Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 270386

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Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Hanks

Posted by Penny on October 22, 2003, at 8:01:46

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Penny, posted by Hanks on October 22, 2003, at 1:18:32

> How many patients are still there in this board to find an expedient fix to their causes even after decades of experiments with different chemicals? If we can endure what drugs inflict upon us as loss of efficacy and ultimately relentless sufferings why can't we just try a drug free period to educate our brain to cope with what we call depression, anxiety, panic...?

I've tried the drug-free period, and, guess what? My depression relapsed.


> Depression is a self limiting disease. If untreated it will resolve in six to nine months. Antidepressants can shorten this period and psychotherapy is equally effective. This is what I read as a basic theory of depression. How many of us have bothered with these basics?

Six to nine months. Great - if it was ONCE and not REPEATEDLY. If EACH EPISODE lasts that long, and you have RECURRENT EPISODES, then you spend your entire life battling this disease. Or it becomes 'self-limiting' through suicide. Take your pick.

Anyone who doesn't understand the reality of depression and other mental illnesses needs to spend a week in the psych ward at their local hospital. Six to nine months? Tell that to the elderly lady who had been suffering from recurrent depression since the birth of her son - she's now 78. Or the woman who would be the first to tell you that her life is wonderful - so why does she always want to kill herself? She's constantly in and out of the hospital, and NOTHING works for her. No, medication doesn't work. ECT hasn't worked. Therapy hasn't worked. NOTHING. One day, I fear, she will succeed in killing herself. A wonderful woman with so much to offer the world, except for the horrible disease that keeps her trapped.

It did teach me that I'm not alone, it taught me that there are others who have it worse than me, and, as the elderly lady said to me, in all seriousness, "Unless you've been there, you don't know, do you?"

I suspect you've never been there. And that's okay. Continue to think what you want to think. That's YOUR reality. Depression is mine - and I didn't choose it.

P

 

Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Hanks

Posted by Emme on October 22, 2003, at 11:52:08

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Dinah, posted by Hanks on October 22, 2003, at 1:26:07

I am curious as to why you are posting on this board. This is an open forum and of course anyone is welcome to partcipate. But I get the impression that you have come to attempt to get us to stop taking medication. Why is that? Have you or someone you know had a bad experience with medication? Have you had problems with depression and/or anxiety and been able to imnprove with therapy/lifestyle changes alone (if so, that is good but doesn't work for everyone)? Your theory that depression is not a real illness makes me think you don't have direct experience with mood disorders. Is that the case?

Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you are coming from, how you found this forum and why you decided to start posting here, what kind of help or support you need from us, etc.



 

Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Hanks

Posted by KimberlyDi on October 22, 2003, at 13:19:25

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » stjames, posted by Hanks on October 21, 2003, at 1:08:47

Well, No. We don't have to read between the lines. Between the lines exists a space. You see what you want to see.

I can't say anything nice in reply to your opinion. Silence does not imply agreement.

 

Amen Penny. Well said. (nm) » Penny

Posted by KimberlyDi on October 22, 2003, at 13:24:16

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Hanks, posted by Penny on October 21, 2003, at 12:07:05

 

Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Hanks

Posted by KimberlyDi on October 22, 2003, at 13:55:08

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Penny, posted by Hanks on October 22, 2003, at 1:18:32


"Doing so means we are simply losing OUR illusions which we hardly wish to. OUR living environment makes us weak, vulnerable and quite deceptively we mask OUR debility by naming them as depression, generalized anxiety disorder... WE have gone so far almost to the point that there is no return."

What's this with the WE and OUR? Once again, your opinion. Nice world that everyone has a forum to broadcast their opinions, isn't it?

Yet, as intelligence goes up, the ability to relate to human beings on an emotional level goes down. The belief of intellectual superiority can mask quite a few disorders by itself.

au revoir prof hank...

 

Re: please be civil » Mariposa

Posted by Dr. Bob on October 22, 2003, at 20:49:47

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ......, posted by Mariposa on October 22, 2003, at 6:57:27

> Mr. Rable Rouser, I conclude you are just trying to give us more grief rather than offering support, you don't really care about our situations ... You offer us nothing to assist us in our struggles.

You may not agree with someone, but please be sensitive to their feelings and don't jump to conclusions about them or post anything that could lead them to feel accused or put down, thanks.

Bob

PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies, and complaints about posts, should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration; otherwise, they may be deleted.

 

Re: please be civil » Dr. Bob

Posted by Mariposa on October 22, 2003, at 22:03:52

In reply to Re: please be civil » Mariposa, posted by Dr. Bob on October 22, 2003, at 20:49:47

> > Mr. Rable Rouser, I conclude you are just trying to give us more grief rather than offering support, you don't really care about our situations ... You offer us nothing to assist us in our struggles.
>
> You may not agree with someone, but please be sensitive to their feelings and don't jump to conclusions about them or post anything that could lead them to feel accused or put down, thanks.
>
> Bob
>
> PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies, and complaints about posts, should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration; otherwise, they may be deleted.

Insensitive - yes, and I appologize. I can be oppinionated and arrogant and I guess my Lex isn't curbing THAT part of me. Will continue to try to be positive and helpful.~~~8|8

 

Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Hanks

Posted by Ilene on October 23, 2003, at 0:04:17

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Penny, posted by Hanks on October 22, 2003, at 1:18:32

> Yes, Fighting depression without the aid of chemicals in a "Brave new World" will not be that fun. Doing so means we are simply losing our illusions which we hardly wish to. Our living environment makes us weak,vulnerable and quite deceptively we mask our debility by naming them as depression, generalized anxiety disorder....We have gone so far almost to the point that there is no return.
>

Illusions? Illusions of what? Masking what debility? I don't understand you,

>
> How many patients are still there in this board to find an expedient fix to their causes even after decades of experiments with different chemicals? If we can endure what drugs inflict upon us as loss of efficacy and ultimately relentless sufferings why can't we just try a drug free period to educate our brain to cope with what we call depression, anxiety, panic...?
>

Have entered drug-free period. Want to kill myself. What's your advice?

> Depression is a self limiting disease. If untreated it will resolve in six to nine months. Antidepressants can shorten this period and psychotherapy is equally effective. This is what I read as a basic theory of depression. How many of us have bothered with these basics?
>

Don't believe everything you read.

>
>
> "Stand a little out of my son" Was the answer Diogenes gave to Alexander the Great. We have been trained to answer "Stand a little close to me until sunset"
> There lies the difference.
> Hanks

A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain....

Ilene

 

Re: Depression is a created illness and ......

Posted by nickm on October 23, 2003, at 9:17:16

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Emme, posted by Hanks on October 23, 2003, at 0:52:06

I too have suffered from depression, and anxiety, and panic attacks, but about four years ago I asked my doctor to take me off Luvox, and I have stayed with psychotherapy treatments with a Jungian Psychologist who is also quite ecclectic, and later (after I moved to another city), with a cognitive psychologist who understands I once suffered trauma, and that I have some narcissistic personality and paranoid personality symptoms.

I get by, but I have a problem with authority figures. Still, I function socially, took up singing, writing, and other interests, and have been off meds for four years.

Meanwhile, my wife (I've posted elsewhere about her) has been taking meds for thirty years. In the last two years I've watched her struggle as a psychiatrist continuously kept chasing symptoms: Take Prozac, chase it with Zyprexa, then add a dash of Lamictal, use Klonopin to sleep, and top it, add Provigil, or Neurontin, etc., etc., ad infinitum.

The posts here seem to suggest that people are willing to put up with all kinds of side effects. As has my wife, until she was unnecessarily put through ECTs when the doctors failed to see that her akathisia, dyskinesia, EPS symptoms were being caused by Prozac, Zyprexa, and later by Wellbutrin, Abilify. These doctors plainly refused to listen to me (She was so hysterical, depressed, and emotionally destroyed she couldn't fend for herself anymore - when I tried talking to the doctors about the EPS symptoms they resented me, and accused me of interfering with their treatments).

I turned out to be right. A new doctor recognized the EPS, gave her benadryl, and she's much better. He also told her to take a week off Serzone (Liver problems with that one!!!!), and that he would consider attacking the depression anew with, possibly, Effexor and Remeron begining in about seven days from today.

So, I go read about Effexor and Remeron, and I find that both can cause all kinds of negative, severe, and serious symptoms...

I don't discourage anyone to take or not take medications, but I am getting discouraged about my wife's symptoms and negative reactions to drugs, and her negative thoughts that seem to precipitate bouts of melancholy, anxiety, and panic attacks.

She says she feels the absence of Serzone in her body. Does that mean she should take it?

Zyprexa made her feel good, but is it worth it if in the long run it will give you diabetes or hyperglicemia?

Each struggles with these questions. Personally, I believe that cognitively the symptoms of depression can be alleviated, though it takes time.

For my wife, the taking of meds has caused these consequences: loss of memory (aggravated recently by ECTs), reduced cognitive abilities, the use of multiple medications that fight each other (Is the fight a draw? Does Prozac win over Klonopin? Klonopin is a depressor of the Central Nervous System, so how come it is used when the main diagnostic is Depression? Yes, I know, the doctors are supposed to manage and balance the actions of the drugs against each other).

So, months and years go by, and the patient no longer fights and fears getting off meds (Depression might come back), but fights the side effects, and changes meds, and other symptoms show up, and the Central Nervous System doesn't know what to do with the ups and down of serotonin, the lowering of dopamine, the raising of it, etc., etc., and again, ad infinitum.

It seems to me that the meds ARE ALWAYS a measure that loses efficacy after four to six months, dependence and tolerance set in, and eventually the doses are so high the patient suffers. I've seen it in my wife over thirty years.

What's the answer?

I don't know. I need to go to Al-Anon, for I know she's depressed, I know she has all kinds of extravagant fears, social anxiety, agoraphobia, general anxiety, dependent personality, etc., and those conditions cause depression, but in thirty years of meds she has only gotten worse, and worse, and worse...

No, I don't mean to be discouraging. I need some support too. I'm her husband, and I love her, and I suffer when she suffers, and other than educate myself on all these things with the help of support groups and web pages like this one, I feel quite helpless...

Nickm

 

Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » nickm

Posted by Dinah on October 23, 2003, at 10:03:26

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ......, posted by nickm on October 23, 2003, at 9:17:16

It isn't always like that. I've been on the same dose of klonopin for nearly seven years, and still find it effective.

I'm with you in that I believe things that can be treated without medication should be. But not everything can be...

My depression is of a degree that I can treat it with therapy and no meds. But my anxiety is caused by an oversensitive nervous system (now my view is validated by a neurologist, so I feel ok saying that). I can and will do something with it with relaxation techniques and biofeedback, but I will probably still need medication to help with those hair trigger synapses.

And I'm ok with that. Because I can't live with the symptoms of anxiety. Literally. Klonopin, Risperdal, whatever I need to take is better than the alternative, because the alternative is choosing permanent peace.

 

Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » nickm

Posted by KimberlyDi on October 23, 2003, at 11:05:38

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ......, posted by nickm on October 23, 2003, at 9:17:16

lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

I looked up narcisstic personality because I had never heard about it. That was the only one out of the possible symptoms that jumped out at me. Not to bash you with but as a way to consider the possibility that your perception and hers might be alittle different about the subject of her depression.

That said, there's situational depression and depression caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Situational is like my father-in-law... he just lost his wife of 50 years to a heart attack. He'll be on AD's for a few months to help him out during the worst of the grieving process, then get on with the rest of his life. A chemical imbalance won't be fixed in a few months on AD's any more than a diabetic would be fixed by a few months of insulin shots.

I agree that adding med after med to counter-act SE's of other meds gets excessive and scary. I'm having to quit Effexor because of raised blood pressure, not take BP meds to counteract it. The difference Effexor made was incredible though. Worth considering by itself if nothing else is working.

Good luck for you and your wife.
KDi

 

Re: Depression is a created illness and ......

Posted by nickm on October 23, 2003, at 15:08:41

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » nickm, posted by KimberlyDi on October 23, 2003, at 11:05:38

No, if I have elements of narcisissism it doesn't mean I have them all. You went too quickly to look for a way to knock my post down. Sorry, but you did. I love my wife, and I know what she's going through. I feel it in my own flesh, and my suspicions about the lack of proper diagnosis that caused her to go through unnecessary ECTs were confirmed by the latest psychiatrist, who immediately diagnosed her akathisia, dyskinesia, etc., all caused by antipsychotics, and by Prozac.

I was looking for support, not for a condemnation. If I have narcissistic elements, it doesn't mean that I lack empathy, and it doesn't mean that is my diagnosis. And if I have some symptoms of it, no psychologist has accepted responsibility for putting me in that "box" or that "label." I just know enough about it to know that I need attention, but when it comes to my wife I know what the quacks did, and what shape they have her in.

The constant meds, changes, and side effects they cause has me worried. Since I don't take any, I worry for what they're doing for my wife, and the obvious symptoms were finally detected by a psychiatrist that seems to know his business.

Anyway...thanks for answering, but your decision to jump at me smells so like the previous two psychiatrists that screwed up my wife no end, when they refused to listen, or open their eyes for the obvious symptoms she was experiencing.

Nickm

 

Re: Post was not for you !

Posted by MamaB on October 23, 2003, at 15:28:53

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ......, posted by nickm on October 23, 2003, at 15:08:41

> No, if I have elements of narcisissism it doesn't mean I have them all. You went too quickly to look for a way to knock my post down. Sorry, but you did. I love my wife, and I know what she's going through. I feel it in my own flesh, and my suspicions about the lack of proper diagnosis that caused her to go through unnecessary ECTs were confirmed by the latest psychiatrist, who immediately diagnosed her akathisia, dyskinesia, etc., all caused by antipsychotics, and by Prozac.
>
> I was looking for support, not for a condemnation. If I have narcissistic elements, it doesn't mean that I lack empathy, and it doesn't mean that is my diagnosis. And if I have some symptoms of it, no psychologist has accepted responsibility for putting me in that "box" or that "label." I just know enough about it to know that I need attention, but when it comes to my wife I know what the quacks did, and what shape they have her in.
>
> The constant meds, changes, and side effects they cause has me worried. Since I don't take any, I worry for what they're doing for my wife, and the obvious symptoms were finally detected by a psychiatrist that seems to know his business.
>
> Anyway...thanks for answering, but your decision to jump at me smells so like the previous two psychiatrists that screwed up my wife no end, when they refused to listen, or open their eyes for the obvious symptoms she was experiencing.
>
> Nickm

Nickm,
I am VERY sorry , I did not aim anything in that post at you!! I empathize with you situation...that post was for Hank

 

Re: Depression is a created illness and ......

Posted by nickm on October 23, 2003, at 21:08:19

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » nickm, posted by Dinah on October 23, 2003, at 10:03:26

Thanks, Dinah. Your message comes across as soothing. I try my best to keep away from meds, but I understand there are circumstances in which a person may need them - short term. Long term, all meds lose effectiveness and create more problems than they solve.

Have you read Dr. Glenmullen's "Prozac Backlash?"

Highly recommend it.

Nickm

 

Re: thanks (nm) » Mariposa

Posted by Dr. Bob on October 23, 2003, at 23:43:57

In reply to Re: please be civil » Dr. Bob, posted by Mariposa on October 22, 2003, at 22:03:52

 

Redirect: fighting depression without chemicals

Posted by Dr. Bob on October 24, 2003, at 0:12:28

In reply to Redirect: fighting depression without chemicals, posted by Dr. Bob on October 22, 2003, at 2:20:36

> I'd like discussion about fighting depression without the aid of chemicals to be redirected to one of the other boards here, thanks.

Here's a link:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031020/msgs/272335.html

Bob

 

Re: please be civil » Ilene » nickm

Posted by Dr. Bob on October 24, 2003, at 0:34:08

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ......, posted by nickm on October 23, 2003, at 15:08:41

> A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain....
>
> Ilene

> You went too quickly to look for a way to knock my post down. Sorry, but you did.
>
> your decision to jump at me smells so like the previous two psychiatrists that screwed up my wife no end
>
> Nickm

Please be sensitive to the feelings of others and don't jump to conclusions about them or post anything that could lead them to feel accused or put down, thanks.

Bob

PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies, and complaints about posts, should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration; otherwise, they may be deleted.

 

Re: double double quotes » nickm

Posted by Dr. Bob on October 24, 2003, at 0:35:52

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ......, posted by nickm on October 23, 2003, at 21:08:19

> Have you read Dr. Glenmullen's "Prozac Backlash?"

I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon

The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html

Thanks!

Bob

 

Re: Penny - I know this sounds terrible but.....

Posted by denise528 on October 24, 2003, at 4:36:56

In reply to Re: Depression is a created illness and ...... » Hanks, posted by Penny on October 21, 2003, at 12:07:05

Penny,

I know this sounds bad but sometimes I do wish that everyone had experienced at least six months of depression then perhaps maybe they would not make such brutal comments as "depression is a created illness", "suicide is for cowards" etc. Maybe when a colleague asked me why I wastn't going to a works party, I could say "I'm depressed" rather than feeling embarrassed and having to make something up. Perhaps when somebody asked me "whats wrong" "do you want to talk about it" I could then say "I don't know what's wrong and theres nothing to talk about because I just don't know what's wrong" and maybe they would understand but would them understanding really help I wonder.


Denise

 

Re: Post was not for you !

Posted by nickm on October 24, 2003, at 8:51:16

In reply to Re: Post was not for you !, posted by MamaB on October 23, 2003, at 15:28:53

lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

I looked up narcisstic personality because I had never heard about it. That was the only one out of the possible symptoms that jumped out at me. Not to bash you with but as a way to consider the possibility that your perception and hers might be alittle different about the subject of her depression.

The above is what I objected to, and it wasn't posted by you. Kimberly Di did. I objected to looking up Narcissistic Personality, zeroing in on one symptom, and then using it to answer the rest of my post, which was filled with concern for my wife.

Thanks for taking the time to answer, and I assure you I wasn't responding to you, but to Kimberly. In retrospect, she probably didn't mean anything by her response either, but I've been besides myself lately, for I feel my wife was almost literally "raped" with electricity and shocks when this ECT quack coerced her into treatments she did not need. I feel violated too.

Many thanks,

Nickm

 

Re: double double quotes

Posted by nickm on October 24, 2003, at 8:55:02

In reply to Re: double double quotes » nickm, posted by Dr. Bob on October 24, 2003, at 0:35:52

Thanks, Dr. Bob. I hadn't read that part about quoting books, etc.

Nickm

 

Re: Post was not for you ! » nickm

Posted by KimberlyDi on October 24, 2003, at 15:04:13

In reply to Re: Post was not for you !, posted by nickm on October 24, 2003, at 8:51:16

Nickm,

No, I didn't mean anything personal by it. I should have mentioned that all people can perceive a spouse's depression differently than the spouse. My husband, for example, doesn't recognize what an angry man he becomes when he doesn't take his Paxil and Blood Pressure meds. Angry, paranoid, lashing out at the kids and me, red-faced, and unable to relax. On his meds, he laughs so much more and enjoys life without being filled with rage. He can't seem to see the connection though.

I would be horrified if they tried ECT on him and I'm thankful the first AD that he tried worked.

What I mentioned was only a possibility to be considered, which is why I put the disclaimer.

I still wish you and your wife Good Luck in your search.

KDi

 

Re: please be civil » Dr. Bob

Posted by Ilene on October 24, 2003, at 20:27:36

In reply to Re: please be civil » Ilene » nickm, posted by Dr. Bob on October 24, 2003, at 0:34:08

> > A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain....
> >
> > Ilene
>
> > You went too quickly to look for a way to knock my post down. Sorry, but you did.
> >
> > your decision to jump at me smells so like the previous two psychiatrists that screwed up my wife no end
> >
> > Nickm
>
> Please be sensitive to the feelings of others and don't jump to conclusions about them or post anything that could lead them to feel accused or put down, thanks.
>
> Bob
>
> PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies, and complaints about posts, should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration; otherwise, they may be deleted.

I'm confused here.

1) I don't think I responded to Nickm's posts. I thought I responded to Hanks'.

2) Am I being uncivil?

Ilene

 

Re: A little learning » Ilene

Posted by Dr. Bob on October 25, 2003, at 2:47:58

In reply to Re: please be civil » Dr. Bob, posted by Ilene on October 24, 2003, at 20:27:36

> > > A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain....
>
> 2) Am I being uncivil?

I was afraid Hanks might feel you were implying that he had only a little learning...

Bob

 

Re: A little learning » Dr. Bob

Posted by Ilene on October 25, 2003, at 9:48:17

In reply to Re: A little learning » Ilene, posted by Dr. Bob on October 25, 2003, at 2:47:58

> > > > A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain....
> >
> > 2) Am I being uncivil?
>
> I was afraid Hanks might feel you were implying that he had only a little learning...
>
> Bob

I was. He seems to likes Classical literary allusions, that's why I used the Pierian spring quote. I didn't think that was a deeply wounding insult.

Is there a way to say, "You don't know what you're talking about," in a way that enhances someone's self-esteem? Especially when he's informed you that your life-long affliction is "invented", and not comparable to "real" suffering?

I have more than one so-called hidden disability and being told I'm not really sick is a trigger for me. *That* is deeply wounding.

But I didn't say a thing to nickm! I have a lot of sympathy for him!

Ilene


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