Depression and Anxiety

[hockeyfan1]

I posted this here:  http://tmlfans.ca/community/former-leafs-ex-files/wade-belak-found-dead/

http://tmlfans.ca/community/former-leafs-ex-files/wade-belak-found-dead/


Talks about depression sports-related, yet can apply to everyday life and situations.  One things for sure:  too much medication can also complicate a person's already delicate mental health state.  No one ever mentions how prescription drugs can have untold side-effects and make the symptoms of what one suffers all the more worse. 


Everyone needs some medication from time to time, but, it seems that it is being either overdone, or over-prescribed.  There are different ways of dealing with mental health issues, and drugs aren't always the best mode of treatment.


I remember having read about Canadian actress Margot Kidder, who became famous for her role as "Lois Lane" opposite the late Christopher Reeves, in the "Superman" films.  She was depressed for several years, then became a manic depressive, to the point where she began mutilating herself to the point of being near-suicidal.  She had been prescribed medication after medication, to the point where these medications actually enhanced her problems rather than curtailing them.


Out of desperation, upon the advice of a friend, she sought the help of the late Abram Hoffer, a B.C. doctor specializing in orthomollecular medicine (still very much an unknown area in today's medical circles), who categorized her as having 'deficiencies' (mineral) and other "deficiencies', took her immediately off of the prescription medications, and in essence, to make a long story extremely short, cured her of her mental illness.


Today, (this happened a few years ago), she is a happy and proud grandmother of a hockey-playing grandson, exhibiting not a single mental health problem.


Perhaps this is a bit of a 'rarity, not necessarily that everyone would benefit from orthomollecular medicine a la the late Hoffer, who was the best in this field of study, but, it wouldn't hurt to at least find out or provide people with alternatives in lieu of drugs that may not always be the best therapy available.

[Rick Couchman]

My depression and suicidal tendancies were so bad at one point this summer, I agreed to go for something called ECT - shock treatment.  It's a LOT milder than it is portrayed in TV movies like One Flew Over The Cukoos Nest.  Some famous people who did ECT includes Kitty Dukakis, Terry Bradshaw, and Tammy Wynette.  Usually you do about 12 sessions of ECT, but I had adverse reactions to the anesthetics and had to be intubated twice when I stopped breathing.  I only did 5 sessions, not enough to make a difference.

I'm on a boatload of meds, go weekly for CBT, and meet the psychiatrist every 3 weeks to adjust meds.  Right now the biggest problem is increasing anxiety and panic attacks.  The anxiety is so bad 2 of the last 3 nights I couldn't sleep a wink.  My pillow was soaked with sweat.

Hey - I do really want to thank and applaud those that have spoke out in this thread.  It's good (although bad) to know people like me aren't alone, and we can share what we're going through.

[Boston Leaf]

My depression and suicidal tendancies were so bad at one point this summer, I agreed to go for something called ECT - shock treatment.  It's a LOT milder than it is portrayed in TV movies like One Flew Over The Cukoos Nest.  Some famous people who did ECT includes Kitty Dukakis, Terry Bradshaw, and Tammy Wynette.  Usually you do about 12 sessions of ECT, but I had adverse reactions to the anesthetics and had to be intubated twice when I stopped breathing.  I only did 5 sessions, not enough to make a difference.

I'm on a boatload of meds, go weekly for CBT, and meet the psychiatrist every 3 weeks to adjust meds.  Right now the biggest problem is increasing anxiety and panic attacks.  The anxiety is so bad 2 of the last 3 nights I couldn't sleep a wink.  My pillow was soaked with sweat.

Hey - I do really want to thank and applaud those that have spoke out in this thread.  It's good (although bad) to know people like me aren't alone, and we can share what we're going through.

Hang in there Rick. Day at a time.. everything you are talking about is pretty familiar here

[TheMightyOdin]

I would be interested to know how you guys are doing in respect to your physical self. Do you engage in regular physical activity? Are you fit or out of shape?

I can relate to a lot of the feelings expressed here back when I was overweight. The combination of nutrition and physical exertion has done wonders for my own personal happiness. I notice, on days that I get my morning workout in, I am in a much better mood throughout the day then days that I take off.

[Rob]

I would be interested to know how you guys are doing in respect to your physical self. Do you engage in regular physical activity? Are you fit or out of shape?

I can relate to a lot of the feelings expressed here back when I was overweight. The combination of nutrition and physical exertion has done wonders for my own personal happiness. I notice, on days that I get my morning workout in, I am in a much better mood throughout the day then days that I take off.

I have noticed personally, that if I consume too many carbs, my mood goes right into the toilet.  If I keep to a low carb diet (Dr. Atkins) I feel WAY WAY WAY better, mentally and physically.

[TheMightyOdin]

I think simple carbs (sugar) has a profound influence on my mood.

I don't think physical fitness is the answer but maybe it's part of the answer?

[Bender]

I think simple carbs (sugar) has a profound influence on my mood.

I don't think physical fitness is the answer but maybe it's part of the answer?

I think there are some studies out there that would corroborate what you're saying.

Yeah, I've gone through these issues before, but moreso in my adolescence. There's a history of depression in my family, I remember losing all interest in school. I had a 50% average in Grade 10 because I was so detached - I just didn't see my life going anywhere. I got out of it eventually and finished Grade 12 with an 85%.

It also came back later on when I was getting random physical ailments that no one could really explain. I had a throat infection that was so bad that I feel like I don't swallow 100% correctly. Others were more explainable: I was diagnosed with Tempomandibular Jaw Disorder (sp?) and started hearing cracks in my jaw joint when I was biting, I also had mild numbness on the left side of my face. For a while I also had some sort of breathing/stomach issue where if I took a deep breath my back muscles would feel really tired and exerted. I ended up getting a breathing test done and they said my breathing was normal and it could be a structural issue. Funny enough I was going home and ate something on the way and I could feel something dislodge and I've felt better ever since. It sounds kinda unbelievable but that's how it went away.

Anyway, I've been feeling a lot better lately: I have a new, better paying job, I moved in with my girlfriend and I've been honing my interests a lot more, and spending more time with people that value my company. While I'm very ambitious and somewhat egotistical in the sense that I believe I can achieve many things, it's still somewhat rough in the sense that my outlook on life is still kinda bleak. Being agnostic doesn't really help and I still have a profound fear of injury and illness and losing loved ones. The issue is finding a sense of purpose and how I'm afraid of being a meaningless, mindless drone in society that never had a positive effect on people or things. It reminds me of the Monty Python sketch in the Meaning of Life where two organ collectors asked a living person to donate. When she did not, they played the universe song, which I thought was so spot on.

Different things work for different people but if I feel like crap I like to read inspirational quotes or anecdotes. In particular I really liked How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Both very different books but both excellent reads.

[Sarge]

Sugar and glutens totally affect my kid's moods. - We try to avoid both when we can. One of my kids in fact is scheduled for an alergy test for glutens.

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I would be interested to know how you guys are doing in respect to your physical self. Do you engage in regular physical activity? Are you fit or out of shape?

I can relate to a lot of the feelings expressed here back when I was overweight. The combination of nutrition and physical exertion has done wonders for my own personal happiness. I notice, on days that I get my morning workout in, I am in a much better mood throughout the day then days that I take off.

The biggest thing for me health wise, was that chronic pain came with the depression. I feel much better with the depression, however the anxiety and the chronic pain appear to be a daily battle.

I got myself off the Effexor about 2 years ago, which I must say, was one of the hardest meds I ever quit. I gradually went off them, but it seems you can't go slow enough with that one, it was one of the worst experiences of my life and I'll never take it again.

The chronic pain is there everyday and will probably stay, because I have lumbar disc issues as well, but when the anxiety comes, it makes the physical pain that much more severe. I'm on pain meds every day and will most likely have to stay on them, however I have thus far avoided the really heavy opiates and am taking one that is a synthetic opiate, with a acetaminophen base, that works wonders with no ill effects.

At this point, I'm not sure you can ever really completely shake anxiety in your life, it is a daily obstacle. Depression on the other hand, seems like it can be adverted, when you get a hang on how to deal with it, or you just feel better about life.

[Rick Couchman]

Great BWB, I'm on an xtra lArge dose of Effexor, and Clonazepam, and Ritalin, and Cipralex, and Seroquel.

Walking for 30 mins daily is supposed to be great for depression, altho I'm honestly too depressed to leave the house to walk...

[Bender]

Great BWB, I'm on an xtra lArge dose of Effexor, and Clonazepam, and Ritalin, and Cipralex, and Seroquel.

Walking for 30 mins daily is supposed to be great for depression, altho I'm honestly too depressed to leave the house to walk...

Then it's a bit of a vicious circle. Take out your mp3 player, put on some of your favourite tracks. With what little summer we have left, have a walk and think: I'm so happy it's not January! :)

[Jeff]

You know, I always wonder how many people out there are suffering as well...how many people are putting on the act that everything is ok. I, too, have been fighting depression for several years but it took a much larger turn for the worse a few years ago.

At the time I was in the middle of building a business, running a large open source project online, and had a lot on the go. Not really sure what triggered it or what happened but it was a rapid decline.

I ended up getting out of my business, got divorced, and basically hid away and tried to deal with everything. It was, and is, a very lonely place to be in. Nobody really understands what you're going through or what it is like unless they have been there. I felt as though everyone that should be there for me had abandoned me.

It still comes and goes and is quite bad as of the last couple of months but meh, what am I going to do. Switched from Effexor to it's new form or whatever called Pristiq and have never really had many side effects but I can definitely feel a difference when I am taking something versus not.

Reading Ricks ordeal has helped in a way. He's always someone I thought very highly of and for him to be public about what he is going through I always felt took a lot of courage. At the same time, I hope you find some peace in there Rick - your summer has been rough :(

[Sarge]

Great BWB, I'm on an xtra lArge dose of Effexor, and Clonazepam, and Ritalin, and Cipralex, and Seroquel.

Walking for 30 mins daily is supposed to be great for depression, altho I'm honestly too depressed to leave the house to walk...

What about a dog?

A) While they can be stressful, I can't manage my life without one. The joy they bring more than makes up for the odd fit they can cause.

B) The commitment to needing to walk one will get you out for that 20/30 minutes a day.

Nothing like sittin' on the couch with a beer and the ole family mut.

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Great BWB, I'm on an xtra lArge dose of Effexor, and Clonazepam, and Ritalin, and Cipralex, and Seroquel.

Walking for 30 mins daily is supposed to be great for depression, altho I'm honestly too depressed to leave the house to walk...

All I can say, is that you have to go very slow when coming off of them, perhaps I went too quick and just wanted off.

I agree with Floyd, that having animals will help in a lot of different ways, not just having to take him out for a walk and care for it. Labrador's are wonderful listeners  ;D

[Sarge]

Labrador's are wonderful listeners  ;D

I have a yellow lab... and she's wonderful.