Comments on: Treating Treatment Resistant Depression

By: Margaret

Margaret — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:59:33 +0000

My first thoughts of suicide occurred when I was 9 or 10, I’m now 55. My depression doesn’t seem to cycle, it’s just one long continuous pain. I’ve tried about twenty-five drugs, alone or in combinations. There have been anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, stimulants, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers as well as drugs that I don’t know how to categorize. The best I can say about any of these drugs is that they have taken away my anger. This is no small thing, because it has saved my marriage and my relationships with my children. But I still feel like crap. Every day I want to die. I made an almost successful suicide attempt four years ago, but I promised my children I would not do it again. Now I hope for a terminal illness, because I believe that would nullify my promise to my children.
As for ECT, I would not recommend it for anyone. There is no guarantee that it will help, but the side effects are forever. It has left me with severe cognitive impairment, which caused me to lose my job. So, not only do I feel worthless and depressed, I feel stupid and am poor as well.

By: Allan

Allan — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 12:38:35 +0000

Intractable depression is exactly that. I’ve been depresssed and suicidal for decades. My first clear memories of being suicidal date back to when I was 12. I’m now 60 and been continuously on medication for 30 yrs. Depressive cycles have gone from 2 3-month depressions each year (mid-Jan to Easter & mid-Jul to late Oct) to multi-year episodes. Last one ran from May 2004 to Sept 2008 – and I’m now well into the next. The tough part is that folks do not understand that suicidal ideation has to be matched with the necessary personal strength, courage and determination to risk failure and ending very badly damaged physically and usually brain damaged as well. The result of course is that it can’t be discussed. Most folks want to live. It is very difficult to sit in support groups and empathises with with someone who desparately wantw to live, when permanent oblivion seems the best of all possible worlds.

Ultimately, nothing works – at best one gains a bleak twilight.

I do recommend lamotrigene as a mood stabiliser – it’s the only thing I know that blunts the acid edge of anguish in profound grief and despair.

2250mg of lithium and later 1800mg valproate reduced me to a bearable (and obscenely obese) zombie mode – lamotrigine leaves you mentally clear.

By: Alzena

Alzena — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:46:49 +0000

I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:42:18 +0000

Thanks for your wanting to help people hopfully Karma is right.
again thanks
Scott

By: Treatment of Depression in 2009

Treatment of Depression in 2009 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:40:48 +0000

[...] 10 Ways to Treat Resistant Depression [...]

By: Do Antidepressants Work as Promised?

Do Antidepressants Work as Promised? — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:19:14 +0000

[...] 10 Ideas for Treatment Resistant Depression [...]

By: admin

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:27:46 +0000

Dear Joker,

I try to update several times a week. But of course it depends on how busy I am, and how inspired (or more likely uninspired!) I am. Suggested topics are always welcome =)

David

By: Joker

Joker — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:25:58 +0000

Amazing! Not clear for me, how offen you updating your healthlifeandstuff.com.
Joker