Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Spring Forest Qigong dysthymia

I do one cycle of Qigong a week and it helps me to feel good. I have been seeing a therapist for a couple of months, and he made some comments that really made me think.
I experienced severe depression as a child but I was able to overcome it and have been able to live a relatively normal life. The therapist said that from our conversations that he was certain that I have been living my whole life with chronic depression. He said that even though I felt normal, that he felt that I didn't have anything to compare it to. He wants me to agree to getting an anti-depression perscription. I am not keen on the idea of taking medications. I feel like I am used to the way I feel and getting by, I don't want to have side-effects, or to act weird.
Is there anyone on the board who has had an experience with Qigong helping them or someone they know with depression?
thanks
ctaylor

I'm not sure what you mean by one cycle of Qigong.

I'm not a doctor and don't know you. However, it sounds like you are managing your life without drugs, dispite depression. I don't know what the state of your life is. I will say that I believe that if you follow the SFQ system, as recommended then you will be better for it.

Remember I only know you and your life for a mere 3 paragraphs.

Qigong is good to you. Just as sleeping properly, eating properly, and exercising properly are good to you. If you can improve on any of these 4 I would recommend you do so.

Your therapist knows you better than I do, and probably has a different perspective on things that can help you.

With love, you are perfection.
Iam2

[This message has been edited by Iam2 (edited October 19, 2003).]

I'm so glad that Qigong is helping you. I've been doing it for a little over a year. I learned from the home study course, and a few months ago, I took the course from Master Lin.

In the course book, depression is listed as one of the conditions that can be helped by Spring Forest Qigong.

At the class, Master Lin told us about a study he had just participated in, at the University of Chicago. A doctoral student conducted the study, in which Master Lin taught the Level 1 course to a group of patients at a mental hospital. The patients had severe depression and also bipolar disease. After 3 months, I think it was, he returned and gave a refresher course to them. The patients were monitored, and the study concluded that the SFQ was of benefit to many of them. I found that to be a thrilling result, and I got a copy of the printed report on it. (I'm going from memory here, but think I gave you the flavor of it.)

On the topic of depression, Master Lin has said that he feels especially able to be of help to people who have it, because he suffered from depression himself years ago. He talks about this in his book "Born a Healer". Master Lin had some pretty frightening experiences during the Cultural Revolution in China, as you may know.

I wish you all the best in your study of Spring Forest Qigong, and on your life's journey. - - Anita

One cycle? Does that mean you are doing this once a week? I would highly suggest an every day approach or more. Think of what healing transformation can occur when you subject yourself to constant blissful healing. I agree with you and commend you for your reluctant to take a pill approach. Doctors these days are too quick to prescribe something to mask the problem rather than go to the core of the problems.

That being said Iam2 has some good points and you are the ultimate judge. Your doctor is your doctor but you are your doctor as well. If that makes any sense. Since there is no emergency then why not put a little focused time into Qigong and see where it can take you. Also, as Anita stated Master Lin is very approachable perhaps seeking his advice on the matter would be very helpful.

Hello, C Taylor ~
I had trouble finding your word until I realized that you meant, I think, cyclothymia. As someone who has been on Wellbutrin and the like on and off for years now, I can say that there is more to depression than just feeling down. I grew up feeling this way all my life (I am an only child) as a highly sensitive person trying to cope with an alcoholic mother and ineffectual father, and also living overseas in various countries (which I loved). But I know they did the best they could - it just wasn't very good. And I grew up "knowing" at the time that it was all my fault.

I tried again to get off the medication here a few weeks ago and this time to bring myself down gradually, but again, within a week of not taking the full amount every day, I was feeling so ill I could hardly move. Not "feeling bad" but a whole body illness. I do some of Master Lin's Qigong (wonderful!) - along with PL tapes from here. And work with some courses. This has all greatly helped my state of mind. And body pain. But as for "clinical depression," no it hasn't changed the medication my doctor prescribed. At least not yet. This perscription runs out in 3 months and I intend to be done with it by that time.

People think that being depressed means being sad, not laughing much, looking and feeling totally out of sorts. Not necessarily so - it can also be a chemical imbalance in the brain, and most days people can appear to be just fine. This is what I have, and so it leads to the usual manifestations of "feeling lethargic" for days on end, then feeling fine again. I have so many more good days all in a row than I did before coming across various philosophy books and courses, and then the programs here at LSC two years ago. But programs are only as worthy as you make them; they don't "do" anything by themselves.

SO, I have rambled enough. I had just wanted to tell you that "taking meds" isn't necessarily bad. I HATE taking pills. Yet when we talk about imbalances sometimes artificial means helps until we can get a handle on the underlying causes. Now that I have a newly aquired grasp on my emotional and philosophical needs, I am once again starting to look for alternative medication.

~hope this helps
*A* fellow traveler

PS - I don't have physical side effects from the Wellbutrin, no matter what you see in the advertisements. But there are many of these types of chemicals on the market these days; experiment with your doctor until you find the one that you can take the least amount of and still have it help with moods and physical well being. You can do it!

AND I forgot to add - do some Qigong EVERY day, one part of it or another. You will be amazed at how much it helps.

[This message has been edited by Ann7822 (edited October 25, 2003).]

Dysthymia (the Greek roots of the word mean “bad state of mind” or “ill humor”) is a disorder with similar but longer-lasting and milder symptoms than clinical depression. By the standard psychiatric definition, this disorder lasts for at least two years, but is less disabling than major depression.
Cyclothymia is a mood disorder in which the client displays the characteristic ups and downs (depressions and euphorias) of Bipolar Disorder, to a much lower extent, to the point of not qualifying for a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. These symptoms must last for a period of at least two years, with no period longer than 2 months in which they have been at a normal state, and no mixed episodes may have occurred.
quotes from (www.mental-health-matters.com)
I am not bi-polar. Usually I feel tired regardless of sleep, sometimes it is hard to concentrate. It effects my studies.
I do think it is a good idea to do 1 hour of Qigong a day.
Thank you for all your insights.

SFQ should be a central part to dealing with depression. It's a serious subject, and can effect every part of life and those around. My father suffered from it and made growing up painful at times.

Doctors can only do so much, and pharmacuticals are not the long term answer.

Talking to a good Councilor or close friend is a must, sharing the feelings.

I would also like to ask you to at least consider the following...

... A radical inner cleansing (a week long water and powder nutrition fast with colenema's 3 or more times a day), what comes out of us maybe more inportant than what goes in! Also Oxygen supplements (the air we breath nowadays has 50% less oxygen in than our bodies are use to, which effects the brain). Enough pure water through-out the day to hydrate the body and brain (we are OVER 80% water), essential fatty acids (the omegas 3,6,9) and finally try natural remedies from the Amazon (not the book seller!) that have a safe and proven record of helping the system (incld. the brain) to find balance.

Not sure if this forum is a place to give other Web addresses but Google may lead you to the options mentioned above.

Obviously doing more SFQ will have a dramtic effect too. I think you need to aproach it from all angles and support your self with love in the process.

God Bless

Thank You
Manjusri