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Re: not psychotic depression » SLS

Posted by papillon2 on June 14, 2012, at 8:51:14

In reply to Re: not psychotic depression » papillon2, posted by SLS on June 14, 2012, at 6:15:37

> Nice post.

Thanks. Once I hit send I was worried that I sounded like a drug rep. Lithium does have it's downsides which I know all too well. I had to cease it after ultra-low doses (125mg-250mg) were causing some scary symptoms of toxicity. That is super rare, though.


> Did you find that lithium leaves you in a passive state of mind with fewer aggressive impulses? I sometimes wonder if these things contribute to the anti-suicide properties of lithium. Is anxiety a component to your depression? If so, does lithium reduce this as well?

At 500mg (0.8) I was so passive I couldn't speak or walk very well and sat staring into space, LOL. But yes, at lower doses it seemed to take the edge off feelings of aggression toward myself. The best way I could describe it is that it's calming.

I have problems with anxiety but no formal diagnosis, only melancholic depression. Used to have the appendix w/ PTSD features. The intrusive thoughts are the worst when my depression is ridiculously severe (can't speak, walk).

I am in remission/recovered from anorexia nervosa (lifetime predisposition as it is heavily genetic, I may relapse despite being healthy at the moment). Anorexia is known for having an anxiety element to it.

This I found fascinating (was going to start a thread but figured no one else would be interested: http://www.chw.edu.au/research/groups/psychmed/anorexia_nervosa.pdf


> Intrusive thoughts can seem much like having an involuntary conversation between the self and an unwanted, altered self. Ruminations can complicate or amplify this. Treating the ruminations as being part of depression or OCD might help reduce the density of intrusive thoughts. I find CBT helpful in recognizing ruminative, intrusive thoughts when they occur, and perform reality checks that allow for the rejection of these negative thoughts as they are understood to be part of the illness.

Yep! My CBT exercises are a real weapon and have kept me alive when stupidly sick. Well, that and being too sick to kill myself! I find the constant arguing/fighting with the illness exhausting, though, without good medication support.

Thanks for reminding us of CBT. Existentialist -- strongly suggest you look into this if you haven't already. There are free online programs if you can't see someone in person, try http://moodgym.anu.edu.au/ Moodgym has been proven to work in studies.


Ring the bells that still can ring
forget your perfect offering
there is a crack in everything
that's how the light gets in
~ Leonard Cohen

 

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poster:papillon2 thread:1019543
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120608/msgs/1019711.html