BS: sliding into a depression

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: 53
Date: 18 Jan 02 - 09:30 PM

this thread is getting so large, maybe we should start a second page. BOB

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jan 02 - 10:06 PM

Hmmm...or let it die, as there has been more than a little nastiness in it.

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: GUEST,,gargoyle
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 12:21 AM

What pathos, what enigma, what a wretched state of humanity! Please seek profesional counseling.

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 12:23 AM

You know....singing the BLUES has been a time tested cure for depression....and given the nature of this forum....it might not be a good choice....let us know how it works....and most of all PLEASE post your lyrics.

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 01:24 AM

Seems the only "nastiness" is from those labelled "GUEST"(no name attached) who go slumming through the site and snipe at contributors. Fly-by-night visitors who leave their droppings on the list.

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: Art Thieme
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 01:33 AM

Good people, (I ignore the others.) I do sympathise and empathise but right now, I'm just not up to or into talking about the many ways someone very close to me is suffering right now from this.

Gargoyle, I doubt you mean well---so go to hell. I too wish there were mostly music threads here; I've said that often enough. But there are other things in this life worth talking about too.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: GUEST,rd
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 05:44 AM

It has only just dawned on me... In my original post I mentioned a friend who self-harms, this really is a different person -not me. Not 'code'. I have a feeling that's why folks have been so insistent of professional advice - & believe me I do encourage my friend to think about help from people who understand severe self-harm much better than I do. Loving/worrying about someone in so much pain isn't easy, as other people who have spoken here know all too well. If there is anyone who dos know anything about supporting someone at such risk, would you be willing to post who you are ? I can PM - & can explain why I CAN pm in a PM. Given there a few pratts out there maybe best not to post anything to fuel the fire ???? I'm sorry if I've caused anxiety, there's enough of that around as it is. Much thanks to you all.

rd

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 12:09 PM

Art's point is well taken. And as one who made the conscious decision to go into more detail for the sake of offering moral support, I wish I had more musical content to contribute to the list. (I do have a musical question to post soon, but I'll search the site before posting it because it may have been discussed already). In the meantime, Art's reservations are perfectly understandable. It is much easier to discuss episodes of depression once one has the feeling of having resolved the (latest) problem. I strongly suspect that if no one on the list had ever shared these kinds of experiences we'd have far less insight to put into our composition or interpretation of the music that is important to all of us.

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 02:10 PM

rd, there is a lot of good info at this site for your friend. It ahs a personal account, but it also gives info on the psychology, what may trigger the behaviour, and also lists some helpful books and websites. I don't know anything specific to physical self-harm, but please feel free to PM me, if you think I can be of help.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: marty D
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 02:47 PM

Once again I find myself having worried a bit needlesly about how Mudcatters handle flamers. Even the most obviously troubled (those who wish death on others) are handled very differently here than other sites. Rarely do they get more than a casual acknowledgement, and are usually ignored outright. Boy, that speaks well of a community, cyber or otherwise. There's probably only one or two and they simply aren't able to get more than an occasional toe-hold in here. I gather this thread has been of help to quite a few people, and may continue, if a second part starts. Bravo Mudcat for not giving satisfaction to those who's depression forces them to hurt others.

marty

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 02:51 PM

God bless those who find mercy in sleep
All those who sow who never will reap
All those who search, who never find peace
May they find rest tonight
Even guests who drop in on a loving, decidedly respectful, unnasty discussion and leave their "droppings." A great, accurate term, Stilly..
Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: Don Firth
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 03:10 PM

Xanax. I know what you mean, Bob. Xanex (generic = alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine based central nervous system depressant prescribed as a tranquilizer. Quite effective. Also highly addictive. The psychiatrist who prescribed it for me specified that I take a fairly whopping dose every six hours, with a double dose at bedtime. This left me comatose. After of couple of days of this, on my own, I cut the doses in half. I was still pretty mellow, but at least I wasn't constantly falling asleep with my nose in my porridge.

Barbara works at the Seattle Public Library, and she brought home an armload of books that I asked for: on depression, on panic attacks, and on various kinds of related drugs. As a patient, I am a general pain in the ass, because I like to be informed and I ask doctors a lot of questions. From my reading I learned that benzodiazepine tranquilizers are highly addictive. The shrink hadn't told me that. And when I brought it up, he assured me that it wasn't true, and urged me to keep taking it, well beyond the point where I felt that I needed it. I knew better. I wanted to get off the stuff. My counselor supported me in my efforts, but she had to go gently because, although she had degrees in social work and family counseling, she didn't have an MD following her name. I kept taking it, but in reduced doses, much to the psychiatrist's disapproval. Then I began to spread the doses out, going eight hours instead of six. I talked the pharmacist into giving me the same amount, but in tablets of smaller dosages. I started breaking the .25 mg. tablets in half, then began cutting the halves in half with a very sharp pen-knife blade (tricky), every week sneaking the daily dose down by minuscule amounts. The hardest one to get rid of was the one just before going to bed. No panic or anything like that, I just couldn't get to sleep. But after a few days, no problem.

All in all, I was on it for about four years. I've heard that some people never get off of it. I guess if you need it, you need it. Panic attacks can be a real horror. But I never, ever want to be hooked on anything again!

A good, general book with a lot of solid, practical advice: Managing Your Mind: The Mental Fitness Guide by Gillian Butler, Ph.D., and Tony Hope, M.D., Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York, 1995. This is not some airy-fairy self-help book, it's rock-solid and down-to-earth. With the Xanax, I found Chapter 27, "Tranquilizers and How to Stop Taking Them" especially helpful.

I am not saying "don't' follow your doctor's advice." What I am saying is — it's your health. It's your mind. Read. Ask questions. Be a pain in the ass. Be informed!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: Amos
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 03:54 PM

It is probably true that all depression has biological and chemical sequelae, but I am positive it is not the case that it all stems from biochemical causes. I've seen depression end, for example, on a dramatic discovery made during past life regression. It would be foolish to therefore assert that all depression is caused by misidentified trauma from the past.

The interactiosn between thebody,m the mind and the Owner are complex and work at multiple levels. You could make the brain-side symptoms of depression go away by cutting off your head. But it would be a pretty poor cure! :>)

What relives depression is finding out the truth about it and addressing that -- and it could be anything from chemical imbalance, to vitamin deficiency to a separate spectrum of spiritual and mental factors. What does NOT help at all is sticking someone with a wrong explanation for their particular situation.

A

Kendall: For what it is worth I have found inhaling or gargling a small amount of Tea Tree oil does wonders for throat problems. Give it a try -- just a tiny bit. It has a strong flavor like pine sap or kerosene but it is a powerful healing aid.

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: Art Thieme
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 11:27 PM

People, you sinply must go see A Beautiful Mind.

Art

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: 53
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 11:42 PM

my suggestion is to take plenty of candy, and listen to good bluegrass music, a banjo always seems to perk me up, but the candy is very sweet too. BOB

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: Art Thieme
Date: 20 Jan 02 - 11:43 PM

"A banjo will get you through times of no money
But money won't get you through times of no banjo."

John Hartford

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 10:44 AM

Thanks to DOn Firth and others who posted about Xanax. I was on it for anxiety related to the open heart surgery last year, just two at night, though. Got mad and decided I would go off it on my own this past Wed., cold turkey. Wrong decision...I am going back for a last refill and wean off it in smaller doses as you said you did, Don. Will also talk to my doc about it.

Thanks, again,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: sliding into a depression
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 12 Aug 06 - 12:28 PM

RD:

I suffer badly from depression at times (Lupus and Diabetes both cause depression, so it only take a very small outside trigger and down I go).

I think the strongest thing you have going for you is that you can recognise the signs before you might get to the feeling that you don't want to carry on. My signs are picking up my diary and cancelling everything, wanting to hide away from EVERYONE. The best thing to do is to get help AS SOON AS THESE SIGNS BECOME RECOGNISABLE. Go to your doctor and he will put you on a short course of a drug to raise your seritonin (is that the right spelling) levels. The results are amazing.

My biggest danger is that I want to opt out of things and I'm sure that if I didn't get help I would want to do a final opt out. Luckily my doctor understands.

Good luck and good mental health.

Rhiannon