Posted by Kingfish on August 7, 2001, at 5:29:36
In reply to Re: Glenn ..., posted by Glenn Fagelson on August 6, 2001, at 21:29:45
Glenn:
I seem to be a bit better today.
I am relying so much on my medication working right now. I, too, am so tired of dealing with depression - the fatigue, the inability to accomplish things, the fear of suicide. Do you think you need a tweak in your meds?
I certainly understand what you're going through, perhaps not completely, for we each have a different perspective, but in a larger sense.
I have never joined a support group, but wonder if that might be effective. I do know that talking about it is helpful. And writing about it is helpful.
This is something I found a while back from Dr. Goldberg's site. I guess I should mention that I think it is copyrighted (some argument from the Admin board - I don't know). Anyway, the site is:
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html
----
Speeding Your Recovery from Depression
Hints for Speeding Your Recovery from Depression.
By, Ivan K. Goldberg, M.D.
In addition to psychotherapy and medication, the following are some simple things
which will help speed your recovery from depression. The more of them that you
can make yourself to do, the faster you are likely to feel better.1. Do not remain in bed or sleep for more than 8-hours a day. Over-sleeping has
been shown to increase depressed feelings.
2. Get outside for at least 1/2-hour between 11 AM and 2 PM. Bright light has
been shown to have an antidepressant effect. Getting out of doors even on a
moderately overcast day gives you the light your require.
3. Walk briskly, or get some other exercise, for at least 30-minutes every day.
Taking a walk out of doors between 11 AM and 2 PM takes care of both your need
for bright light and you need for exercise.
4. Totally abstain from the use of alcohol and recreational drugs. . Alcohol and
street drugs both induce depression and prevent antidepressants from working
effectively. If you must drink, limit your intake of alcohol to not more than
three units of alcohol PER WEEK. (A unit of alcohol is a 12 oz. bottle of beer,
a 4-oz. glass of wine, or a 1-1/2 oz. shot of whisky.) Totally avoid the use of
street drugs.
5. Increase the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. . There is highly
suggestive evidence that increasing one's intake of EPA, one of the Omega-3
fatty acids, helps recovery from depression. This can be done most easily by
taking a supplement that contains 600 mg. or 1,000 mg. of EPA in each capsule.
The total daily intake of EPA should be about 5,000 mg., and it should be
divided into three or four doses each day. Capsules containing EPA can be
purchased in any "health food" store.
6. Avoid the use of products that contain aspartame (Equal® or NutraSweet®). It
has been shown that many people with depression become more depressed when they
use these products.
Ivan K. Goldberg, M.D.
1556 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10128
+1-212-876-7800
Revised 2/18/01
-----Take care and keep talking about it. I'm happy to share more thoughts if you like.
- K.
poster:Kingfish
thread:8755
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010807/msgs/8857.html