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ForestPrincess -> RE: BDSM and depression (3/10/2007 7:27:57 AM)
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I have enjoyed reading this thread; it's a good discussion on an important topic. Please note that my remarks are from the perspective of someone obtaining medical treatment for depression, or anxiety. These illnesses are a physical malfunction in the body and as such, I believe they should be treated just like any other. I can't help but notice, like usual, that it's easy to tell who *has* had depression and who has not. And like usual, the people *without* a certain condition (in this case depression) worry the most about it, even though they don't know what it feels like. Please, I don't mean that offensively, but just as a "stop and think about this" remark. Participating in BDSM as a coping mechanism for depression seems no different to me than jogging, going to a rav, driving a car, or jumping out of an airplane... and depressed people do these things every day. When we suffer from depression, anything and everything COULD trigger an episode... and, we COULD jog in front of a car, or we COULD forget to pull our ripcord... we COULD subject ourselves to more severe BDSM play than we should on any given night. And if your thinking, "What does driving a car have to do with this, then you've obviously never suddenly contemplated driving off a bridge or veering into a big truck. There are millions of people who suffer depression and anxiety. How many people are aware that excessive TV viewing or book reading can be a coping mechanism? That guy beside you on the treadmill who "lives" at the workout gym might be depressed and *redirecting* their mixed up emotions into an obsession with working out (not for fitness, but just to occupy their minds). So do we have to stop all these things to protect ourselves and those around us from some POSSIBLE breakdown? Most of the time, if we were *that* ill, a doctor would have already noticed and put us in a hospital. Those of us with afflictions are trying to live a normal life. Do you tell a crippled person they can't play because there's a bigger chance they might get hurt? I haven't seen that happen unless the condition is really severe and the play scene really extravagant.
Everything in moderation. That's the key to life and the key to BDSM for the most of us. Now if you're undergoing a 'breaking in' as a The Marketplace type slave would be, where treatment will be severe and mental/emotional anguish could be diminishing to your mental capacity, then yes, depression or any other ailment becomes a very valid issue. But I see very very few people living/playing at that extreme level of D/s. Have you thought of this... people with depression are practiced and thus better prepared to recognize and deal with sub/top drop than a 'normal' person? I applaud the one responder to this thread that eluded to the real truth about our lifestyle.... that MANY of us have some sort of emotional "issue" that causes us to find BDSM curing/medicating.
So if you're depressed, see a doctor, but don't stop living. It will probably be a couple of generations yet before we get rid of the old stigma that depression is a "mental illness", and that people like that are "dangerous". There's nothing "wrong" with our mind... it's just a physical malfunction. I've been in treatment for acute anxiety and depression for five years.. taking my meds like clockwork and most of the time, I feel great. Does it affect my life? Sometimes, but not near as much as having Restless Leg Syndrome and spending night after night fitfully tired but can't sleep! Hit me too hard with a whip after I've not slept for three days... THEN you'll see an emotional breakdown! LOL
Please don't think I'm tossing this off as nothing and all depression is the same.. I'm not. Some cases, like with any illness, are more severe. CHRONIC depression or a *clinical* depression diagnosis would be more concerning to me. And folks, getting "down" about something or having a few bad days, is not depression... it's just a down time. While a lot of good things were said in this thread, I'm afraid that if a good fuck makes you feel better, that's not depression. If you have a great fuck and you STILL feel down, THAT's depression. Or, not wanting the good fuck in the first place, THAT's depression! LOL
Keep us all together, and keep riding the storm out,
Princess
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