Thanks, Upstream, for your thoughts. I find myself both agreeing and disagreeing with your perspective.

There are so many factors to take into account when considering an individual's illness -- whatever its root/base. In my own case, major depression has been a lifelong challenge and a direct result of trauma in infancy, which included necessary medical interventions to keep me alive. Unfortunately, this was also 1959, when neonatal intensive care units did not allow parents or "holders" to physically connect with babies. I spent my first three months in a box, literally --> an incubator.

There is concrete and continually mounting evidence that physical bonding, holding, mirroring, gazing, etc. (or lack thereof) will have a major impact on the infant's developing brain and immune/endocrine systems. I've recently studied two excellent books that you might want to look into: A General Theory of Love, by Lewis Thomas MD et. al, and The Trauma Spectrum: Hidden Wounds and Human Resiliency, by Robert Scaer.

The depression, PTSD, and other "mental" symptoms in my case have, in part, a definite physiological root. Later abuse that I experienced just seemed to cement the earlier patterns.

I can't see the body and the mind as entirely separate -- everything in us is connected with everything else. Our culture is still struggling to arise from centuries of mistaken beliefs about illness that is primarily of the mind. Demonic possession ... fallen moral character ... witchcraft ... laziness ... you name it, the label's been slapped on. Unfortunately, many people still choose to remain ignorant, and that's where the nasty judgments come in. I've been called every name in the book, from lazy to crazy, stupid, filthy, etc. ... by people who didn't know any better, and didn't want to know any better.

It's been pointed out in many ways that every thought and emotion has a biochemical equivalent (Candace Pert writes about this in her book, Molecules of Emotion). Likewise, every physical experience or symptom is marked on the brain and interpreted by the mind. Illness that people think of as only "mental" has its physical corelations.

The thing that breaks my heart is the ignorance and cruelty that other people can heap upon those with psychological disorders. There are no easy answers or simple responses for the disorders we experience. Every symptom ultimately makes sense, I think...it may take a long, long time to make the sense...but it is there.

Compassion is so important. Basic awareness, decency, and respect, regardless of a person's presenting symptoms. There's a beating heart and a wounded soul beneath all the crap, whatever it is. I make it part of my own healing to help others to understand the realities of depression, PTSD, etc. Our society/culture only aggravates these illnesses with its frenzied expectations, violence, noise, etc.

Thanks again for starting this thread -- I appreciate the dialogue; it's very thought-provoking.

Roo