Posted by Jaynee on July 31, 2002, at 16:39:31
In reply to Please don't give up on hope., posted by janejj on July 31, 2002, at 14:28:44
I can't say I know how you feel, but I do know I have been to what felt like a point of no return. Amazingly enough I did return, many times over. I went through 5 bouts of clinical depression, I am an anxious depressive, without any meds. It truly is like a living hell. You lose 20 to 30 pounds in a week, absolutley no sleep for weeks, can't work, enjoy anything, bloody awful, you feel like you would be better off dead. But some how I made it through. I am taking Celexa now. I had never been on anti-depressants before, and I am thinking about stopping. I probably shouldn't but, personally I think I will go through another bout of hell in about 5 years from now with or without the drugs, because that is how it works for me.
My long drawn out point is this. This hideous time in your life will pass. Most bouts of depression have life spans of it own. Try the numerous other drug-free options out there. Mediation, Yoga, spiritual healing, the different amino acid compounds, Passion flower is a good one for anxiety. There are many scientific studies done on it. There are tons of herbs out there. Buy Cognitive Therapy books and actually try to read and practice them. There are tons of herbs out there that can help. Inositol is being tested for depression with good results. Flaxseed oil and/or fish oil is very helpful. Chromium is also showing promise in helping depression. I could go on and on about the different options for depression that doesn't involved medications. Trust me, speaking from experience there are many different ways to fight depression without drugs, I've done it and been there. The important thing is actually truly give these other options time to work. Look up the different things to take, like Sam-e, Inositol, Flaxseed oil, chromium and calcium/magnesium, etc, and figure out which one you think will work best for you and truly give it a chance. Look it up on pub med and other areas on the net. Do some research.
Good luck, but that luck will be up to you.
PS., get a good physical and check for hemochromatosis and other conditions that can cause depression. I have hemochromatosis and this is why I am more likely to suffer from depression than others. Since being treated for that I am much better physically and emotionally. The treatment is very easy, you just donate "alot" of blood", and off load the extra iron. Iron is lethal for most of us, the medical profession is just figuring this out, and it is about time. There is a genetic test for this. Anyways, go get a good internist and get a head to toe check-up.
poster:Jaynee
thread:114575
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020731/msgs/114666.html