Jim Ritchey
Professor Johnson
Engl 1213
June 14, 2014
“Finding Happiness”
Momma said "happiness comes from magical rays of sunshine when you're feelin blue", unfortunately momma was not a scientist. In Essayist Pam Huston's "A Blizzard Under Blue Sky"(283) the narrator is diagnosed to be depressed by her doctor over several problems in her life but instead of taking drugs or therapy she chooses to go on a winter camping trip accompanied by her two dogs, Jackson and Haley. After a harsh night in a blizzard she feels that she has overcome her depression. I would like to say that depression is a very serious but treatable mental problem and should not be dismissed. It is true that many people have sad times in their life filled with fear, stress, and sadness that are able to be overcome; however, some individuals have had to deal with depression all their life because of dismissal of the idea.
Depression is often curable through two means, the first is therapy, the second is drugs. I know many people are often put off at the idea of throwing a pill at something but statistical evidence gives scrutiny. Dbsalliance.org, an non commercialized website about depression, the statistics state that, "Up to 80% of those treated for depression show an improvement in their symptoms generally within four to six weeks of beginning medication, psychotherapy, attending support groups or a combination of these treatments" this may not be proof, but it shows what professional help can achieve. I would also claim that my mother had seen a therapist after the loss of her mother and had a fantastic outcome.
I would claim that what happened to the narrator in Huston's story had been through a very therapeutic experience. She had a goal and focused on it instead of her life problems, "Not one in that fourteen hour night did I think about deadlines, or bills, or the man in the desert". (287)
Accepting the fact that one may have a mental problem is the first step to recovery as stated by http://www.nextavenue.org. My mother had a very hard time accepting the fact she was depressed and needed help. She used therapy instead of drugs but also began to drink more. One would fear at this outcome but my mothers drink average is actually common for most American women at her age. I feel that depression needs to be taken more seriously. I had minor depression in my