On Wednesday evening about 50 people from the Dassel-Cokato area got together to hear a presentation from representatives of Meeker County Social Services and Prairie's Edge Counseling Center. The event was organized by the local Roman Catholic community and was entitled: “Taking Care of Our Selves and Others: Discussion on Grief, Depression and Suicide."
The first slide I remember from the presentation was like the one above. The normal brain (at right) is a flurry of activity. The depressed brain, at left, is darker, including what is known as the "frontal lobe," the part of the brain that is involved in decision making.
When there is less activity in that part of brain, it's more difficult for a person to choose between good and bad actions. When we are depressed, it become physically more difficult for our brains to make good decisions. Out-of-control pleasure seeking or destructive behaviors can result.
When we are depressed, it's hard for us to keep going with our lists of things to do. Even praying becomes difficult.
I'm in the process of contacting the presenters from Wednesday evening's gathering to see if we can have a follow-up event so more people can learn about these things. That's one of my "things to do" today. See "Taking Care..." for more.
If you or a loved one is having a hard time, please don't try to handle things alone! If things are really desperate, just call 911. If you're just looking for advice about which way to turn, don't hesitate to call (leave a message) or email me. I'll help you find the help you need. 763-291-3499 steve@equalsharing.com
www.equalsharing.com
No comments:
Post a Comment