Comments on: Hello Darkness, My Old Friend http://karlamclaren.com/hello-darkness-my-old-friend/ Let's dance! Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:51:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lisa http://karlamclaren.com/hello-darkness-my-old-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-229 Lisa Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:06:14 +0000 http://karlamclaren.com/?p=723#comment-229 This is poignantly beautiful! Thank you for sharing. Welcome back! We are blessed by your returning presence and new work. Namaste' This is poignantly beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

Welcome back! We are blessed by your returning presence and new work.

Namaste’

]]> By: Tweets that mention Hello Darkness, My Old Friend « Karla McLaren -- Topsy.com http://karlamclaren.com/hello-darkness-my-old-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-228 Tweets that mention Hello Darkness, My Old Friend « Karla McLaren -- Topsy.com Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:11:37 +0000 http://karlamclaren.com/?p=723#comment-228 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Terri Belford. Terri Belford said: RT @MildlyCreative: In defense of antidepressants (when they're needed) - Hello Darkness, My Old Friend http://bit.ly/bNVXsP [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Terri Belford. Terri Belford said: RT @MildlyCreative: In defense of antidepressants (when they're needed) – Hello Darkness, My Old Friend http://bit.ly/bNVXsP [...]

]]> By: Karla http://karlamclaren.com/hello-darkness-my-old-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-223 Karla Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:43:42 +0000 http://karlamclaren.com/?p=723#comment-223 The UK system is so different! I wonder if he's better off faking a crisis, or would they lock him away? I don't want to suggest that he self-diagnose, but if he can get some idea about the probable type of depression he has, he might be able to advocate better for himself. Could he ask for a psychiatric consult rather than a counseling appointment? After a search, I found this good overview of the different types of depression: http://www.depression-help-resource.com/types-of-depression.htm And the same site has a number of actual depression tests: http://www.depression-help-resource.com/depression-test.htm Again, self-diagnosing is problematic, but if he can't get medical support, then this may be a good next step. I hope that's helpful, Karla The UK system is so different! I wonder if he’s better off faking a crisis, or would they lock him away? I don’t want to suggest that he self-diagnose, but if he can get some idea about the probable type of depression he has, he might be able to advocate better for himself. Could he ask for a psychiatric consult rather than a counseling appointment?

After a search, I found this good overview of the different types of depression: http://www.depression-help-resource.com/types-of-depression.htm

And the same site has a number of actual depression tests: http://www.depression-help-resource.com/depression-test.htm

Again, self-diagnosing is problematic, but if he can’t get medical support, then this may be a good next step.

I hope that’s helpful,
Karla

]]> By: Lorelei http://karlamclaren.com/hello-darkness-my-old-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-221 Lorelei Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:21:02 +0000 http://karlamclaren.com/?p=723#comment-221 What if the medical professionals don't seem to take your concerns seriously..other than writing a prescription? I have a close friend in the UK (I'm in the U.S.) who has been trying to get something more than a prescription for antidepressants for several years now. He doesn't feel the antidepressants are working (second time he's been put on them) and he wants a diagnosis of some sort..something to focus on in some way in order to move forward. The antidepressants were prescribed by his GP and the only diagnosis was that he IS depressed (he knew that!) plus he is on a "list" to see a mental health professional. He is not hopeful because the last time he was supposedly on the list, he found out after waiting for 2 years that he was not on the list after all! I could go on and on about his experiences trying to get real help. It would sound like soap opera but the point is, he reaches out for help and he's actually been told that he cannot be that bad off, he appears too confident and coherent! So what is one supposed to do if you ask for help and are not taken seriously? What if the medical professionals don’t seem to take your concerns seriously..other than writing a prescription? I have a close friend in the UK (I’m in the U.S.) who has been trying to get something more than a prescription for antidepressants for several years now. He doesn’t feel the antidepressants are working (second time he’s been put on them) and he wants a diagnosis of some sort..something to focus on in some way in order to move forward. The antidepressants were prescribed by his GP and the only diagnosis was that he IS depressed (he knew that!) plus he is on a “list” to see a mental health professional. He is not hopeful because the last time he was supposedly on the list, he found out after waiting for 2 years that he was not on the list after all! I could go on and on about his experiences trying to get real help. It would sound like soap opera but the point is, he reaches out for help and he’s actually been told that he cannot be that bad off, he appears too confident and coherent! So what is one supposed to do if you ask for help and are not taken seriously?

]]> By: Jean Courtney http://karlamclaren.com/hello-darkness-my-old-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-183 Jean Courtney Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:51:13 +0000 http://karlamclaren.com/?p=723#comment-183 What a "novel" way to decide which book to read first! I just might start with the prettiest. LOL The multi-hued water-wave on your book's cover is very attractive... could be that I'll next be reading The Language of Emotions... :-D What a “novel” way to decide which book to read first! I just might start with the prettiest. LOL

The multi-hued water-wave on your book’s cover is very attractive… could be that I’ll next be reading The Language of Emotions… :-D

]]> By: Karla http://karlamclaren.com/hello-darkness-my-old-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-181 Karla Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:14:33 +0000 http://karlamclaren.com/?p=723#comment-181 Thank you so much, Allison geeky gal! We luvz progress! And Jean, what a lovely post. I'm glad you got help finally. I hope your whole body didn't get run over by a truck like mine did. Whew! Still coming back from all that, but it's nice to be on the mend finally. About your reading: I suggest prioritizing books by how pretty their covers are. Hah! Blessings to you! Thank you so much, Allison geeky gal! We luvz progress!

And Jean, what a lovely post. I’m glad you got help finally. I hope your whole body didn’t get run over by a truck like mine did. Whew! Still coming back from all that, but it’s nice to be on the mend finally.

About your reading: I suggest prioritizing books by how pretty their covers are. Hah!

Blessings to you!

]]> By: Jean Courtney http://karlamclaren.com/hello-darkness-my-old-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Jean Courtney Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:58:32 +0000 http://karlamclaren.com/?p=723#comment-180 Karla, thank you very much for your wonderful blog entry about depression, which I also have been dealing with for decades on an occasionally suicidal level. In addition, like you I spent a long time seeking help apart from psychiatry. It nearly killed me. I finally had to give in and get professional help. Slowly but surely I've been coming back to life. (Take that, psychiatry haters! Sadly I was among their number for a long time.) Please know that your personal journey as expressed online and in books has been extremely inspirational to me as well as some friends with whom I shared your widely read article about your experiences with the skeptical community following your resignation from "energy healing." Every once in a while, a friend and/or I will refer to that article with much appreciation. And now I've got your new book about emotions sitting on my shelf, awaiting reading! Alas, I have quite a few books to read or re-read as research for my own book about dealing, and not dealing, with emotions and mental illness, so I'm not sure when I will get to your book. However, I very much want to read it, and soon. :-) Thank you for communicating so beautifully and honestly about the commonly swept-under-the-rug topic of depression. Karla, thank you very much for your wonderful blog entry about depression, which I also have been dealing with for decades on an occasionally suicidal level. In addition, like you I spent a long time seeking help apart from psychiatry. It nearly killed me.

I finally had to give in and get professional help. Slowly but surely I’ve been coming back to life. (Take that, psychiatry haters! Sadly I was among their number for a long time.)

Please know that your personal journey as expressed online and in books has been extremely inspirational to me as well as some friends with whom I shared your widely read article about your experiences with the skeptical community following your resignation from “energy healing.” Every once in a while, a friend and/or I will refer to that article with much appreciation.

And now I’ve got your new book about emotions sitting on my shelf, awaiting reading! Alas, I have quite a few books to read or re-read as research for my own book about dealing, and not dealing, with emotions and mental illness, so I’m not sure when I will get to your book. However, I very much want to read it, and soon. :-)

Thank you for communicating so beautifully and honestly about the commonly swept-under-the-rug topic of depression.

]]> By: Allison Peacock http://karlamclaren.com/hello-darkness-my-old-friend/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Allison Peacock Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:36:32 +0000 http://karlamclaren.com/?p=723#comment-178 So wonderful to see the up to date interpretation of your work. Progress is a great thing, baby! Thank you for this clear, well-written post on depression. Empath geek girls unite! So wonderful to see the up to date interpretation of your work. Progress is a great thing, baby! Thank you for this clear, well-written post on depression.

Empath geek girls unite!

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