Posted by JohnLA on April 26, 2012, at 22:24:58
In reply to Re: so what's the answer?, posted by SLS on April 26, 2012, at 7:06:12
hi scott-
i don't know what the answers are. i'm just frustrated and scared and not getting better.
your post reminds me of john lennon; 'there's no problems, only solutions,,,' and! tony robbins; 'focus 95% on the solution and 5% on the problem.' just wish depression was that easy...
as you know i've tried ect, several drugs, talk therapy, group therapy, in/out-patient over the past 2+ years. sorta waiting to try ketamine now. but, i'm losing faith in psychiatry.
one thing i'd like to try, if i had the $, would be to go to a long-term facility out in nature. these do exist. kind of like the old school way of treating depression, pre shock and meds. many of the current ones are even 'working' farms where you have chores, therapy, meds (if needed), etc. most of these are also not 'lock-down' places either. the recommended stay is 9 to 12 months if you have severe mental issues. then, if need be, they can set you up at a half-way house.
i realize this old school model is for rich people because the cost of these places is about $20k to $30k per month and not covered by insurance!
i have really good insurance. but, all they offer me is; therapy, pdoc/meds, acute crisis in-patient, and out-patient/partial hospitalization. (i know this is a lot compared to those w/out insurance or insurance that provides less coverage.)
humans are creature of habit. i think depression for some people can become habit forming. it has for me. it's now been over 2 years of me mostly laying in bed, showering maybe once or twice a week and shaving even less. i have completely cut myself off from my old life. i was a high-functioning person before i went down mentally after several life stressors 2 years ago.
i called my insurance one time and we spent quite a bit of time looking for some type of facility like the one's i mentioned above. no luck. the lady said too bad you don't have an addiction, because there were plenty of half-way homes, bucolic ranches, etc. that allowed unlimited stays for recovery. i've actually been thinking of doing just that and use my 1mg per day klonopin as an excuse to get into a environment where i will have daily activities for an extended time to change my current habits and thinking.
depression is so unique to each individual. the current model of focusing mostly on medication works for some, but not for others.
so scott, to wrap-up, there is one long-winded 'alternative' i wish was available to more of us that don't seem to respond to meds.
john
poster:JohnLA
thread:1016380
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120425/msgs/1016519.html