Posted by stargazer on March 6, 2007, at 10:17:31
In reply to Re: Treatment resistant Depression » stargazer, posted by Phillipa on March 5, 2007, at 21:41:56
Phillipa,
Your thyroid may not have started your
depression/anxiety issues. You may have had it much earlier, but since you were drinking several beers every night while you worked, you were able to minimize any symptoms which may have developed into depression much earlier, had you never drank.You know the term, dual-diagnosis, psych and substance abuse, classically appear together and the substance abuse usually is the presenting condition. The depression only manifests itself after the medication (drinks, meds) is removed. Then treatment can begin for depressive symptoms, whatever emerge after a detozx off alcohol or meds is completed.
Depression is really just a broad category under which symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, agitation, panic, mania, alcoholism, etc. fall.
The drug one uses to function, be it pot, alcohol, valium, is just a way to cope with life's stressors. Most people do this to some extent or another. It's the level to which you do it and its impact on your life, which determines if you have a problem.
You may have had depression all along without having any symptoms at all. Drinking would have minimized any anxiety you may have not have been aware of having...If you drank more than a drink or two a night, more more a few times a week, that is enough to be considered excessive.
Some people do this all their lives and appear functional, never requiring treatment for it. Social drinking is an "acceptable" practice in our society. The only time someone may seek help is when the drinking interferes with their life or when another health condition (thyroiditis) forces them to change their habits.
Did you have to stop drinking because of the thyroid or did you elect to do it for another reason? Was there ever a period of time, in the 20 years, you were not on any meds or alcohol, and if so for how long?
Just trying to figure out how your situation may have developed.
Stargazer
poster:stargazer
thread:738595
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070302/msgs/738675.html