Understanding Depression

mikenostic said:
That was me. And it actually didn't do a damn thing for me, no effects or side effects. My supervisor Mark has anxiety and takes Cymbalta but he was on Wellbutrin first. He said it made him constantly pissed off.
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One of my doctors put me on Welbutrin before anyone knew that it helped with smoking.
I was down to 3 - 4 cigarettes a day, and I wasn't even trying to quit.
This was one of the things that helped me determine that smoking was my biggest problem.
The Welburtin seemed to work pretty well, but then when I started smoking more again, while still on it, it wasn't helping anymore.

mike,
Do you smoke cigarettes?
 
one_raven said:
Not anymore.
The normal dosage for Ritalin in adults with ADHD is about 20mg a day.
At one point I was on 130mg a day!
I don't need it anymore.
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I wish I didn't need it. I hate my brain being on fast forward all the time. I can't stay focused on what I need to and when I do, I always tend to dwell on the bad shit that has happened.
Daytrana seems to be working. Although doc said if this doesn't, Concerta is next, then Ritalyn. I don't know why because the methylphelidine or whatever the hell is in the Daytrana patches is the same shit that is in Concerta and Ritalyn.
She also mentioned Adderall but also said that it's very potent and that would be a last resort for stimulants.
 
one_raven said:
Your ADHD is obvious...
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Oops. Sorry. No I don't. Never have. Just pot.
It's not that it's obvious, it's just that I have six IE windows open along with other work related software. If you're multi tasking, you're bound to miss some things sometimes! :)
 
one_raven said:
Do you have a therapist as well, or just a Psychiatrist?
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Neither. Just a normal medical doctor. I would hope that if I was that bad in need of therapy, that she would pass me off to a therapist or such. I'll trust her judgement though. I honestly feel that talking to someone about this would just be wasting my time. Plus, I'm not too keen on paying someone to listen to me.
I'm not crazy, I just get really really bored. As long as I keep busy with something, I'm fine.
 
mikenostic said:
Neither. Just a normal medical doctor.
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The problem with that is that regular medical doctors simply don't know enough about this to properly diagnose and treat this.
They don't specialize in it.
Just as cardiologists specialize in hearts.
If you had a heart problem, you would (hopefully) see a heart specialist who knows more about this, is on top of the latest advances and follows the latest case studies.

ADHD is a symptom, if you continue to simply treat the symptoms, you can never address the cause.
 
GP's shouldn't even be allowed to prescribe anti-depressants and other psychiatric meds.
The VAST majority of deaths and other complications from psychiatric meds were related to meds prescribed by GP's.
 
one_raven said:
The problem with that is that regular medical doctors simply don't know enough about this to properly diagnose and treat this.
They don't specialize in it.
Just as cardiologists specialize in hearts.
If you had a heart problem, you would (hopefully) see a heart specialist who knows more about this, is on top of the latest advances and follows the latest case studies.

ADHD is a symptom, if you continue to simply treat the symptoms, you can never address the cause.
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Uhhh, isn't the cause of ADHD a chemical imbalance? I remember being fidgety and impulsive ever since I was a kid. I just thought all kids acted like that.
If you had ADHD, then you know that ADHD patients will adamantly devote themselves to something that they find fun/stimulating, but will put off and procrastinate with stuff they find boring or disinteresting. Most of the external stimuli in my life is boring and uninteresting and not near enough fun and interesting stuff. I don't know about you but when I get bored and can't find or am unable to participate in stimulating activities, I tend to get a bit irritable. I mean, who enjoys being bored? Nobody, but it's exponentially worse for ADD/ADHD because we lose interest in something so fast or can't focus on one thing to keep us busy.
 
mikenostic said:
Uhhh, isn't the cause of ADHD a chemical imbalance?
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I don't necessarily think it does, no.
I think ADHD causes a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Regardless, that's exactly what Psychiatrists specialize in - brain chemistry and biology.
Do you understand the difference between a Psychologist and a Phsychiatrist?
If you are talking about chemical imbalance, who better than someone who specializes in chemical imbalances?
GP's don't know nearly as much about brain chemistry as Psychiatrists.

Is it the stigma that gets to you?

mikenostic said:
Most of the external stimuli in my life is boring and uninteresting and not near enough fun and interesting stuff. I don't know about you but when I get bored and can't find or am unable to participate in stimulating activities, I tend to get a bit irritable. I mean, who enjoys being bored? Nobody, but it's exponentially worse for ADD/ADHD because we lose interest in something so fast or can't focus on one thing to keep us busy.
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I know this all too well - believe me - and I got past it.
So can you - if you decide to.
 
Conclusions from my own experience (anxiety driven depression):

My cardiologist (many years ago) did not have a clue about depression-he told me everything is fine go to work tommorow morning!

A psychologist is not a doctor. Maybe they can help (I haven't gone to one) but I definitely trust psychiatrists more.

Medicine can treat the symptoms but it is not enough IMO. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helped me a lot. I should note that all my life I could talk to others about anything except the things that really mattered to me.

Smoking and esp. pot is really bad for depression

Good nutrition is important

Don't waste time not going to a psychiatrist because of unquestioned beliefs- I did.
 
You are right, I should have been more precise. :)
What I meant was that in Greece, where I live, to be a psychiatrist you go to med school, whereas to be a psychologist you study in a university but you are not a doctor, at best you do some biology. Now if you mean they can have both degrees, well of course (and that would be so much better for the patients).
I want to clarify I am not undermining psychology in any way(nor do I admire doctors), it is a fascinating subject and science and proved very helpful for me. Want I meant to say was that for a situation where medication is involved, a doctor is more suitable (but not any kind of doctor)
 
Right.
I understand.

What I meant was that you could, and some do, earn a PhD in Psychology (though that doesn't make them an MD PhD).
 
mikenostic said:
Uhhh, isn't the cause of ADHD a chemical imbalance? I remember being fidgety and impulsive ever since I was a kid. I just thought all kids acted like that.
If you had ADHD, then you know that ADHD patients will adamantly devote themselves to something that they find fun/stimulating, but will put off and procrastinate with stuff they find boring or disinteresting. Most of the external stimuli in my life is boring and uninteresting and not near enough fun and interesting stuff. I don't know about you but when I get bored and can't find or am unable to participate in stimulating activities, I tend to get a bit irritable. I mean, who enjoys being bored? Nobody, but it's exponentially worse for ADD/ADHD because we lose interest in something so fast or can't focus on one thing to keep us busy.
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yes ADHD/ADD/ADH are chemical imbalnces of the brain, it is a very hard illness to deal with, and many people have great ideas about how to combat it, but most people do not know what they are talking about, i have 2 children with sever ADHD and they can be exceedingly active and hard to deal with, and my one son has also got to take PROZAC for his bi polar disorder, and however hard we think it is on the perants of children ,like mine it is worse for the children themselfs.

unfortunalty depression has been in my family and my husbands family for many years, i was prescribed PROZAC and took it for about 2 years now i am happy to say that i am over it all and am happier and able to cope with whatever life throws at me.

my husbands mum, had very severe depression and died unhappy!
 
To understand depression, you have to understand the chemical synthesis going on in your body. For one thing, drink plenty of water, drink it like a fish, even after food. Sodas with sugar will cause false euphoria. Remember, a high always follows a low, especially a false high. Thats my own little thought.
 
one_raven said:
I don't necessarily think it does, no.
I think ADHD causes a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Regardless, that's exactly what Psychiatrists specialize in - brain chemistry and biology.
Do you understand the difference between a Psychologist and a Phsychiatrist?
If you are talking about chemical imbalance, who better than someone who specializes in chemical imbalances?
GP's don't know nearly as much about brain chemistry as Psychiatrists.

Is it the stigma that gets to you?


I know this all too well - believe me - and I got past it.
So can you - if you decide to.
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are you saying that you had ADHD and you got "through" it, because i would honestly like to know how, because i dont think it's has easy has some people may think to combat ADHD/ADD.

has i have said a few times my kids have ADHD (severe) and the stigma doesnt actually get to them and when people look at us in the street because they have done or said somthing i just smile and think to myself your just jealous because you havent got gorgeous kids like mine, either that or i shout at them. :eek:
 
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