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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 9 to 33 of 33. Go back in thread:
Posted by stargazer on April 15, 2007, at 21:57:34
In reply to Re: So when did your depression and/or anxiety start?, posted by Phillipa on April 15, 2007, at 18:27:51
The kids today speak right up without any reservation when they are depressed which is a good thing I guess except that meds have become the answer for everything and I'm not sure this is a good thing. Alot of what they feel is just being a teenager and going through very hard things for the first time.
I hid my depression for years because my mother minimized there was anything wrong with me and said everyone felt that way. And there were no good meds then so even if you were depressed the treatment was not very good. You had to be really sick before you brought it to someones attention.
And we never got any sympathy for feeling sad or unhappy, my parents had too many kids to be able to listen to me when 4 younger brothers and sisters were screaming for attention and my older sister was sick and in the hospital, so I was alone watching the younger kids. It is depressing to think about it even now.
SG
Posted by Phillipa on April 15, 2007, at 22:11:14
In reply to More acceptable today,more drugs, etc/Phillipa, posted by stargazer on April 15, 2007, at 21:57:34
Stargazer you know it's so true. If I were to say that to get attention and even that didn't work I would bang my knuckles on the floor til they swelled and no one even commented. Once at age l4 I had never had a drink I filled a coke bottle with a variety of booze in a neighbors. Hid it in my closet and when scared one night. Do you remember putting initials on your arm with a paperclip or something I drank it all and then cut my leg with a razor and scared myself so bad. I didn't mean to hurt myself. My mind was drunk. And you know they my Mother took me to the doctor he said not one word put butterflys on it and then sent me home. Parents never said a word either. The emotional hurt was horrible. Love Phillipa you help me remember things. Wonder what the response if I were l4 now would be?
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 16, 2007, at 7:34:15
In reply to So when did your depression and/or anxiety start?, posted by football on April 14, 2007, at 21:24:56
You have been through so much at such a young age. Wow. What a strong person to hang in there.
Im 36 and it started when I was 27.
WOW.
Posted by football on April 16, 2007, at 10:57:14
In reply to Re: I CANT BELIEVE YOURE 18 YEARS OLD » football, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 16, 2007, at 7:34:15
> You have been through so much at such a young age. Wow. What a strong person to hang in there.
>
> Im 36 and it started when I was 27.
>
> WOW.I have a different view of it. I'm so young, that hopefully I'll be able to recover and have it not interfere with the majority of my adult life.
Posted by Deniseuk190466 on April 16, 2007, at 11:37:40
In reply to So when did your depression and/or anxiety start?, posted by football on April 14, 2007, at 21:24:56
I was 17 years of age when I started to feel something wasn't right and I actually thought for a long time that I was dying.
I had all the blood tests and xrays and they found nothing until eventually the Dr just told me to go away as there was nothing wrong with me. I even then thought there was something physically wrong they just hadn't come up with a diagnosis. I never considered myself depressed just ill.
Then when I was 24 it seemed to get worse and I went to my GP in tears. He prescribed this Prothiaden (tryciclic) which I didn't want to take because I didn't think I was depressed. I'd never even heard of antidepressants at that time.
I gave in and took them and WOW it was like being reborn (the experience was so profound) I'll never forget it and I never really looked back.... Until now of course.The prothiaden seemed to stop working so well when I was about 28 so took Seroxat which again worked wonderfully. I also had therapy which I found pointless. I then came off antidepressants at the age of 31 and lo and behold my old (long forgotten friend) came back to haunt me at 35 and is still haunting me now, I'm 41.
Denise
Posted by linkadge on April 16, 2007, at 11:41:39
In reply to More acceptable today,more drugs, etc/Phillipa, posted by stargazer on April 15, 2007, at 21:57:34
I would think that the kids who are the most depressed don't speak up, and that those who are mildly depressed are the ones who speak up and get the attention and care.
Linkadge
Posted by stargazer on April 16, 2007, at 12:24:19
In reply to Re: More acceptable today,more drugs, etc/Phillipa » stargazer, posted by linkadge on April 16, 2007, at 11:41:39
That's an interesting way to look at it and you may be right. The vocal ones always get the attention and help and the quiet ones, myself included, didn't. I think the sicker, more shy you are the harder it is to ask for help since you feel different anyway. The ones that aren't that sick have a better way, an ease in communicating their concerns more easily and don't feel as defective, it's a different thought process, i think. I can't really explain what I'm trying to say but there is a difference between the types of depression, situational vs biological, and they present differently, exogenous vs endogenous and all of that as well.
And if your family fights for you,you are in a better position to get help early, I wasn't so lucky with my family's inability to hear my concerns and take action on my behalf.
My symptoms started in my early teens, with no intervention (I tried twice to get help and was not taken seriously) until in my late 20's, treated effectively with Nardil. Years of poor control w SSRI combinations that never worked very well and today, at 50, still not well controlled yet. I thought once the first med worked, my depression was going to be behind me. Not so lucky afterall but still fighting the fight with help from many of you here! You know who you are.
Stargazer
Posted by Sebastian on April 16, 2007, at 14:41:30
In reply to Re: I CANT BELIEVE YOURE 18 YEARS OLD » football, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 16, 2007, at 7:34:15
Posted by Phillipa on April 16, 2007, at 19:24:53
In reply to Re: More acceptable today,more drugs, /Linkage, posted by stargazer on April 16, 2007, at 12:24:19
And at age 24 with the first panic attack and the valium I just knew I'd always have that to fall back on in hard times. They left for years. Love Phillipa
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 17, 2007, at 0:42:50
In reply to Re: I CANT BELIEVE YOURE 18 YEARS OLD, posted by football on April 16, 2007, at 10:57:14
First the bad: Youre 18 about to being the prime of your life and it is a shame you have to go into it worrying about and dealing with emotional issues. Kids like you should be thinking about girls, video games, things to blow money on, trips to the beach and NOT urinary retention.
Now the GOOD: I was 27 when all this hit me. Because I was so young, my body held up much better than someone twice my age for anxiety, bizarre side effects (urinary retention hasnt been one but Ive had a zillion others, esp on Prozac). By going through this at a little earlier age, you hope to get it solved by the time you reach middle age if not earlier. Because if it comes out of the blue and smacks you then you may are prone to additional health problems which can make the emotional issues much more difficult to deal with. In my opinion (and I could be wrong) its a little harder to deal with depression when you also have to think about arthritis, diabetes II, hip surgery, bad back, high blood pressure, etc.
Posted by ClubSoda on April 17, 2007, at 13:00:04
In reply to Re: Mine started at 20 YEARS OLD (nm) » UgottaHaveHope, posted by Sebastian on April 16, 2007, at 14:41:30
Posted by rjlockhart on April 17, 2007, at 15:01:32
In reply to So when did your depression and/or anxiety start?, posted by football on April 14, 2007, at 21:24:56
Posted by Phillipa on April 17, 2007, at 18:49:15
In reply to The good news and bad news about being 18, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 17, 2007, at 0:42:50
Michael yup been my point all along at a young age your body is healthy not all the problems I have. Love Phillipa
Posted by Deniseuk190466 on April 20, 2007, at 9:14:29
In reply to The good news and bad news about being 18, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 17, 2007, at 0:42:50
I wonder why this is?
Also, one word of warning, as far as I'm concerned, if you start experiencing depression for no apparent reason and you find a drug that works stay on it. Don't think you are better then come off it because sometimes you relapse and it doesn't work the next time as you probably know.
I think in the years ahead we are going to see a lot of people who suffer from treatment resistent depression because more and more young people will be put on ADs, take them, come off them and then years later have a relapse and the next time round the drugs won't work. That's just what I think anyway.
Denise
Posted by Sebastian on April 20, 2007, at 14:20:11
In reply to Strange how it's often around the age of 17 or so., posted by Deniseuk190466 on April 20, 2007, at 9:14:29
Why do you think it happens at this age?
Posted by FredPotter on April 20, 2007, at 17:49:08
In reply to Strange how it's often around the age of 17 or so., posted by Deniseuk190466 on April 20, 2007, at 9:14:29
I think you're about to become adult at 17 and have to flee the nest, hence all the feelings of insecurity. That's when it hit me
Posted by Quintal on April 23, 2007, at 2:11:17
In reply to So when did your depression and/or anxiety start?, posted by football on April 14, 2007, at 21:24:56
Mine began when I was small and my mother was in and out of hospital having operations. I can remember asking her what the point of life was as we were going to bed one night. She said it was 'to be happy'.........
I withdrew altogether and turned mute at school when I was 13. First AD was Paxil at 17, changing quickly to dothiepin, then benzos when I was 19 until I was 24 during which time I ate my way through (almost) the entire pharmacopoeia. And here I am now having a remission at 25 on tianeptine and nicergoline.
Q
Posted by FredPotter on April 23, 2007, at 2:34:24
In reply to Re: So when did your depression and/or anxiety start?, posted by Quintal on April 23, 2007, at 2:11:17
Hi Quintal nice to have you back. I'm 60. I've had remissions and relapses thoughtout my adult life. Now I'm hoping Nardil will get my life up and running again for good. I've never tried it before. Some people say it's unnatural to be happy all the time and that by suffering, we learn. Learn for what purpose? To be sympathetic to others? I know some people who've sailed thought life in a state of apparent total happiness. "High on life" one described it as. But some of these people are deeply understanding of me and my depression. So what's the learning for? For our relationship with God? You could argue that great works of art are produced by suffering. Come on Jackson Pollock I just want you to be happy.! But Raoul Dufy did great works of happy art. So all this suffering to be beautiful, I don't believe. I think it just destroys our lives.
best regards
Fred
Posted by Quintal on April 23, 2007, at 3:13:38
In reply to Re: So when did your depression and/or anxiety start? » Quintal, posted by FredPotter on April 23, 2007, at 2:34:24
Not sure what prompted this debate, but I'll have a go nevertheless.
I think the purpose of suffering might be to prompt an awakening, spiritual or otherwise. There are so many things I would be blind to if I'd never suffered and I'm grateful for that, but would they be important to me if I'd never suffered? Maybe not.
I often find it's easier to empathize with people when I'm feeling good, rather than when I'm in pain and exhausted, which tends to make me snappish and short with people. I've never personally met anyone that has sailed through life and has the same depth and sensitivity of perception as someone who has suffered, or been excluded from society and ostracised in some way. People who have endured what might seem to be a lot of pointless suffering may often harbour a little bitterness and begrudgery don't you think? It's easier to be generous when thy cup runneth over I would imagine?
Kind Regards
Q
Posted by SandyWeb on April 23, 2007, at 10:10:09
In reply to Re: So when did your depression and/or anxiety start? » FredPotter, posted by Quintal on April 23, 2007, at 3:13:38
I know exactly when my anxiety started. I was in Grade 4, so what is that? 10 years old or so? Right up until that time, I was rather extroverted and somewhat on the hyper side. Then a couple of incidents happened in class, and I started getting really shy....and that in turn led to anxiety....which has gotten worse and worse as the years go on.
As for depression, I'm not sure when that started. That may have been a teenage thing. But it is more pronounced when my anxiety levels are high.
And I'm now 42 years old, and only started meds when I was 38 years old. MANY years of suffering. I just didn't know I was suffering from anything that could be helped (maybe not cured, but HELPED) by anything medical. I was just ignorant of the whole mental health issues.
God bless,
Sandy
Posted by FredPotter on April 23, 2007, at 22:33:29
In reply to Re: So when did your depression and/or anxiety start?, posted by Quintal on April 23, 2007, at 2:11:17
Quintal do you think these 2 drugs will be a lasting answer for you? I sure hope so. Tianeptine is so counterintuitive though , so I don't think my Dr would touch it
Fred
Posted by Quintal on April 24, 2007, at 3:14:51
In reply to Re: So when did your depression and/or anxiety start? » Quintal, posted by FredPotter on April 23, 2007, at 22:33:29
I very much doubt the lasting answer lies in two drugs, that would spoil all the fun now wouldn't it?
Why is tianeptine counterintuitive? I've never really believed SSRIs correct a deficiency in serotonin, more that by ramping up serotonin you get changes in perception that may be helpful to some people who are depressed and anxious. Enhancing serotonin reuptake may also makes changes that can be helpful to people who are depressed and anxious. It's a shame such prejudice is so widespread among doctors, but I guess you've come across a lot of that with doctors who think MAOIs don't work? I'm not under the 'care' of a doctor any more BTW.
Q
Posted by Deniseuk190466 on April 24, 2007, at 10:52:16
In reply to Re: Strange how it's often around the age of 17 or so. » Deniseuk190466, posted by FredPotter on April 20, 2007, at 17:49:08
hmmmmm, could be. I can't help wonder though if a person's nervous system changes somehow at around that age. Growth hormone changes and that sort of thing bring it on.
Denise
Posted by FredPotter on April 25, 2007, at 17:42:59
In reply to Re: So when did your depression and/or anxiety start? » FredPotter, posted by Quintal on April 24, 2007, at 3:14:51
Does the faster reuptake of serotonin mean that more is pumped out into the cleft? It obviously is counterintuitive if there is anything in the SSRI story. Do you just buy drugs without p/s now?
Posted by Quintal on May 2, 2007, at 11:01:01
In reply to Re: So when did your depression and/or anxiety start? » Quintal, posted by FredPotter on April 25, 2007, at 17:42:59
>Does the faster reuptake of serotonin mean that more is pumped out into the cleft?
I think that's what's been suggested in the past. It might be more accurate to say tianeptine works by increasing the turnover of the serotonin transporter rather than by reducing serotonin levels per se.
>It obviously is counterintuitive if there is anything in the SSRI story.
It's clear that serotonin system has an effect on mood, but not necessarily that blocking the reuptake pump is the only, or even the best way to go about manipulating the receptors to get an antidepressant response. The SSRE method seems to lack all the side effects of excess serotonin that you get with SSRIs, in fact I have no side effects at all.
>Do you just buy drugs without p/s now?
Yes, though you don't actually need a prescription to import tianeptine and nicergoline into the UK.
Q
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