Re: Here is my personal history with PSSD. I am a new member.

[Guest guest]

They all lie. And if you tell them your story they won't believe you.

They have all been completely brainwashed and believe that depression

is a chemical imbalance caused by genes.

I went to my doctor saying I had become scared and shy and was not my

usual self. I knew what was wrong, all my life I suffered from

feelings of inferiority which I covered up by being very outgoing and

extrovert. This defence against inner pain had stopped working after

a traimatic event in my life and I had become depressed as a result.

I was sent to see a psychiatrist and I imagined he would do some sort

of pychotherapy on me. You can't believe how upset I was when he

asked me loads of questions for half an hour but never taking any

particular questions any further and then wrote a prescription and

told me come back in a month.

I'm not medically trained and yet I intrinsically knew antideprssants

were not the answer. Little did I know it was going to make things

worse. I hate psychiatry for making me feel that I was physically

defective (with a genetic brain condition) which greatly incressed my

inferioity and pychic pain. All my mates seemed to happy and yet I

was always broken and with my confidence gone I felt I was born weak.

No psychiatrist ever reassured me.

Cognitive therapy (CBT)is the opposite of psychiatry. It believes we

are not fixed by our genes and that we can overcome depression by our

own effort. Even this thought starts to bring hope and undo

depression.

When CBT started helping people psychaitrists started saying CBT plus

antidepressants is best. The psychiatrists were worried about losing

business to CBT. DR Burns, a mainstream psychiatrist, says in

his book, When Panic Attacks, that research has shown that CBT on its

own is best. The drug companies don't want you to know this.

Kavy

>

> Ever since I took Zyprexa combined with Prozac I have had no libido

> whatsoever and also have had a very apathetic mood combined with

> lethargy and lack of creativity. The only exception to my mood

> symptoms was when I drank anough liquor. When i got drunk i

> experienced a high like nothing i had ever experienced before in

this

> lifetime. There was never an exception to the sexual dysfunction

> tragedy. I have lost all memories of my childhood and early

> adolescence- good and bad. I don't even feel human but I am too

> apathetic to get too excited about it. I feel like my growing years

> are the basis for my former life and that life as I know it now is

> pointless and I am worthless. I am not depressed. I just used to be

> something 100% different and i had a wonderful sex life. Now i never

> even think about sex. It does not repulse me but it fails to move

me.

> I sure hope that I live to see a cure and that if there ever is a

cure

> I hope I am still fairly young- like even 40,50,60's will do. Oh

yeah,

> i forgot another dimension of my ailiments- I lost belief in God

> altogether. That at least might be somewhat liberating but i would

not

> mind having it back if it would also mean that I would be happy and

> highly sexed. My doctor who is supposedly one of the best in his

> feild, claimed that he had never heard of such a thing as PSSD and I

> just emailed them a link to the free online encyclopedia page that

> goes into great depth about it. I feel like he was probably lying.

The

> mental health industry as it stands today is highly corrupt. Thanx

for

> reading this.

>

[Guest guest]

It's certainly acceptable to have an opinion about depression and its

varied causes and treatments. And while I agree that much of

depression is catalyzed and/or exacerbated by circumstance and our

responses to it, I do not agree that " there is no such thing as

clinical depression " or that it is a " lie " to associate depressive

symptoms with " chemical imbalance caused by genes " .

We are indeed chemical beings, and how we function chemically is

largely determined by our genetic makeup. Have one two many cocktails,

smoke a joint, or take a hit of LSD or ecstasy and you will note

immediately how subject to chemistry your sensory perception,

cognition, and personality are. Even diet (again, routine chemistry)

greatly informs who we are physically and mentally. There is no easy

delineation of the Self independent of chemistry or genetics. Any

ailment we encounter, whether cancer or autism, is tied in some way to

the two. So too are depression and anxiety. Whether we are able to

effectively treat such illnesses with chemical or genetic

interventions is another matter entirely. Because of certain personal

frustrations with our technical inadequacy to do so, some hastily leap

to the conclusion that there is no basis whatsoever for chemical or

genetic etiological descriptions of mental illnesses (and thus no

chemical or genetic treatment for them either). That is simply

unfounded and altogether ignorant. The presence of a partner's

sympathetic ear, a therapist's objective advice, the conviction of

prayer, or a timely hug from a friend all have chemical consequence.

So too the lack of these.

While there's no doubt that a mere " chemical imbalance caused by

genes " is an oversimplification of the matter, I don't doubt that

there is some genetic component to this condition. That is not to say

there is a depression gene per se, but there may be certain genes

which regulate, say, corticosteroid production and metabolism, or

neurotransmitter release and receptor expression. In combination such

things could produce a constellation of biological conditions which

increase the likelihood of a depressed response to chronic stress or

challenging emotional circumstances. It both ignorant and

irresponsible to suppose that endogenous molecular relationships and

events (healthy people aren't " chemically balanced " ) and genetic

predisposition are ENTIRELY responsible for Depression, Anxiety, or

issues of Attention. It is equally ignorant and irresponsible to

suppose that they play no role at all.

Furthermore, it is abundantly clear that despite their varied

side-effects (and PSSD), anti-depressant medications DO work. Perhaps

not as immediately or as " cleanly " as we have come to expect as

consumers of medical science...perhaps not without temporary or even

lasting consequence (PSSD), and perhaps not equally well for all

people, but it is a " lie " to say outright that they do not work at all!

Were it not for the complications of PSSD, I suspect many of us in

this group would have more balanced and positive things to say about

this class of medicines as a treatment for our various conditions.

Personally, without these drugs, I would not likely be alive today to

endure and criticize the lasting sexual effects of these drugs.

I am not saying these things in defense of anti-depressants or in

support of their widespread use. I do not mean to discount the tragedy

of PSSD. I wrestle daily with the fact that to treat my depression in

the past, I have consigned myself to a lifetime (possibly) of despair

over my new sexual handicap. I am very angry that no one warned me of

the risk, and that my choice at the time was not adequately informed.

Like most of you, I have a new bias when I consider antidepressants,

depression, and anxiety. It's hard not to think of the doctors, the

pharmaceutical companies, the FDA, and the drugs themselves as one

cooperative evil that conspired to capitalize heartlessly on my

desperation and vulnerability and, in the end, make my life more

miserable. But I know that is an irrational appraisal of the situation.

The true etiologies of depression and anxiety as well as the safest,

most durable, and efficient treatments for these conditions remain

obscure. For now, we must suffer though our questions and hope for

mercifully expeditious, honest answers. This will require time and

patience. In the meantime, I will not tolerate unwarranted ignorance

or an unbalanced, irrational perspective when I see it.

For what it's worth.

> >

> > Ever since I took Zyprexa combined with Prozac I have had no libido

> > whatsoever and also have had a very apathetic mood combined with

> > lethargy and lack of creativity. The only exception to my mood

> > symptoms was when I drank anough liquor. When i got drunk i

> > experienced a high like nothing i had ever experienced before in

> this

> > lifetime. There was never an exception to the sexual dysfunction

> > tragedy. I have lost all memories of my childhood and early

> > adolescence- good and bad. I don't even feel human but I am too

> > apathetic to get too excited about it. I feel like my growing years

> > are the basis for my former life and that life as I know it now is

> > pointless and I am worthless. I am not depressed. I just used to be

> > something 100% different and i had a wonderful sex life. Now i never

> > even think about sex. It does not repulse me but it fails to move

> me.

> > I sure hope that I live to see a cure and that if there ever is a

> cure

> > I hope I am still fairly young- like even 40,50,60's will do. Oh

> yeah,

> > i forgot another dimension of my ailiments- I lost belief in God

> > altogether. That at least might be somewhat liberating but i would

> not

> > mind having it back if it would also mean that I would be happy and

> > highly sexed. My doctor who is supposedly one of the best in his

> > feild, claimed that he had never heard of such a thing as PSSD and I

> > just emailed them a link to the free online encyclopedia page that

> > goes into great depth about it. I feel like he was probably lying.

> The

> > mental health industry as it stands today is highly corrupt. Thanx

> for

> > reading this.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

In my ACT books they say that research shows that genes are

responsible for about 30% of our depression/anxiety. Having this

tendancy doesn't mean we will get depression or that drugs are the

answer if we do. They state that millions of antidepressants are

presribed each year and yet depression is still rife in our society -

the drugs don't really help most people that much. It is best to heal

depression through therapy, which has been shown to be more

far more effective.

It's certainly safer.

Kavy

> > >

> > > Ever since I took Zyprexa combined with Prozac I have had no

libido

> > > whatsoever and also have had a very apathetic mood combined with

> > > lethargy and lack of creativity. The only exception to my mood

> > > symptoms was when I drank anough liquor. When i got drunk i

> > > experienced a high like nothing i had ever experienced before

in

> > this

> > > lifetime. There was never an exception to the sexual dysfunction

> > > tragedy. I have lost all memories of my childhood and early

> > > adolescence- good and bad. I don't even feel human but I am too

> > > apathetic to get too excited about it. I feel like my growing

years

> > > are the basis for my former life and that life as I know it now

is

> > > pointless and I am worthless. I am not depressed. I just used

to be

> > > something 100% different and i had a wonderful sex life. Now i

never

> > > even think about sex. It does not repulse me but it fails to

move

> > me.

> > > I sure hope that I live to see a cure and that if there ever is

a

> > cure

> > > I hope I am still fairly young- like even 40,50,60's will do.

Oh

> > yeah,

> > > i forgot another dimension of my ailiments- I lost belief in God

> > > altogether. That at least might be somewhat liberating but i

would

> > not

> > > mind having it back if it would also mean that I would be happy

and

> > > highly sexed. My doctor who is supposedly one of the best in his

> > > feild, claimed that he had never heard of such a thing as PSSD

and I

> > > just emailed them a link to the free online encyclopedia page

that

> > > goes into great depth about it. I feel like he was probably

lying.

> > The

> > > mental health industry as it stands today is highly corrupt.

Thanx

> > for

> > > reading this.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Again - I am not advocating for the use of medications in all cases or

as preferable to of other forms of therapy. I am simply trying to

neutralize some of your rather black and white, sweeping statements

which are simply not substantiated.

Furthermore, you need to be careful when citing research that is

reference selectively in a publication which advances a given

treatment strategy - in your case the ACT books. Personally, I find it

humorous that anyone would think that a number like " 30% " could be

reasonably assigned to any one cause of human behavior (in this case,

genes) - especially such complex and dynamic emotional states as

depression and anxiety!

The notion that genes are not overwhelmingly responsible for

depressive symptoms is certainly reasonable -- perhaps not correct (we

don't yet know), but not unreasonable. Yes, having a genetic

predisposition toward any behavior (alcoholism, anger issues, sexual

compulsivity, depression, anxiety, etc.) does not mean it will

unavoidably manifest in a fatalistic I-can't-help-it sense. And it

certainly does not mean that it cannot be mediated with non-invasive,

cognitive and behavioral therapies. I agree with you on that. That

said, there are genetic conditions which do in fact constrain our

behavior. And these can and do resist non-invasive attempts to

correct, avoid, or suppress them. The truth is that we do not yet know

enough about the biological underpinnings of depression and anxiety to

confidently say whether it is indeed 30%, 5%, or 85% genetic in

origin. To be even more truthful, we must be careful not to speak in

general terms which would seem to describe all depressed persons

everywhere. Certainly " depression " for me is slightly, and in some

cases greatly, different from others with the same diagnosis.

What we term " Depression " is a series of behavioral and cognitive

symptoms any of which are evaluated rather subjectively and vary from

person to person. The symptoms themselves vary within a given

individual from day to day, moment to moment. Certainly there cannot

be a 30% causal relationship between my genes and my suicidal ideation

this Tuesday at 1 PM! However, there CAN be a genetic cause for my

inability to efficiently metabolize cortisol. And my extraordinarily

high levels of cortisol (which is neurotoxic) might tax the healthy

structure and function of certain areas of my brain which mediate

perception, memory, mood, and cognition. Compromise these, and yes, my

general sense of well-being and hopefulness may deteriorate into what

we know as depression. And THIS, might have something to do with why I

couldn't cope on Tuesday at 1 PM.

Whether one meets depression with CBT, psychotherapy, prescription or

non-prescription medications (including antidepressants, stimulants,

alcohol, illicit drugs), or in some cases suicide will depend on the

person and his or her resources. Whether any one or a combination of

these will successfully resolve the depression depends largely on that

individual and whether in his or her particular case, 30% is the right

number...or not.

> > > >

> > > > Ever since I took Zyprexa combined with Prozac I have had no

> libido

> > > > whatsoever and also have had a very apathetic mood combined with

> > > > lethargy and lack of creativity. The only exception to my mood

> > > > symptoms was when I drank anough liquor. When i got drunk i

> > > > experienced a high like nothing i had ever experienced before

> in

> > > this

> > > > lifetime. There was never an exception to the sexual dysfunction

> > > > tragedy. I have lost all memories of my childhood and early

> > > > adolescence- good and bad. I don't even feel human but I am too

> > > > apathetic to get too excited about it. I feel like my growing

> years

> > > > are the basis for my former life and that life as I know it now

> is

> > > > pointless and I am worthless. I am not depressed. I just used

> to be

> > > > something 100% different and i had a wonderful sex life. Now i

> never

> > > > even think about sex. It does not repulse me but it fails to

> move

> > > me.

> > > > I sure hope that I live to see a cure and that if there ever is

> a

> > > cure

> > > > I hope I am still fairly young- like even 40,50,60's will do.

> Oh

> > > yeah,

> > > > i forgot another dimension of my ailiments- I lost belief in God

> > > > altogether. That at least might be somewhat liberating but i

> would

> > > not

> > > > mind having it back if it would also mean that I would be happy

> and

> > > > highly sexed. My doctor who is supposedly one of the best in his

> > > > feild, claimed that he had never heard of such a thing as PSSD

> and I

> > > > just emailed them a link to the free online encyclopedia page

> that

> > > > goes into great depth about it. I feel like he was probably

> lying.

> > > The

> > > > mental health industry as it stands today is highly corrupt.

> Thanx

> > > for

> > > > reading this.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

thank you gwistik! it's a pleasure reading your posts!

Subject: Re: Here is my personal history with PSSD. I am a new member.To: SSRIsex Date: Saturday, December 27, 2008, 9:09 PM

Again - I am not advocating for the use of medications in all cases oras preferable to of other forms of therapy. I am simply trying toneutralize some of your rather black and white, sweeping statementswhich are simply not substantiated. Furthermore, you need to be careful when citing research that isreference selectively in a publication which advances a giventreatment strategy - in your case the ACT books. Personally, I find ithumorous that anyone would think that a number like "30%" could bereasonably assigned to any one cause of human behavior (in this case,genes) - especially such complex and dynamic emotional states asdepression and anxiety! The notion that genes are not overwhelmingly responsible fordepressive symptoms is certainly reasonable -- perhaps not correct (wedon't yet know), but not unreasonable. Yes, having a geneticpredisposition toward any behavior (alcoholism, anger

issues, sexualcompulsivity, depression, anxiety, etc.) does not mean it willunavoidably manifest in a fatalistic I-can't-help- it sense. And itcertainly does not mean that it cannot be mediated with non-invasive,cognitive and behavioral therapies. I agree with you on that. Thatsaid, there are genetic conditions which do in fact constrain ourbehavior. And these can and do resist non-invasive attempts tocorrect, avoid, or suppress them. The truth is that we do not yet knowenough about the biological underpinnings of depression and anxiety toconfidently say whether it is indeed 30%, 5%, or 85% genetic inorigin. To be even more truthful, we must be careful not to speak ingeneral terms which would seem to describe all depressed personseverywhere. Certainly "depression" for me is slightly, and in somecases greatly, different from others with the same diagnosis.What we term "Depression" is a series of

behavioral and cognitivesymptoms any of which are evaluated rather subjectively and vary fromperson to person. The symptoms themselves vary within a givenindividual from day to day, moment to moment. Certainly there cannotbe a 30% causal relationship between my genes and my suicidal ideationthis Tuesday at 1 PM! However, there CAN be a genetic cause for myinability to efficiently metabolize cortisol. And my extraordinarilyhigh levels of cortisol (which is neurotoxic) might tax the healthystructure and function of certain areas of my brain which mediateperception, memory, mood, and cognition. Compromise these, and yes, mygeneral sense of well-being and hopefulness may deteriorate into whatwe know as depression. And THIS, might have something to do with why Icouldn't cope on Tuesday at 1 PM. Whether one meets depression with CBT, psychotherapy, prescription ornon-prescription medications

(including antidepressants, stimulants,alcohol, illicit drugs), or in some cases suicide will depend on theperson and his or her resources. Whether any one or a combination ofthese will successfully resolve the depression depends largely on thatindividual and whether in his or her particular case, 30% is the rightnumber...or not.> > > >> > > > Ever since I took Zyprexa combined with Prozac I have had no > libido> > > > whatsoever and also have had a very apathetic mood combined with> > > > lethargy and lack of creativity. The only exception to my mood> > > > symptoms was when I drank anough liquor. When i got drunk i> > > > experienced a high like nothing i had ever experienced before > in > > > this> > > > lifetime. There was never an exception to the sexual dysfunction> > > >

tragedy. I have lost all memories of my childhood and early> > > > adolescence- good and bad. I don't even feel human but I am too> > > > apathetic to get too excited about it. I feel like my growing > years> > > > are the basis for my former life and that life as I know it now > is> > > > pointless and I am worthless. I am not depressed. I just used > to be> > > > something 100% different and i had a wonderful sex life. Now i > never> > > > even think about sex. It does not repulse me but it fails to > move > > > me.> > > > I sure hope that I live to see a cure and that if there ever is > a > > > cure> > > > I hope I am still fairly young- like even 40,50,60's will do. > Oh > > > yeah,> > > > i forgot another dimension of my

ailiments- I lost belief in God> > > > altogether. That at least might be somewhat liberating but i > would > > > not> > > > mind having it back if it would also mean that I would be happy > and> > > > highly sexed. My doctor who is supposedly one of the best in his> > > > feild, claimed that he had never heard of such a thing as PSSD > and I> > > > just emailed them a link to the free online encyclopedia page > that> > > > goes into great depth about it. I feel like he was probably > lying. > > > The> > > > mental health industry as it stands today is highly corrupt. > Thanx > > > for> > > > reading this.> > > >> > >> >>