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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 33. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on November 20, 2004, at 20:29:06
Is it possible to be suicidal without being depressed. IT doesn't make much sence, but
what does science have to say about this notion?Linkadge
Posted by sdjeff on November 20, 2004, at 20:37:52
In reply to possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 20, 2004, at 20:29:06
Hi,
I don't know what science has to say but based on personal experience I would say that it's possible.
I was recently hospitalized for suicidal ideation. At the time, I didn't feel particularily depressed. I felt calm, it just seemed like the rational thing to do.
In retrospect I'm glad I went to the hospital. I learned a great deal about my suicidal impulses.
Best,
Jeff
Posted by ed_uk on November 20, 2004, at 20:40:15
In reply to possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 20, 2004, at 20:29:06
Hello,
Yes, it's possible, especially in schizophrenia.
Ed
Posted by mattw84 on November 20, 2004, at 21:10:36
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by ed_uk on November 20, 2004, at 20:40:15
Please ignore ed on this one, (no offense intended ed, but please think first... then type) this is one of those questions you should really direct to a professional. Regardless -- Lithium is great at flattening one's emotions, thusly you may not feel the depressive component of suicidal ideation. The last thing you need to worry about is schizophrenia, the lithium would most likely control the aptly named 'negative' components of szp (depression, anhedonia, etc..). Rather than amplify them, as ed_uk has seemingly suggested.
If you are still having these thoughts similar to those as prior to your hospitalization, I would seek re-admittance for further psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
Don't take the permenant solution to what are tempory problems. Seek help, call the hotline, and feel free to email me matthew.warner@pcc.edu. I would be more than happy to moreso personally interact on the subject, via email or even by phone.
God Bless,
Matt
Posted by SLS on November 20, 2004, at 21:32:10
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depresse, posted by mattw84 on November 20, 2004, at 21:10:36
> Please ignore ed on this one, (no offense intended ed, but please think first... then type)
I agree with Ed.
- Scott
Posted by mattw84 on November 20, 2004, at 21:42:04
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depresse, posted by SLS on November 20, 2004, at 21:32:10
OK link... it's official.. SLS and Ed_uk say you are schizophrenic. Be sure and let your doctor know about your new DX.
Posted by SLS on November 20, 2004, at 21:48:53
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depresse, posted by mattw84 on November 20, 2004, at 21:42:04
> OK link... it's official.. SLS and Ed_uk say you are schizophrenic. Be sure and let your doctor know about your new DX.
I don't think that Ed was referring to Linkadge in his comment. It was a general statement meant to address a general question. Linkadge had not asked for a diagnosis, and neither Ed nor I suggested one. I suppose it would be neighborly for us to ask Linkadge if he was referring to himself in his question.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on November 20, 2004, at 21:51:55
In reply to possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 20, 2004, at 20:29:06
> Is it possible to be suicidal without being depressed. IT doesn't make much sence, but
> what does science have to say about this notion?
>
> Linkadge
Hi Linkadge.I believe Matt has expressed some concern that you might be referring to yourself in your question. Have you been having suicidal ideations?
- Scott
Posted by SLS on November 20, 2004, at 22:08:38
In reply to possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 20, 2004, at 20:29:06
From: The Neurobiology of Suicidal Behavior
By: J.J. Mannhttp://www.afsp.org/research/articles/mann.html
"In the 1960s studies exploring the biological basis of depression found that the brain of patients who died by suicide contained abnormally low levels of the chemical transmitter serotonin and its major breakdown product, the metabolite 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA). In only half of these suicides was the patient suffering from depression; the others carried diagnoses of schizophrenia, alcoholism, personality disorders, and situational reactions."
- Scott
Posted by TenMan on November 20, 2004, at 22:18:39
In reply to possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 20, 2004, at 20:29:06
I also agree with ED and SLS. In some cases of psychoses it is possible to be suicidal but not depressed. Not saying you are though, just answering your question.
Posted by gnepig on November 20, 2004, at 23:16:29
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by TenMan on November 20, 2004, at 22:18:39
How come you can't bring up the answers from SLS and some others on this Thread?
Posted by ed_uk on November 21, 2004, at 7:01:11
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by gnepig on November 20, 2004, at 23:16:29
Hello all,
Wow, I never realised my post would cause such controversy. I wasn't referring to Linkadge at all. I never suggested he had schizophrenia. I was just answering the question.
Regards,
Ed
Posted by Sebastian on November 21, 2004, at 11:09:00
In reply to possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 20, 2004, at 20:29:06
I worried that I would do some thing like drive into the meadian of the road by mistake when I was taking much less medicine. I didn't think I was suicidal. Just worried I would do it by mistake. Maybe I was psychotic, but not depressed. I was taking an anti-depressant, but no anto-psychotic, at the time.
Posted by linkadge on November 21, 2004, at 12:42:29
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by Sebastian on November 21, 2004, at 11:09:00
At the moment I don't even meet much of the criteria for depression either. I read an article on "rational suicide". Where people
commit suicide because it seems like the logical thing to do.Sometimes I feel extremely suicidal after something beautiful has just happened.
For instance, the other day I saw a beautiful sunset while listening to awe inspiring
music. It was one of the most exquisitly beautiful moments of my life.
Shortly after I had the most powerful feelings
that it was time to go now.The same thing happened a few days prior. I watched a move and laughed so hard I thought my stomach would explode. And again, shortly after I felt "well it's time to go now"
I don't understand it.
Linkadge
Posted by ed_uk on November 21, 2004, at 12:52:45
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 21, 2004, at 12:42:29
Linkadge... Sometimes when I take Valium for anxiety I find that when it starts to wear off I feel suicidal for no good reason, I don't feel especially depressed. Suicide just seems like it would be a sensible thing to do, even though I know that it's not.
Ed
Posted by B2Chica on November 21, 2004, at 15:06:47
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 21, 2004, at 12:42:29
L.
i understand exactly what you are talking about. someone awhile ago mentioned that suicidal ideation is like opening a door. once it's been opened...
i agree in a way.but back to what you were saying. wow, can i understand. when you experience that 'beautiful moment', then CRASH... and a complete feeling of this is it...it's time. Very rationale and Very strong.
PLEASE RESIST!
for me it was harder to resist these urges vs. the ones when i was truly sad, depressed feelings. In fact one of many battles i gave in, luckily my OD was not a success.who understands...
Please take care L.
b2c.
> At the moment I don't even meet much of the criteria for depression either. I read an article on "rational suicide". Where people
> commit suicide because it seems like the logical thing to do.
>
> Sometimes I feel extremely suicidal after something beautiful has just happened.
>
> For instance, the other day I saw a beautiful sunset while listening to awe inspiring
> music. It was one of the most exquisitly beautiful moments of my life.
> Shortly after I had the most powerful feelings
> that it was time to go now.
>
> The same thing happened a few days prior. I watched a move and laughed so hard I thought my stomach would explode. And again, shortly after I felt "well it's time to go now"
>
> I don't understand it.
>
>
> Linkadge
>
>
>
>
>
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2004, at 19:07:39
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal w/o....yes, posted by B2Chica on November 21, 2004, at 15:06:47
Not to get off the subject, but I am unable to connect to any other thread except those on my mailbox. Anyone out there know why? If so please leave answer on this thread. Thanks!
Posted by sdjeff on November 21, 2004, at 20:47:01
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 21, 2004, at 12:42:29
Linkadge,
Do you have a link to that article on "rational suicide"?
Posted by linkadge on November 22, 2004, at 10:37:04
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depressed ?? » linkadge, posted by sdjeff on November 21, 2004, at 20:47:01
http://biopsychiatry.com/misc/suicide.html
Linkadge
Posted by slinky on November 22, 2004, at 10:46:44
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 22, 2004, at 10:37:04
I can relate to the feeling..non depressed and free from anxiety but feeling content to end my life in a state of
mind comfort...peacefully...and at a time of my own choosing
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 22, 2004, at 21:24:41
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal w/o....yes, posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2004, at 19:07:39
> I am unable to connect to any other thread except those on my mailbox.
Weird, you can't follow any of the links to the main Psycho-Babble page?
Bob
Posted by iris2 on November 23, 2004, at 10:31:46
In reply to Re: possible to be suicidal without being depressed ??, posted by linkadge on November 22, 2004, at 10:37:04
Does anyone agree with me that drug companies should be banned from advertising on TV and magazines? Are we as consumers supposed to be diagnosing and prescribing to ourselves? Do we know best what is wrong with us? Are those advertisements advertising the illness more than the medication? Do many of us learn about depression from these advertisements and only then decide we have a disease? Are these antidepressants over prescribed for many of us who are suffering from life and feeling down about life and not actually "Depressed" or suffering from what might be described as the disease of depression.
I have observed specifically in a friend of mine that after seeing an ad for Strattera she decided her daughter had ADD. Something she never showed signs of having before. What was most disturbing was that upon going to this pdoc (whom she had rigorously disliked but thought she could get her to prescribe to her daughter) the pdoc immediately prescribed Adderall to the girl with no cognitive testing whatsoever. She told the mother to go in the next couple of weeks to get some testing but the mother being convinced, or somehow wanting her daughter to have this medication refused to go and the doctor continues to prescribe. Am I the only one who sees these kinds of abuses of medication prescribing? My own doctor continually tries to prescribe Nsiads (sp) to me for neck problems when I repeatedly ask him for physical therapy. Why are so many doctors so willing to shove medications at us without any proper diagnosis? Is it the time limitations of the HMO's? Are they trained to prescribe or cut out only? What happened to all this alternative medicine stuff I keep reading? No doctor I ever go to seems to prescribe to it. Am I going to the wrong doctors?
Interested in input from others. I am bothered by what I see as a trend to label everything as a disease in this country and then prescribe lots of drugs for it. Especially when it involves supposed "mental illness".
Weary of it all,
Irene
Posted by ed_uk on November 23, 2004, at 10:58:45
In reply to Depression ,Medication,Doctors and Drug Companies » linkadge, posted by iris2 on November 23, 2004, at 10:31:46
Hi!
In the UK it is illegal to advertise any prescription medication to the public. Prescription drugs can only be advertised to prescribers eg. in the British Medical Journal or doctor's magazines.
Most of our TV ads are for things like OTC antihistamines. We don't get any of the ads that you describe!
Ed
Posted by linkadge on November 23, 2004, at 14:05:06
In reply to Re: Depression ,Medication,Doctors and Drug Companies, posted by ed_uk on November 23, 2004, at 10:58:45
The drug companies have been gunning it lately for selling their depression meds lately.
And the critera with which they advertise are
so loose that anyone could meet them.It used to be that 20 years ago you really had to be sick to take an antidepressant. Now you could be having a bad hair day and get one prescribed.
I personally find it totally deminishes my authenticity of having a mood disorder. People look at you as if you're just another complainer.
I hate to say it, but I'm glad these drugs have some of the drastic side effects that they do. Cause most of the poeople who are just having a bad hair day think twice about taking a drug that might interfere with their sexual performance.
Having a well informed unbiased documentary to educate a population on what depression is would be a good thing. But if its left to the drug companies to inform us about what depression is, we're going to be in a lot of trouble.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on November 23, 2004, at 14:10:41
In reply to I totally agree, posted by linkadge on November 23, 2004, at 14:05:06
And another problem is the fact that stimulants like dexedrine are very rewarding. So even if you don't have ADD, most people will find that a stimulant will further increase their concentration and drive.
Ie, it is very unlikely that someone who is prescribed a stimulant will turn it down.
Think of it this way. If opiates were dispensed as prolifically as stimulants, who is going to turn down morphine. Unless you're educated and understand some of the potential dangers of the drug, it is unlikely that you will turn down something that is so rewarding and reinforcing.
Linkadge
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