Posted by michael on March 20, 2003, at 23:15:22
In reply to Re: Acupuncture for depression » michael, posted by ~Alii~ on March 19, 2003, at 23:58:50
> > Has anyone tried this?
> >
> > Does anyone know if there's any rsch on this?
> >
> > I know that I've seen it mentioned here at least once or twice (w/some success, I think)...
>
> I receive acupuncture as an adjunct to the 'western' approach of drugging the hell out of me with whatever designer cocktails they can come up with next.
>
> I find that acupuncture is a godsend for me twice a week if I can afford it. It allows me to feel like 'me' again (the undepressed unfogged me).
>
> It also is helpful in my tolerance of the medications I am currently taking for depression and ptsd.
>
> Ask away if you want specifics... ...I find it strangely relaxing being on the table with the needles in me. Especially some of the head points that give me clarity. Sigh.
>
> Best wishes.
>
> ~alii
Hi Alii -
Thanks for your feedback and for taking the time to relpy. I'm going to take you up on your offer to ask some more specific questions (hope you don't regret it). If you have the time, energy, patience, etc. for them, here they are:
-- How long have you been getting Acupuncture?
-- When you originally sought out Acupuncture, was it specifically to treat depression [as opposed to headaches, etc.]?
Regarding the frequency of treatments/visits - it sounds like you're currently shooting for twice weekly.
-- Were the visits more frequent in the beginning?
-- Do you expect that you'll need to maintain that frequency in order to continue to benefit?
Or do you anticipate that you might be able to scale back the frequency in the future?
[Do the benefits seem to fade/wear off between visits?]
-- How long did it take for you to notice any benefits from Acupuncture, when you first tried it?
[Do you know if one typically needs to give it "X" amount of time (e.g.: typically 6 - 8 weeks w/meds) before determining that it is, or is not helping?]
I gather from what you said above, that Acupuncture doesn't relieve all of your symptoms, (since you're using meds too) but that Acupuncture does seem to help you, or provide some additional benefits.
-- Am I correct in inferring that Acupuncture by itself, (i.e.: w/o taking meds) is not enough to allow you to, as you put it " feel like 'me' again (the undepressed unfogged me)...
[Have you ever had a chance to try it w/o the meds?]
-- Can I ask what your current cocktail is, & what symptoms (?diagnosis?) it's trying to address?
-- Does Acupuncture address/help specific aspects or symptoms of your depression?
[e.g.: mood, fatigue, energy, motivation, concentration, etc.]
-- Does Acupuncture target/help certain elements more successfully than meds do for you?
[Or would you say that the relaxation that you mentioned experiencing, is the primary benefit that you get?]-- How does Acupuncture help you w/ side effects from the meds, & what side effects does it help?
-- Any side effects from Acupuncture itself (positive or negative)?
Thanks again. Sorry for the length I haven't found much to read on this topic yet. Hope its not too disorganized, redundant, long, etc.
michael
poster:michael
thread:210603
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030319/msgs/211055.html