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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kyp on September 20, 2003, at 9:19:36
Darryl Sanford,
I have had severe depression a few times. I have had manic symptoms too. I was diagnosed with bipolar and told I HAD to remain on all the meds for the rest of my life. I was taking mood stabilizers and antianxiety meds along with antipsychotics and antidepressants. Several different kinds were tried in each type.
My point being this. Until I got into some good -and I mean GOOD psychotherapy, NOTHING "worked" to keep the various mood changes in check to a livable level.NOW, I am totally off ALL medications and very high functioning. I lost weight I had gained on the medications and I am able to do whatever I choose physically and mentally. I just finished hiking to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite with my wonderful husband. I've discovered I am very creative and live in a way to enhance that… blah, blah blah ( I’m content, happy, doing well….)
My diagnosis was changed and I am doing therapy 3-4 days a week at the present. It was discovered that it was not a chemical embalance of bipolar that was affecting me, it was me dissociating and not living in the present with my thoughts and responses to situations. I have had depression that was debilitating, but now I have been able to recognize what is happening and why. I don't get hopeless for days on end. I am able to see what is causing the depression and address it. There is usually something that is causing it to be set off. In therapy, I can examine those issues.
I am not saying people can help being clinically depressed. I have discovered tools to help my situation that I can utilize that has helped me tremendously. You were able to go 15 years between bouts of depression, that is so great !!! Were you able to be symptom free for all that time or were you able to utilize tools to control it? I have heard of people being on antidepressants for a year surrounding a depression and than getting off of meds and doing fine. Maybe your body is just needing the chemicals for a limited time until you get balanced again. Maybe all the meds in the world will not help the cause of the depression until it gets addressed internally ? Are the two periods of depression related at all in your mind ?
KYP
Posted by Darryl Sanford on September 21, 2003, at 17:16:36
In reply to Darryl Sanford: Depression Recovery, posted by kyp on September 20, 2003, at 9:19:36
That's encouraging, that you've been able to do so well.
In my case, both depressive episodes were similar in that physical symptoms came first. In the first case, back in 1986, I overreacted to an inner ear infection that caused ringing in the ears. I was convinced this would never go away. By the time it did, after a couple of weeks, I found myself in a depression that lasted for a year. This last time, it started with stomach discomfort that I thought was an ulcer. That turned out to be wrong also, but I had sunk into a depression before I realized I was once again overreacing to symptoms.
I've had counseling sessions with psychologists, but they don't feel there are any unresolved issues that account for any of this. In a way, it seems I sometimes turn my imagination against myself to the extent that persistent physical symptoms appear. This last time has been 10 months already. I think I continue to improve, slowly. It's not as though I spend a lot of time brooding--I've had a fairly demanding job all this time, and haven't had to miss too much work. Also my wife has been understanding, though it has sometimes been hard for her. Quess I should consider myself lucky, all things considered.
Darryl
> Darryl Sanford,
> I have had severe depression a few times. I have had manic symptoms too. I was diagnosed with bipolar and told I HAD to remain on all the meds for the rest of my life. I was taking mood stabilizers and antianxiety meds along with antipsychotics and antidepressants. Several different kinds were tried in each type.
> My point being this. Until I got into some good -and I mean GOOD psychotherapy, NOTHING "worked" to keep the various mood changes in check to a livable level.
>
> NOW, I am totally off ALL medications and very high functioning. I lost weight I had gained on the medications and I am able to do whatever I choose physically and mentally. I just finished hiking to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite with my wonderful husband. I've discovered I am very creative and live in a way to enhance that… blah, blah blah ( I’m content, happy, doing well….)
>
> My diagnosis was changed and I am doing therapy 3-4 days a week at the present. It was discovered that it was not a chemical embalance of bipolar that was affecting me, it was me dissociating and not living in the present with my thoughts and responses to situations. I have had depression that was debilitating, but now I have been able to recognize what is happening and why. I don't get hopeless for days on end. I am able to see what is causing the depression and address it. There is usually something that is causing it to be set off. In therapy, I can examine those issues.
>
> I am not saying people can help being clinically depressed. I have discovered tools to help my situation that I can utilize that has helped me tremendously. You were able to go 15 years between bouts of depression, that is so great !!! Were you able to be symptom free for all that time or were you able to utilize tools to control it? I have heard of people being on antidepressants for a year surrounding a depression and than getting off of meds and doing fine. Maybe your body is just needing the chemicals for a limited time until you get balanced again. Maybe all the meds in the world will not help the cause of the depression until it gets addressed internally ? Are the two periods of depression related at all in your mind ?
> KYP
>
Posted by kyp on September 21, 2003, at 17:26:52
In reply to Re: Darryl Sanford: Depression Recovery, posted by Darryl Sanford on September 21, 2003, at 17:16:36
Your experiences sound very frustrating to go through. I can't imagine being depressed for a year, it must seem like an eternity to not feel passion and energy like previously. Even though like you said, you were still able to get by, its not the desired way of life to live it under the cloud. That in itself can prolong the depression I would think, not knowing when it will ever end. I am glad you looked into therapy and did not find any lurking skeletons in your psychy closet. Do the meds not work well enough? Have several been tried? I feel for ya, I tell you.
KYP
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