Mental Health Issues vs. Learned Behaviors?

At some point in our lives, all of us are subject to mental illness.  Believe it or not, it's an underlying condition for any one of us which can be triggered by stressful circumstances.  This can sometimes lead to being professionally diagnosed.  The operative words are  "professionally diagnosed!"  So many use the term "depression" without knowing the true meaning.  Having a short term period of the blues is NOT depression.  Please read the excerpt from WebMD which describes the signs/symptoms of clinical depression:

Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions

Fatigue and decreased energy

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness

Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism

Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping

Irritability, restlessness

Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex

Overeating or appetite loss

Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with     treatment

Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings

Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

This blog post is referring to what I call learned behavior.  It's best described as attention-seeking conduct.  There are so many who fail to follow through on what they should do; often times replacing their wants with their needs.  Often times, the results of living by poor choices result in said person feeling what they construe as being depressed.  They are often moody, lash out at others for their sense of inadequacy, and isolate themselves from those who care about them.  They refuse to take accountability for their own action/inaction, and blame others for the precarious positions for which they may find themselves.  By saying they're depressed, they mask what's truly going on:  An inability or unwillingness to management their personal affairs.

Proper life management can be an essential element to avoiding the use of mind-altering psychotropics and/or mental health counseling.  Knowing the things we can or cannot change, and making appropriate life decisions may be paramount in maintaining good mental health.  Not saying that ALL mental illnesses are "curable" by these means alone.  But with those of us who are not mentally unstable due to natural chemical imbalances CAN control the onset of mental illness by making decisions which are healthful ones.

Take control of the direction your life is headed.  If need be, seek the advice of a life management counselor who can assist you in addressing the concerns which make you feel inadequate.  And definitely don't blame others for your circumstance.  You have more control than you think!

rainwriter jones