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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ralphrogers on August 21, 2011, at 21:36:48
Hello everybody,
I'd like to share my optimism on depression cure. I used to believe that there isn't such thing as depression cure, because I was TOLD SO by... many articles on depression, or even antidepressant studies results. But today I have a different opinion, and by thinking about my story and how rubbish I felt at the lowest point of my life, I'm pretty optimistic anyone can recovery completely from depression.
I'm 27 and I suffered from depression for the past 8 years. In the worst months of this horrible trip through hell I was having heart disturbances that showed up on ECG exams, and I don't have any heart problems whatsoever. I had quit my job and couldn't even talk straight. Sometimes when I tried to speak, words would come out completely distorted, and I thought I was getting crazy. I was so apathetic I barely talked. My mind was blank and empty. My body started to show many signs of problems, but I won't enter in details.
In the past 5 years I went through psychoanalysis and I learned so much. My T was against using drugs, so I stayed for this whole period without taking anything. I think this was a mistake (today I take and AD), because after I found the right drug I really started to heal.
But this drug-free period made me learn some things that were crucial to recovering. I didn't improve much without the AD, but I'm sure I wouldn't have recovered without this knowledge.
- Training the brain: we learn to be depressed, and it is a particularly persistent state of spirit, that makes us believe that life is horrible. It is very important to understand what the body-mind connection is. Faith is crucial. You may destroy your health or heal it, just by using the power of the mind.
- Sensory experiences: the mind-body connection makes us understand that by stimulating our sensory doors we stimulate our brains/minds directly. At my lowest point, I had lost my sense of smell. There is a strong connection between smell and emotions, so this was a sign for me. Maybe if I stimulated my sense of smell, I could stimulate emotions? That was dead right for me. I started smelling stuff and this really helped. I started paying attention to the taste of my meal, and it was very important as well. Paying attention to the senses has an amazing impact on our minds. Some forms of meditations teach that (like breath watching).
- Taking the right drug: ADs might only trigger the healing process. They are a simple substance, not the magic thing. The magic thing is our brain response to the drug. So the drug itself is only a stimulation. It is important not to focus too much on the drug, but rather on the things you have to do/learn in order to recover.
- Emotional healing: paying attention to our emotions, instead of ignoring them. When we feel fear or panic, try to watch this emotion, instead of focusing on another thing to search for distraction. The emotions are signs to be observed. Being aware is so important.
- Socialize: the best definition on depression I could find is that it is a defect on socializing. Sharing our love and doing something good to people makes us feel really well. Helping someone is particularly nourishing to the soul.
- Spiritual life: we have a spiritual dimension, and we can find comfort and strength by looking for a spiritual path. I believe each of us has a purpose in life. Playing our true role in life is maybe what frees us from the pain of existing. We start to see that our life is meaningful.I'd also like to share a link that I found specially helpful, with good ideas on depression cure. I believe it is totally free. This is no advertising and I'm absolutely not connected to the people that run the website.
http://www.cure-your-depression.com/
I apologize if I sound authoritative or anything. I just wanted to share some optimism and the ideas that had the biggest impact on my recovery process. I hope this helps somehow. I'll be really happy if it does.
Stay well
Ralph
Posted by europerep on August 22, 2011, at 8:48:40
In reply to Sharing optimism on depression cure, posted by ralphrogers on August 21, 2011, at 21:36:48
Posted by ralphrogers on August 22, 2011, at 9:18:58
In reply to It's not free, and I think it's a scam. (nm) » ralphrogers, posted by europerep on August 22, 2011, at 8:48:40
Why do you think that? Give me the details.
Did you really read any of the information before making your statement?
Ralph
Posted by sigismund on August 22, 2011, at 9:47:30
In reply to Sharing optimism on depression cure, posted by ralphrogers on August 21, 2011, at 21:36:48
Hello Ralph. Is it four years ago you first came here? It is partly because of the language thing, but I always appreciated your gentle manners. What was the right drug for you, as it turned out?
Posted by ralphrogers on August 22, 2011, at 10:03:27
In reply to Re: Sharing optimism on depression cure » ralphrogers, posted by sigismund on August 22, 2011, at 9:47:30
Hello sigismund!
Nice to hear from you. I recently remembered about you, as I decided to re-read "Kafka on the shore". Wonderful book.
Remember Hoshino? I don't feel like that guy anymore!
Wellbutrin was the drug for me. But it was no miracle, because I had to work a lot to see real improvement.
How about you? Are your doing well?
Did you get to know South America?
Cheers
Ralph
Posted by Phillipa on August 22, 2011, at 10:57:20
In reply to Re: Sharing optimism on depression cure, posted by ralphrogers on August 22, 2011, at 10:03:27
Ralph you mention loss of smell and smelling things to recover it but then you mention tasting. I lost taste and smell 8 years ago. Smell determines if you can taste. The only tastes without smell are on the tastebuds sweet, sour, bitter, salty. Two specialists and then two ENT's established some virus destroyed the neurons in my nose and hence never will taste or smell again. My reason for stating this is that this is the biggest loss to me no enjoyment of food or flowers etc. Is horrible. Phillipa
Posted by sigismund on August 23, 2011, at 18:58:05
In reply to Re: Sharing optimism on depression cure, posted by ralphrogers on August 22, 2011, at 10:03:27
I'm working my way through Rosetta Stone to get some basic Spanish. It's not a bad program but you need to spend long hours at the computer. Next year. We are planning to go for a few months.
I'm glad things are better for you, Ralph.
Posted by ralphrogers on August 23, 2011, at 23:18:22
In reply to Re: Sharing optimism on depression cure » ralphrogers, posted by Phillipa on August 22, 2011, at 10:57:20
Hello Phillipa,
I'm sorry about what happened to you. I can say that I know how that feels, because I recovered mine only recently. You have zero smell sense?
Today I was precisely thinking about losses... and I came to the conclusion that whenever I'll experience some kind of loss (health losses sound particularly horrifying to me), I'd better try to look at life and things in a different way. Try to find new ways to enjoy and celebrate life.
This thought somehow lifted me up.
Do you like classical music? I just came from a wonderful cello concert :)
Ralph
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2011, at 23:41:09
In reply to Re: Sharing optimism on depression cure » Phillipa, posted by ralphrogers on August 23, 2011, at 23:18:22
How did you recover yours? It's frustrating when people talk of food. Cause without smell no taste. Like to read in bed at night and ride my bike. Phillipa
Posted by ralphrogers on August 24, 2011, at 21:24:11
In reply to Re: Sharing optimism on depression cure » ralphrogers, posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2011, at 23:41:09
I recovered my sense of smell as depression improved. But I did notice one thing about meds: bupropion initially (when it was most stimulating) decreased even further my ability to smell. Then it sort of evened out. Citalopram (or another SSRI) considerably improved it.
Do you take any meds?
Posted by Phillipa on August 24, 2011, at 21:46:28
In reply to Re: Sharing optimism on depression cure » Phillipa, posted by ralphrogers on August 24, 2011, at 21:24:11
Ralph first my infection control doc thinks it's the biaxin lr took for chronic lymes, I wonder about the synthroid I take, also the low dose luvox, and the 41 years of benzos. Any thoughts on this? I think was taking chloral hydrate when it left but been years since then. So only long term ones are benzos and synthroid and luvox. Phillipa
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