Depression

During those first critical days after you have been diagnosed with a chronic illness are important. Your life is not over—the prophets have been dead for many centuries, so who is telling you that your life is over. You still have a life.

Suddenly, your life changes in an instant. You are just told by your Doctor that you have a life threatening disease. He tells you not to worry, that you still have many options available to you. You hear the words but your mind is racing-the doctor continues to talk, but you do not hear any more of his words.

Your life just stopped. You are thinking about what you had, what you will lose, what will happen. Everything is changed. The day that started off like any other day, is now different. While the Doctor tells you not to worry, that we can beat this. Your mind is telling you that you are going to die.

The Doctor tells you about the latest treatment options, that we can bet this and not to worry. You begin the treatment, you are believing now that there is a chance. The treatment continues, its hard, it takes its toll both on your body and your head. Finally, you believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel and you are going to beat this. Then that light suddenly turns into a locomotive headed right straight for you.

This is the roller coaster world that you have now entered. But the bottom line to all of this is that you are still the same person you were one year, two years ago. Just everything has changed-but you are still the same person. Just like when you throw confetti into the air (those pieces are you), there are still the same pieces when they fall, just arranged differently when the land on the ground.

While many Doctors believe that they are God, unlike God-they cannot foretell the future. They may be able to tell you what MAY happen concerning an illness, they cannot say of any certainty that this WILL occur exactly as they say.

Do miracles, yes. But the reason they are called miracles is that they do not always occur. Sometimes, God's answer is NO.

Nothing is promised to anyone in life. Whatever cards you are dealt, will be the ones that you have to pay with. No re-deals, no re-shuffle. You play with what you have.

Are you still the same person, YES. You still have the same talents, skills that you had two days ago. You are that confetti waiting to fall to the ground.

Many may talk about religion and how strong their faith is, but when your faith is all that you have, that is when you find out how strong your faith truly is.

You are not alone in this fight. You can contact us (within the USA), anytime 1-888-409-9299 or email us at not-alone@heart-intl.net

You may also visit "A Touch of Kindness" HERE

Document Name & Link to Document	Description	File Type/Size
5 Rules for Living with Chronic Illness and Depression	I have the pleasure of interviewing one of my favorite therapists, Elvira Aletta, Ph.D., on a very important topic: chronic illness. I say important, because it now pertains to me (and thus is important), and I need to learn some coping techniques ASAP before I fall over, into the Big Black Hole of depression.
8 Fears of A Chronic Illness	People facing a chronic illness suffer great emotional turmoil. The prospect of being sick and a burden to someone else, possible of facing death, can be devastating.
An Elder Suicide Primer-An Introduction to a Late Life Tragedy	Elders account for one-fifth of all suicides, but only 12% of the population. White males over age 85 are at the highest risk and complete suicide at almost six times the national average. The suicide rate among elders is two to three times higher than in younger age groups. Elder suicide may be under-reported 40% or more
Chronic Illness and Depression	Depression is one of the most common complications of chronic illness. It is estimated that up to one-third of individuals with a serious medical condition experience symptoms of depression. People diagnosed with chronic illnesses must adjust to the demands of the illness as well as to its treatment. The illness may affect a person’s mobility and independence, and change the way a person lives, sees him- or herself, and/or relates to others. These requirements can be stressful and cause a certain amount of despair or sadness that is normal.
Chronic Illness in Marriage	Nothing quite assists a spouse in understanding his or her role of helpmate like a chronic illness. For married couples, a diagnosis means twice the heartache, discomfort and worry. If you have a chronic illness, how do you juggle your needs with the needs of your spouse? How can you fight feelings of inadequacy and guilt? If your spouse has a chronic illness, how do you "keep it together" for him or her? What if you become burned out? What do you do when you find yourself thinking, "This is more than I bargained for?"
COPING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS	Traditionally, the experience of serious illness has been approached in two ways: (1) a gloomy perspective of resignation, self-denial, and helplessness, or (2) a Pollyanna approach that denies altogether that there has been a real trauma. Both of these perspectives distort and disguise the reality of chronic illness.
Coping with Chronic Illness and Depression	Living with a chronic illness is a tremendous challenge. Periods of grief and sadness are to be expected as you come to grips with your condition and its implications. But if you find that your depression persists, it is important to seek help
Coping with HIV/AIDS: Mental Health	HIV/AIDS can have a major impact on many parts of your life. People with HIV and those close to them are subject to many things that may affect their mental health. Many people are surprised when they learn that they have been diagnosed with HIV. Some people feel overwhelmed by the changes that they will need to make in their lives. It is normal to have strong reactions when you find out you are HIV positive, including feelings such as fear, anger, and a sense of being overwhelmed. Often people feel helpless, sad, and anxious about the illness.
Depression and suicide in men	Depression is often used in everyday language to mean straightforward and understandable unhappiness. This use of the term is best avoided. Instead, the word should be reserved for those who have significant and pervasive lowering of mood leading to difficulties in leading a normal life
Discriminated to death	Instances of people committing suicide due to HIV/AIDS or related issues keep cropping up quite regularly in the media. Comprehensive information on the number of HIV-positive people who have committed suicide is hard to get
HIV/AIDS and Suicide: Implications for Suicide Identification and Prevention with Persons Infected with HIV	AIDS continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States. As of December, 1996, 571,324 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with AIDS (Centers for Disease Control, 1996). Although the number of AIDS related deaths are beginning to level off, the psychological and physiological pain for those already infected continues.
Living Life to the Fullest Creative Coping Strategies for Managing Chronic Illness	Our life may be turned upside down at times and our coping abilities pushed to the limit. We are likely to face crises, loss, pain, grief, conflict, disruption, excess stress, uncertainty and even questions about identity and the meaning of life.
Living with AIDS in Orissa	People with HIV/AIDS in Orissa are ostracised and mistreated by their families, community and the medical fraternity. These conditions have prompted the formation of Orissa’s first registered association of people living with AIDS, the Kalinga Positive People’s Association.
Living with Chronic Illness: Why Should I Go On?	Everyone who lives with a long-term illness thinks about suicide at some time during that illness. My hunch is that these emotions usually come early in the disease, during the first struggles with the reality of chronic illness. The second most common occurrence of those sentiments comes, I think, at times of crisis in the disease, at times of reversals.
SAVING LIVES: Understanding Depression And Suicide In Our Communities	Power Point Presentation	600 kb
Some Common Illnesses May Increase Suicide Risk for Elderly People	“While suicide may seem to many to be a quintessentially individual problem resulting from intensely personal decisions to end one’s life, empirical evidence over the past two decades has shifted this view toward one of suicide as a broader, population-based phenomenon with discernible common patterns that can be used to help define generalized risk and protective factors.”
Study of HIV in rural America paints picture of suicide, isolation	A four-year study of people with HIV and AIDS who live in rural America is painting a picture of isolation, depression and thoughts of suicide. Early findings from the project reveal that most participants feel cut off from support services, have seriously limited access to health care and are living in poverty – issues researchers say have led many to consider suicide.
Suicidality and Violence in Patients With HIV/AIDS	A significant percentage of patients who commit suicide will have seen their primary care clinician in the month before their suicide. This underscores the importance of routine mental health screening in the primary care setting, which can help identify patients who are at risk for suicide and enable them to receive treatment for the underlying cause of their suicidal behavior.
Suicide and HIV/AIDS in Transkei, South Africa	HIV/AIDS has devastating effects in terms of personal and family suffering. The disease is highly stigmatised and there are many instances of discrimination against sufferers and their families. This could lead to suicide, both in infected as well as affected individuals. The literature lacks clarity and the subject is traditionally problematic to research as it is attached with ethical issues. This study has tried to correlate between the growing number of suicidal deaths and HIV infection in the region.
Suicide and Russia	Power Point Presentation	293 kb
SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AMONG PUERTO RICAN MEN AND WOMEN WITH HIV/AIDS: A STUDY OF PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS	Epidemiologic studies in the United States have estimated that 1.1%–4.3% of the general population attempt suicide at some time in their lives. HIV infection and risky behaviors have been associated with self-harm and suicidal ideation. Diagnosis of HIV infection and recognizing a lifelong existence as HIV-positive can be a distressing and traumatic experience.	Pdf 293 lb
The Emotional Implications of Chronic Illness	A lifetime challenged by pain, fatigue, surgery, and even restrictions on one's lifestyle can be devastating and may result in depression. It is important to understand that each family member responds to this illness in different ways. There is no one way to respond or feel in handling stress (for example, the husband who has difficulty discussing the disease, the mom who cries often, the sibling who behaves in an angry manner, the child who feels guilty for "causing" these problems). While family members may not see eye to eye at any one time, they need to persevere with respect for each other, allowing for open and supportive communication.
UN Body Takes On Rising Suicide Rates	“The studies indicated that the suicides occurred at the moment of the testing, when people learned that they were HIV-positive," Bertolote says. "Some people decide to commit suicide rather than going through the painful condition of being HIV-positive. Then the introduction of the treatment, the antiviral therapy, the 'cocktail' treatment, decreased suicide rates. So when people learned that there was hope, they didn’t commit suicide.”
You Are Not Alone	Maybe you have tested HIV+ very recently; maybe you've known for some time, but this is the first time you've reached out for information or support. You need to know that you are not alone. There are an estimated 2 million HIV+ people in the United States. Testing positive for HIV does not mean that you have AIDS, but HIV is probably the greatest threat to your life you have ever faced.