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| Author |
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| 25 new of 170 responses total. |
jmsaul
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response 88 of 170:
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Jul 10 19:37 UTC 2002 |
...and nobody really understands why they work for depression.
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brighn
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response 89 of 170:
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Jul 10 20:04 UTC 2002 |
or whether they do, for that matter (the effect of SSRIs isn't that much
better than placebo).
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jmsaul
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response 90 of 170:
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Jul 10 21:04 UTC 2002 |
True, though placebos can apparently work very well for depression...
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brighn
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response 91 of 170:
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Jul 10 21:17 UTC 2002 |
Sure. Just don't tell people it's a placebo, and they do wonders.
Which means that depression really IS heavily perspectually, but I don't think
very many people really ever questioned that.
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jaklumen
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response 92 of 170:
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Jul 11 06:44 UTC 2002 |
Well, yes-- cognitive therapy *is* a fairly good approach, and meds
rarely are even close to 100% of the answer.
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brighn
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response 93 of 170:
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Jul 11 13:22 UTC 2002 |
"perspectually"? Wow. How the Hell did I mangle it THAT bad?
Oh well, I guess y'all knew what I meant.
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bhelliom
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response 94 of 170:
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Jul 11 13:58 UTC 2002 |
It is definitely an issue that is not black and white. The reasons
behind depression and what perpetuates depression are so many and the
varying treatments--both medical and otherwis--so numerous that it
makes sense that individuals perceived as having depression be
considered on an indivisual basis.
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orinoco
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response 95 of 170:
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Jul 11 18:05 UTC 2002 |
Part of the problem, too, is that nobody's really sure where the line is
between physical and psychological causes. After all, thoughts -- at least,
as we understand them now -- are events in the brain, and the brain is a
physical thing. It's very hard to come up with a medically useful definition
of a psychological cause that will actually distinguish it from a physical
one. But, like pornography, everyone's convinced that there is such a thing
as a psychological problem, and that they know it when they see it.
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amethyst
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response 96 of 170:
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Jul 11 19:41 UTC 2002 |
From a personal point of view, I would have to say depression must have
a fair physical basis. I've been diagnosed with dysthymia (as has my
father and brother). All three of us have tried various drugs (I took
Paxil, my brother took Zoloft, I don't know what else dad tried), and
NONE of us responded well to those. All three of us responded well
to wellbutrin (I felt like I was on speed, which was what I needed to
get up and get going). Also, all three of us eventually quit taking
wellbutrin because it wasn't helping any more. This was over different
time spans for each of us, and we didn't necessarily know any of the
others were or weren't taking anything. So it's a small sample, but
to ME it points pretty clearly to some sort of genetic link. I've also
thought of going back on wellbutrin, but when i call the psychiatric
center to see if there is information on antidepressant tolerance they
refer me to my insurance company, which is less than helpful.
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bhelliom
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response 97 of 170:
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Jul 11 21:25 UTC 2002 |
That's the biggest barrier to getting competent care for mental heath,
besides the shortcomings of individual patient involved -- Insurance
Companies.
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jaklumen
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response 98 of 170:
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Jul 12 10:00 UTC 2002 |
yeah =P Insurance coverage for mental health sucks.
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keesan
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response 99 of 170:
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Jul 12 12:45 UTC 2002 |
But that at least keeps the cost of insurance a bit lower.
Zoloft is also used for obsessive-compulsive disorder and other things.
Serotonin seems to have lots of different functions.
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edina
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response 100 of 170:
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Jul 12 13:53 UTC 2002 |
My insurance for my mental health care is actually quite good.
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bhelliom
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response 101 of 170:
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Jul 12 14:48 UTC 2002 |
My insurance coverage is pretty decent for mental health. But they way
that administer the mental health portion of their services is not.
You have to call a specific number and tghey'll give you a list of
names from a list, and you go and see if they are taking patients. So
you can't even go to the therapist you want if they do not take your
insurance. So I dedcided that I would go on my own and find a
therapist and opay for it myself. It's not cheap, but I didn't like
the alternative and could afford to avoid it. I get the prescriptions
for antidepressants from my MD, who is cleared to speak with my
psychologist. So insurance does in fact help me out
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lynne
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response 102 of 170:
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Jul 12 18:57 UTC 2002 |
My health insurance is through MIT. They jump three feet in the air, rush
you to the mental health center, and hand out one free straitjacket for each
friend brought in with depression. Something to do with the suicide rate....
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bhelliom
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response 103 of 170:
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Jul 14 16:12 UTC 2002 |
Hey, Carolyn, have you heard about ehnotorious prof in Harvard's chem
program? A couple of this guy's studends committed suicide. This was
before either you or I got to Boston
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lynne
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response 104 of 170:
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Jul 17 19:06 UTC 2002 |
Yes; last I heard (which was a couple of years ago) he was being forced into
retirement. I've heard some pretty crazy stories about the way he treats his
students and particularly his postdocs. My undergrad advisor worked for him
for about a week (was called up for military duty, I believe?) and really
really hates him--he went to work for someone else on his return. According
to his story, he went to say goodbye before leaving and the secretary
wouldn't let him in, saying that the prof was busy. The door to the prof's
office was standing wide open and he was sitting at his desk at the time.
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jaklumen
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response 105 of 170:
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Jul 18 07:52 UTC 2002 |
I would have shouted "Fuck you, then; burn in hell," but then I'm
rather fiery if my sincerity was to be so blatantly disregarded like
that.
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bhelliom
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response 106 of 170:
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Jul 18 12:50 UTC 2002 |
Yeah . . . I heard story after story from my friends in the grad chem
program. If he's being forced into retirement, that's definitely for
the students' benefit! Grad school as it is can be rather difficult
emotionaly/mentally; you don't need professors making it worse.
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bhelliom
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response 107 of 170:
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Aug 20 20:11 UTC 2002 |
This response has been erased.
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bhelliom
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response 108 of 170:
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Aug 20 20:12 UTC 2002 |
I thought I would give this item a kick in the pants rather than add
more to the bummed item, which is chugging along at a good pace without
clogging up the works.
As noted in the bummed item recently, somewhere between my Dr. and the
pharmacist, one of my medications was screwed up. Although I was
frustrated and wanted to get this cleared up, I though this would also
be a good oportunity to find out if I needed both medications, while
making a damn concerted effort to get this cleared up and not simply
stop taking one of them. Well, nearly two weeks later and five days
since running out of my Wellbutrin, I've been taking Celexa by itself,
and still trying to clear up the mess. I am pretty sure it has
affected my mood, and my roommate, Mooncat, has noted as much. I'm
more irritable, close to crying, in the numb state all at the same time.
How have have any of you fared under similar circumstances, and what
did you do to get through them?
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scott
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response 109 of 170:
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Aug 20 22:53 UTC 2002 |
I haven't had any problems with depression, but I will say this: You stand
a much better chance if you take charge of your own health here. Grab your
doctor by the throat and demand detailed explanations; if you have any risk
of remembering them then write it all down. Keep a log of what you take each
day and how you felt, and look back at it periodically for patterns.
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lowclass
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response 110 of 170:
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Aug 21 03:57 UTC 2002 |
I'd been on Navane for about 8 years when some of the newer sedatives
came out. My Psychiatrist suggested a change to Risperdal, which I arssented
to. Even the smallest dossage turned out to be too much, an we switched to.5mg
by cutting the smallest tablet dose in half. I was one of the few who didn't
metabolize it well, and ended up calling his answering service. My only
comment was "either take me off this medication, or I'm going to admit myself"
he switched me back to Navane, and i was okay in a couple of hours.
Except for my behavior while i was on Risperdal. that helped to end
my employment at what I concidered a pretty good job, with decent bosses and
quality benefits. It's been pretty tough since then, but I'm stable on
Zyprexa, at 12.5 mg per day.
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jaklumen
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response 111 of 170:
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Aug 21 09:33 UTC 2002 |
Treating the depressive side of bipolar seems to be a trickier job. I
don't respond well to the common anti-depressants. I got addicted to
Prozac, Paxil made me aggressive, and Zoloft sent me to giddy heights
(I don't experience full-blown mania).
Currently, I take Depakote alone, but even that still has down sides--
still lethargic, and still fat. My med nurse hates it and seems to be
looking to transfer me to a new med soon.. something he and the
psychiatrist are looking at. Can't remember the name, but the sedative
side effect isn't there, and it gives a bit of a mood boost. I'll have
to look more into it (and it will be a while before we start it).
resp:109 I fully concur with what Scott says. *anyone* being treated
for any sort of mental health problem *must* be fully aware of the
treatment and meds they are receiving. It is sooo important, because
chemistry from person to person is so individualistic that this is a
black art in some respects. You need to be aware of how you are
feeling, and report this very clearly to your doctor.
Zyprexa drugs me out.
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bhelliom
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response 112 of 170:
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Aug 21 13:07 UTC 2002 |
resp:109 and resp:111 - That's what's so bloody irritating. I gave my
Dr. and psycholoist clearance to be able to speak, though I'm due to
sign another release in November. I confirmed the dosage with my
doctor a couple of weeks before this happened. I call to confirm again
if there's a dosage change, and normally I'm quick to notice if there's
been a mistake.
I know without a doubt that this dosage was, for now, the minimum
required dosage, given how I felt before adding the additional mg. for
one of the medications, and the lack of one of these prescriptions is
evident for me in how I feel, and the folks I see most often are aware
of it also. This is a great step for someone who was not always aware
of these things before.
It seems in this case that my Doctor's memory is worse than mine. I'm
trying to decide if this is my fault, or if this is a good indication
that I need to seek a new physician. I'm meeting with my therapist
tonight, so hopefully this wil be resolved before too long.
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