Comments on: It’s time for a more holistic approach to depression

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Jul 2003 15:42:22 +0000

The philobuf is because I majored in philosophy-love that stuff. Anyway, just a sign off. I believe that we are led in our lives by God to do certain things. I signed on this morning in a state of unease over my computer refusing to do stuff (note I don’t even know how to identify it!) and found you all. Now, how could that possible have happened to me if it wasn’t help from my Lord. I have been really downhearted and am now uplifted with the knowledge that you are all out there. Thank you. Katherine

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Jul 2003 15:29:30 +0000

How wonderful, someone I can talk to about my work and my God and my health! Re lethargic behavior, yes, checking thyroid levels is a priority. I found this to be true in my case and now take five grains of thyroid replacement each day. Also, for depression (a long time problem for me) I was advised by my physician to follow the diet for candida yeast allergies (there are progressive suggestions from severe to moderate changes). This also proved to be a life saver. As long as I control my diet, I am fine. The minute I go off and eat sugar or white flour products I am in deep depression again, unable to study or function. There is a book, I think the author is Dr. Cook, on the candida yeast. You don’t have to be diagnosed with allergies to follow the diet. In fact, if you wait for a diagnosis for anything you could be hanging a long time. I have just completed a 60 credit masters in forensic psychology with an emphasis on children in the court system. I work full time as a Paralegal. I am also 75 years old. Also, I just found a sometimes works, sometimes not home remedy for a spot of depression that shows up. Take a quarter teaspoon of baking soda- yes the kind you buy for cooking- add eight ounces of water, and drink down. Almost immediate light heartedness will occur. Good luck. Blessed be to all.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jul 2003 20:26:54 +0000

Does anyone know the correct dosage to take of the vitamin B1 and vitamin b complex??

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 06 May 2003 01:58:09 +0000

I second the thyroid check.

And you guys, get your testosterone checked! I went through close to 20 years of the Beast, the last ten nicely stable on an MAOI -- an "old-fashioned" anti-depressant.

A few years ago my hard drive failed and I asked the doc to check my hormones, figuring they'd be fine and "it was all in my head". Turns out they weren't and it wasn't... Started testosterone therapy and felt better than I had in years. Weaned off the AD's and have been clearheaded, MORE creative, lively and social on a consistent basis than any time in the last two decades.

That sounds like hyperbole, but it's not. I wish some psychiatrist had checked 20 years ago!

Thanks Dave and Dan for bringing this up.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 May 2003 21:58:27 +0000

The one other thing I would suggest, is to ask your Doc to take a look at your Thyroid levels. I had mild depression in my early 20's and (kinda) got out of it through trying to live better....then I started to feel worse and worse until I found out I have low thyroid numbers. I'm on meds for that now, and my depression hasn't been back.

My mom was worse than I was, and she had severely low levels. She was at a point to where she couldn't function, but once she was diagnosed she can function again.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 May 2003 21:55:27 +0000

I think guilt does figure greatly in depression. So may depressed people are told to “just pull yourself together”, that there are many people “worse off than you”. The clear message is that depressed person is being self-indulgent in feeling dpressed. Friends and family lose patience with the person who won’t/can’t take all their helpful advice “don’t they want to help themself?”. I believe this is seperate from the whole issue of the stigma around mental illness. How does one ask for help when one is just lazy and selfish?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 04 May 2003 20:30:20 +0000

It’s not about guilt, it’s about effectiveness. If the person’s not in a crisis situation, if you have the choice between vitamins that will do the job and won’t overshoot or drugs that probably will, a holistic approach makes a lot more sense. Unfortunately the pharmaceutical companies have lulled us into a blind faith that drugs are always the only answer. Often it’s not, sometimes it’s not even the best answer, and rarely is it the entirety of the answer.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 04 May 2003 00:55:22 +0000

don’t ever take depression for granted,I’v know very smart,accomplished people who have taken their lives.modern meds is the best antidote,and should be taken without guilt.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 03 May 2003 16:27:16 +0000

Nice coverage, Dave. I'll add something from another angle in a bit over at my place.

One of the more interesting lessons of how depression used to be treated came during a continuing education lecture in my early years as a medic. Someone had asked the ER MD running the show why we seemed to have so many overdoses from tricyclic anti-depressants; his (much paraphrased) response:

"The most effective med we have in our arsenal right now doesn't take effect until the patient's had it on board for thirty days. So we give them this med that will take away their suicidal tendencies and tell them that it won't help them for a month. ...and then we warn them to be careful with it since overdosing is fatal."

Yeah, like that. I'll also mention from the dietary side of things that sugar tends to bring out the worst in me.