Treatment resistant depression help.

@clearbean I am very happy for your success! Keep it up.

There are Natural limits to what WE can do FOR another person.
We have most control on Our decisions and behaviors only. That is a harsh fact of life.

How Much You would help another is also up to You, realizing that there will be cost, including in terms of Your health. What is fair, reasonable, sensible, or right in all these words are not of much help when we also know that each person is a Different entity, with their own strengths and weaknesses.

You say you had depression, anxiety, and ptsd for twenty years. Was it trauma that led to depression and anxiety? If so CBT is considered a first step. It is essentially sitting with oneself and fleshing out what one can or cannot do. (I used it to come out of severe anxiety attack -- my first and last -- that blocked my breathing in the night sleep some ten years ago.)

Depression, too, can be helped with CBT -- which is thinking things thru -- according to psychologists.

We can't undo trauma, but how we Respond to it depends a great deal on us.

As an octogenarian, I miss most is close meaningful connection. I come up with at least one new idea each day where I might try next if my previous ones had borne no positive result. What else the choice -- especially if the need is urgent and persistent?

But alas, friendship is Mutual -- the other must find us equally interesting. So half the time you are NOT able to do Anything about , but move on.

Just as the last lines of The Great Gatsby says.

I wish you well however you decide. And stay in touch.

I was suffering from a 15 year major depression that responded to nothing, so I can empathize w/ you.
Quite by accident, tho’, I stumbled upon an article describing a new technique coming out of Stanford. This was in 2022.
It is called SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Integral Neuromodular Therapy) and consists of 5 days of 10 successive, short (< 15 min) TMS treatments. Because of the severity and length of my depression, it was recommended that I do 10 days.
I did and it worked completely!!
There have been no recurrences!!
I had to fly to Palo Alto, CA, where Stanford is located to receive the treatment. There was no pain or side effects. At the time it cost me $26,500. It wasn’t covered by Medicare or any insurance.
I had tried everything. Earlier I had been in a very successful psychoanalysis and was doing well in life. What triggered this depression was extended sexual harassment by 2 colleagues. I sued them and won an out of court settlement, but was left with this depression.
I tried most antidepressants—especially ones that had worked before, to no avail. I tried “regular TMS” and then ECT which left me with a mild short term memory loss that has since resolved.
I can’t tell you enough about the relief this therapy provided!
About 80% of people respond to it.
The price has come down to a mere $6500, and it’s now covered partially by Medicare and some insurance.
I continued to take Effexor until last September. Stopping it caused no problems or recurrences.
It is now available in major cities across the US. It’s been approved by the FDA.
Check it out!

What are other things that I can do?Tms lasts only a short time. Ect is connected to memory loss.Any new medications?Can’t sleep!

I also have TRD. I finally agreed to ECT because something has to change. I feel that ECT is like many drugs — is the risk more/less the ECT outcomes. ECT is supposed to be the most effective therapy for severe depression and the memory loss is normally brief (if at all)

Otherwise, EMDR might be worth a try, especially if you’ve experienced trauma. I’m also getting great benefits from Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, but it is hard to find an IFS trained therapist.

I’ve been tried on several meds. Two made me suicidal, and around 5-6 didn’t work at all. I’m being trialed on Effexor right now. Also consider supplements that might work for you. If you have low folate, L-methylfolate might work (I became over-methylated on it); low dose Saffron is also supposed to be good..

@suzleigh
Good luck to you. TRD is a horrible situation to be in. Hopefully you’ll find something to help you feel better ❤️‍🩹.

I empathize with your struggle, as I myself have TRD. I have been through the gambit of meds over the years and about 3 years ago I gave up hope that my lifelong battle with depression was going to improve. However, after being in one of darkest places for so long I found some real relief FINALLY, my HOPE! My therapist suggested I try Ketamine and I will tell you NOTHING has ever pulled me out of the depression like Ket has and kept working long term. It works I would say almost instantaneously! I felt so much better by the very next day. You should really read the studies done on Ket therapy for TRD and PTSD by Yale and by others in the study of Mental Health. I'm not sure where you live and if it's offered anywhere but I would certainly research Ketamine treatment and I would seriously consider giving it a shot like I have. I had gotten to the point where I thought, "what do I have to lose of it doesn't work?" I mean I was already giving up hope and I was not looking forward to the old, "it will take 4-8 weeks to see if it's going to help"! This last time my depression was so bad I felt like I didn't have the strength mentally to wait 4-8 weeks for a 50/50 chance of feeling like I could get out of bed & be the wife & mom I loved being!!
Anyway, check it out and maybe it's something that piques your interest and maybe it the l thing that helps you feel better too!! Best Wishes❣️

Anyone have a good solution?

I was on Ability for a while. I worked. But, I couldn't afford $100.00 Copay for a supply of 30 pills. I cut it off.

Now, I am on Solid and.its.not working. The Dr says I have to work.

Wait and see kind of response.

Thank you for asking this.important question.
VJ

myacct123, you might check out stellate ganglion block https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17507-stellate-ganglion-block It's easy, quick and painless without sedation. Best wishes.