Posted by JLx on August 9, 2007, at 21:35:32
In reply to What to try for depression..., posted by SheilaC on August 5, 2007, at 20:18:50
> I am very depressed and also have problems with anxiety. After 18 years of taking all the SSRIs, SNRIs and other drugs, I feel like I have messed my body up.
>
> I suffer from terrible bladder spasms, urine retention, ultimately leading to bladder infections from the SSRIs. Problem is, these drugs usually work great for my depresison, but the serotonin receptors or nerves in my lower GI go into severe spasms and I end up at the urologist's office. She says not to take any of those drugs because she sees women in her office everyday with similar complaints.
>
> I have tried lowering the doseages, etc. But I just can't take them.
>
> What can I take that will help with depression but that won't bother my insides? I'm afraid my body has deveoloped a condition called neurogenic bladder due to all the ADs over the years.
>
> What now?Exercise http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/Depression/dep_exercise.htm
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL97044920070719
Cognitive therapy. The MoodGym is a free self-help program from the University of Australia. http://moodgym.anu.edu.au/
Good CBT self-help books are "Feeling Good" and "The Feeling Good Handbook" by David Burns, M.D.
And of course, there are supplements, the primary drawback of which is that it may take a lot of trial and error to find something that works. Magnesium has helped me a lot. I also take fish oil, just because it makes sense that it could contribute to a healthy brain. Amino acids, SAM-e, herbs like St. John's Wort and Rhodiola work for some people. Gingko. B vitamins. The list goes on.
What have you already tried besides meds?
JL
poster:JLx
thread:774185
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20070601/msgs/775159.html