![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by vwoolf on April 20, 2007, at 7:14:25
I know there have not been too many success stories around lately so I thought I would share mine. I feel a little as if I am tempting fate by defining it a success story, and there are still lots of ups and downs, yet I have to acknowledge that things are significantly better.
I went into therapy four years ago, severely depressed and suicidal and self-injuring, and my pdoc put me onto a series of SSI's and other anti-depressants and even an anti-psychotic. I found the side effects awful. Eventually he prescribed a MAOI called Aurorix by Roche. It doesn't seem to be available in the USA however.
I took it for about three years while working really hard on myself in therapy. I had no side effects, and found I could eat what I liked. It contained my anxiety to some extent and allowed me to address the underlying issues of my depression.
I gradually stopped taking it about six months ago against my doctor's advice - he said I would have to be on medication for the rest of my life. I have not replaced it with anything, and so far I am ok. I don't know if I will always be drug free, but each day without them feels like a gift. I still have lots of problems and ups and downs but generally life is feeling a whole lot better than it ever had.As far as I am concerned, the most important part of my journey has been the therapy. The meds just held me while the real work was being done. I actually don't believe that psychiatric medication is intended to cure or heal, and this is why so many people feel frustrated with them. If they can be seen as a support they are great.
Posted by Viking on April 20, 2007, at 8:08:11
In reply to Success story?, posted by vwoolf on April 20, 2007, at 7:14:25
I agree with you that there are not too many successtories on this board. But it sure is nice to here one. Congratulation!!
I am planning to start taking Aurorix soon. I would appreciate some info from you:
- what was your diagnosis (typical or atypical depression) ?
- what changes did the med cause (avtivation, sleep pattern, cardiac effects, sexual effects etc) ?
- what dose did you take ?
- any other meds concurrently ?Therapy is important in order to get insight to your problems. But sometimes it does not work until you "feel" the change and this is where meds can be helpful.
Thanks in advance
Viking
Posted by vwoolf on April 20, 2007, at 8:50:56
In reply to Re: Success story?, posted by Viking on April 20, 2007, at 8:08:11
Hi Viking,
Here are the answers to your questions:
- I suffer from atypical depression. This was my third major episode. On previous occasions I had been hospitalized and treated with ECT as well as anti-depressants and benzo's.
- It was quite strange, there were no side effects. It was almost as if I wasn't taking anything, except that I felt less anxious. I could sleep, I didn't have palpitations. I had suffered from anorgasmia with the SSI's but with Aurorix I had no sexual difficulties at all. I have put on some weight, but not a huge amount. I wanted to stop taking the pills not because of the side-effects, but because I wanted to be drug free. If I find my depression returning at any stage, I will definitely go back to the Aurorex. My pdoc says it would not be a problem, I could just start again.
- I was taking three x 150mg daily, two in the morning and one in the late afternoon.
- I had been taking Benzodiazepines - Serepax(oxazepam)for over thirty years when I started taking the Aurorex. In fact I was totally addicted. My pdoc told me that they were acting like cotton wool, preventing me from feeling my anger and pain. When I felt comfortable with the Aurorex I slowly started to decrease the Serepax - without telling my pdoc. I had tried many times before, unsuccessfully. This time it was relatively easy. I haven't taken any Serepax now for about three years.I agree that the meds were very helpful. But the real change came through therapy. But it wasn't and isn't easy.
I hope you are as fortunate with the Aurorex. Feel free to Babblemail me if you have any questions along the way.
Regards
Vee
Posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2007, at 10:59:13
In reply to Re: Success story?, posted by vwoolf on April 20, 2007, at 8:50:56
Congrats!!!!So nice to hear a success story. And I am in the process of agreeing that theraphy is more important than the meds. Love Phillipa
Posted by one woman cine on April 20, 2007, at 11:37:19
In reply to Success story?, posted by vwoolf on April 20, 2007, at 7:14:25
Thanks for posting that.
"s far as I am concerned, the most important part of my journey has been the therapy. The meds just held me while the real work was being done. I actually don't believe that psychiatric medication is intended to cure or heal, and this is why so many people feel frustrated with them. If they can be seen as a support they are great."
I agree with that very much. I have to add that they probably work best when used as directed and in conjunction with your provider as well - you both have to be working together on what's best for that particular person. IMO, I don't think there's a magic bullet or a single track - it's best to look at the whole picture holistically; having many tangents which need to be dealt with.
But thanks for the post, it's very hopeful.
Posted by nicky847 on April 24, 2007, at 16:42:09
In reply to Re: Success story?, posted by Viking on April 20, 2007, at 8:08:11
Unfortunately I think the success stories are out there..they just dont get posted here...people tend not to reach out as much to others when they are feeling better...
Posted by vwoolf on April 25, 2007, at 14:11:21
In reply to Re: Success story?, posted by nicky847 on April 24, 2007, at 16:42:09
I am curious that my post has received so little response. I often see complaints that there are no success stories, yet people don't seem receptive when there is one.
Yet at the same time I remember when I was feeling very depressed, I used to look for stories about people who were feeling like me. I didn't want to know about the light at the end of the tunnel. I complained about how bad I felt, but I only wanted to read about darkness and madness. In fact, I think I used to come to this site, and sites like this, in search of darkness. It was like a desire to go deeper into my pain.
Perhaps what I am saying might be perceived as controversial, but I know I certainly had these feelings. I suppose I still do, in some funny way. I am glad I am feeling better, but at the same time I have a sense that I have lost a richer dimension. One that was very hard to live with, but that was exciting and dark.
I almost want to take up sky-diving to make up for what I have lost. An adrenaline rush.
Posted by Deniseuk190466 on April 27, 2007, at 11:02:56
In reply to Re: Success story?, posted by Viking on April 20, 2007, at 8:08:11
Viking,
I just wondered what you meant by "sometimes it does not work until you feel the change". Surely if therapy is that effective you wouldn't need to feel any kind of a change from meds in order to feel some improvement.
Years ago I had therapy but about a couple of sessions in my Seroxat kicked in really well, I carried on having the therapy as I wanted to give it a go but just felt very cynical about the whole thing.
I was feeling positive anyway and having positive thoughts because of the Seroxat so there were no negative thoughts to tackle really.
I spent a year having therapy and most of that time arguing with the therapist about some of the things she was suggesting. She suggested that I was depressed because I had no stability in my life, because I didn't have a steady boyfriend or a steady job.
Hmmmmm, years later after coming off the Seroxat I had a really good steady job and a steady boyfriend yet I became suicidally depressed, what would her reasons be in that instance I wonder.
Denise
Posted by Deniseuk190466 on April 27, 2007, at 11:09:46
In reply to Re: Success story?, posted by one woman cine on April 20, 2007, at 11:37:19
Hi,
I'm really interested to know how you feel that therapy has helped. What insights has it given you.
I'd love for therapy to work for me and in fact I had it many years ago but I remain highly cynical about it.
I can't see how therapy can help anything but reactive depression or depression that is brought on by something obvious.
When I became depressed, I had a good job, a nice boyfriend, was looking to buy a flat, had just had a rise and yet I became suicidally depressed. I didn't realise how depressed and agitated I was until I tried going on holiday to see if that would help.
I got to Portugal, a lovely apartment with a panoramic view of the sea and yet I spent the whole week contemplating suicide and pacing. It was hell. I tried playing tennis on holiday thinking that the exercise would help but I couldn't enjoy it at all and felt absolutely awful.
When I'm at my lowest (and pretty much as I am now) it doesn't matter where I am who I'm with, what I'm doing etc etc, I still feel the same.
So I would be interested to know of any insights you can provide into how therapy is helpful.Denise
Posted by Viking on April 28, 2007, at 6:56:30
In reply to To Viking, posted by Deniseuk190466 on April 27, 2007, at 11:02:56
Hi Denise
> I just wondered what you meant by "sometimes it does not work until you feel the change". Surely if therapy is that effective you wouldn't need to feel any kind of a change from meds in order to feel some improvement.
Let me explain a little bit further by telling my own story. 15-20 years ago I had therapy for 2-3 years. At that time I had never had any psyciatric diagnosis or treatment. The reason for starting therapy was a constant feeling of being badly treated by other people without being able to do anything about it, a feeling of being powerless or without influence upon my own life. This feeling had existed as far back as I remember. I still believe that this feeling was justified at that time.
I spent 100+ sessions in therapy where the psycologist basically tried to tell me, that if I changed my behaviour other people would change their behaviour too. This may seem quite simple and logical but it did not work. I was not able to change enough to have any effect on other peoples behaviour. I mostly experienced that people just laughed at my attempts to stand up against them or were outright offended. By the time I ended therapy I was definitely very cynical about it.
Some years later I sought treatment for depression. I did not really belive that depression was my main problem, but I thought that I had to do something and calling it depression meant that I would at least be given some sort of treatment. After several attempts I was finally given a med that worked and it had a profound effects on my ability to function socially.
Once the med worked I experienced that I was suddenly able to respond quickly and instinctively to social situations instead of my former slow and hesitant way. I experienced that I was met with far more respect than before without anyone being offended. Suddenly everything the therapist had told me was obvious to me. Now I "felt" the change.
It is possible that another type of therapy or another therapist could have helped me more. I doubt it but I will never know for sure. Whether medication in itself would have given me the same insight is also very hard to say. But the two together worked. I have later read that this is a common experience.
Today I have realized that depressed mood was not my main problem. It was basically a social problem caused by a mental slowdown (try to imagine how you would behave if you have not sleept for several nights). I did seek help for fatigue several times long time before I started therapy but was never given any treatment.
I cannot say what the reason is for your depression. Sometimes explanations just cannot be found. In such cases it may be a solution just to accept medication.
The fact that you respond well to an SSRI suggests that your problems are very different from mine.
I hope this clarifies.
Viking
Posted by Deniseuk190466 on April 28, 2007, at 15:26:40
In reply to Re: To Viking » Deniseuk190466, posted by Viking on April 28, 2007, at 6:56:30
Viking,
I think I know what your saying but I still believe that the medication was the key to your success and not the therapy. The therapy might give you some insight yes but without the medication then the therapy means nothing.
I know what you mean because before I ever started meds (years ago) I used to just concentrate on working to distract myself. I often felt tense and uptight and didn't want to interact with other people. Then at the the age of 24 when I was getting worse my Doctor put me on prothiaden and it was like stepping into a whole new world.
Because I suddenly felt relaxed and more at ease with myself I became relaxed and at ease with others, more talkative and friendly. This then enables you to be able to speak your mind to other people without the inner aggression, anxieity and frustrations (that go along with depression) coming out too.
I get annoyed because I believe people often get better with medication and then delude themselves into somehow thinking the therapy has given them this great insight and that the therapy has been what has helped them the most. Maybe in some cases. But I believe in many cases people just don't like the fact that they are reliant on medication and they like to think maybe they could have done it on their own with therapy alone.
Denise
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.