Posted by SLS on January 4, 2007, at 8:20:47
In reply to I lost myself, posted by deniseuk190466 on January 3, 2007, at 13:08:29
Just a postscript.
By now, I'm sure you are confident in what you are suffering from. From your descriptions, I have come to the same conclusion as you have.
I believe that biological mood disorders exist and that sufferers from these disorders should be treated as if they have dysfunctional brains, regardless of how they came to be that way or how they come to function normally again.
I think it is sabotage to tell someone with a brain disorder that no such disorder really exists. We are well beyond this. In my case, I know what can and can't happen. Do you believe this to be true of you as well? Keep an open mind, but remain vigilant in reinforcing what you have come to know about your illness using historical observation and study of medicine.
I believe it is important to attack psychosocial issues with psychotherapy where appropriate. Even where no psychosocial stresses were exigent and no emotional triggers evident to precipitate a depression, the depression itself produces maladaptive psychological changes. Psychotherapy can optimize one's chances of recovering with greater stability from illness, even when biological treatments are absolutely necessary. Part of this does involve fostering a positive attitude and discouraging a negative one as much as is possible during a depressive episode, knowing in advance that the distorted thoughts produced by the depressive state make this most difficult.
In my case (and possibly yours), psychotherapy can help to produce coping tools and counter the negative distorted thinking produced by depression while I remain in the depressive state. However, this is not at all necessary if the right biological treatment comes along. I become magically functional and capable of processing issues on my own. I resolve the past and live in the present. I look forward to the possibilities and challenges of the future. I enjoy the experience of the moment. All of these things occur without effort. On the contrary, I am drawn to these things with great interest, motivation, and energy. Self-improvement is automatic. Life is fun. Life is worth it.
Let people convince themselves that their depressions are not biological disorders. Indeed, many are not. Proper diagnosis is important to choose proper treatment. Most people with properly diagnosed Major Depressive Disorder seem to do well with a biological intervention. It is unfortunate that discovering which treatment is right for each individual patient is still largely trial and error. A seasoned clinician can make better guesses than someone without experience, although extensive reading can produce insights as well. I don't think people with an exclusively psychogenic depression do well with antidepressants. However, there are plenty of people with biogenic depressions who have not yet found an effective treatment. How do you tell the difference between people, then? Proper diagnosis. Belief that a difference exists at all. I believe.
There is much anti-psychiatry sentiment to wade through here. I hope you don't get stuck in the mud.
http://sl.schofield3.home.att.net/medicine/nimh_depression_research.html
Psychotherapy might help you find important aspects of yourself again despite the persistence of the depressive state.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:718916
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070101/msgs/719215.html