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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mags on January 4, 2002, at 20:39:49
I am in group therapy plus I take cognitive thinking. I am told this will help in combination with my meds. I am finding that most of the group have had or still have horrible life experiences that they have not been able to overcome and have become depressed.I don't have bad situations in my life and yet I am majorly depressed right now. Thought I had found my magic pill but not so....I am feeling very uncomfortable in these groups because I can listen and offer some support but feel different from them. Has anyone else felt this way. I sometimes find myself making up a cognitive report because I haven't had any irrational thoughts and If I have I know it is the depresion talking.
Any comments on this?
Thanks, Mags
Posted by sid on January 4, 2002, at 22:24:26
In reply to Psycotherapy vs Meds, posted by Mags on January 4, 2002, at 20:39:49
When I had major depression I tried group therapy , but it did not help me. We were all very different people, and I too felt like I had too little in common with the others in the group to benefit from it. I toughed it out 4 months and then left the group. I talked, replied, participated actively, but I felt like I was helping more than I was being helped while I did need help.
My experience: I did behavioral and cognitive therapy on a one-on-one basis with different psychotherapists, and I read about these types of therapy. That did help me a lot. Is your cognitive therapy like that? Have you tried it? In fact, I got rid of major depression with psychotherapy and acupunture alone. Now I am on meds for dysthymia (chronic depression, which I've had for about 20 years, although I did not realize it until I had major depression and started reading on the subject). At this point I feel I've done all I could in psychotherapy, for now anyway, and I decided to try meds for the dysthymia. Seems to be working, but I started a month ago only, so we'll see. If I had to redo it, I'd go for meds earlier, but I was too scared of them and felt I had to get out of depression "on my own." Now I realize it was the depression talking... although I am still scared of these meds, which is why I participate to Psycho-Babble. I'd still do the psuchotherapy though because I am convinced it helped me at the time and it is still helping me to avoid relapses.
Anyway... all this to say that yes, I felt the same in group therapy, but had success with individual therapy. I am not the group therapy type I guess. Or perhaps it the group did not suit me.
> I am in group therapy plus I take cognitive thinking. I am told this will help in combination with my meds. I am finding that most of the group have had or still have horrible life experiences that they have not been able to overcome and have become depressed.I don't have bad situations in my life and yet I am majorly depressed right now. Thought I had found my magic pill but not so....I am feeling very uncomfortable in these groups because I can listen and offer some support but feel different from them. Has anyone else felt this way. I sometimes find myself making up a cognitive report because I haven't had any irrational thoughts and If I have I know it is the depresion talking.
> Any comments on this?
> Thanks, Mags
Posted by Mags on January 4, 2002, at 23:25:11
In reply to Re: Psycotherapy vs Meds » Mags, posted by sid on January 4, 2002, at 22:24:26
Thanks Sid
That really helps me. I too feel I am giving to the group more than receiving, however, they do help me take off the mask. It is the one place i can really admit to the world how bad i am feeling. I cover up so much of it with my family and friends. Unfortunately, individual thereapy is not available for me and neither is infdividual CBT. I did the opposite of you, tried drugs first and then the therapies. I wish we could find answers. thanks again for your insite...
magsWhen I had major depression I tried group therapy , but it did not help me. We were all very different people, and I too felt like I had too little in common with the others in the group to benefit from it. I toughed it out 4 months and then left the group. I talked, replied, participated actively, but I felt like I was helping more than I was being helped while I did need help.
>
> My experience: I did behavioral and cognitive therapy on a one-on-one basis with different psychotherapists, and I read about these types of therapy. That did help me a lot. Is your cognitive therapy like that? Have you tried it? In fact, I got rid of major depression with psychotherapy and acupunture alone. Now I am on meds for dysthymia (chronic depression, which I've had for about 20 years, although I did not realize it until I had major depression and started reading on the subject). At this point I feel I've done all I could in psychotherapy, for now anyway, and I decided to try meds for the dysthymia. Seems to be working, but I started a month ago only, so we'll see. If I had to redo it, I'd go for meds earlier, but I was too scared of them and felt I had to get out of depression "on my own." Now I realize it was the depression talking... although I am still scared of these meds, which is why I participate to Psycho-Babble. I'd still do the psuchotherapy though because I am convinced it helped me at the time and it is still helping me to avoid relapses.
>
> Anyway... all this to say that yes, I felt the same in group therapy, but had success with individual therapy. I am not the group therapy type I guess. Or perhaps it the group did not suit me.
>
> > I am in group therapy plus I take cognitive thinking. I am told this will help in combination with my meds. I am finding that most of the group have had or still have horrible life experiences that they have not been able to overcome and have become depressed.I don't have bad situations in my life and yet I am majorly depressed right now. Thought I had found my magic pill but not so....I am feeling very uncomfortable in these groups because I can listen and offer some support but feel different from them. Has anyone else felt this way. I sometimes find myself making up a cognitive report because I haven't had any irrational thoughts and If I have I know it is the depresion talking.
> > Any comments on this?
> > Thanks, Mags
Posted by jimmygold70 on January 5, 2002, at 3:02:08
In reply to Psycotherapy vs Meds, posted by Mags on January 4, 2002, at 20:39:49
Well, group therapy is not for everyone. Try CBT (cognitive-behaviorial therapy) individual - you and a psychologist only. Combined with a good drug, this will resolve your depression.
What drugs do you currently take that you feel so depressed ?
Jimmy
Posted by Mags on January 5, 2002, at 16:44:06
In reply to Re: Psycotherapy vs Meds » Mags, posted by jimmygold70 on January 5, 2002, at 3:02:08
I have tried Wellbutrin,Prozac, Effexor,Desipramine and Lithium.I am presently on Lamictal and was doing really well but the effects have worn off, and depression has come again...it is so frustrating. Unfortunately, where I live there is no individual CBT
Thanks for you response.
Mags
> Well, group therapy is not for everyone. Try CBT (cognitive-behaviorial therapy) individual - you and a psychologist only. Combined with a good drug, this will resolve your depression.
>
> What drugs do you currently take that you feel so depressed ?
>
> Jimmy
Posted by OldSchool on January 5, 2002, at 20:49:34
In reply to Psycotherapy vs Meds, posted by Mags on January 4, 2002, at 20:39:49
> I am in group therapy plus I take cognitive thinking. I am told this will help in combination with my meds. I am finding that most of the group have had or still have horrible life experiences that they have not been able to overcome and have become depressed.I don't have bad situations in my life and yet I am majorly depressed right now. Thought I had found my magic pill but not so....I am feeling very uncomfortable in these groups because I can listen and offer some support but feel different from them. Has anyone else felt this way. I sometimes find myself making up a cognitive report because I haven't had any irrational thoughts and If I have I know it is the depresion talking.
> Any comments on this?
> Thanks, MagsYou dont need to have experienced severe life events to have depression. Major depression is a physical disease. It can hit for a variety of reasons and negative life events is only one of them. Some drugs can cause depression. Also, sometimes depression just tends to run in families genetically and some people just get it no matter what they do.
Horrible life experiences does not necessarily equate to major depression. There are people who have been thru pure hell and never get depression. And people who get the severest of depressions who have had relatively easy lives. I think a lot of it is genetic, the ability to get this way (major depression). Again, think of it more of as a physical disease process, a health problem. You cant sleep good, you lose weight without trying, you cant think clearly or concentrate, you dont have a sex drive, etc. etc.
Old School
Posted by jimmygold70 on January 6, 2002, at 5:18:16
In reply to Re: Psycotherapy vs Meds » jimmygold70, posted by Mags on January 5, 2002, at 16:44:06
How long have you been on Effexor ? At what dose ? Did you combine it with lithium ?
The solution might be right there in my questions...
Anyway I'm sure indibvidual CBT will do a great job for you (combined with drugs)
Jimmy
Posted by Guinnee Pig on January 8, 2002, at 14:28:21
In reply to Re: Psycotherapy vs Meds » Mags, posted by sid on January 4, 2002, at 22:24:26
What if everyone in the group feels they are helping others more than being helped...maybe feeling grounded enough to help others is a small step in the healing process. Sounds like a lot of work for a depressed person.
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