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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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My alternative treatment would be to have physically able to have continued working and believing there is a purpose. Even volunteering is not an option. age seems to have worsened the depression and anxiety. I would like to move somewhere without so much noise pollution and realistically this is not an option. Anyone living in an apartment complex understands this. Creaking floorboards day and night as well as yapping dogs are not pleasant. I tell myself I will adapt. It has been 7 years now and still have not done so. At least I can afford to keep a roof over my head, have food and can keep my utilities bills paid. One cannot realistically expect any more.
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1 ReactionI have done various types of treatments for depression and anxiety over the years. I'm 69 years old, and started talk therapy in groups when I was 26 years old. Because of my rough childhood, I was aware when my feelings began to make me take reckless chances with my life and others lives when I was angry. I stopped one day and even though I was afraid, I called a mental health lifeline and asked for help. They guided me to my first group therapy experience. I eventually also did one-on-one talk therapy, along with group therapy for years. In my 40s I was invited to take training and become a support group facilitator which I did for another 7 years. During all these years I still suffered from depression but learned ways to handle it better.
I also discovered Yoga during my early 30s, and used running to relieve my stress until I hurt my back. I returned to Yoga (Restorative Yoga) in my late 50s and found it tremendously helpful. I read every self-help book available, each of which helped for a while. I took EST Training (twice) in the late 1970s and it was tremendously helpful. Still, my depression returned and my anxiety never left. I suffered from panic attacks and anxirty all these years, never really handing it well.
In 1995, my husband and I moved from the high pressure corporate world of Silicon Valley, computer startups, constant change, and high salaries to a small Amish town in rural Missouri where we heard the clop, clop, clop of horses and buggies in exchange for semi trucks and highway noise. While there we declared bankruptcy at one point and I was mortified that we were no longer in the flush. We had started a bed and breakfast w/restaurant and were making no money. We finally closed the restaurant after I took a job outside our business, mostly for health insurance coverage. We broke even in the B&B after that, and stress went down again. I eventually took a job in a hospital close to town, and then my career took off again. I was offered a job in a town in Nebraska making 3 times more money, and I took it. We kept the B&B and had a young former Amish couple manage it. Then we moved to Nebraska. The hospital there was poorly managed, and I did not work well with my boss who was the VP. I was even more depressed and eventually we moved back to Missouri. I was so depressed I finally asked my GP doctor about antidepressants. He prescribed Citalopram, which took me a long time to titrate onto. I almost gave up.
I had been totally against medication to deal with depression so it was hard for me to even consider taking anything. But, when I adjusted to it, I felt so much better I was asking myself why i had put it off for so long. I now truly believe that certain chemical imbalances in the brain can make alternative treatments alone, ineffective. This is only my experience and it may be different for each person. I think the most effective treatments for depression include both medication and alternative treatment of some kind. I prefer group therapy and Restorative Yoga, as well as time spent in nature at the beach, in the mountains, in national parks, in art museums, etc. I love art and will be drawing and painting again after our move to our daughter's new home. I have been addicted to Tramadol for the past year due to a back problem. I have noticed some occasional return of anxiety now that I've withdrawn from it. I'm hoping that over the next few months this will dissipate. I don't want to change antidepressants as it's a guess about which will work.
Please feel welcome to ask me any questions you may have about my experiences. I am not a medical professional, so I can only impart my experiences.
Gail B
Volunteer Mentor
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5 ReactionsAny of the medications for depression did dreadful things. T'would have been nice if there could have been one that helped-even a little. Up to me to keep striving for quality of life. No one else can do thus for me.
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3 Reactions@gailb
I agree, finding the right med as well as alternative therapies, such as exercise programs, support groups, volunteering, etc. all make for a better life. Combination of treatments are important.
Teresa
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2 ReactionsA peek at my alternative treatment-it helps my eyes.
@desperada This Dr. Sood has Youtube bits and Tedtalks. Might want to check him out.
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1 ReactionHi, @gman007 - you mentioned tapping a while back as an alternative treatment for depression. Did you end up trying it?
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1 Reaction@lisalucier I know you are addressing @gman007 as to the tapping. I decided to try it again and it seemed to increase my anxiety. I may have been doing something wrong or was in an anxious state I was unaware of at the time. I do know it has helped others.
I too would be interested if any of the other connect folks have tried thus.
Playing with my pencils helps me. Tagging on a recent drawing of the animals I love so much. When drawing it is like petting them and I can at times smell their sweet smell and feel their soft coats.
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3 Reactions@parus
Your artwork totally amazes me! You are able to capture the essence of life in each portrait whether human, plant, or animal. I so appreciate your sharing them with us. You are also a poet in your writing, as above. I'm sure if we met we would become fast friends. I'm happy to "know" you on Connect.
I wanted to let you know that I signed up for oil painting and water color classes at the local senior center. I figured it will be good for me to get started in the classes and reacquaint myself with the media. I need to find my "viewpoint" in artistic expression. It's been a long long time since I've worked on my art. I've also signed up for a yoga class. I've missed not having friends in my new home and it's been 2 years now. A Senior Center catalog arrived in the mail, and had so many interesting opportunities to meet others, even just for coffee each day, that I decided to give it a try. I'm looking forward to starting all this tomorrow.
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2 Reactions@parus Hi there. I used to go a Tai Chi class several times a week. Many of the members in it do suffer from chronic illnesses and swear rhat it helped them. We would begin each class with 'tapping'. It is said that is done to wake up your bone marrow, where new red blood cells are made. Then, we would cultivate the energy around us and in us to fortify our 'chi' which is our life force. I could def feel the collective energy amoung us. And I did feel better for it. If you get a chance to participate in a group, you might consider it. Our group is free and usually in the park. But, I want to add that you do not need to be in a group to do it. You can probably find it on Youtube and learn to do it.
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3 Reactions