Metaphor

Metaphor

The definition of a metaphor is "a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another.

In simpler terms, a metaphor compares two objects or things without using the words "like" or "as"

A man has falls into a deep crater, and breaks both legs. Another man comes along and notices that someone is at the bottom of the crater with broken legs. The man says, I will go and get my hand book about "How to climb out of a crater with two broken legs, and toss it down to him.

The book writer returns later and notices that he is still at the bottom of the crater. "Why are you still there? All you need to do is to follow the instructions in the book and all will be well. Did you read in the back of the book the testimony's of those who were successful in getting out? Perhaps you don't believe the instructions are going to work. Where is your will power? Or maybe you are just lazy. If you don't at least try, I guess you are just stuck.

I have borrowed from two other metaphors, to create this one.

First from Elder Jeffrey R Holland. In the October 2013 conference in his talk "A Broken Vessel", he speaks of "major depressive disorder", depression and how it "significantly restricts a person's ability to function fully" He compares it to a "deep crater in the mind".

Second from Stephan E Robinson, in a talk gave in the BYU Women's Conference in 2002, entitled "With Healing in His Wings". Among other things he speaks of the Depression that he has suffered from the last five years . He uses the example of a "man falling into a fifty foot well and breaking both legs".

What is Chemical Depression

At the most basic level, nobody really knows what causes depression. The dominant theory is that it is a result of low levels of certain neurotransmitters (messenger chemicals that carry signals from one nerve cell to the next) in the brain. This is called the 'monoamine theory' of depression — monoamines being the group of chemicals that these neurotransmitters belong to.

 The neurotransmitters thought to be involved are serotonin (which helps regulate emotion, sleep and appetite), noradrenaline (which is linked to arousal and alertness), and dopamine (which is associated with pleasure and reward). People with depression are known to have lower brain levels of these chemicals, and drugs that elevate them can help lift mood.

 So the theory makes sense. But it is not known for sure whether monoamines are the primary cause of depression, or whether other factors are causing both the lowered neurotransmitter levels and the depression.

                                                                                               William Styron

Guilt, Darkness

"Many victims of mental illness wear themselves out emotionally by repetitive futile attempts to remember something they or someone else might have done that resulted in the terrible suffering they are forced to endure."  Alexander B. Morrison

           

            Maybe dark is not the right word. It was like a dismal, dreary fog, perhaps?  It was uncomfortable, oppressive, and there was a continual gloom.

             If you were to open the scriptures you would quickly come across the warnings for choosing the wrong path. They seemed to be everywhere.

            The only conclusion possible was that there was some terrible transgression. What had I done?

            If you do not keep my commandments the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness.

            They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noonday. 

            And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair, and despair cometh because of iniquity.

            Darkness is always followed with light.

            Similarly, those who are of the children of the light, having been made partakers of the revelations from God, but who fail in obedience to them, walk in darkness at noonday.

            Darkness reigns where there is ignorance.

            The kingdom of the devil is full of darkness.

            I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me shall not abide in darkness.

            The saints who do not magnify their callings are walking in darkness at noon day.

Alma the Younger, in Alma 36, of the Book Of Mormon, paints a very vivid picture of what happened when an angel appeared to him and the sons of Mosiah. He describes what he mentally went through during the …“three days and three nights that I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs.”  He was unable to respond to the world around him. For those three days, he lived in his mind.  He experienced every negative feeling possible, his soul was racked with inexpressible horror. He felt the pains of a damned soul. He thought it would best if he could be banished and become extinct both body and soul, rather to stand in God’s presence. The pain was described as exquisite. Were his neurotransmitters malfunctioning?  Were the normal levels of Serotonin, noradrenalin and dopamine being disrupted? 

Is he suffering the anguish of one recognizing his sins, and experiencing to some degree, the promise made to those who do not accept the Atonement, and must suffer even all that justice requires.  

There are many places in the scriptures that warn of the judgments of God. The words used to describe these judgments, portray through imagery how terrible that day will be. 

“It had been better for them that a millstone had been hung about their necks, and then be drowned in the depth of the sea.”  --- D&C 121:22

 “And said to the mountain and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb”

            In my mind, the imagery Alma uses is much “more express” than of millstones, mountains or gnashing of teeth

When darkness is spoken of in the scriptures, it is usually a description Satan’s realm. Associated with darkness is wickedness, guilt, defeat, grief, despair and self-condemnation, loss of hope. Add to those, Rejection by God, sinful, fallen, faithless, alone, filthy, apostasy, ignorance, bondage, loves darkness rather than light. 

Many of those descriptions are associated with Major Depressive Disorder, is it any wonder that we feel guilt?

When you add to these, periods of uncontrolled crying, being overcome by gloom, finding the most basic requirements of life, overwhelming and freighting, find that thinking and concentrating take tremendous effort. Anxiety, Loss of interest, pleasure, love, excitement and accomplishment are just gone. The inability to concentrate, or carry on a normal conversation because of the fear of looking foolish, having no desire and ambition to take on a new project, obligations seem overwhelming. No energy, pure exhaustion.

Then there is a feeling of rejection, a feeling of being judged by those around them, and when there are strong religious commitments, a feeling of guilt, guilt and more guilt. And then there is darkness. A literal darkness, with seemingly no way out.

False Hope

            Appointments grew farther apart, and finally after what seemed to a long time, I went in for a review appointment. The medication seemed to be working, but I had become even more tired.

            With the next appointment she indicated that she had talked to an associate, and that they had suggested that I might have “sleep apnea” .   An appointment was made with the groups sleep lab for a “sleep test”.  This occurred late November 2004.

            Let me say at this time, with each change in medication, or, Why don’t we try this or that, I felt a wonderful anticipation that it might be the answer. This time I was sure. I had never complained about not sleeping well, but this Sleep Apnea, would caused serious sleep problems without your realizing.

            It took what seemed forever to be finally scheduled for the sleep over test at the lab, and to be monitored throughout the night, by a person and computer. The first test was somehow inconclusive, because I had not slept long enough to accurately measure. I had to have two sleepovers, but the results were that I had “Severe Sleep Apnea.”  At last there was something physical contributing to my problems.  The solution was C-PAP.  Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. A C-PAP machine. It consisted of a machine that you use at night that generates a “Continuous Positive Airway Pressure”  into a mask that covers your nose.

            Apnea, is when you stop breathing while you are asleep. Usually it is something that normally happens to everyone. It becomes serious when it is caused by an obstruction. Usually, it is from the soft tissue and the back of the throat relaxing too much, as you get older, the soft tissue gets sloppier and can causes an obstruction.  When you stop breathing your nervous system takes over and jolts you just enough to start breathing again Now your sleep patterns have been disturbed, you wake in the morning, thinking you have slept all night. When this goes on without your realizing it, and when it is severe enough, how often you are jolted, so you can start breathing again, you take on many of the symptoms of sleep deprivation.

            At last, I know why I am so tired.

            I doubt that many have actually taken this machine home, hooked it up, put the mask on and slept all night. There are a whole lot of problems to adjust to , before the machine can offer any real help. Take my word for it, trying to sleep with a mask on your face and a machine running is not what nature intended.

Symptoms of sleep deprivation:

   Exhaustion, fatigue and lack of physical energy are common sleep deprivation symptoms. Exhaustion and fatigue affect our emotional moods, causing pessimism, sadness, stress and anger.

   Sleep deprivation is a common condition that afflicts 47 million American adults, or almost a quarter of the adult population. Symptoms can interfere with memory, energy levels, mental abilities, and emotional mood.

Lack of sleep may result in:

   Irritability,   Slurred Speech, Memory Lapses, Memory loss general,

   Confusion,  Clinical Depression, Decreased mental activity,

   Decreased Concentration,  Daytime Naps,  Inability to tolerate stress,

            I suffered from almost all of the sleep deprivation symptoms ,  Cure the sleep problems, cure the depression.  This had to be the answer.

            I used the c-pap faithfully. Took it on trips. I don't think I slept any better. Finally, in December of 2007,  an appointment was made to see about throat surgery. The surgery would correct the Apnea problem.  The surgery has corrected the problem, but the depression hasn't changed.