Michele

All of these excerpts have been taken from your posts, Luna. These are your words. And all come from this particular thread. Jul 23, 2003, 2:27 PM Jul 23 3:32 pm Jul 24, 3:46 am July 24 4:43 am July 24, 4:48 and July 24, 5:32 am July 24, 6:15 am July 24 7:11 am and and and July 24, unknown time (deleted but quoted in another response) I am done with this particular thread. It has become unproductive for me. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I wanna go lie out in a field and watch. I wanna! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

How awful. For everyone involved. Agreed. I also think that non-psychiatrists overprescribe the drugs. That was my point, perhaps made badly. I think there are a lot of people who take them because they're "trendy". I had someone I spoke with once who told me "Man, I had a rough day, so I went home, took a Prozac, and felt much better"...which tells me one of three things - they are either taking valium, they are lying, or they really just don't know how SSRI's actually work. It's that sort of prescription which I object to. Sinker brought up some interesting points about the situation you cited. And again I think it's horrible... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

ROFLMFAOPIMP.... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Good grief, don't do that! I don't understand why, and have a barely adequate understanding of how. I am very open about myself and my symptoms, because a lot of people aren't - and are unwilling to put themselves out for ridicule and humiliation. Most people who are depressed refuse to address it because of the social aspects of it...I dated someone who found my meds in my bath, and broke it off with me because, as he put it, "I don't want to deal with crazy chicks." (Honestly, I am better off. But man, that hurt!). I received condemnation from family members who I know love me dearly...but just don't understand what was happening with my body, and how it affected my brain. And so I talk about it. I put everything out there that I think is important; and then I shield myself against comments like yours, Rhino. I hold my temper in check, and I know you are trying to help the best way you know how. But there are better ways. Those ways begin with getting educated about depression before you say things which are hurtful and detrimental. You know my position on meds...often they are prescribed and utilized without addressing the other underlying causes. I do not believe they should be allowed to be RX'd by GPs, only by psychiatrists, with on-going counselling by good, qualified therapists. But I will also say that correcting the chemical imbalance, however it was acheived in the first place, is paramount for a person's successful therapy. To make a blanket judgment about anything is wrong...to understand scientific causes is something different. The information is out there. Seek and ye shall find. And once found, a different understanding may be achieved. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

And that's exactly what I am addressing. There is no blanket answer. Do you agree that depression has been conclusively linked to seratonin, norepinephine and dopamine? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Because you believe that "real life" is a symptom of depression, then of course smiling will work for you. So have fun, share a coke and a smile, and best of everything to you and yours. You'll not ever be plagued by the reality of depression. For those who have an understanding of depression and it's effects, though, your answer can be construed as flip, insincere, incredibly naive, and significantly uninformed. So I would suggest you take some time, read up on what depression is and is not, and then re-evaluate your response. I am always up to reopening the conversation when it is, as stated earlier, reasonable and non-flaming. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Rhino, serious question here. What are the symptoms of depression? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Well, yes. But if one allows for other experiences, other real things, then one can begin to develop the conversation towards the end of productivity rather than destruction. What happens, I think, and from what my experience has been, is that people still have a stigma about depression, and other sorts of mental and emotional illnesses. It's not touchable, you don't bleed and have to be run to the ER (unless a suicide attempt is made). Oftentimes the sufferer will not talk about it until they are in crisis, or after they have made a suicide attempt. It's easy to spot a femur break; far less easy to spot a mindbreak...even by the sufferer. There is a signifcant reluctance to talk about depression and what it really is, because of the condemnation they get. It is very easy for someone who doesn't understand to say "cheer up!", when that's not what it's about at all...and the reverberation of something like that, over years, intensifies the illness to a point where on top of all else, the feelings of failure and inadequacy become overwhelming. If a person has cancer, we as a whole go out of our way to help them. We will give time, energy, support to them without question. We will go to their home and cook them meals, drive them to chemo, and hug them more than ever before. When a person has depression, we shun them. We tell them to "cheer up!". We don't care if they've eaten, slept, or bathed. We reject them, we push them away. We isolate them. And we make fun of them. We condemn them for taking medication. We treat them like they're icky...weak. What's wrong with this picture? It is an illness, as real and as life threatening as cancer. It is true. And that's the debate I would like to see. Nope, not this year. [sad] Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I could say the same thing about the RSL debate; the WL debate; the pick-up line debate. And I agree - what works for one person may not work for another...what resolves the issues for you may not begin to touch the issues for me. And what works for me may actually cause great harm for others. What works for you may kill me. But why shouldn't we continue to discuss it? I don't mean flaming, namecalling, that sort of thing...but a real discussion, which may create some value for folks who we will never hear from, never even know...I don't see how that's wasteful. I've also realized that there are a lot of people who don't understand the difference between depression, situational depression and clinical depression, and just general blues. And because of this, I think that education, discussion, and restrained debate might prove useful. But that's just my .02...

Why do you think that? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Wonderful asset! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I feel so much better now! Thanks, everyone! At this point, every one of my jumps is embarassing - but that's alright, I'm learning, I'm having fun, and I am generally pretty safe. And like one poster said - just getting into/out ofthe plane? "Wicked!" Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I have not ever jumped without one on. Once it didn't work, but I was last out, it was my first solo, so I managed to be just fine. It was weird though. LOL... I do think it's interesting that lots of people say yes, they jump without one, but then add they have an audible. Isn't an audible altimeter an altimeter just the same? I don't think I would jump without one for a while - I am not nearly good enough yet to judge accurately the height, and don't own an audible altimeter yet. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

LAX? Agreed. Dallas? I hate that place. Makes me dizzy. Burbank? Nawp. Love that place. Easy to navigate through, and you don't take off aimed at the terminal...you travel right next to it, but take off over the cemetary. The landings are a tad scary on occasion...a few years ago, a 737 landed late and ran through the fences in the middle of nightimte rushhour traffic. That made for an interesting evening. No one got hurt...See? But Burbank for me, if I can get comparable fares... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Paul, you rawk. Thank you for spending such an enormous amount of time on this for us. I appreciate it very much...and yes, I owe you a beer! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

And even more vibes and prayers. This is indeed good to hear. I shall continue to send them 'round the clock, for him, his family, and the whole skydiving community. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Pleased for you....but will miss you horrendously. OTOH, I guess this means I will absolutely have to get to that side of the country sometime. Congratulations, and I am tickled for you. hugs! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Ah, but you have, right? So there it is. Someone is just returning a favor is all. Ya know, that whole "do unto others" thing. Friendships are like that. That's why they're important. So figure out which of the many favors you've done recently for someone, and there you go - the culprit. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Kay, so that leaves out several folks. Any other clues? Done something nice for anyone lately? Helped out a friend, encouraged and/or supported someone? Taken the hand of a newbie and done some giudance? Hrm......it is you...all of those I suppose don't apply. I know. It was PLFking! Or maybe Wildblue. He likes you just fine too. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

She's never gotten mad at me, but yes, I've heard stories about her legendary temper. LOL...this is fun! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I thought Kansasskydiver claimed it? Who do you think it is? I don't know enough about Jess's circle to even venture a guess... This is fun... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Aw, Jessicakes has a secret admirer! Still haven't figured out who did this? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yes, I do believe you are correct....!!!!!!!!!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

there will be...I promise! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~