Posted by Nickengland on June 24, 2005, at 16:16:42
In reply to Could there be anything in this plus NHS Questions, posted by Denise1966 on June 24, 2005, at 14:57:49
Hello Denise
Sorry to hear things aren't going so well..
I just wondered if you've ever considered the possiblity you maybe bipolar/manic-depressive. Hope you don't mind me asking.
I'm bipolar, but have had very mild highs, I've never been psychotic or hospitlised because of mania...but my depressions really do reach very destructive lows.
I mention this because I can no longer take any anti depressants at all, simply because they do not work.
So i'm going down the mood stabiliser / anti-convultsant route, its been a bumpy road but all in all I've found them far more effective than anti-depressants - and I mean in terms for depression too...
Even if you have no history what so ever of any hypomania (mild mania) / mania, you may well find lithium or other mood stabilisers being of some use to you... Theres quite afew to try, 5 to 7 roughly..and theres combinations of these to gain further benefits
ECT is considered a very very last option because of the overall nature of the treatment I guess and any possbile permanant cognitive side effects after treatment...I get the feeling if you had this once, you would most probably never want it again. I also remember reading somewhere that our ect treatment is slightly different from the US (although dont quote me exactly on that as i may be wrong!)
My mother had ECT back in the 60's and she still says to this day that it has effected her, memory loss and and cognitive side effects like that, nothing too extream, but shes not as "swtiched on" as she would have been without having it. (she was about 19 when she had the treatment and now is 56)
Well just some thoughts that there are many other avenues to consider, as well as many other treatment to try before you try psychiatrys very very last resort..
I hope you find relief soon and have faith that there is a treatment out there for you and in time you'll find it...
Take care
Nick
poster:Nickengland
thread:518161
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050622/msgs/518203.html