Frances Bell

I missed that one Lesli but then when it was released I had 3 children (10,8, and 4) , just completed my masters and started lecturing.  I guess you could say I was doing the practice-based rather than multimedia learning
You'll be fine as soon as you learn to type one-handed with a baby over your shoulder.

Congratulations Lesli.  Good news on your moodlebump.

If only we could do digital knitting we could knit you an open source blanket.  Knitting is very relaxing I find, and the knitting tag is a great way to find interesting women in the blogosphere.

Actually, I think that some people with coronary heart disease (not entirely explained by genetic factors unlike yours probably) do have a choice (e.g. to give up smoking, lose weight or take more exercise, as well as to agree with their doctor what is the 'best' treatment for them). That is not the same as saying their disease is somehow their 'fault' but rather they may be able to have some say or influence on their health outcomes.  That is probably why I am not a technological determinist, and why I have worked to use Moodle on this project.
Choices are not simple, and not always fully available.

Thanks for your balanced and heartfelt response Lesli.  Those who have experienced depression (and related mental conditions) in ourselves,  friends or families know how complex the situation is, and how difficult it can be for everyone to get through.  It's good of Chardelle to suggest a more private place to discuss this as examples rapidly become personal.  Like many debates that touch our experiences, the above thread rapidly became polarised and personal but it seems to me that all protagonists were making some sort of sense
My own experience has told me:

• chemicals can be helpful in getting through but rarely 'cure' and also carry problems (e.g.recent findings on prescription of Seroxat to adolescents)
• stigma is an additional problem that people suffer
• 'coming through' can involve an element of taking responsibility and personal change, if and when possible

Sorry for prolonging this but I just wanted to suggest that a plausible account of depression can contain much of the apparent contradictions in this thread.

You can also check out this current thread.