Posted by SLS on August 14, 2009, at 6:08:54
In reply to Re: Going back to old-school - lithium. » SLS, posted by hyperfocus on August 14, 2009, at 2:14:39
Hi.
> What I mean is do you think that there is psychological or other work that you need to do that may preclude responding to meds?
You asked the right question. I guess I didn't answer it right.
For me, psychotherapy does nothing for the depression.
I have been in and out of psychotherapy since 1976. I have been in group therapy, too. I am currently seeing a psychotherapist to do work that would need to be done, regardless of the presence of bipolar depression. Then again, I probably would have been able to do much of that work had I never become depressed.
What is certain is that no amount of psychotherapy can affects my depression. I have come to believe that the depression of bipolar disorder and that of unipolar disorder are different. One difference seems to be that bipolar depressions are almost always "hard" and refractory to psychotherapeutic treatments. They are purely a biological disorder of the brain, regardless of how healthy the mind is. In the realm of unipolar depressive disorders, I think a large percentage are more malleable than hard. For these phenotypes, psychotherapy can make a difference as there is a "dance" of interactions between the mind and the brain.
Some people might look at the mind and brain as being the same thing. I won't entertain any debate about this, as I have done so too many times in the past. Suffice it to say that the brain determines the mind as the mind sculpts the brain.
> I was just using my case as an example. There are a couple of axes I proceed along towards hopefully recovering - meds,psychological, philosophical, behavioural, spiritual
For a very long time, I have approached life in a way that has attended to all five of those axes. I think that's why whenever a drug treatment has afforded me some time without depression, I move forward at a great of speed as there is nothing holding me back. I feel like a thoroughbred chomping on the bit and waiting for the gate to open.
> ,...on the psychological axis for example I'm learning to let go of what happened in the past. I've been getting noticeable emotional relief from this which I don't think I could have got from meds alone. If your response to meds is weak or inconsistent could the block be on some other axis?
I only WISH that were my problem. When I first found out that I had a biological disorder in 1982, I was extremely angry. I wanted my depression to be psychological. That way, it would be under my control to work on. I was more than willing to do whatever psychotherapeutic work that was necessary. I felt helpless to know that my brain would not allow me to feel good, no matter what changes I made to my psyche.
> You probably know all this stuff already so bear with me - just trying to help.
You don't know how much I appreciate that. Thank you. When dealing with me, it is best to assume that I don't know anything. There is plenty that I don't know and perhaps don't realize. I would want anyone to give me suggestions that might benefit me.
Thanks again.
:-)
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:904699
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090810/msgs/912056.html