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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pretty_paints on January 19, 2005, at 15:19:25
Hiya,
Anyone here suffer from melancholic depression? What actually is it? How does it differ from "normal" major depression?
xxx
Posted by linkadge on January 19, 2005, at 16:14:11
In reply to MELANCHOLIC DEPRESSION, posted by pretty_paints on January 19, 2005, at 15:19:25
Some people when they are depressed are not actually sad. They could be tired, irritable, obsessive, anxious, etc but not really sad.
Linkadge
Posted by phillipa on January 19, 2005, at 17:46:23
In reply to Re: MELANCHOLIC DEPRESSION, posted by linkadge on January 19, 2005, at 16:14:11
So that's what it means? I always thought it was a really severe depression. Shows how much I know!Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on January 19, 2005, at 18:33:56
In reply to Re: MELANCHOLIC DEPRESSION » linkadge, posted by phillipa on January 19, 2005, at 17:46:23
There could be an association, I'm not sure.
I was always under the impression (perhaps false impression) that melancholic depression was defined by marked feelings of sadness, ie. blue, grey, empty etc. Much weeping etc.
Can anyone else clarify ??
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on January 19, 2005, at 18:37:02
In reply to Re: MELANCHOLIC DEPRESSION » linkadge, posted by phillipa on January 19, 2005, at 17:46:23
I know the psychiatrist said I had melancholic depression, when I told him I sat in my room all day and listened to Chopin Etude in E 'Tristesse' over - and over.
Somtimes I miss those feelings. I am on SSRI's now, and feel nothing when I listen to that song.
I was probably more human before.
Linkadge
Posted by zeugma on January 19, 2005, at 19:40:16
In reply to Re: MELANCHOLIC DEPRESSION, posted by linkadge on January 19, 2005, at 18:37:02
> I know the psychiatrist said I had melancholic depression, when I told him I sat in my room all day and listened to Chopin Etude in E 'Tristesse' over - and over.
>
> Somtimes I miss those feelings. I am on SSRI's now, and feel nothing when I listen to that song.
>
> I was probably more human before.
>
>
> LinkadgeMelancholia is an ancient term used by Galen or another such to refer to someone who had too much black bile in his system (as opposed to someone with an excess of yellow bile, who was choleric and apt to flying off the handle instead of lying in bed weighed down by serious thoughts). it became appropriated by 20th century psychiatrists to describe those who responded to TCA's instead of MAOI's.
I suppose your description of 'melancholia' is on target. Sitting in a room all day listening to sad music. I find that TCA's do not interfere with the experience of listening to sad music at all. they do make it easier to get out of bed, though, at least for me.
-z
Posted by banga on January 19, 2005, at 21:34:21
In reply to Re: MELANCHOLIC DEPRESSION, posted by linkadge on January 19, 2005, at 18:37:02
When they talk about melancholic depression, they essentially mean a really bad case of "typical" depression: ABSOLUTE loss of pleasure (NOTHING will get a rise out of you); it's usually worst in the morning; you may have psychomotor slowing that even others notice, you may talk slowly(actually sometimes it is agitation, but usually life is happening slow-motion); loss of apetite and weight, you may wake up way too early in the morning....
It's like the person has entered sort of a melancholic stupor, everything is black and you, too are simply nothing, just existing; maybe too depressed to even cry.That's different from atypical depression, where if something good happens it can at least put a smile on your face, even if it is half-hearted and shallow; more agitation and crying, etc.
Posted by linkadge on January 20, 2005, at 8:18:26
In reply to Re: MELANCHOLIC DEPRESSION, posted by banga on January 19, 2005, at 21:34:21
Well there you go, you were on par and I was way off. Shows how much I know
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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