Posted by SLS on April 15, 2008, at 20:16:27
In reply to Re: Wierd Some I know In real Life Feel Better off ADs » bulldog2, posted by Glydin on April 15, 2008, at 16:07:03
Hi all.
I know this is pretty silly, but if person number 1 doesn't respond to an AD, the worst we can say is that the drug might not work for anyone. The best we could say is that it might work for other people, but not person number 1. If person number 2 does respond to an AD, the worst we can say is that the drug works for at least one person. The best we can say is that 50% of people respond to medication.
I respond to medication. The worst I can say is that I am the only person in the world who responds to my treatment regime. The best I can say is that everyone has the potential to get well.
What got me well? Vigilance, persistence, hope, and patience. Observing which drugs I maintained a partial response to. Combining some of these drugs together and further augmenting them with still other drugs and tweaking dosages. Then, forget about drugs for awhile. Like maybe 3 weeks. Then assess and make adjustments as necessary. Now, wait.
It seems simple enough. In reality, it is hard as hell. It is extremely difficult to avoid despair and hopelessness.
There are magic pills.
This is most true for people with properly diagnosed affective and anxiety disorders. Once one obtains a good response to medication, then it is possible to better process the issues of everyday life - just like real people.
I'm feeling wonderful. The addition of Deplin 4 months ago made the difference. Deplin takes 2-4 months to work. Fortunately, I know that going in. So, I simply popped my "medical food" every day and didn't think much more about it. At some point, I said, "I'll be damned." I have been improving steadily. It seems to be sticking. I have a lot of detritus to clean up. Depression leaves devastation in its wake with wreckage everywhere. Well, if I do all of this additional work psychologically, doesn't that prove that there are no magic pills? No. The pills still work their magic so that one can just begin to process their outer and inner worlds. Many people have no need for remedial psychotherapy. People with unhealthy brains can have healthy minds. Give them the right pill, and they jump off the couch they had laid on motionless for years, ready and capable to begin living on the best terms their new-found awakening offers them. Some chronic depressives have been able to practice self-actualization despite their biological depression. The magic here is having a healthy brain once again facilitate a healthy mind.
Let's just say that for Scott, there are magic pills.
Severe depression begins - 17 yrs.
First diagnosed properly and treated - 22 yrs.
First remission (6 months) - 27 yrs.
Became completely unresponsive to medication - 30 yrs.
Became partially responsive to medication - 40 yrs.
Robust response (finally) - 48 yrs.60 psychotropic drugs (foreign or unmarketed).
Multiple permutations of drug combinations.
ECT.
Psychotherapy.
Food allergy rotation diet.
Other stuff.
A lot of crying.There is a lot of good advice and healthy perspective to be found along this thread.
Currently:
Nardil 90mg
nortriptyline 150mg
Lamictal 200mg
Abilify 20mg
Deplin 7.5mgGod has been very good to me.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:823248
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080412/msgs/823506.html