Attitude .

And, if I may add my thoughts, Grey. Some of us are genetically prone to depression, plus the anesthetics and other drugs that we are bombarded with also contribute. It helps if you step back and remember that YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE DEPRESSED. This isn't a party!! If you can separate yourself somehow from what you are feeling (does that make sense?), sort of stand there and watch yourself from "outside," realize that it can be a normal response to stress, you will find that it will help.

After you succumb to the low mood for a little while, come back and take control. You will feel better.

Sara Anne

Gray you are going though a lot right now. We all have times that life really does stink. And sometimes it is about survival about putting one foot in fornt of the other. Sometimes the only answer is to get through the day. I can't change that for you but I will be here cheering for you if you don't mind.

The research is still out on that in the medical world. In the real world attitude is everything. Here we see all kinds of people who have all stages of this disease. I imagine it is the same for all kinds of diseases. Some people are tortured by it and become depressed. The cancer even one they should have done well with seems to wear them down and you wonder how well they are taking care of themselves.

I belonged to an online email support group early on in my blc journey. I meant a man named James,I will forever be grateful for having known him even for a short time. James was not doing well he had stage 4 and things did not look good for him. He found that it brought him happiness to take care of the newbies on the site to make sure we had what we needed and doing ok. He taught me so much about compassion, and yes attitude, to the end he worried more about others than himself and was truely a happy man.

Attitude is to tell you the truth all that has gotten me through this. I can put on my ipod and rock out as the put me under and crack jokes as they put a tube in my kidney. It would be much worse if I were depressed on top of it all believe me I know been there done that. But that is me I am lucky and have a strong support network both online and at home. There are days I have pitty parties but I work hard not to let them turn into a binge.

I think people that have a good attitude take better care of them selves and seem to do better mentally. It is common to have depression in the early stages people should talk to a health care professinal if negative feelings, drepression or hopelessness presist even a short time.

So I guess my ansewer is I can't prove that a good attitude changes anything but I do know it makes it a whole lot more bearable if you can find a way to have one.