The Shannyn Moore Show on KBYR – Live Blogging
It’s been three weeks since she’s been live on the air at KBYR. Are you itching from withdrawal? Well grab your calamine lotion, and your Bonne Bell Lip Smacker (or something with natural ingredients) and tune in to 700am in Anchorage.
Those of you “Outside” can get there from HERE.
The number is 907.274.5297. The toll free number (in state only) is 866 610 5297
Please live blog in the comments rather than in the chat room so Shannyn can read your questions and get your input.
As a special treat, Shannyn will be on an extra hour today, from 5-8 Alaska time (6-9 Pacific and 9-1am Eastern time)
Welcome back, Shannyn! I’ve missed you! Thia
Where IS Scarah ??
Are there ANY Republican Senators who might go for “The Option” ?
Medicare is GREAT ! Daughter just had illestomy 4 weeks ago, no bills !! ( she’s doing fine! ) saw liver transplant Doc at UCSF, last week, no bills, upper endoscophy this week, no bills…no delays in appts, Great Doctors – Stanford, UCSF… no insurance forms, no authorization waits, no hassles with hospitals or doctor billings… It’s called a single payer system and it works ! go ahead , double, triple my medicare deduction to pay for the rest of the country, I’ll still come out ahead !! Ed
Come on kids! Its the Shannyn Moore Show!
Get your bowl of popcorn and sit back to enjoy the sultry tones of Alaska’s most brilliant blonde.
(Throwing a tall glass of cold water on Gryphen)
AKM
I missed this last week!! Welcome back Shannyn. Missed you!
I’m on hold to be first caller!!
Shannyn, who contacted you the first time to be on Keith’s show?
Next question, does Keith look the same in person?
What was it like to meet Rachel?
What did you think of all the big cities?
Yes Gryphen, you have an unhealthy lust for our miss Shannyn
But so does the AKPetDad….we all used to work together so I too also recognize her charm and what you boys see in her, wink, wink!
lol akpetmom, wink wink
Talking about Ted Kennedy. I watched some of the coverage on him on CNN, I never knew a lot of what he did. When he was talking about health care in the 70′s it could have been today. I was amazed at the things he has done like: segragation, womens and equal rights. Was ver interesting.
Welcome back Shannyn. Missed you!
You play the best tunes, Shannyn.
Senator Begich up next.
good for Dr Dean, we shouldn’t have to compromise our health, it’s a shame to think we already are doing that. Too many unisured =(
I wonder if anyone asked Shannyn if she lived in a igloo? They prolly woulda before Scarah. Damn her.
Thanks on the song thing…there are some specials in there for you today and we have 3 hours.
Sorry folks, I can’t talk to Shannyn, party in the tree house and live blog too!! LOL!
Darn, I lost my radio!
Hi Shannyn!!!!! Go YOU!
Sen. Begich is on, reflecting on Sen. Kennedy talking about 1968 trip to Alaska.
Senator Begich, how closly are you working with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on the Medicaid issue in Alaska? What changes will happen so this won’t happen again?
MB talking about when he met Ted K. and Teds story about his visit to Alaska and later met Patrick Kennedy and he told him the same story of visit to AK.
This is amazing…listening to Shannyn and Begich from the “outside,” MSNBC in the background. I feel like a historical monument or something.
Shannyn throws down the gauntlet to Sen. Begich on Public option!
“The Kennedy Option”
Begich isn’t really saying anything about anything….doublespeak…what is your position Mr. Begich…spit it out dammit!
I ask the honorable Senator to answer the call of which he speaks
Here goes our Shannyn…
Shannyn talks about PEOPLE!! We need health care NOW!
Go Shannyn!
are you tap dancing Senator Begich?
Oh good point Shannyn!!! Talking about people in prison getting better care than their victims
Begich is dancing.
Well, unmuddle the politics and pass something!
Just got on, MB is saying health care is a fundamental right! He expects the congresspeople to return energized.
Good tune Shannyn!
Begich is going to get all “well, it’s so much more complicated” than you little people can understand….it’s politics and we little not political folks just don’t get it….that’s how I feel about what he says and I just emailed him and Lisa M again to try to get the point across…
MY EMAIL:
I hope that you will put your energy and senatorial powers towards supporting the public option within the national healthcare bill.
We need to unite this country under a blanket of assured healthcare. Not one person in this country should be without the basic care required to remain healthy, be it through medical care for acute symptoms, or even more importantly for preventive exams and consultations for preventive medical care.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Yowza. Begich may not have committed with a strong answer, but he’s definitely heard the message he needed to hear. Thanks Shannyn!
Fox news… ew……..
So, if everyone is all fired up, how ’bout contacting your senators (BOTH of them) wherever you are and sending them something to think about?
Talks about Lennie with no health care and her attacker entitled to health care.
In Arizona, I could get arrested for what I’d send the twin embarrassments!
AKM… Nelson is a DINO and Johanns is oblivious and so breathtakingly red… it’s up to the rest of the country… Go country, go!
Love the music, Shannyn!!
I have contacted my senators but I’m stuck with Dumb and Dumber here in Ok. Yours might be dancing but at least he listens!
Maybe I can Guilt Ben Nelson. After all I worked to get him elected !!
Oh my, she is getting Begich to commit…
Gramiam… I am counting on you…
116 000 in AK with no health insurance
Press on Shannyn…
ah, the Irish. a culture of honor. anybody read Outliers?
Go, Shannyn, begging the Begich.
Thanks AKM! I needed that !
Oh Shannyn is definitely turning up the heat on Mark.
Go get him Shanny!
Go, Shannyn. Begs Begich to commit to Kennedy Option.
He’s not with us… bummer. But dances well.
Wow Shannyn, good for you for calling him out, I don’t think he’ll give us an answer.
Begich is waffling! He’s no Kennedy!
Has anyone else been without insurance besides me??? Scarier than hell. Pre-existing condition to boot. Bad time. And with new(er) job now, premiums are going up again.
What the heck is he talking about? Mount Rushmore?
Shannyn you are on fire tonight, woohoo, go get him Shannyn.
Keep going Shannyn!!! Push on!
It’s terrifying! Me and my pre-existing conditions are scared!
{{{{{ hi zyggy}}}}}}
GO SHANNY!!!!!
Shannyn has a huge burr under her saddle!! Kick butt, Shannyn!!
hey nn Shannyn is kicking butt tonight.
Begich is NOT bold leadership…
Go, Shannyn. You elected representatives need to quit being whores for the corporate pimps.
Look closer sir, most of those people you are seeing are un-insured!
Keep going Shannyn! We have insurance but it is USELESS for my condition. There is so much that needs to be overhauled by I see this as a start.
Begich just isn’t giving an answer, I didn’t think he would, I’m very disappointed in him.
Put his feet to the fire, Shannyn girl!!-
Me, too, Zyggy – but way to stay on him Shannyn!
Guest coming up next hour…Lennie
the woman I interviewed for this article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/the-kennedy-option-a-matt_b_271632.html
Justafarmer is next, I think!
I read the article Shannyn, excellent article, I got all teary eyed reading it. Very powerful.
I remember when that happened.
great job Justafarmer.
Just talks about Lennie. Farmer got cut off of husband’s insurance. Death Panels have been around for years. Insurance Companies started them!!
Justa, you are so right, health insurance companies are the death panels.
we MUST get this passed, WITH public option! no question about it!
We have your back, Shannyn!! We are marching right with you!!
justafarmer, you were GREAT! HUGS for you!
Justa was awesome. Love hearing from you all….
Dang, Shannyn, the music is awesome tonight!!
this is a theme song for liberals…it just is. We Shall Be Free…
Just keep marching!!
Shannyn, will we get to hear about your trip tonight?
love you, Shannyn. not loving the country tunes (sorry).
GA Peach, I’m with you on that! NOT a country fan at all! (sorry Shannyn)
Shannyn, the moritorium was not on Medicaid in general but on the home care program
But that’s not true, Shannyn. We’re a republic. We elect individuals to represent us, but they are (and have been) representing corporate interests which is 99% of the problem in this country today. They have sold us out.
radio keeps cutting out, weird.
my connection keeps going in and out, is this happening to anyone else?
hi shannyn
im listening but im over on the mudflats forum
They couldn’t put anybody else on the program until they straightened out the problems.
I understand that moritorium has now been lifted!
Thanks zyggy, was playing with my head phones, thinking it was that.
lol here in pa, I figured it was the station and not my puter, or your headphones.
Shannyn about to talk to Lennie.
Thank you for coming on the show Lennie.
mine is cutting out real bad too
grrrrrr, I’m hearing almost every other word.
Lennie is a fan!! “Death walked In The Door” is her take on it.
HUGS for Lennie…thanks for being on with Shannyn.
Shannyn you better get an extra 15 minutes of air time since the station is cutting out so much. We are missing some of your interview with Lennie.
Station is breaking up for everybody!
at least the station could have cut out during that eddie burke commerical, but no, we have to listen to the whole thing. =)
Go Gramiam and Zyggy!! (and everyone else who is keeping us informed!
Lennie believes in Begich. Went to school with him. We need to push him tho.
Good job, Shannyn. Any chance we can recruit you to come to Texas and help clean up the Palin lovin’ Perry has made here?
People who saved Lennie’s life to this day have not been paid.
Who is listening to the program on the radio as opposed to us that are streaming the program? Wondering if it’s happening to all of us, or just streaming peeps.
Lennie, thank you so much for sharing your story.
“Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy.” F. Scott Fitzgerald
What happened to you was a tragedy and you are a hero to me.
Your grace amazes me and bucks me up to be better than I’ve been. Thank you.
I would put money on this, It was Dr Lewyllan, Wasilla’s cruelest surgeon that spoke to Lennie like that.
Doctor’s have worked free to help her get use of her hand back. She feels blessed.
108 zyggy Says:
August 29th, 2009 at 6:17 PM
It’s happening to me to!
Surgeon had informed Lennie, “without insurance, no doctor will look at you” in reference to further rehab
WOOOOOHOOOOOOO!
a BONUS HOUR!!!!
Very sad songs tonight .
Shannyn gets a bonus hour tonight!!
Email the station! MORE SHANNYN! Two hours a week is not enough!
Shannyn feels blessed to have met Lennie.
Gramiam Says:
August 29th, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Shannyn feels blessed to have met Lennie.
~~~~~~~~~
and WE are blessed to have ‘met’ Lennie through Shannyn!
Lennie is my newest rockstar of strength!
just got home and caught up on posts. ((hugs))) to Shannyn and Lennie.
Phew….late but I am here…what is with the streaming?
ok, another hour.
please light a candle right now for me…
I won’t talk about it on the air…but need your prayers for the next bit.
You got it Shannyn…
123 Shannyn Says:
August 29th, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Done!!
Arghhhhh!! ad for G Gordon Liddy Show!! YUCK! Poo!!
lighting a candle for you.
Lights candle for shannyn
candle is lit!
Talking about Netroots. Candle lit, Shannyn!!!!!!!
beeswax is burning strong and bright…
Caller wanting hc reform state by state. I believe that is how social security was passed.
If I try to get the feed, computer shuts down (grrrr) – so thanks to live bloggers, please keep it up!
Caller from Houston, wants to enact Health Care on a state rather than National level.
caller mentioned getting health care state by state.
A fellow from Texas is talking to Shannyn about health care….he thinks we should transition state by state…
LOL Gramiam and zyggy!
caller doesn’t have faith in public option, doesn’t know how minimum wage can afford it.
Bachus a democrat took 2.2 million from health in companies.
I didn’t know that about Hillary, I just love listening to this show. Sooo, educating.
my daughter was thrown from her horse tonight. She is at the hospital with my mother, her father and my sister. She is talking and walking but is getting xrays and checked out…if I didn’t think so you would be listening to dead air right now.
Thank you.
xo
Shannyn
break time, and sorry lori for not typing much, too much to type, don’t quite has a grasp on it tonight.
Oh! Shannyn – praying for your daughter…
Thanks Shannyn for explaining, I said a prayer for you when I lit the candle, now saying a prayer for your daughter. (((((((((((shannyn))))))))))
Shannyn, I’m so sorry about your daughter. I hope she is ok. Please keep us posted. Candle lit.
Shannyn, I am sending HUGS and lots of positive vibes for you and your daughter!
Oh Shannyn – thoughts and prayers for your daughter. We know where your priorities are, and if your show goes away toight, we surely understand.
I get ADN every day so have kept with what was in the papers about Lennie and her attacker.Our medical system let her down in a big way and she is not the only one. Good going Shannyn.I have sent a link to your article to my democratic senators also along with a note to show it to their republican friends and blue dogs in congress.
My computer wont let me on the station ,it keeps throwing me out.
Praying for daughter, Shannyn. Just lit a candle for her too!! Hugs to you ,mom for doing this for us. Your heart has to be dying to be with your child.
Shannyn, hugs, prayers etc winging their way now.
hold fast.
Nan
Shanny: Many prayers and you KNOW we are all lighting candles. I can’t believe you are still on air for another half hour!
Can you get out of there sooner?
Ironic… daughter in hospital and talk about health care!
God, I hope she’s OK, Shanny!
148 jojobo1 Says:
August 29th, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Try googling kbyr 700, then click on and it won’t throw you off!
Shannyn am sending hugs and prayers for your daughter.Just wish I could get reception here in Wisconsin .I used to get it but no more so thanks to all who live blogg
Wow Shannyn, great dedication to us. Prayers going to your daughter.
Shannyn, kids bounce. even from horseback. (this is a lame attempt to make you relax) But hell, if you have to go, we understand.
My feeling is the phamecuticals are the problem today. They come out with drugs and sell them to the doctors and they pay the doctors to prescribe them. Then the people become addicted to them and want them.
I believe antidepressents are bogus. What did people do hundreds of years ago. Our society has become lazy and dependant. This country of depressants need to suck it up.
My daughter is so addicted to prescription pills. She goes to psychiatrist and doctors, she takes so many pills its mind boggling. And shes on welfare. I don’t think she’d be given these pills if she had to pay for them herself. She pays $1 for each prescription.
Yes, this system is broken and something needs to be done about it.
I’m in queue to talk to shannyn!
cool samper, this is quite the meet and greet blog. we shared seeds, now I get to hear you on local radio!
cool samper, I hope we get to hear from you.
Minutemen=teabaggers with guns!! Too funny!!
Samper is Awesome!!!!
I’m finally hearing the live feed – missed what came before, dangit.
What occurred to me about Lenny was the total surprise that there is no kind of “victims’ fund” in AK? Even Missouri, not exactly the bastion of left, has one.
nice job samper. (clap clap) Brava girl.
lol @ Shannyn, more than 2 of us got that. Moore-Weiner would not be a good hypenated name,
We’re all glad you can get out of there a few minutes early, Shannyn!
Nice to talk to you again!
XOXOXO
Good to see you Empish! I thanked you on an open thread for the seeds! Can’t wait for spring!
Thanks again!
much love,
S
thanks Shannyn for going “on with the show.” Fantastic job – and you and Lennie may have made headway with Senator Bengich.
Shannyn, your remark about grabing one little kid in a classroom and beating the rest of the class with “it” was too funny. I’ve had moments like that with my OWN!!
Just to keep everyone posted… Shannyn’s daughter has family with her, and it sounds like it is not a life-threatening injury. Shannyn suspected there might be a broken bone or two. She’s in the hospital and in good hands. Will post comment here when I know more. Shannyn appreciates your thoughts & prayers.
thanks, akm, for the update, and for all you do!
HUGSSS!
mmboucher (Florida) Thanks I did that first but must of googled the AM and it would not work when I googled just kbyr 700 like you said I got it and created a short cut for next time, So thanks a heap got to listen to a little anyway.Shannyn did great with the young man from Anchorage who wanted to go into the medical profession.
samper hear you and you sounded great and made your points very well
Shannyn, Praying all is well. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know about your daughter I wasn’t listening nor reading and was on hold.
For those of you that listen to Shannyn’s show, and you want to vote for her, you can go to:
http://www.radioratingz.com/SelectThing.jsp?tcvid=14
Hers is the 3rd from the bottom Shannyn Moore Show, The
here_in_PA, I agree with you about prescription drugs. Antidepressants do more harm than good for the most part. In addition to that too many older people are given too much medicine. Everytime my mom has an appointment for her heart condition, she’s given different meds by different doctors. The whole system needs to be simplified and computerized. Thank goodness she’s finally speaking up for herself.
Shannyn: best of luck for your daughter!!!!!
Bones @ 175 – I got it done for Shannyn. Not a breeze to register over there, but Shannyn is surely worth it.
I got to downrate Eddie Burke while I was at it – felt good. Left appropriate comments for both shows. : )
Lori in Los Angles me too and it felt good to be able to down grade Burke
Is there news on her daughter? Was Shannyn on air after samper? I thought I was on but barely talked to so figured it was from this situation.
I’m sorry guys, I have to speak out on this one. here_in_PA wrote –
I believe antidepressents are bogus. What did people do hundreds of years ago. Our society has become lazy and dependant. This country of depressants need to suck it up.
The reason people need anti depressants are because the chemicals in their brain are out of whack.
When I hear people say “suck it up” to depressed people, I want to ask – would you tell a diabetic to “suck it up” because they are lacking in insulin?
Are they supposed to go into a diabetic coma and die, because they are unable to suck it up and produce the insulin their body needs?
It is the exact same situation – the bodies of these people are unable to produce the chemical(s) they need. In both cases, if the chemicals are not supplied artificially, people could die. Though in the case of depression it is more likely to be a self inflicted death – and they might take some people with them
It is highly irresponsible to tell a depressed person to suck it up.
It is not their fault that the chemicals in their brain are not doing what they are supposed to. Their body is letting them down – and so are you when you tell them things like “just get over it” “pull yourself together” “you’re fine, nothing is wrong with you, you just need to cheer up” etc.
If you know someone who is depressed, or you are depressed, DO NOT suck it up. Seek help for yourself – help that person who is depressed to seek help. NOW.
And for anyone who thinks people who are depressed can just pull themselves out of it, please get educated on depression. It is not that simple. I recommend you start here – in Australia we have recognised that depression is a major problem and we are doing something about it.
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=89
And yes, I have suffered from depression – took me two years to get out of it because I refused to take the medication, compared to 3 months to get out of it once I did take the medication. I lost so much time, trying to “suck it up”. I can never get that back, but I can at least speak out in the hope that other people will not go through the same thing.
OT – Snoskred? Is there any problem getting in to chat or is it just on my end ?
181 Snoskred ———– I absolutely agree and from similar experience. I do agree, however, that antidepressants are handed out too often without any concurrent therapy in the US. GPs are not psychiatrists nor are they pharmacologists. Insurance in this country tends to view therapy as something that can be accomplished in a couple of sessions.
Thanks for clearing up the depression issue, Snoskred. I suffer with severe chronic pain 24/7 and the same type of stigma, if you will, affects chronic pain patients; we “just want to get high”. (The co-pay for the one medicine that will allow me to be more active is $1100 per month! No can do
Snos, thank you for speaking up.
@181 Snoskred – I’ll weigh in with you on depression –
The love of my life suffers from depression and I lost her to it. Not to death but rather to the darkness of the disease. She lost all ability to enjoy life. She had dealt with it for decades and with meds was able to at least stabilize. I met her a few years ago when she had just gotten it under control but she said , even at its best, she just couldn’t feel engaged with the world. She is a brilliant person, the chair of the geosciences dept for a major university, a lovely soul but the disease of depression did terrible damage.
Last year, when her mom died, it did her in. She went inward and never came out. There was nothing I could or can do. We’re no longer together and it breaks my heart that I can’t help. There is no “sucking it up”. It’s a tragic imbalance and I hope someday there is a breakthrough of some sort.
Snoskred, thank you. I suffer from depression and am afraid to take meds. I know several people who do, some have been helped some are worse. A lot of Drs. prescribe willy nilly and a lot of people abuse the medication here in the US which is a huge part of the problem.
Being told to suck it up means death to to a lot of people.
If anyone is up in the chat room can you let Samper and Justafarmer know that I tried and tried but can’t get in. Thanks! (sorry for OT)
BuffaloGal – Chat room is working for me.
Samper and Justafarmer aren’t there, tho.
Michigander – here in Australia, you go to see your doctor and together you make a mental health plan. This includes a referral to a psychologist (which the majority of the cost is paid for by the “socialist government!) and also an exercise & eating plan and a plan of visiting your doctor regularly.
It may include medication but it is not a hand out the pills to anyone unless there is a good reason, and it generally does not include pills like lithium etc – it is usually purely anti depressants. It also includes advice to stay away from things like alcohol and other legal depressants.
In the US, it is more difficult to get the help you need, but it is possible, I know people who are doing it. Most important is access to some kind of cheap or free counselling or a support group, in my opinion.
If anyone reading this is depressed, please see your doctor and find out about options for counselling in your area.
There certainly are things you can do to help yourself, such as create a routine and make yourself stick to it, exercise, listening to music, doing things that calm you and make you happy. But you could do all of that and still not get better if the chemicals in your brain can’t get back to normal.
I have written posts on my blog about depression in the past – what I am saying is nothing new, I have been saying it since 2006.
What is new is how Australia is handling depression, and it is working.
http://www.snoskred.org/2006/12/combat-strategies.html
Wow, Snoskred – quite a blog you have goin’ on ! I’m going to take some to go through it , later today.
I wish the U.S. would be in the mildest way interested in learning from Australia’s success in the mental health field. I would love to see it overhauled.
Thanks for letting me know about the chat room. I still can’t get in. It just hangs there , waiting for the server response. I guess I’ll give up for the night.
For those discussing depression I’d like to offer another option. It’s not easy but it works. Depression is serious and it does destroy lives and it is caused by chemical imbalances. But instead of looking for another chemical to put into your body (antidepressant) take a look at what your putting into and onto your body. Do the ingredients on that bag of cookies, loaf of bread or whatever read like a chemistry class? What about that lotion that you are putting all over your skin? These are the causes of imbalances. Our bodies were never meant to deal with all these chemicals and they don’t just pass out of us because our bodies don’t recognize them. they accumulate faster than we can eliminate them and they wreak havoc. Eating clean, real, whole foods and using natural products works. But it takes time to clean up your body (so if you are on antidepressants please don’t just quit – transition) and be warned you do go through withdrawals from all those chemicals. Then you have to learn what your body is deficient in nutrient wise and replenish. It takes a lot of patience and a good naturalpath or nutritionist. You might even find that you might have food sensitivities. I know this because before years of misdiagnoses and the failure of our current medical system and finally getting diagnosed with Lyme I had some serious depressive episodes. When modern medicine failed me in my Lyme treatment I had to become my own doctor. The first thing I did was clean up my diet and clean out my body. Guess what? That horrible depression hasn’t been an issue since. And I couldn’t even imagine going back to a SAD (standard american diet). Anyway, I could start to soapbox, but out of wanting to share all I have learned over the past 7 or so years and though our doctors might mean well, if they are just prescribing drugs without looking at your whole medical/dietary history they may just be adding fuel to the fire. consider this food for thought and explore natural treatments (which mainstream medicine likes to disregard but actually do work)
my favorite saying -wish I knew who to attribute it to- If you don’t take of your body, where else are you going to live!
UPDATE
Shannyn’s daughter, who fell off a horse today is home and resting. Looks like it was a concussion, bruised kidneys and some nasty scrapes on her back. Fortunately, she’ll be OK, but has a few uncomfortable days ahead. Shannyn wanted me to let you all know how much she appreciated your messages of love and support.
Thanks for the update, AKM. All the best for a speedy recovery!
WHEW! So glad to hear the young’en didn’t suffer worse injuries. With a mother like Shannyn being the trooper she is, the daughter will be up and about before you know it. With all the candles we lit, we must have added to global warming!
As i read one posting after another of people lighting candles, it brought tears to my eyes at just how many truly GOOD and CARING people there are in this wonderful world, and if we could each just touch a few more, one at a time, we could make a little difference in our own way.
Count me in anytime we need another candle vigil.
@#181 – Totally agree with too many meds being prescribed for anything and everything. And most definitely – what we eat can make a big difference! I’m now at stage 4 of metastatic cancer and have real *down* days and frequent nausea. It’s bad enough that I take morphine and phenergan that put me to snoozing the hours away, and I refuse to take the anti-depressants that the doctor keeps offering. I have had a wonderful life, a fantastic and supportive family, and I want to live every day to its fullest and not be so drugged up that I don’t know what is going on, or being unable to do what I can for myself and family.
I know many people don’t have the support they need within their families and I would encourage them to find an alternative source of support, whether it be a professional counselor, volunteer activity, hobby, or other community groups. Keeping as busy as possible is the key. There are so many organizations that need volunteers and it is so rewarding to help others and feel a sense of accomplishment. When we see just how rough it is for many others, we tend to give ourselves a mental kick in the butt and feel less sorry for ourselves.
Sure, eating healthier can be a big part of fighting depression – just as it can be a big part of fighting diabetes. But I would hope that no person would argue with a diabetic telling them they don’t need that insulin, it is another chemical, you can fix your diabetes with diet and exercise and cheery thoughts. That simply is not true.
When I grew up, my best friend was a diabetic. The kind of diabetic who did not really want to be a diabetic and fought it by pretending that it did not exist – skipping her blood tests, guessing on how much insulin she needed, your typical teenage rebellion except hers could have easily been fatal – unfortunately that also made her the kind of diabetic that ends up in the hospital for a few weeks at a time several times a year.
I remember one night she was staying over at our house, and I was awakened at about 3am to this weird noise. She was having trouble breathing, making these odd noises and I wasn’t really sure why but when I tried to wake her up she would not wake up. I went and got my parents, they called an ambulance. When the ambulance arrived and the attendants tried to wake her up, she fought them – punching one of them smack in the face, trying to get away from them, yelling, swearing like a sailor which was very unlike her. She was in a diabetic coma and had they not sorted it out, she would have died. I can’t remember whether it was too much insulin or too much glucose or too little of either, but I do know it terrified me.
That has taught me to be very careful when it comes to two things – giving medical advice other than see your doctor and ask about XX – and chemicals.
I hate to say it again, but I have to. I find it very irresponsible for anyone to just write off the drugs like they should never be an option and that the drugs are the problem.
People should see their doctor if they are feeling depressed, and they should get help overall – it should not just be one thing, it should be a combination of things.
It should involve
diet – certainly getting rid of things like artificial sweeteners which can be a cause of depression (back slowly away from your diet sodas, people!) and eating more healthily and regularly
exercise – which can help with re-balancing the chemicals naturally
talking – it should have a talking to someone component, whether that be a counsellor, support group or a psychologist or just someone who will listen
creative – it should involve creative therapy of some sort
positive thinking – it should involve changing the tapes in your head and trying to replace the negative thoughts with positive ones
nature – It should involve natural options, like aromatherapy or things like St John’s Wort which does work for some people
blood tests – to see what chemicals and vitamins are lacking
routine – when you are depressed you mostly want to sleep, it is harder to be motivated to do things like showering and cooking and general chores
and *if* the doctor thinks it is necessary, it should include anti depressants.
But nobody should be saying to a depressed person “don’t take the drugs”. It adds to their feelings of blame, feelings that their condition is their fault, and they should just be a stronger person and not feel that way, like the other “regular” humans can. Worst of all, saying that could turn out to be fatal.
You are entitled to your opinion about the drugs, but how about you keep that and your other judgments to yourselves, and allow the person involved to sort out the best thing to do with their doctor – and if they say they are taking the drugs BE SUPPORTIVE of it. If they ask for your advice re taking the drugs, tell them you really are not qualified and they should ask their doctor. But do not, do not, DO NOT say things like antidepressants are bogus, you are just being lazy, you can fix it with diet alone if you work hard enough. Please, don’t.
I would never presume to tell anyone else how to manage their medical condition. I would never in a million years tell someone to steer clear of medication that *could* save their life. I wish other people could try and do the same thing.
Snoskred: Your passionate, well-informed and measured words I hope will reach many who are ill informed.
I agree 100%. Clinical Depression is REAL, can be TREATED, and COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT can IMPROVE quality of life. Perhaps even SAVE a life.
Not all drugs are “BAD” and if they can save a life, all the power to ‘em!
I am of the belief that drugs should NOT be marketed to the public for several reasons:
1. It is ultimately up to the doctor to determine what drug would be most effective. To have a patient say, “I want to take XXX drug because I saw in a commercial that those who take it enjoy sunny days in the park with handsome playmates” is just not right on so many levels. They market on an EMOTIONAL level, not a SCIENTIFIC level when they market to the public. This is dangerous.
2. It would save Big Pharm MILLIONS if they would stop marketing to the public. They should spend the dollars educating the medical community on the benefits/dangers of their products and then let the medical professionals decide when/how to dispense them.
3. The public should be smart enough to employ doctors they trust, who will discuss new products with them and arrive at a treatment plan that is not clouded by fancy advertising of perfect lives as the result of these products.
OK, the ads with women in full dress and make up absolutely beaming as they mop the floor bug me, also too. Never once have I engaged my mop in a Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers routine because it suddenly became so much fun to clean the house with a Swiffer! And never once have I done my hair and make up and put on a little something pretty to clean house, either!
I should have separated my post above a little better.
My rant about marketing drugs to the public really has nothing to do with treating depression. It’s just a statement on marketing drugs *in general* to the public, not specifically anti-depressants.
Sorry if that’s confusing!
All I have to say about any drug research and talk to your doctor if you have questions sometimes the cure does more damage tan maybe another choice.I can’t take some drugs because I have passed kidney stones and the drug could make that worse.,a side affect..I took a drug to strengthen my bones and after 6 weeks or so I hurt so bad i could barley walk so I looked up the drug and sure enough it was a bad side affect so I called my doctor and he found another drug to handle the same problem but and this deals with health care it is way more expensive than the one I was on.Since hurting all day is not an option it is either pay much more or do without .Two days and going and I have yet to make up my mind on the matter.My Doctor listens to me
sorry than not tan
Snoskred…thankyou so much for your posts. When I first read the comment to”suck it up” I felt smacked. Then I quickly realized that perhaps some people just do not yet understand depression…in all its forms. I don’t blame people for that. After all, if you have not experienced it…or been close to someone who has, you just may not grasp the severity and the possible repercussions.
I have bipolar. The depressions are evil…and long. The mania is often ok for me…hell on my family and friends. I fought this illness for many years…refusing to take the meds. Feeling like people just wanted to drug me…yada yada yada.
It took a wonderful pdoc to explain about the chemicals in my brain….and that the meds they prescribed would only even me out. Today I take a mood stabilizer and an anti depressant, and have not ventured down the rabbit hole in a couple of years. The fear is always with me however. Unless one has experienced depression that absorbs you in your entirety, I don’t believe they can grasp it.
Again…thank you Snoskred.
THis is not fair, can I move to Alaska too?
SKY–Sure, come on up!