Massachusetts' First Lady being treated for depression

[Mass]

Very sad - Let's hope she recovers soon.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2007/03/10/massachusetts_first_lady_being_treated_for_depression/

Massachusetts' First Lady being treated for depression

March 10, 2007

BOSTON --Gov. Deval Patrick's wife is being treated for depression and exhaustion, his office said in a statement released Saturday.

The governor will limit his schedule in the next few weeks to spend more time with Diane Patrick and her family, according to the statement.

"The family asks for the prayers and understanding of the public. We also ask respect for the family's privacy at this difficult time," the statement said.

It is unclear what precipitated the statement.


...

[Cabcere]

1. I hope she recovers soon.

I know from personal experience that depression sucks hard, and it can be totally debilitating. :( May she be well soon. :hug:

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Why is this anybody's goddam business?

[Mass]

4. Sorry if I offended you, but the Patrick made that public,

They sent emails to the media and their supporters to inform them.

Actually, given the beating of the media during the last month or so, it is not shocking that she needs some rest.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. I didn't mean to land on you.

I just get pissed that we live in a world where someone's wife experiencing depression is something that has to be treated like a major news event. It would of course be relevant and newsworthy if the governor were having debilitating emotional problems that impact his ability to do his job, but his family is entitled to privacy. Good God, we have a whole US Administration with flaming Cluster B personality disorders, and everybody ignores it, but some poor woman seeks help & it gets splashed around like this.

[w4rma]

5. "… governor will limit his schedule in the next few weeks to spend more time with Diane Patrick …"nt

[Jackpine Radical]

17. OK. I see your point.

[tavalon]

20. Comes with being a public figure

I agree that these things (physical and mental ailments) should be allowed to be private but our society doesn't allow it as of now.

I wish her regained health.

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. I'm thinking the same thing.

Unless she did something drastic and they're trying to be pro-active about cruel publicity.

Sad when you can't depend on the media to report the things that matter to the nation, but if your spouse has a problem, they pounce on you like rabid jackals.

[rurallib]

3. She will be in my thoughts.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. May she be well soon

[Withywindle]

7. Good for her for getting help!

Too many people try to "tough it out" for too long...depression is insidious, it can have you totally convinced that it's all your fault you're unhappy, unmotivated, etcetera. Been there.

Maybe a respected public figure like her being open about it will inspire a few more people to get treatment and help banish the stigma.

[Cabcere]

12. So true.

I've been there too, and it's no fun. :( I hope you're right about her inspiring people to get help...here's to stigma-busting! :toast:

[etherealtruth]

8. I can not imagine ...

... the kind of stress and pressure that a person married to a politician must be under. Depression is a terrible illness; I wish her well.

[beaconess]

13. Especially when this is their first go-round in politics

This is all very new to both of them and I don't think anyone can really prepare themselves for the scrutiny and pressure that comes with this job unless they've got a long track record of dealing with the political slings and arrows and growing a very thick skin.

I wish her well, too.

[youngdem]

9. Best wishes...I suspect the rest of his administration will soon need it

Deval seems to have pretty shitty political instincts.

Seems like a fish fresh on the dock during his first few weeks in office.

Hope he pulls it out.

Mrs. Patrick, I hope you find relief. You have a thankless job.

[beaconess]

14. I'm sure you don't mean to, but your post sounds really insensitive. n/t

[nofurylike]

18. clearly you get your info from msm. can't imagine what else

you must believe, then.

we are extremely fortunate to have this great man as our governor. and diane patrick is amazing.


always remember: ...twice the work for twice as long, twice as well, for half the credit....

if you don't already get that, nevermind.


peace

[Bombtrack]

11. The only reason I can think of why they would feel the need to publicize this

is that he's required to give a reason for a lighter work schedule or something like that.

Otherwise it seems like an unnecessary, bad idea.

[beaconess]

15. I don't agree - it's better for them to get it out there themselves

than to have it turn up in the tabloids and then have her dragged through the mud by his political enemies and assholes on the right who would love nothing more than to "scoop" something like this and then beat it into the ground.

A preemptive strike is the right thing to do - both for their own well-being and also from a political standpoint.

[MannyGoldstein]

16. In Mass? Doubtful.

Mental health may be fodder for amusement in certain red states, but not in Mass. Just doesn't happen here.

[Bombtrack]

28. The Massachusetts right wing is about as powerful and infuential as the KISS army

actually less so. He's got 4 years before he's up for reelection and the only people who'd ever stand in his way getting through any issue on his agenda are members of his own party, any one of which who'd try to exploit this would suffer immensly themselves from cheap-shotting their leader.

[goclark]

19. They are such a beautiful couple ~ prayers go out to them nt

[Eurobabe]

21. Typical story that makes depression sound like a OBSW

OOGA BOOGA SMOOGA WOOGA!!

Hope she feels better soon. (Diane make sure they test your thyroid!)

[SeattleGirl]

22. Great point about checking the thyroid, 48!

I was diagnosed with clinical depression years ago, but before the doctor made that diagnosis, she wanted me to have a physical, including a thyroid check. I had just had a complete physical, so handed over the results to her. My thyroid was fine, as were my other physical symptoms, so after that, and psychological tests, the "verdict" was clinical depression. I appreciated the fact that the doc looked at my physical stats first. I know that problems with the thyroid can lead to a diagnosis of depression, when in fact, that's not the case.

And being a person with diagnosed depression, I wish the best for this woman.

[Eurobabe]

26. Depression runs in my family, and we ALL have hypothyroidism

Unfortunately for my mother, her hypo wasn't caught until she had been on AD meds for 30 yrs. We doubt whether her thyroid probs were really screened in 1977 when she had a nervous breakdown. Now that she is on a sufficient level of thyroxine, she has been able to drastically cut her AD meds.

It only took 3 decades to get a proper diagnosis though. :shrug:

[MLFerrell]

24. And this affects me how?

[Mass]

25. So, skip the thread.\nt

[Colobo]

27. Hope she recovers

Depression destroys lives...