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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JayDee on November 9, 2004, at 9:37:07
Hypothetically, if someone were to have develeoped depression at a young age(grade school), and lived with it for 13+ years, untreated... would that make the depression more likely to be 'resistant' to treatment?
Posted by DustBuster on November 9, 2004, at 13:57:48
In reply to Long standing depression - question, posted by JayDee on November 9, 2004, at 9:37:07
> Hypothetically, if someone were to have develeoped depression at a young age(grade school), and lived with it for 13+ years, untreated... would that make the depression more likely to be 'resistant' to treatment?
My uneducated opinion would be 'yes'.
As someone who developed depression at a young age, and lived with it for 30+ years, untreated, I believe that the various behaviours and habits I've "learned" which support my depression, will be harder to "unlearn" through therapy.
Since I started meds and therapy (2 weeks ago), I've been constantly getting discouraged and anxious, and finding lots of reasons why I should quit the AD meds and therapy. I learned a long time ago not to make rash decisions when it comes to very important (or expensive) questions, so once I calm down and think things through, I always remember why I decided to get professional help in the first place - I want to 'get better', get back to work, and have a 'normal' social and sex life.
According to some books I've been reading (Feeling Good, Undoing Depression), your thoughts, moods and brain chemistry all affect each other. So, after many years of depression, I think my body is just not used to the changes in brain chemistry the meds force on me (which then affect my thoughts and moods).
The meds are just a 'crutch', to keep me from getting stuck feeling the really black moods, while I get help from a therapist. The therapy will (hopefully) help me learn new, healthier ways to interpret situations, and eventually should allow me stop using the meds.
Good Luck!
Patrick
Posted by phillipa on November 9, 2004, at 15:25:36
In reply to Re: Long standing depression - question, posted by DustBuster on November 9, 2004, at 13:57:48
I think the biggest thing would be whether you have tried any natural remedies after you have changed to a healthy diet and exercise routine. How do you know you are depressed all of a sudden?
Posted by sunny10 on November 9, 2004, at 15:26:16
In reply to Re: Long standing depression - question, posted by DustBuster on November 9, 2004, at 13:57:48
Patrick,
I have the same problem. When you find the right kind of therapist to "undo" all the years (and the reasons) of "depression thinking", do us all a favor and post it on the Psychology Board! I've been trying the CBT (cognizant behavioral therapy, I think) modality, and it just doesn't seem to work for me.
No, Dr. Bob, don't bother moving his thread- just wanted to pop my request in there, thanks!
-sunny10
Posted by woolav on November 9, 2004, at 18:30:14
In reply to Re: Long standing depression - question » DustBuster, posted by sunny10 on November 9, 2004, at 15:26:16
Hey, just wanted to say i went for years like you untreated. I didnt know when i was younger what was wrong with me. But when i look back, i know i was sad all the time as a young child and in my teens i had developed social phobia. I have read that some disorders, ( i have panic disorder) if left untreated can lead to many other problems. and now at 32 I understand what is wrong with me and am on meds to fix it. Finally found a decent med combo. but i do agree that it needs to be caught earlier. I blame my mother for that one!!!
S
Posted by DustBuster on November 9, 2004, at 19:24:40
In reply to Re: Long standing depression - question, posted by phillipa on November 9, 2004, at 15:25:36
> How do you know you are depressed all of a sudden?
Well, it didn't happen "all of a sudden". I've known for a long time that something was wrong with me, but always just assumed it was my own fault. Which, of course, just fueled my depression even more. Other symptoms are my lack of ability to make and keep friends, suicidal thoughts, feelings of worthlessness, lack of interest in hobbies, family, or really anything other than my job.
Several times over the past year or two, I've heard radio and tv commercials listing symptoms of depression, and advertising some clinic or other. I recognized myself in their descriptions, but kept putting off really doing anything about it.
Last year, when my employer forced me to relocate, my depression got much worse, my job performance really suffered, and I was fired this summer (for incompetence, which is funny, because I used to considered the network guru).
I spent the next four months not doing anything (other than eating, sleeping, watching tv, and browsing the net), and finally found myself looking into the topic of depression. I found a couple of web sites, but they didn't provide much useful information.
I went to a book store, and found a good book, Undoing Depression, by Richard O'Connor. After reading the first few chapters, I was convinced I suffer from severe depression, and that I would need professional help to get over it.
I was terrified to talk to anyone else about it, so I literally chose a psychiatrist out of the yellow pages. One of the scariest things I've ever done was walk into his office, and ask for an appointment. He asked a lot of questions, told me I definately suffer from major depression, handed me 3 weeks worth of Effexor XR samples, and told me to make an appointment with any one of the therapists he works with.
The T recommended a couple of other books, Feeling Good, by Burns, and Learned Optimism, by Seligman. I'm reading Feeling Good now, and meeting with the T once a week.
I have found it difficult to get started in therapy. It's really hard to break old habits, and it's really easy to find reasons to quit treatment. But I'm committed to keep trying.
Patrick
Posted by DustBuster on November 9, 2004, at 19:43:21
In reply to Re: Long standing depression - question, posted by woolav on November 9, 2004, at 18:30:14
> now at 32 I understand what is wrong with me and am on meds to fix it.
I'm glad you are feeling better, but unlike an physical illness, I don't agree that just taking meds will 'fix' anything. Yes, the meds will keep you from feeling really horribly depressed, but unless you get therapy, or do something to change the way your thought processes work, you really aren't going to stop thinking the distorted thoughts that cause your depression.
Please consider reading Feeling Good, by Burns (or The Feeling Good Handbook, also by Burns). Just spend an hour or two at the bookstore and read the first chapter or two, and you'll see what I mean.
Otherwise, you'll eventually find some reason to stop taking the meds (too expensive, bad side effects, you haven't felt depressed in months), and you'll likely find your symptoms returning.
> but i do agree that it needs to be caught earlier.
I admit, my life would probably be much different if I'd got treatment when I was much younger, but there's nothing wrong with getting help now. Also, remember that treatment for depression has changed dramatically in the past 10-15 years. They didn't have CBT back in the 70s.
Good Luck!
Patrick
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 10, 2004, at 8:23:09
In reply to Re: Long standing depression - question, posted by DustBuster on November 9, 2004, at 13:57:48
> According to some books I've been reading (Feeling Good, Undoing Depression), your thoughts, moods and brain chemistry all affect each other...
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book, movie, or music without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by DustBuster on November 10, 2004, at 12:29:11
In reply to Re: double double quotes » DustBuster, posted by Dr. Bob on November 10, 2004, at 8:23:09
Thanks Dr Bob! I didn't know about that feature. I'll make sure I use it in the future! I should probably read the whole FAQ. Who knows what other hidden treasures are to be found in there!
For the interested, the links to the two books I previously mentioned are "Undoing Depression" and "Feeling Good (Burns)".
Posted by phillipa on November 10, 2004, at 17:31:45
In reply to Re: Long standing depression - question » phillipa, posted by DustBuster on November 9, 2004, at 19:24:40
IT sounds like you're heading in the right direction. I hope you have success in your treatment. One word of advice, if you find a med that make you feel that you don't need it anymore because you feel so good, don't stop taking it. You can't always go back to it because it may not work again. I did this with Paxil 7 years ago and am still looking to get back where I had been when I foolishly tapered off.
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 11, 2004, at 7:54:13
In reply to Re: double double quotes » Dr. Bob, posted by DustBuster on November 10, 2004, at 12:29:11
Posted by woolav on November 11, 2004, at 8:56:57
In reply to Re: Long standing depression - question » woolav, posted by DustBuster on November 9, 2004, at 19:43:21
Hi, I understand where you are coming from, but I did start seeing a therapist who is trying to teach me how to breath correctly to avoid panic attacks and then he wants to go into cognitive therapy. I am worried though bc i cant imagine being helped by breathing techniques or behavior therapy. Plus, he wants to tell my pdoc that i should lower my klonopin dose since i am trying to get help for anxiety his way. I am freaked out by that. Perhaps I am not ready mentally for this type of help. I am scared to get off klonopin since its helping so much...
Sandy
Posted by DustBuster on November 11, 2004, at 13:24:22
In reply to Re: Long standing depression - Patrick, posted by woolav on November 11, 2004, at 8:56:57
> I did start seeing a therapist who is trying to teach me how to breath correctly
> to avoid panic attacks and then he wants to go into cognitive therapy.
> I am worried thoughAll I can recommend is that you talk with your T about your concerns. If he can't calm your fears, and you aren't convinced his approach is correct, consider looking for another T. They aren't all genius' after all! But think it over carefully first. Don't let your fears alone guide your decision.
> he wants to tell my pdoc that i should lower my klonopin dose
> I am freaked out by that. Perhaps I am not ready mentally for this type of help.I understand completely. Change, ANY change, can be very scary. But changing the way you think is, by self-definition, hard to conceive. But I feel better knowing CBT has helped a whole lot of people. Hopefully we'll be lucky enough to join them.
> I am scared to get off klonopin since its helping so much...I'm not familiar with this med, nor with the pain of anxiety. Is klonopin something you can safely go back on if you develop problems?
Again, I think you ought to feel somewhat comfortable with these planned changes to your med regime and therapy, and the only way I know to do that is discuss it with your T.
Think hard about what scares you. Write it all down. Then look at each point you wrote down and think *why* it scares you. Write that down too. Take your notes with you to the T, so you don't have to try and remember everything all at once.
Good Luck!
Patrick
Posted by woolav on November 11, 2004, at 21:54:56
In reply to Re: Long standing depression » woolav, posted by DustBuster on November 11, 2004, at 13:24:22
This is the end of the thread.
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