Posted by raisinb on May 17, 2009, at 17:18:02
In reply to Re: What are our alternatives? Therapy, posted by floatingbridge on May 17, 2009, at 16:46:59
Yes, I'm a firm believer in therapy. Even though I just as firmly believe my depression is biological, it's caused me to develop dysfunctional ways of coping and behaving--mainly because I have always been so worried about having breakdowns that I avoid difficult situations and big life decisions.
Medication has taken a lot of that fear away, and it has significantly accelerated my progress in therapy. The best therapy can be gut-wrenchingly hard. The depressed person needs help to get through it. I think both are necessary.
I'm also a big believer in mild exercise and meditation, though I do not practice them as often as I should. I can say that the periods I've meditated regularly have been the most peaceful, productive times in my life.
Through time and work, I think even the most treatment-resistant illness can be managed through these tools. Medication is one piece, but we can't rely solely on it.
The most important thing is to listen to our bodies and illnesses and the effects different interventions have on them. The science of antidepressants right now is rudimentary, at best, and doesn't take into account complex individual differences. That means we have to assess ourselves. Exercise helps some, doesn't help others. Likewise with meditation and a variety of different meds. And maybe something works for you at a particular time and doesn't later. Know thyself.
It's vital to keep working on all these things when we're in remission, too. Depression takes away the ability to do so and the hope that drives change.
poster:raisinb
thread:895787
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090515/msgs/896307.html