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[KMBaum]

Hey guys! So, I'm 22 years old and a college senior and I have dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder. I think for pretty much my whole life. I was officially diagnosed when I was 19 though. Never been a happy person, and at this point in my life, I've pretty much lost hope I ever will be. That's just because I can see what other depression sufferers in my family are like and they remind me of myself. They're on meds too, but the meds only help somewhat.

So here's my story. Depression and anxiety run on my dad's side of the family. That side of the family is Russian and Jewish and the people on that side of my family are some of the kindest, sweetest, most caring people I know. That's the side of the family I take after.

And then there's my mom's side. That side is Chinese and Catholic. And let me tell you, I love them to death, but Chinese people are CRAZY! I just don't know how to deal with Chinese people when I have depression, which is the whole reason I started this topic. Does anyone have Chinese parents, and how do you deal with them when you're depressed? My mom and I are super, super close, but most of the time I hide my depression from her. I just act happy when I'm around her because it makes everyone feel better. I wish I felt like I could just be myself around her. As you know, there are those times where hiding depression just isn't possible, though. And when those times happen, my mom freaks out and becomes uncontrollable. And I don't know what to do about it. I don't know how to help her or myself get through it. My motto is to remain calm, but that's impossible when there's a Chinese person around. So, here's the real question: how do YOU deal with your Chinese mom or dad? Because I don't know how to deal with mine! Thanks for your advice, depression sufferers! :)

[Epictetus]

I don't have Chinese parents but have lived among Chinese people for about 30 years. Sometimes it is very difficult to communicate because of cultural differences and medical cultural differences. And it goes both ways. It is often very difficult for them to communicate to me their cultural wisdom and rich culture too, especially their medical culture which is under-appreciated in the West. I have found photographs to be the best way of explaining depression to just about anyone though regardless of cultural background.

There is research showing that depression is linked to atrophy [wasting away] of the brain, especially one part of the brain. There are photographs of this. There is also research showing that depression is linked to a 23% thinning of the outer layer of the brain and there are photographs of this too. There are MRI photos of blood flow and glucose metabolism of the depressed brain compared to photos of the brains of control subjects. Sometimes atrophy is hard to explain. There are photos of what dementia and Alzheimer Disease does to the brain by way of atrophy. There are photos comparing healthy brains to atrophied brains. The atrophy involved in AD is very severe but it can give people an idea what atrophy can look like. You can type the words 'brain' and 'alzheimer' on your computer and under 'images' it will bring up many photos of what serious atrophy looks like. Atrophy in depression does not usually involve this level of disease pathology and the atrophy can be very subtle but it is visible too sometimes. I find the pictures are worth a thousand words. I don't really find any differences between Chinese people and others. Older people of all nationalities sometimes have a hard time adjusting to new research. I know I do. I don't know if this will help. Anyway, I want to welcome you to the Forum. Sometimes people never really "get" what depression is, try as we might to communicate what it is.

Edited by Ep1ctetus, 05 September 2012 - 09:37 PM.