Posted by TeeJay on February 14, 2004, at 20:03:32
In reply to Re: lithium and st. john's wort interactions ? » TeeJay, posted by francesco on February 9, 2004, at 6:36:30
Hi francesco,
You're very welcome, it was a great pleasure posting up what I hoped were a few uplifting words. Its odd (but nice) how a few words from a stranger can be so helpful isnt it?
I can understand your remarks about how meds and even some herbs and vit regimes can seem to affect ones personality. I'm sure some of the more powerful meds do do this to a point, but I believe depression, anxiety and other mental disorders tend to rob us of the self confidence in our own identities and this allows us to start questioning ourselves all the time and also brings on a bit of what i'd call "identity paranoia" ie we start worrying about who we are and hence become super sensitive to any minute changes to what we do or how we think.
I'm no qualified doc or anything, but what has helped me is to take a trip down memory lane. I've dragged in lots of my old favourite music from BEFORE I got ill (well its what the internet is for isnt it???), and of course this has brought back lots of old memories like old girlfriends, cars, holidays etc etc, ie the things that helped make me, me! An amazing therapy as it helps to reaffirm ones identity.
The other thing i've done is to consciously make an effort to dump fretful and destructive self criticisms from my mind. Its odd, as at first my brain actually missed these behaviours almost as though I was addicted to them (I actually think addictive mechanisms play a powerful roll in depression and anxiety), but like most addictions it doesnt take too much effort for the cycle to be broken.
Anyway, I'm rambling :-)))
Talk to you soon! Regards
Teejay
poster:TeeJay
thread:308774
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040110/msgs/313409.html