[Neil C]

As some of you may know I have an appointment to see a Community Psychatric Nurse on Thursday. There's every possibility I'll be put on anti-depressants.

This is a serious forum because my situation is very serious. Can depression be beaten and how can it be done?

[Viridiana]

Yes it is beatable, it will never be cured but it can be totally controlled.

You just have to take your meds(if prescribed) religiously and with that support to challenge yourself to do things that you felt incapable of doing before. Maybe they will also give you therapy for you to cope better. In time, things will get easier and your life will smile to you again.

[Hypnodisc]

I think it can dissipate and disappear completely, as opposed to being 'controlled'.

Treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or intense psychotherapy (or even just a bit of counselling for some people) is enough when used in combination with hardcore antidepressants for a while.

CBT/Psychotherapy is almost like rewiring the brain - and is amazing in conditional depression (as opposed to clinical depression with no cause).

Some antidepressants are better than others. Personally I have no faith in the latest generation of softcore A/D's like Citalopram and Prozac - but whatever works for you is good I guess!

I think even clinical depression can disipate entirely. Look at Post-natal depression.. that's clinical as the body chemicals are up and down, but it usually disappears and doesn't come back.

[Reaperville]

Weirdly enough, I've managed to stay well because I know that I AM susceptible and for me it could always come back.

After suffering with it for at least 10 years I finally got diagnosed and after a while, was better than I had ever been. Problem was, once I got well I thought I was 'fixed', the depression had gone away for ever....and so I promptly forgot everything.

The end result was I stopped taking care of myself and had a horrific relapse which completely changed the course of my life.

Now I'm well again, and I stay that way by knowing that I'm probably more susceptible to it than a lot of a people - so I keep a very watchful eye on my moods, thoughts, habits etc. I've beaten it by not assuming I've beaten it, if that makes any sense.

[Viridiana]

Originally Posted by Reaperville

Weirdly enough, I've managed to stay well because I know that I AM susceptible and for me it could always come back.

After suffering with it for at least 10 years I finally got diagnosed and after a while, was better than I had ever been. Problem was, once I got well I thought I was 'fixed', the depression had gone away for ever....and so I promptly forgot everything.

The end result was I stopped taking care of myself and had a horrific relapse which completely changed the course of my life.

Now I'm well again, and I stay that way by knowing that I'm probably more susceptible to it than a lot of a people - so I keep a very watchful eye on my moods, thoughts, habits etc. I've beaten it by not assuming I've beaten it, if that makes any sense.

I have exactly the same experience. I've learn to recognize patterns.

The other poster is actually the first person I have heard that feels cured from depression (clinical depression), I have difficulty considering conditional depression as depression, it should have another name. I for example have no problem in dealing with specific things that could trigger depression in some people, but for no apparent reason can go down.

[aljdavie]

Hello,

I had this but with help from the doc, I was able to overcome it.

It is beatable but sometimes hard to see forward when you are having a bad time.

Remember - Everyone has ups and downs. You will beat this and become better.

Take help as offered and you will suceed

[john5197]

I think that depression is controllable rather than curable, more than 17 years ago I suffered a heart attack which I understand can trigger depression in a large number of people who have suffered a heart attack, with a lot of help from my GP and medication (Dothiepin) my attacks have gone further & further apart, I do not need medication to control the attacks now.
I think what you need to recognise what it is that triggers your depression?, in my case I also suffered further heart problems this year which required surgery, this I suspected would once again trigger depression, but, 5 months after surgery I seem to have suffered the opposite effect where life is now a lot more bearable, and my heart problems to a greater or lesser extent are 'cured'.

[geoffSF]

Get some therapy and find an anti-depressant that works for you and you'll be fine. But you have to stay with it, even with a pill there is no quick fix.

Be mindful about which anti-depressant you take, some of them can kill your sex drive. Make sure to talk to your doctor about the side effects.

[richard cranium]

I don't think a Community Nurse can prescribe anything, only your GP can do that.

Even if your GP prescribes anti-depressants, he/she is not God, you don't need to take them, your Doctor can only advise.

Take charge of your life or be dependant on drugs for the rest of your days , it's your choice.

[Hypnodisc]

Originally Posted by richard cranium

I don't think a Community Nurse can prescribe anything, only your GP can do that.

Even if your GP prescribes anti-depressants, he/she is not God, you don't need to take them, your Doctor can only advise.

Take charge of your life or be dependant on drugs for the rest of your days , it's your choice.

This is a pointless, ignorant and rude statement.

There is nothing wrong with antidepressants, and they are not addictive - therefore people are not dependant on them in the same way as other drugs.

Many people continue to take A/D's for many years to prevent relapse. This is a recognised treatment program.

[john5197]

Originally Posted by Hypnodisc

This is a pointless, ignorant and rude statement.

There is nothing wrong with antidepressants, and they are not addictive - therefore people are not dependant on them in the same way as other drugs.

Many people continue to take A/D's for many years to prevent relapse. This is a recognised treatment program.

With due respect to Richard Cranium, someone who is depressed does not want to feel that way, the worst thing you can say to someone in that situation is 'pull yourself together!!', someone depressed really would if they could, I can only descibe depression as being on a roundabout in your mind, you think of a problem, worry about it, think of ways to solve the problem, then go back to the beginning again, feeling extremely 'down' whilst this is happening.

[mirandashell]

I wouldn't worry, Richard Cranium is well know for living up to his name......

[richard cranium]

I've known for a long time there is a clique of facist amateur crypto-doctors on this board who think they are experts and are passionately pro-drugs and extremely verbally rude to anyone who dares to give an alternative view to the idea of taking large amounts of drugs for mental health issues.

All I was saying, very politely and eruditely, , that people should think VERY CAREFULLY about using drugs for non- medical psychiatric problems.

Is that so bad ?

That's all.

[Sigurd]

Originally Posted by richard cranium

I've known for a long time there is a clique of facist amateur crypto-doctors on this board who think they are experts...

So what qualifies you as an expert on depression?

[Starpuss]

It dpends what type of depression you have whether it is beatable.

We tend to lump all kinds of depression types together when that is clearly not helpful.

If you have a reactive depression ie something or things in your life have happened and as a result you have become depressed then yes...it is totally beatable.

If you have a depressive illness it is trickier. In that case I would say that rather than being beatable it is controlable. It doesn't have to ruin your life.

[john5197]

[quote]All I was saying, very politely and eruditely, , that people should think VERY CAREFULLY about using drugs for non- medical psychiatric problems.[unquote]

Sorry? again with due respect, I am not a doctor in any shape or form, but I understood that some forms of depression were a medical rather than a psychiatric problem, understood it was due to a chemical imbalance in the brain that can usually be cured by medication, or maybe I am totally wrong.

[Starpuss]

[quote=john5197;35585427]

All I was saying, very politely and eruditely, , that people should think VERY CAREFULLY about using drugs for non- medical psychiatric problems.[unquote]

Sorry? again with due respect, I am not a doctor in any shape or form, but I understood that some forms of depression were a medical rather than a psychiatric problem, understood it was due to a chemical imbalance in the brain that can usually be cured by medication, or maybe I am totally wrong.

If only it was that simple. Some depressions occur when outside events cause the brain to 'malfunction' (for want of a better word). The reasons for this are poorly understood but include genetic suscepebility and upbringing.

Some people have an underlying condition (what I think you mean by medical) and as a result become depressed.

In both cases the brain is not functioning as it should (neurotransmitters etc) there medication is useful in BOTH cases.

Obviously not every one needs medication. Great. But often it is a way of lifting the person out of the horrible black downwards spiral they are in so they can see the wood for the trees and sort themselves out.

[Hypnodisc]

Originally Posted by richard cranium

I've known for a long time there is a clique of facist amateur crypto-doctors on this board who think they are experts and are passionately pro-drugs and extremely verbally rude to anyone who dares to give an alternative view to the idea of taking large amounts of drugs for mental health issues.

All I was saying, very politely and eruditely, , that people should think VERY CAREFULLY about using drugs for non- medical psychiatric problems.

Is that so bad ?

That's all.

You seem to have a Scientologists view of phsychiatric illness.

There is nothing wrong with antidepressants or medication in general.

The best treatments are talking therapies augmented with medication for a double-whamy of treatment.

And I know very much what I'm talking about thank you, because I've tried and tested most of the pills, received psycotherapy and counselling, and seen numerous psychiatrists for my Bipolar disorder and personality disorder.

Your post was very unhelpful - it's no different to telling someone to 'pull themself together' who's depressed.

[mirandashell]

Anyway... to get back to the OP problem....

Good luck with the CPN appointment, Neil, and let us know how it goes. Be thinking of you.

[dynamoe88]

It's actually very subjective as to whether antidepressants are or are not addictive. The medical profession will tell people till the cows come home that they are not, but they can have very serious withdrawal effects just like class A and B drugs. Just because a GP or shrink says they are not addictive doesn't actually mean the physiology of the body agrees with them.

Yes ADs can be helpful, but they are masking the underlying problems most of the time imo. I think taking charge of the self & of one's life is just as important, probably more so. Get rid of debts, change the job you dislike, clear out life's junk, move town, make a fresh start, get a new relationship if the current one gets you down etc. People are just caught in a trap more often than not in life and the simple solution rammed down everybody's thoats is the easy 'pop-a-pill' solution. Frankly if lots of people started taking charge of their lives society would change beyond what it is right now, and right now GDP, productivity, the economy is worth more than people's own health and happiness. Everything is geared to the easy 'pop-a-pill' method and is not geared to help people to 'take control' as such.

[Starpuss]

Originally Posted by dynamoe88

It's actually very subjective as to whether antidepressants are or are not addictive. The medical profession will tell people till the cows come home that they are not, but they can have very serious withdrawal effects just like class A and B drugs. Just because a GP or shrink says they are not addictive doesn't actually mean the physiology of the body agrees with them.

Yes ADs can be helpful, but they are masking the underlying problems most of the time imo. I think taking charge of the self & of one's life is just as important, probably more so. Get rid of debts, change the job you dislike, clear out life's junk, move town, make a fresh start, get a new relationship if the current one gets you down etc. People are just caught in a trap more often than not in life and the simple solution rammed down everybody's thoats is the easy 'pop-a-pill' solution. Frankly if lots of people started taking charge of their lives society would change beyond what it is right now, and right now GDP, productivity, the economy is worth more than people's own health and happiness. Everything is geared to the easy 'pop-a-pill' method and is not geared to help people to 'take control' as such.

I agree up to a point. I too think AD are addictive, just not in the way the old ones were.

What needs bearing in mind is that in an ideal situation, someone who starts to feel depressed (not sad..there is a difference) would then look at what is the cause, sort it out and bingo! problem solved.

That is not how it works though. Usually people struggle on till they are so messed up chemically that taking AD is the only way of resetting the brain to normal mode.

Anyone who has been truly depressed will know that there is no way they would be able to do any of the things highlighted. Talking is impossible most days, as is the effort to breathe.

[Starpuss]

Anyway...good luck Neil

I personally didn't find the CPNs much use but I know people who say they couldn't have done without them. Just try to feel strong enough to be honest. See how it goes. There are as many ways of beating depression as there are depressives!

[john5197]

[quote] Frankly if lots of people started taking charge of their lives society would change beyond what it is right now, and right now GDP, productivity, the economy is worth more than people's own health and happiness. Everything is geared to the easy 'pop-a-pill' method and is not geared to help people to 'take control' as such.[unquote]

Starpuss has suggested that for varied reasons people cannot 'take charge' of their lives, having suffered depression due to an underlying medical condition (in my case heart problems), when you are under/given the impression that tomorrow may be your last day on earth, and with depression you sometimes wish it was, I would suggest that the above statement does not always ring true, and, I would always put the health of the population above all material things, (if that statement sounds sensible)

[yorkiegal]

there are many different forms of depression. some people have one episode in their lives and recover. For others it comes back time and time again. Some people need meds all the time, whereas others can manage without except during the worst crashes. Everyone is different OP. Personally speaking I am on meds for life now. I worry about the long term effects but for me, life is just too hard without them.

Good luck xx

[Cyeic]

Originally Posted by dynamoe88

It's actually very subjective as to whether antidepressants are or are not addictive. The medical profession will tell people till the cows come home that they are not, but they can have very serious withdrawal effects just like class A and B drugs. Just because a GP or shrink says they are not addictive doesn't actually mean the physiology of the body agrees with them.

Yes ADs can be helpful, but they are masking the underlying problems most of the time imo. I think taking charge of the self & of one's life is just as important, probably more so. Get rid of debts, change the job you dislike, clear out life's junk, move town, make a fresh start, get a new relationship if the current one gets you down etc. People are just caught in a trap more often than not in life and the simple solution rammed down everybody's thoats is the easy 'pop-a-pill' solution. Frankly if lots of people started taking charge of their lives society would change beyond what it is right now, and right now GDP, productivity, the economy is worth more than people's own health and happiness. Everything is geared to the easy 'pop-a-pill' method and is not geared to help people to 'take control' as such.

Firstly, docs do know some AD are addictive and that some have horrific withdrawal effects.

Secondly, I'm not in debt, I'm doing a 'job' that I love, my life is great! I still suffer with depression. I'm not saying that you're wrong - some people have 'depression' because of their life circumstances, but some people just have a chemical imbalance that cannot be cured by a positive attitude, or talking therapy or CBT, and they have to go down the route of ECT, meds etc.