Posted by WeeWilly on August 19, 2006, at 12:20:15
In reply to Re: Mode of action could be quite helpfull, posted by Estella on August 18, 2006, at 23:32:08
> > I have'nt found a medication yet that has been effective more than 3 months. Parnate worked the best but for only three months. I have lost count of how many medications I have tried.
>
> Yeah, I hear you on that one. I had trouble trying to find a med that I benefited from too.
>
> > I am certain that myself and suspect many others have an endocrine disorder masquerading as a mental disorder. Do you think people talk their way out of a hypothyroid condition? In coming years we will see new endocrine conditions elucidated that cause mental imparement.
>
> Yeah, on with the march of science :-)
>
> I think that therapy can help medical conditions. I mean... Psych conditions ARE medical conditions and therapy is supposed to be precisely for dealing with psych conditions. And not just psych conditions either. People with medical conditions like chronic pain, cancer, HIV and so forth often benefit from suitable therapy too. It might not cure their symptoms but it can help them manage their symptoms and cope better with them so they aren't so distressed by them any more.
>
> I think that part of the trouble with the mental / physical divide is that... There isn't a mental / physical divide. Talking can change your neurology just like medication can change your neurology. Start thinking about something like a person insulting you and you can feel your heart race and your facial expression and the like change. Thinking causes changes to your body and changes to your brain as well. Talk therapy can alter neurology just like meds can.
>
> That being said it can be as hard to find a good therapist as it can be to find a good medication. Some people don't seem to have much trouble getting one or the other or (probably ideally) both. Other people have to search for a while.
>
> Anyway... I'm just putting some thoughts out there.
>
> I have an interest in the notion that mental illnesses are (all?) caused by an underlying neurological malfunction in some mechanism or other. That is controversial... Hard to say whether thinking about things being hopeless etc is a cause of depression or a result of being depressed. Probably... Round and round things go. Medication is one intervention, yup. But therapy is another.
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> I don't mean to suggest that you should stop looking for a good med. Just meant to suggest that you might benefit from a good therapist if you could find one. I guess it might be about... How desperate you feel or something.
>
> Anyway, good luck with your search.
>Estella,
I have enjoyed your posts. It's apparent you and I have developed quite different view points on mental illness. Which is fine. I'm not sure how long or if you have struggled with a mental health disorder. I probably followed the typical stages that sufferers go through. First realizing there is a problem, then looking for simple non invasive solutions that can be applied on ones own(self help books, religion,etc.). Seeing a doctor of some kind is a big difficult step, if I remember right in my case( damn it's been a long time ago). Many of us, don't respond to the medications available in the country we are in or from what the doctors we are seeing will prescribe. For me talk therapy, I would'nt say is absolutely worthless, I would say its value is below things like good dental hygiene, sleep, diet, etc..
I wish alot of things were different with my conditions, for example I wish I could think my way into good mental health. It is not gonna happen. Bummer. Oh well, we have to play the cards we are dealt. Best wishes
poster:WeeWilly
thread:677804
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060818/msgs/678094.html