1. < Depression & Anxiety

Depression and alternative treatments

Posted by Gary, Alumni Mentor @gman007, Jan 18, 2018

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Aug 27, 2018
In reply to @lafaye "Thank you for your post I live with depression and it’s taken a toll I hear..." + (show)
@lafaye

Thank you for your post I live with depression and it’s taken a toll I hear voices and have hallucinations that is what depresses me too I went to mindful classes I didn’t find it too helpful meditation is totally out I’m sad to say
Because the voices are constantly talking and it’s hard to concentrate the only relief I get from them is when I sleep
Then I have nightmares. All that could be why I’m depressed I don’t know. You are right about having to change doctors some being good some being crap I have had both.

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Good morning!

I took a look at a couple of Tapping videos on Youtube. Here are the links, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRfLTQjJhp0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hYE0Wt4Sxs. The first one deals with stress and the second link deals with pain relief. The videos are just a few minutes long and look interesting.

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4 replies
Parus | @parus | Aug 27, 2018
In reply to @lafaye "Thank you for your post I live with depression and it’s taken a toll I hear..." + (show)
@lafaye

Thank you for your post I live with depression and it’s taken a toll I hear voices and have hallucinations that is what depresses me too I went to mindful classes I didn’t find it too helpful meditation is totally out I’m sad to say
Because the voices are constantly talking and it’s hard to concentrate the only relief I get from them is when I sleep
Then I have nightmares. All that could be why I’m depressed I don’t know. You are right about having to change doctors some being good some being crap I have had both.

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@hopeful33250 Can usually count on you for info. Will check these out as I do think it will help. I am now doing a combination of Tai Chi and Yoga which does help with toning and no high impact...Must take care of my sageful body/mind. I must have made a new word-I am known for such as I oft talk dyslexic. Good for laughs!!!

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Gary, Alumni Mentor | @gman007 | Aug 27, 2018
In reply to @lafaye "Thank you for your post I live with depression and it’s taken a toll I hear..." + (show)
@lafaye

Thank you for your post I live with depression and it’s taken a toll I hear voices and have hallucinations that is what depresses me too I went to mindful classes I didn’t find it too helpful meditation is totally out I’m sad to say
Because the voices are constantly talking and it’s hard to concentrate the only relief I get from them is when I sleep
Then I have nightmares. All that could be why I’m depressed I don’t know. You are right about having to change doctors some being good some being crap I have had both.

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@lisalucier
Lisa,
I could not remember discussing tapping, but I did remember someone doing so. Teresa posted a couple of links to youtube videos on the subject. I have not tried this, so I can't comment.
Peace, Gary

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Aug 27, 2018
In reply to @lafaye "Thank you for your post I live with depression and it’s taken a toll I hear..." + (show)
@lafaye

Thank you for your post I live with depression and it’s taken a toll I hear voices and have hallucinations that is what depresses me too I went to mindful classes I didn’t find it too helpful meditation is totally out I’m sad to say
Because the voices are constantly talking and it’s hard to concentrate the only relief I get from them is when I sleep
Then I have nightmares. All that could be why I’m depressed I don’t know. You are right about having to change doctors some being good some being crap I have had both.

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@parus Yes, I do like the new word, sageful! Creativity at it's best!

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Aug 28, 2018
In reply to @windwalker "@parus Hi there. I used to go a Tai Chi class several times a week. Many..." + (show)
@windwalker

@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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@windwalker I have been a student of Yang Style, Shanghai long form Tai Chi since 1994. In the years when I didn't practice it, there was a definite change in my coping skills.
Ginger

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1 reply
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Aug 28, 2018
In reply to @gingerw "@windwalker I have been a student of Yang Style, Shanghai long form Tai Chi since 1994...." + (show)
@gingerw

@windwalker I have been a student of Yang Style, Shanghai long form Tai Chi since 1994. In the years when I didn't practice it, there was a definite change in my coping skills.
Ginger

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@gingerw I am a big fan of Tai Chi and Chi Quong. I used to attend a group that met in the park, and will resume going again once the humidity dies down. I too felt better after doing it.

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1 reply
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Aug 28, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Good morning! I took a look at a couple of Tapping videos on Youtube. Here are..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Good morning!

I took a look at a couple of Tapping videos on Youtube. Here are the links, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRfLTQjJhp0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hYE0Wt4Sxs. The first one deals with stress and the second link deals with pain relief. The videos are just a few minutes long and look interesting.

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@hopeful33250 Thank you for posting these Teresa. We would begin every Chi Quong session with tapping. It wakes up the bone marrow and reminds the lymphatic system to stay the course. It does have an energizing effect. I found it helped with brain fog also.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Aug 28, 2018
In reply to @windwalker "@gingerw I am a big fan of Tai Chi and Chi Quong. I used to attend..." + (show)
@windwalker

@gingerw I am a big fan of Tai Chi and Chi Quong. I used to attend a group that met in the park, and will resume going again once the humidity dies down. I too felt better after doing it.

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Having just moved to a new town, it is taking a while to find a group here. Yes, doing it alone is the alternative, and I do that, but as someone mentioned, the group energy is amazing. It has long been a habit of mine to do forms outside in all kinds of weather, wherever we travel. Favorite places are out in the desert near Phoenix, Yosemite Natal Park, and outside deck at Monterey [CA] Bay Aquarium.
Ginger

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2 replies
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Aug 28, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Good morning! I took a look at a couple of Tapping videos on Youtube. Here are..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Good morning!

I took a look at a couple of Tapping videos on Youtube. Here are the links, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRfLTQjJhp0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hYE0Wt4Sxs. The first one deals with stress and the second link deals with pain relief. The videos are just a few minutes long and look interesting.

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@hopeful33250 I also want to add that tapping doesn't have to be that specific as these videos imply. You can tap anywhere all over your body to receive its benefits. Also, you don't have to put a reasoning thought behind why you are doing it (while you are doing it) unless you need that mantra. I added this tidbit to make the process less complicated.

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Aug 28, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Good morning! I took a look at a couple of Tapping videos on Youtube. Here are..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Good morning!

I took a look at a couple of Tapping videos on Youtube. Here are the links, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRfLTQjJhp0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hYE0Wt4Sxs. The first one deals with stress and the second link deals with pain relief. The videos are just a few minutes long and look interesting.

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 would like to add this to your video collection. https://youtu.be/1398sgxSe0I

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