Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
So wrote Shakespeare. I think the bard was in a bad mood when he wrote McBeth. Or it maybe it was just the way he dressed his characters, particularly MacBeth.
MacBeth was in full depression mode. He grieves when he hears the news of the death of Lady Macbeth and is faced with an angry army trying to rain on his parade. Let's face it, Macbeth was totally bummed out, awash as he was with pessimism (Bringing to mind Leonard Cohen's "I have seen the future. It is murder). To Shakespeare, life is a short, sad play in which we all have a role and when our time comes and we are heard no more, no matter what role we played, it was/is of no significance.
How dreary!
And yet, how many of you PWP can honestly say you have never suffered from depression?. Some depression settles in for a long stay while other forms can be short-lived. The Cleveland Clinc wrote
- Depression is also common in patients with Parkinson’s disease; an estimated 50 percent have some form of depression. Often, depression begins years before the patient has any of the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (such as tremor, slowness of movement, or problems with walking and balance). This is caused by a decrease in chemicals, such as dopamine, within the brain as Parkinson’s disease begins. Depression in Parkinson’s disease affects quality of life, as much as (and sometimes more than) the movement problems themselves
- Major depression is a disabling form of depression in which a person has tremendous difficulty performing simple daily tasks. People with this type of depression are often hospitalized if the symptoms are severe and affect the person’s ability to function.
- Dysthymia is a milder and chronic (long-term) form of depression in which patients have sadness, yet are often able to continue with their daily routine.
- Seasonal affective disorder strikes during the winter months.
- Postpartum depression affects women after they have given birth.
- An adjustment disorder with depressed mood is a clear emotional reaction to a negative experience or situation, such as the loss of a loved one or being diagnosed with a severe illness.
- Pseudo-dementia is a type of thinking or mental problem that occurs when a patient is suffering from depression that may look similar to “dementia.”
- Organic depression is caused by chemical or physiological (physical) change in the brain from another medical condition.
There are several types of depression:
Which form do you have? I admit sticking my toe into a McBeth-type depression while the following issues were resolved:
- Where did the universe come from? (answer: It didn't come from anywhere, It has always existed and will always exist, just changing form now and then.)
- where did all the people come from? From A creator? (don't know but lets assume there is a creator. What is his game?)
- Why bother? Is life some form of an experiment or video game (like Sim City?)
- Looking back; allthough I've had a great life, I know it has no signicance in the grand scheme of things. (The universe doesn't care)
- and when I die, I will become omnipotent as a part of the energy of the universe.
Remember that optimism, positive thinking to the nth degree, can have an effect on the pace of PD. Frankly, there are many factors that cause your form of depression. If you can't talk your way out of the illness, see a doctor - they have drugs!
With respect to my daliance with the big"D", the water was too cold. I beached my Macbeth covered toe quickly. I still have doubts, but my pessimism hangs by a thread. I just need the right wit to cut it free.
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