Guest guest Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Hi Helena This is in addition to my post of 8th October on depression. Like yourself I have been on anti-depressants for a great number of years. I was first hospitalised in 1962 and I have had over 20 ECT's. When we look at anxiety, and say elect to take tranquilsers such as diazepam, we are not facing up to and accepting the anxiety as we would be doing if we behaved according to ACT. In the same way I feel that, if we take anti-depressants, we are not accepting our depression but fighting it - the old struggle. A few years ago before reading anything of ACT I decided to switch-off the struggle switch and I no longer take anti-depressants....ie 'feel the pain' I'm not sure whether my anxiety has increased since then or whether it is just that I recognise now that it is there. If you remember I said to you that up until the last few years I had always thought of myself as a non-anxious person or, if you like, a non-worrier . It is only 2 months ago that I came across ACT and I feel that this is the answer. Drugs whether for anxiety or depression are only masking the feelings when we should be accepting and acknowleging them and I am looking forward to working through the Mindfulness & Acceptance work book for anxiety. I am not saying give up drugs cold turkey but for obvious safety considerations we can do it with the help of our Doctor. You can tell from the 1962 date that I am getting a little ancient but I am looking forward to a future of acceptance. All the very best ivor Re: heavy question Don't take the meds, they will just make things worse in the end. According to Dr Burns, a leading psychiatrist, CBT therapist, author, and brain chemistry researcher, drugs don't work.It was once said that CBT + drugs was the most efective therapy but recent research has shown this not to be the case (Dr Burns again). CBT works best on its own, I guess because you work on your pure emotions.Dr Burns says no one is hard wired for depression or anxiety, and he has never found anything wrong with the brains of people with these illnesses. People do tend to inherit personality traits and some of these predispose us to anxiety. A mixture of personailty and envirement can soft wire us for depression and anxiety. The good news is, although it might take many years, this soft wiring can be undone. Meditators have high levels of GABA, a soothing neurotransmitter, and this has a positive effect on brain struture. It is best to do things naturally.Buddhism and ACT can teach us how to be compassionate and loving to our selves and others, and when we form healing and loving relationships we can heal. Neurosis is lack of self love.I'm reading a fabulous book at the moment which I shall write about it later.All the best,Kavy> > > > > > > I think there has to be a stage where you determine whether a > thought > is helpful or not > before you decide to defuse it, don't you? that to > me implies a stage where you > are almost bound to be involved in some > sort of cognitive restructuring > (which I have to admit I've found > very helpful) even if you don't > intend to do so. Of course, you don't > need to get stuck at that > stage<G>> > I agree totally with your comment about not feeling > guilty. Guilt is > something > that gets you nowhere fast!> > Louise> > > > > > > Sandoz, M.S.> Graduate Student> Department of Psychology > University of Mississippi> emilykennison@ gmail.com> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Something went wrong and then I lost everything and then two posts came back. I was planning not to send this post because it is an issue that causes problems and I have friends here, but I better finish it off now. .... You go on antidepressants when you can't cope anymore. But for many of us this acute stage doesn't last and you could end up on an antidepressant you don't need like the way I did. And once you are on an antidepressant it is difficult to get off and many people then end up spending years, and maybe all their life on them. Now that's no bad thing if you are happy with that. I weren't, because they didn't cure me. Anyway, I don't know what is like to be someone else and other people are saved by these drugs. But I found your post uplifting and I'm sure you will begin to feel better as time goes on. I had a post for you T, but that went missing too. Go for a jog and that will improve your mood. You are going through an acute stage at the moment but it will pass. Allow all disturbing thoughts to go through and away. It takes practice and many weeks to improve. I shall pray for you tonight. Kavy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I think there has to be a stage where you determine whether a > > > thought > > > is helpful or not > > > before you decide to defuse it, don't you? that to > > > me implies a stage where you > > > are almost bound to be involved in some > > > sort of cognitive restructuring > > > (which I have to admit I've found > > > very helpful) even if you don't > > > intend to do so. Of course, you don't > > > need to get stuck at that > > > stage<G> > > > > > > I agree totally with your comment about not feeling > > > guilty. Guilt is > > > something > > > that gets you nowhere fast! > > > > > > Louise > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sandoz, M.S. > > > Graduate Student > > > Department of Psychology > > > University of Mississippi > > > emilykennison@ gmail.com > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Thank you, Kavy. Your message warmed my heart. I appreciate the friends I am making on this forum. Best, Helena Re: Acceptance I like you as you are Helena. And I would take pain medication too if I needed it. Anyway, I quite like pain killers because they help me sleep, so I'm a hipocrite. And I love Rodiola Rosea at the weekends. Antidepressants have really helped you so that's a positive and if they were harmless and there was no tollerance I would take them too. Anyway, they seem to have done you no harm. I take EPA and if it ended my suffering I wouldn't worry about ACT. Depression is one of the most painful things you can go through. A famous actress once said she would sooner have cancer than go through depression again. I know what she means. You have been very brave and have have been through enough. So you do what's right for you. I'm with you either way.Kavy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I think there has to be a stage where you determine whether > a > > > > thought > > > > is helpful or not > > > > before you decide to defuse it, don't you? that to > > > > me implies a stage where you > > > > are almost bound to be involved in some > > > > sort of cognitive restructuring > > > > (which I have to admit I've found > > > > very helpful) even if you don't > > > > intend to do so. Of course, you don't > > > > need to get stuck at that > > > > stage<G>> > > > > > > > I agree totally with your comment about not feeling > > > > guilty. Guilt is > > > > something > > > > that gets you nowhere fast!> > > > > > > > Louise> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sandoz, M.S.> > > > Graduate Student> > > > Department of Psychology > > > > University of Mississippi> > > > emilykennison@ gmail.com> > > > > > > >> > >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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