it was shit, but they were right- life does get better. Even though everything seems dark and hopeless [...]

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A Gift of Depression

I think one of the ways that we can save our own lives is when we decide to believe that we DESERVE to live a good life, and that we CAN create a passionate life for ourselves. When I experienced clinical depression many years ago, it was this belief that motivated me to ask for [...]

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My Creativity Comes Through Me and From Me, NOT Depression

I want to re-open this post to bring attention to a comment that James has sent (April 18, 2008), where he talks about his concept of having “caves” in our mind that constitute our “persona”. I found this metaphor intriguing, and I want to share this with you. Article History: Originally Published November 22, 2007 [...]

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Low-Grade Depression – This Too, Shall Pass

I’m feeling the funk lately, like a storm cloud hovering just above my head. We’ve had some thunderstorms in California. Maybe my mood is mirroring the unpredictable weather – though I don’t think my mood’s linked with the weather. I’ve had depression relapses, and I know how severe those can be. I’ve had one a [...]

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Misdiagnosis and Back: My Journey Through Depression

Prologue I was misdiagnosed as having type 2 bipolar disorder sometime in February or March of 1998. These entries are excerpts from my journal, and documents the process of misdiagnosis, treatment, and correct diagnosis of depression. Over time, as I look back at my experience and gain better understanding of the drugs and treatment side [...]

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