Author Topic: do you believe in clinical depression?  (Read 4142 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Anonymous

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 164653
  • Karma: +3/-4
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« on: March 29, 2005, 10:47:00 PM »
Is there anyone here who suffers from clinical depression here? Has anyone tried getting shock therapy? I have been trying to "deal" because they told me in elan that it was all in my head, but its so bad right now and really physical doctor says i'm fine but I feel like i've got headaches and stomach pains all the time and like im asphyxiating and I don't think I can "just deal" anymore.  I'd try about anything right now, they say its a controlled seziure where you get immediate results but i'm basically going to be useless for 2 months because you have to get shocked something like 10 times and each time they do it you lose your short term memory. Does anyone have an oppinion on anything that works please tell me sooner rather than later because I can't take this much longer.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 164653
  • Karma: +3/-4
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2005, 09:15:00 AM »
I believe you might benifit from some freakin shocks.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 164653
  • Karma: +3/-4
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2005, 12:00:00 PM »
ECT, or Electro Convulsive Therapy, works 92% of the
time. It is only used as a last resort therapy because of the expense and potential for side effects.

The side effects are exaggerated by the stigma associated with ECT, from movies and the thought
of using electricity to cause a seizure.

Although electricity is used in other medical modalities and there is no stigma attached.
Go figure. If it is for your head, which BTW,
is attached to our bodies for all the critical
people out their then society generally will
be critical of treatments.

So, forget about what other people say, and take
care of yourself.

Getting back to ECT, it is not the electricity but
the seizure that allows the brain to pause, and
reset the neurotransmitter flow that alleviates depression, stops suicides and can stop a mania.

The amount of electricity used it minor, I think
around 200 volts and a couple of milliamps. Where
they put the pads against your head is what counts, and it is so harmless that immediately after I couldn't feel where they did it.

I had five treatments in 2001. It was the most
remarkable therapy I have done to date for my
Bipolar Disorder.

Prior to that I had long depressions, lasting
up to 10 months long, life was terrible. I took
large dosages of medications, to no avail. After
the ECT I haven't had a major depression and I
only take a fraction of the dosages of medication
than before.

People have varying results from ECT. Some perfect
like me and some ineffective, and everything in between. Just like any other medication or therapy to help mental illness.

First though, you should have a good relationship with your psychiatrist, and have exhausted medications before considering ECT.

The modern theory on the utilization of ECT is that it is a treatment to augment the use of psychotropic medications. Once the ECT works, then
the medication management is critical to continue your recovery and ECT would only be used if the medications failed to work again for a period of time.

---

I will figure out how to log in to be non-anonymous and you can ask me further questions either on or off the list. I recommend on the list
as others can learn from your experience and upcoming treatment success. But confidential is understandable if you want to communicate offline.

My name is Paul Cumming, I am from San Diego.
I am on this list because a friend rejected me
around 1996 because I was in a major depression.

His name is Saul Rudman, at the time he worked
for CEDU. Over the years I would do a google search to see how he was doing and I was curious
about the work at CEDU.

I was not suprised that he started Coronado Academy but I was surprised when it went out of business, perhaps the same financial people pulled
the plug? That is a wild ass guess.

Anyhow contact me if you wish, there is nothing
to fear about ECT. I am concerned though that you
are getting proper care now, and that ECT is considered at the right time and is even necessary.

Paul Cumming
[email protected]
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Mister Pink

  • Posts: 1140
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2005, 04:04:00 PM »
Fuck shock therapy - yall need lobotomies
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
quot;Its a shame the way she makes me scrub the floor\" - Bob Dylan

Offline Anonymous

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 164653
  • Karma: +3/-4
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2005, 08:06:00 PM »
Perhaps you meant, fuck being sick?

Get the help of one's choice, utilize
legitamite resources for treatment
decision making, and good luck with
whatever one does to recover from
mental illness, right?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 164653
  • Karma: +3/-4
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2005, 09:31:00 PM »
I went in today and they gave me lexapro.Has anyone taken this? How long does it take to work?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Paul

  • Posts: 438
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2005, 11:34:00 PM »
http://www.lexapro.com/

Lexapro is in a class of medication called
SSRI's. They take about 4-6 weeks to be
effective. Sometimes sooner.

---

A good way to learn about getting the most
out of mental health care is to take the
NAMI Peer to Peer class in your area.

http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=Peer-to-Peer

---

Also, attending a DBSA support group would be educational and usually fun, meeting people who are doing well in their recovey.

http://dbsalliance.org/

http://dbsalliance.org/findsupport.html
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
or those who don\'t understand my position, on all subjects:

* Understand the law and your rights.

* Make sure you have the freedom of choice.

* Seek and receive unbiased information and
know the source of information.

Offline Mister Pink

  • Posts: 1140
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2005, 12:10:00 AM »
or get Chief to talk... something
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
quot;Its a shame the way she makes me scrub the floor\" - Bob Dylan

Offline Paul

  • Posts: 438
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2005, 10:13:00 AM »
I am not sure what your diagnosis is,
but this is a wonderful resource to
read about and understand the psychiatric
strategy to treating mental illness.

This will include information on more
than just medications, therapies too!

http://www.psychguides.com/
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
or those who don\'t understand my position, on all subjects:

* Understand the law and your rights.

* Make sure you have the freedom of choice.

* Seek and receive unbiased information and
know the source of information.

Offline aiiro

  • Posts: 27
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #9 on: March 31, 2005, 11:06:00 AM »
[ This Message was edited by: aiiro on 2005-03-31 08:06 ]
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Paul

  • Posts: 438
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2005, 09:03:00 AM »
http://namisandiego.org/factsheets/childdepression.pdf

Clinical depression goes
beyond sadness. It?s more
than having a bad day or
coping with a major loss
such as the death of a
parent, grandparent, or
even a favorite pet. It?s
also not a personal weakness
or a character flaw.
Youth suffering from
clinical depression cannot
simply ?snap out of it?.
Depression is a brain disorder
(mental illness)
that affects the whole
person?it affects the way
one feels, thinks, and
acts. Early onset depression
can lead to school
failure, alcohol or other
drug use, and even suicide.
However, it is
highly treatable.
Do other disorders
or behaviors commonly
coexist with
early-onset depression?
?Youth under stress who
experience a loss or
who have attention,
learning, or conduct
disorders are at a
higher risk for depression.
?Almost one-third of
six? to twelve-year-old
children diagnosed with
major depression will
develop bipolar disorder
within a few years.
?Four out of every five
runaway youths suffer
from depression.
?Clinical depression can
contribute to eating
disorders. On the other
hand, an eating disorder
can lead to a state
of clinical depression.
Early-onset Depression
February 2003
What are the signs
of early onset depression?
?Persistent sadness
and hopelessness
? Withdrawal from
friends and from
activities once enjoyed
? Increased irritability
or agitation
? Missed school or
poor school performance
? Changes in eating
and sleeping habits
? Indecision, lack of
concentration, or
forgetfulness
? Poor self-esteem or
guilt
? Frequent physical
complaints, such as
headaches and
stomachaches
? Lack of enthusiasm,
low energy, or low
motivation
? Drug and/or alcohol
abuse
? Thoughts of death
or suicide
What can parents or caregivers do?
If parents or another
adult in a young person?s
life suspect a problem
with depression, they
should:
?Be aware of the behaviors
that concern them
and note how long the
behaviors have been going
on, how often they
occur, and how severe
they seem;
?See a mental health professional
or the child?s
doctor for evaluation and
diagnosis;
?Get accurate information
from libraries,
helplines and other
sources;
?Ask questions about
treatments and services
?Talk to other families
with similar problems in
the community; and
?Find a family support
group such as NAMI.
Early diagnosis and treatment are
essential for youth with depression.
Youth who exhibit symptoms of depression
should be referred to, and
further evaluated by, a mental
health professional who specializes
in treating children and teenagers.
The diagnostic evaluation may include
psychological testing, laboratory
tests, and consultation with
other medical specialists such as a
child and adolescent psychiatrist. A
comprehensive treatment plan may
include psychotherapy, ongoing
evaluations and monitoring, or psychiatric
medication. Optimally, the
treatment plan is developed with
the caregiver/family; and, whenever
possible the youth should be involved
in the decisions.
If you have questions about, or are
not satisfied with, the mental
health care your child is receiving,
it is important to discuss these issues
with the provider. Ask for
more information and seek help
from other sources. You can also
call the NAMI HelpLine at the toll
free number, (800) 950-6264, or
visit the youth section of the NAMI
website.
http://www.nami.org/youth/
index.html.
health professionals and supportive
members of the community.
NAMI offers monthly informational
meetings, a monthly newsletter,
free educational programs, a lending
library of books and video-tapes,
and support meetings for consumers
and families throughout the county.
NAMI San Diego, a non-profit organization,
provides education, support
services, and advocacy to improve
the quality of life of everyone
affected by mental illnesses. It is
an affiliate of the National Alliance
for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and
NAMI California. Its membership
includes persons with brain disorders,
their families, friends, mental
Know the facts
Where should family members or other caregivers seek help?
NAMI San Diego
mental health problems do
not get the help they need.
?A recent study led by Dr. Graham
Emslie of the University
of Texas, Southwestern Medical
Center, concludes that
treatment of major depression
is as effective for children
as it is for adults.
?Suicide is the third leading
cause of death for 15 to 24
year olds (approximately
5,000 young people) and the
sixth leading cause of death
for 5 to 15 year olds. The rate
of suicide for 5 to 24 year olds
has nearly tripled since 1960.
?As many as one in every 33
children and one in eight adolescents
may have depression.
?Once a young person has experienced
a major depression,
he or she is at risk of
developing another depression
within the next five
years.
?Two-thirds of children with
PAGE 2
For Information and support, call
Albright Information
& Referral line
(800) 523-5933
(619) 543-1434
http://www.namisandiego.org
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
or those who don\'t understand my position, on all subjects:

* Understand the law and your rights.

* Make sure you have the freedom of choice.

* Seek and receive unbiased information and
know the source of information.

Offline Paul

  • Posts: 438
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #11 on: April 01, 2005, 07:35:00 PM »
I think the main reason to learn about
a potential mental illness is to be
able to either rule it in, or out,
as a correct diagnosis.

Then make an informed decision about
the treatment plan, and give it a
good clinical trial.

---

The negative thing about ignoring a
potential mental illness, with is
biological, is that a MI requires
medication and therapy for recovery.

If a biological condition is just
treated behaviorally, it won't go
away. The person will then feel
tortured in any program because
the core is not being treated.

After a mental illness, such as
Depression, Bipolar Disorder and
Schizophrenia is successfully treated
then the behavioral aspect may or
may not be still present.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
or those who don\'t understand my position, on all subjects:

* Understand the law and your rights.

* Make sure you have the freedom of choice.

* Seek and receive unbiased information and
know the source of information.

Offline Deborah

  • Posts: 5383
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #12 on: April 01, 2005, 08:18:00 PM »
Sweetie,
Don't shock your brain. Contrary to industry rhetoric, it is dangerous and can render you an emotional vegetable.
http://www.banshock.org/

Check out EMDR... proven to be the most successful treatment for PTSD, which would include depression and symptoms associated with it.
Don't settle for less than total recovery, with your brain in tact. It is very possible for you, if you have access to the right resources... drug free and shock free.

EMDR
http://www.emdr.com/
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
gt;>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Hidden Lake Academy, after operating 12 years unlicensed will now be monitored by the state. Access information on the Federal Class Action lawsuit against HLA here: http://www.fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?t=17700

Offline Paul

  • Posts: 438
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #13 on: April 02, 2005, 12:28:00 AM »
I don't think the question was about PTSD?

EMDR has been around, it is controversial also:
http://www.sswr.org/papers2002/350.htm

If anyone is interested in PTSD, I will post a
fact sheet next.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
or those who don\'t understand my position, on all subjects:

* Understand the law and your rights.

* Make sure you have the freedom of choice.

* Seek and receive unbiased information and
know the source of information.

Offline Paul

  • Posts: 438
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
do you believe in clinical depression?
« Reply #14 on: April 02, 2005, 12:33:00 AM »
http://namisandiego.org/factsheets/ptsd.pdf

Posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) is an
anxiety disorder that
can occur after someone
experiences a traumatic
event that caused
intense fear, helplessness,
or horror. PTSD
can result from personally
experienced traumas
(e.g., rape, war,
natural disasters, abuse,
serious accidents, and
captivity) or from the
witnessing or learning
of a violent or tragic
event.
While it is common to
experience a brief state
of anxiety or depression
after such occurrences,
people with
PTSD continually reexperience
the traumatic
event; avoid individuals,
thoughts, or
situations associated
with the event; and
have symptoms of excessive
emotions. People
with this disorder
have these symptoms
for longer than one
month and cannot function
as well as they did
before the traumatic
event. PTSD symptoms
usually appear within
three months of the
traumatic experience;
however, they sometimes
occur months or
even years later
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
August 2003
How common
is PTSD?
Studies suggest that anywhere
between 2 percent
and 9 percent of the
population has had some
degree of PTSD. However,
the likelihood of
developing the disorder
is greater when someone
is exposed to multiple
traumas or traumatic
events early in life (or
both), especially if the
trauma is long term or
repeated. More cases of
this disorder are found
among inner-city youths
and people who have recently
emigrated from
troubled countries. And
women seem to develop
PTSD more often than
men.
Veterans are perhaps the
people most often associated
with PTSD, or what
was once referred to as
"shell shock" or "battle
fatigue." The Anxiety
Disorders Association of
America notes that an
estimated 15 percent to
30 percent of the 3.5 million
men and women
who served in Vietnam
have suffered from
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
Although the symptoms for individuals with PTSD can vary considerably, they
generally fall into three categories:
? Re-experience - Individuals with PTSD often experience recurrent and
intrusive recollections of and/or nightmares about the stressful event.
Some may experience flashbacks, hallucinations, or other vivid feelings
of the event happening again. Others experience great psychological or
physiological distress when certain things (objects, situations, etc.) remind
them of the event. (Continued)
to a feared situation as a way of
making him or her gradually less
sensitive to it.
Cognitive therapy is therapy that
helps people with PTSD take a
close look at their thought patterns
and learn to do less negative
and nonproductive thinking.
Group therapy helps for many
people with PTSD by having
them get to know others who
have had similar situations and
learning that their fears and feelings
are not uncommon.
Medication is often used along
with psychotherapy. Antidepressant
and anti-anxiety medications
may help lessen symptoms
of PTSD such as sleep problems
(insomnia or nightmares), depression,
and edginess.
There are a variety of treatments
for PTSD, and individuals respond
to treatments differently.
PTSD often can be treated effectively
with psychotherapy or
medication or both
Behavior therapy focuses on
learning relaxation and coping
techniques. This therapy often
increases the patient's exposure
? Avoidance - Many with PTSD will persistently
avoid things that remind them
of the traumatic event. This can result in
avoiding everything from thoughts, feelings,
or conversations associated with
the incident to activities, places, or people
that cause them to recall the event. In
others there may be a general lack of responsiveness
signaled by an inability to
recall aspects of the trauma, a decreased
interest in formerly important activities,
a feeling of detachment from others, a
limited range of emotion, and/or feelings
of hopelessness about the future.
? Increased arousal - Symptoms in this
area may include difficulty falling or
staying asleep, irritability or outbursts of
anger, difficulty concentrating, becoming very
alert or watchful and/or jumpiness and being easily
startled.
? It is important to note that those with PTSD often
use alcohol or other drugs in an attempt to selfmedicate.
Individuals with this disorder may also
be at an increased risk for suicide.
their families, friends, mental
health professionals and supportive
members of the community.
NAMI offers monthly informational
meetings, a monthly
newsletter, free educational programs,
a lending library of books
and video-tapes, and support
meetings for consumers and
families throughout the county.
NAMI San Diego, a non-profit
organization, provides education,
support services, and advocacy
to improve the quality of life
of everyone affected by mental
illnesses. It is an affiliate of the
National Alliance for the Mentally
Ill (NAMI) and NAMI California.
Its membership includes
persons with brain disorders,
For information and support, call
Albright Information
& Referral line
(800) 523-5933
(619) 543-1434
http://www.namisandiego.org
How is PTSD treated?
What are the symptoms of PTSD? (continued)
PAGE 2
NAMI San Diego
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
or those who don\'t understand my position, on all subjects:

* Understand the law and your rights.

* Make sure you have the freedom of choice.

* Seek and receive unbiased information and
know the source of information.