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Depression and alternative treatments
I am certain this has been discussed previously, but thought I would jump start a discussion to see what I can learn. I suffer from clinical depression and mine is certainly affected by seasons and the immediate aftermath of the holidays and combination of many short, cloudy days are my worst season. It became obvious with my last visit to my psychiatrist that it was time for me to change providers. The fact of the matter in my area is that it is very easy to get an appointment with a bad Psych and a very long wait to see a good one. I was a bit discouraged that I thought there was help out there, but that I may not be able to access it for several months, so...I have started reading and practicing Mindfulness: An eight week plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. If you had known me 15 years ago you would have heard me compare meditation to voodoo, probably unfavorably. I was not impressed by any claims made toward alternative treatment for anything. I have always imagined the worst of every situation and my perception and imagination would have produced Armageddon years ago. My thinking was that even if mindfulness did not have a positive effect on my depression, it may help my near and long-term outlook. I am only one week in, but I can already see times where my reaction to something that may have made me more depressed have not had that effect at all. I don't know if everyone else will have the same experience, but it is something that those of who have battled this debilitating disease can do proactively that does not include a new medicine. Please do not start this and stop taking any antidepressant or other anxiety medication before discussing with your doctor - for me, I see it as a complimentary approach to my disease.
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I am so glad you started the discussion. I studied alternative methods starting in the 70's. Migraines and depression. I am now 73. Combined with medical advice to rule out physical issues and psych issues I think there is a place for it. Keep up whatever works !
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4 ReactionsFor those of you that read, The purpose driven life by Rick Warren is Awesome, and so is Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer, both helpful and encouraging!
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2 ReactionsI do rely heavily on my faith as it sounds like you do also. For some reason, I have never been able to get into Rick Warren. I am using a devotional this year from Proverbs by Tim and Kathy Keller and I have read a lot of Keller's books. I tend to get a lot of ideas from my sons because they are both very faithful to God and read voraciously. I am glad you have found authors that speak to you. Because of my current phobia to crowds, I generally listen to podcasts from Passion City Church in Atlanta and enjoy those, but there are lots of good ones if you can grab them on your cell phone. Another person I really like is John Piper who recently retired from full time pastoring in Minneapolis, but started desiringgod.org which has some excellent resources. He speaks all over the US and world and actually grew up about 20 minutes from where I live during the 50's. Thank you for your suggestions and if you have or find others, please pass along; I love to hear new people as well as my standards.
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2 ReactionsAnything by Larry Dossey.
Maybe spelled it wrong.
Catherine Ponder, also.
A number of us looked at this last year, but since we are looking at Alternative Treatments for Depression, I wanted to take another look at a program developed by Dr. Amit Sood, entitled Happiness a One Week Journey. Probably many of you are familiar with Dr. Amit Sood, a psychiatrist at Mayo. This is a free online program that addresses the issue of happiness. Here is what Dr. Sood says about this program.
Dear friends,
You and I face one common enemy – suffering. Pain, physical or emotional, when it becomes unbearable, is experienced as suffering. Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional. My goal is to help you find a path so you can bypass suffering in this life. One reward of traversing that journey is finding greater happiness.
Happiness is a habit. Some of us are innately happy. But most others have to choose. We often, however, don’t realize we have that choice. We also don’t know how to exercise that choice. As a result, we push happiness away. Let that not happen to you.
Join me, if you wish, to spend the next week of your life, choosing greater happiness. Each day, you’ll be guided to a practice that can make you happier. To enroll, you’ll need to register with your name and email address to connect with us for the next week. Select ‘Happiness: A One Week Journey,’ below for more information.
Take care.
Amit
Here is the website where you can sign up and join me on this journey: http://stressfree.org/happiness/
If you haven't read through this yet, please do so. Dr. Sood has some very practical suggestions.
Teresa
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2 ReactionsI think your post is missing the website or link. Just FYI
@gman007 It is there, the second line above my name on the post (not the email notification). Teresa
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1 ReactionSorry, I am one of those guys who has to have his wife find obvious things all over the house.
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2 ReactionsI just subscribed. I am identifying with the concept of emotional safety.
Re volunteering. .. That saves me from really bad times because I am out of the house and helping others. I volunteer as much as possible. Currently as a crisis advocate for victims of domestic violence/sexual abuse. That's usually the field I end up working in for volunteer. Mental health crisis, suicide. That is very weird because I have suffered all my life with mental health issues. I have not experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence, thank God. I do not find these jobs depressing although one would think I would.
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2 ReactionsI am trying to find a part time job. This is really a good way to maintain mental health, at least for me. I usually work in the helping field. I've found it rewarding even when working in alzheimer's or hospice facilities, or with the developmentally disabled. I kind of seem to be able to work with people who are difficult to be around.
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