Depression Meds

[Remy]

Also, please remember that medications aren't the full answer. It's crucial to EAT PROPERLY. Increase folic acid and B-vitamin intake (vegetables), reduce sugar and fat.
It's widely known by now that depression can also stem from toxic overload in the body - caused by processed food, chemical and hormone-filled meat.
it seems nowadays we are advised all those "quick fixes"... while getting out of an illness of whichever nature, requires much more effort than taking a pill.

[skcin]

Good posts, everyone.

Absolutely, Remy! Eating right & exercising is a HUGE part in keeeping healthy mentally AND physically. I'm not saying you have to do an hour of cardio every day or lift heavy weights or eat only vegetables. But a daily walk around the block does wonders. So does cutting some of the garbage out of your diet. Take some vitamins - it certainly can't hurt.

Unfortunately, most people want the easy way out. I compare it to trying to fill a bucket of water that has a hole in it but not bothering to repair the leak. Sure, it will fill up but you'll need more & more water faster & faster to keep it up. Eventually you have to repair the cause of the problem, not just tape it up & hope for the best.


As for the drug companies, I go back & forth. There are no more free vacations & cruises for docs given by the companies, and lunches/dinners must be accompanied by actual education about the drug & the condition it treats. I do miss my pens & pads of paper though. And seeing a drug's name on something certainly didn't make me recommend that drug any more than another to patients, so making that illegal is kind of silly, IMO. And yes, the drug companies make a lot of money, but they also spend tons on research & assisting low income folks to pay for their meds.

I do think the TV & magazine advertising is awful. Like Luke said, it's great that patients are informed but they are only getting part of the story. They come in to the office & demand a certain drug, then get pissed when the doc won't prescribe it because they feel it's not the best choice for that patient. I can't tell you how many complaints I've received that "I came in for a prescription but the doc wouldn't give it to me." Um. Too f*cking bad. This isn't a takeout restaurant. You don't walk in & place your order & get whatever you want or think you need.

Ed - forced to learn through their patients? Really? I don't know about that. It's not like the drug rep can't leave you literature or that you can't do some online research. Missing those free dinners, huh?

BTW - we're getting free lunch today. I will come back & tell you all about what I learned.

[WildHeart69]

Originally Posted by skcin

Too f*cking bad. This isn't a takeout restaurant.

*snort* HA!

[David]

Originally Posted by skcin

Absolutely, Remy! Eating right & exercising is a HUGE part in keeeping healthy mentally AND physically. I'm not saying you have to do an hour of cardio every day or lift heavy weights or eat only vegetables. But a daily walk around the block does wonders.

It certainly does do wonders. Depression has such a strong component of inwardness, of obsessing on the self, that any activity which focuses the mind's attention (however weak that attention is) on something else can do wonders. I go back to my Swiss ball! Not a joke. You must inflate your Swiss ball to its fullest, & then lie down on your back across the ball -- do this very carefully the first few times, until you stretch & get the hang of it. Feel your spine bend convexly (or concavely?) across the curvature of the ball, & let your head hang backward, upside-down.

Stay in this position for 10 minutes, moving slightly -- roll the ball forward & backward, bounce up & down a bit. Let your whole body stretch & move. Let the blood flow into regions it usually reaches only weakly. Let gravity elongate you.

Great treatment for an anxiety attack, too!

[ragrsrocalot]

Originally Posted by David

It certainly does do wonders. Depression has such a strong component of inwardness, of obsessing on the self, that any activity which focuses the mind's attention (however weak that attention is) on something else can do wonders. I go back to my Swiss ball! Not a joke. You must inflate your Swiss ball to its fullest, & then lie down on your back across the ball -- do this very carefully the first few times, until you stretch & get the hang of it. Feel your spine bend convexly (or concavely?) across the curvature of the ball, & let your head hang backward, upside-down.

Stay in this position for 10 minutes, moving slightly -- roll the ball forward & backward, bounce up & down a bit. Let your whole body stretch & move. Let the blood flow into regions it usually reaches only weakly. Let gravity elongate you.

Great treatment for an anxiety attack, too!

Yes. It totally works, I've done this with " Steve " ( red evercise ball ) a time or two, and definitely feel 3 inches taller when I get back up. Magic I tell you.