There's depression

Post #47,331 by imric 7/29/02 11:20:16 AM Reply	There's depression and Depression. A head full of chemicals can be bad, it's true (especially if you are 'self medicating' - and alchohol is medication in this context) - but if the chemical balance in your brain is off to start with, those chemicals can be the only thing that keeps you, well, sane. Example: my favorite cousin was diagnosed with schizophrenia; her medicine 'muted' the voices in her head so that she could ignore them. She then fell in with the wrong crowd - 'Green' nuts who convinced her that pharmaceuticals were categorically bad, and herbal remedies categorically good. She started medicating with those (ineffective) herbal potions and was, well, unbalanced in short order. In the instance when there is something physically wrong with the organ that 'runs' the mind, chemical treatment IS appropriate. (now, whether Norm's diagnosis and/or treatment is correct is another question entirely) While I believe that like ADD, depression is over-diagnosed (in a pharmaceutical sense), that doesn't mean that Norm isn't afflicted. I don't know what I can do to help him (I'm in a bad way financially myself), but [link\|mailto:lrpdimric@mail.refers.to\|I too] am here... Imric's Tips for Living Paranoia Is a Survival Trait Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised... Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.
Post #47,337 by Andrew Grygus 7/29/02 11:40:17 AM Reply	Interesting Example . . Two friends of mine have been a couple for about 40 years now, one of those couples where the two are almost never out of each other's sight, and have had secret languages and all that sort of stuff (but have never been married due to political beliefs). They live together in a motor home and travel a lot. A couple of years ago, it all started coming unglued with considerable unpleasantness. I witnessed one of the blowups first hand, the one in which Tom struck Peggy for the first time ever. They visited several therapists without detectable results. Finally, they visited some psychiatrist lady, who listened politely to their story. Then she said, "Tom, you have a thyroid problem, here's a perscription, follow the directions and check back with me in two weeks". Problem solved. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #47,339 by boxley 7/29/02 11:44:02 AM Reply	gotta eat yer iodine lotsa simple things can badly swack the brain. Low B vities can mimic mental illness as well. ."Once, in the wilds of Afghanistan, I had to subsist on food and water for several weeks." W.C. Fields
Post #47,357 by deSitter 7/29/02 1:30:12 PM Reply	Re: Interesting Example . . This is a damn sight different issue than the kind of year-in and out self-obsession that goes under the blanket term "depression". Of course physical ailments can cause behavioral changes. -drl

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