Posted by Neal on May 18, 2009, at 0:27:51
In reply to Re: What are our alternatives? Therapy » floatingbridge, posted by raisinb on May 17, 2009, at 17:18:02
Raisinb,
I liked your post.
> 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.
That, in my opinion, is one of the hardest things about the problem. It causes you to edit yourself down and perhaps play it safe; not saying there aren't very good reasons for doing so at times, but it's very hard sitting on the sidelines and being judged by others as not a high achiever.
>
> 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 agree. Both are usually necessary, not for everyone, but for most with moderate to heavy symptoms. But if financial considerations force a decision between one or the other, I'm glad to have the meds.
>
> 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."Know Thyself" is what's carved on some Greek temples and they were some intelligent people.
> 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.
And remission can sometimes be conditional; heavy or unexpected stress can bring on symptoms. Hopefully if we "know thyself" and "know the disease", and the other things you mention, we'll live life to the full.
poster:Neal
thread:895787
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090515/msgs/896383.html