Comments on: Did The Manufactureres of Prozac Get It Wrong? http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/ Overcoming depression in a stress filled world Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:51:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Noble UV Minions - Link List #1 http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/#comment-165 Noble UV Minions - Link List #1 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:03:57 +0000 http://frayingedges.com/?p=44#comment-165 [...] who think they may be suffering from depression should ask themselves "Does Prozak work?" before taking the medication. A simple exercise routine may be a better alternative. We are [...] [...] who think they may be suffering from depression should ask themselves "Does Prozak work?" before taking the medication. A simple exercise routine may be a better alternative. We are [...]

]]> By: Speaking of Meditation and Computer and Internet Addiction « Mental Dimensions http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/#comment-139 Speaking of Meditation and Computer and Internet Addiction « Mental Dimensions Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:27:43 +0000 http://frayingedges.com/?p=44#comment-139 [...] 25, 2008 Deep Brain Stimulation For Depression When I read that headline, I assumed meditation might be mentioned. But no, again, apparently only foreign objects can treat depression. Something [...] [...] 25, 2008 Deep Brain Stimulation For Depression When I read that headline, I assumed meditation might be mentioned. But no, again, apparently only foreign objects can treat depression. Something [...]

]]> By: zania http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/#comment-138 zania Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:08:48 +0000 http://frayingedges.com/?p=44#comment-138 Yes, a lot of people who suffer from pain find meditation works really well. I could be wrong here (and I'm sure you will tell me if I am), but I equate the type of meditation you are describing (becoming deeply relaxed and then concentrating on particular parts of your body) as different to some other forms of meditation which are more to do with clearing your mind completely. As to the 'clear your mind methods' - I find these make my depression worse, as they can 'let in' things you would rather forget. It's like one moment being completely 'blank' and peaceful and the next moment getting hit by a bullet you hadn't seen coming, because your mind was 'somewhere else'. For me, this can lead to a panic attack, which is why nowadays I leave this type of meditation alone. But relaxation and concentration, yes, that can be powerful stuff (and in a good way). I've practiced this a lot (I've learned psychic healing, believe it or not! and this method is part of the training) and it can work very well. I hope it continues to work well for you Andy. I'll stay in touch to find out :) Yes, a lot of people who suffer from pain find meditation works really well. I could be wrong here (and I’m sure you will tell me if I am), but I equate the type of meditation you are describing (becoming deeply relaxed and then concentrating on particular parts of your body) as different to some other forms of meditation which are more to do with clearing your mind completely.

As to the ‘clear your mind methods’ - I find these make my depression worse, as they can ‘let in’ things you would rather forget. It’s like one moment being completely ‘blank’ and peaceful and the next moment getting hit by a bullet you hadn’t seen coming, because your mind was ’somewhere else’. For me, this can lead to a panic attack, which is why nowadays I leave this type of meditation alone.

But relaxation and concentration, yes, that can be powerful stuff (and in a good way). I’ve practiced this a lot (I’ve learned psychic healing, believe it or not! and this method is part of the training) and it can work very well.
I hope it continues to work well for you Andy.
I’ll stay in touch to find out :)

]]> By: Andy Alt http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/#comment-136 Andy Alt Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:24:50 +0000 http://frayingedges.com/?p=44#comment-136 I really got more into the meditation this last week, and you wouldn't believe how much my pain has improved. I was able to almost completely relax my whole body; never have I been so relaxed while on any drug that I've taken, except maybe alcohol when I binged and was on the verge of passing out. I'll put it this way, I took Vicodin, never regularly, but it was always helpful to my pain when aspirin, tylenol, ibufrofen, aleve were ineffective. When I relax and meditate, the relaxation effect is far greater than Vicodin. The "breakthrough" came when suddenly I could feel a tingling in my ankles (which were also giving me problems). I could feel it pulsating, kind of like mini-muscle spasms. I felt a loosening, circulation increasing. After a couple days, the problems I had around my ankles had improved 100%. So I started concentrating on my arms. Within three days, my pain was, I'd say, 70% better. Same deal as the feet, but my arms, hands and near my shoulders was a lot worse. I haven't felt this loose in 4 years. I still am in pain when I write, but if I go relax and meditate when I'm done, I can get rid of most of it. It used to be that 5 or 10 minutes on the computer and I'd be in pain for the rest of the day, and the next and the next... pretty consistent for about 4 years, but worse in the last one year. I should mention, learning how to relax, concentrate, stop your mind, and increase your mental visualizations isn't something you can do in a week, like I made it sound. I have been dabbling with it off and on for three years. I just never stuck with it like I did last week. The book I have, Meditation for Dummies, mentions it can take a couple months to really feel better. Oh, last important thing, my pain is not like everybody else's, and the clearance of it may not work like it did for me. Either way, meditation can be good for you, very relaxing. I was going to write an article on my site about it, obviously I have had extremely good results with it, am excited about despite my lack of !!!l, but wanted to get more long-term results before I made some big announcement on my site. But you get a comment from me here because it's so relevant to your post. I really got more into the meditation this last week, and you wouldn’t believe how much my pain has improved. I was able to almost completely relax my whole body; never have I been so relaxed while on any drug that I’ve taken, except maybe alcohol when I binged and was on the verge of passing out. I’ll put it this way, I took Vicodin, never regularly, but it was always helpful to my pain when aspirin, tylenol, ibufrofen, aleve were ineffective. When I relax and meditate, the relaxation effect is far greater than Vicodin. The “breakthrough” came when suddenly I could feel a tingling in my ankles (which were also giving me problems). I could feel it pulsating, kind of like mini-muscle spasms. I felt a loosening, circulation increasing. After a couple days, the problems I had around my ankles had improved 100%. So I started concentrating on my arms. Within three days, my pain was, I’d say, 70% better. Same deal as the feet, but my arms, hands and near my shoulders was a lot worse. I haven’t felt this loose in 4 years. I still am in pain when I write, but if I go relax and meditate when I’m done, I can get rid of most of it. It used to be that 5 or 10 minutes on the computer and I’d be in pain for the rest of the day, and the next and the next… pretty consistent for about 4 years, but worse in the last one year. I should mention, learning how to relax, concentrate, stop your mind, and increase your mental visualizations isn’t something you can do in a week, like I made it sound. I have been dabbling with it off and on for three years. I just never stuck with it like I did last week. The book I have, Meditation for Dummies, mentions it can take a couple months to really feel better. Oh, last important thing, my pain is not like everybody else’s, and the clearance of it may not work like it did for me. Either way, meditation can be good for you, very relaxing. I was going to write an article on my site about it, obviously I have had extremely good results with it, am excited about despite my lack of !!!l, but wanted to get more long-term results before I made some big announcement on my site. But you get a comment from me here because it’s so relevant to your post.

]]> By: zania http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/#comment-106 zania Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:01:03 +0000 http://frayingedges.com/?p=44#comment-106 No problema on the <a href="http://frayingedges.com/types-of-depression/dysthymia/" rel="nofollow">dysthymia</a> link :) Oh yes, we have air conditioning in all main rooms. Couldn't live without it! (seriously, sometimes the walls of our house get too hot to touch for long!). I do aerobics workouts under the air con - that helps! :) No problema on the dysthymia link :)
Oh yes, we have air conditioning in all main rooms. Couldn’t live without it! (seriously, sometimes the walls of our house get too hot to touch for long!).
I do aerobics workouts under the air con - that helps! :)

]]> By: Andy Alt http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/#comment-104 Andy Alt Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:36:48 +0000 http://frayingedges.com/?p=44#comment-104 I linked to the wrong page on dysthymia. :) Yes, it's pretty challenging to exercise when it's hot. I play basketball in the morning or late evening. I go out by myself for about an hour and chase the ball around court. I can do a lot of exercising right inside my own home though, I won't pay to go to a gym. Are you fortunate enough to have an air conditioner? I linked to the wrong page on dysthymia. :)

Yes, it’s pretty challenging to exercise when it’s hot. I play basketball in the morning or late evening. I go out by myself for about an hour and chase the ball around court. I can do a lot of exercising right inside my own home though, I won’t pay to go to a gym. Are you fortunate enough to have an air conditioner?

]]> By: PB’s New Advertising Rates | The Piss Biscuit | A Blogger's Soapbox http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/#comment-101 PB’s New Advertising Rates | The Piss Biscuit | A Blogger's Soapbox Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:06:05 +0000 http://frayingedges.com/?p=44#comment-101 [...] the blog has grown up enough to accept paid advertisements. Aside  from my own personal anxieties (Thanks to Zania for the Prozac), I’m  now convinced that taking my blog to the next level in monetization is in order. Hey, [...] [...] the blog has grown up enough to accept paid advertisements. Aside  from my own personal anxieties (Thanks to Zania for the Prozac), I’m  now convinced that taking my blog to the next level in monetization is in order. Hey, [...]

]]> By: zania http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/#comment-100 zania Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:09:25 +0000 http://frayingedges.com/?p=44#comment-100 Hi Greg, Thanks for commenting. Your experience with Prozac seems to be repeated again and again. My problem with this is, that Doctors (in the UK - where I was prescribed at the time - anway) tend to prescribe Prozac or another SSRI first and when the patient says they are not working, first they say 'it will take time' and then, when it obviously isn't working, they prescribe another SSRI instead! It's only several months later that they (or a psychiatrist) prescribe something different, as you were eventually prescribed the SSNRI, Cymbalta, so the patient has had to go through months of depression with no real release. I was offered an SSNRI (can't remember the name now), but I knew someone who had already taken the same drug and had suffered quite traumatic side effects (massive fluid retention and kidney problems which she had never had before, plus constant blurred vision and disorientation), so I looked it up on the net, saw these side effects 'may occur' and refused to take it. It could have worked, but I wasn't prepared to take the risk. I do take a benzodiazepine like Xanax (I take Valium), on rare occasions, if I suffer a major panic attack, but I am only allowed a small supply. You see, my UK Doctor prescribed Valium when I suffered from Anorexia (I never could be sure why...) and with my extremely low weight at the time, I became addicted very quickly, even to a small dose. It took me 2 years to wean myself off. So you can see why I prefer to find other methods to help my depression! I'm glad that Cymbalta, plus exercise and the occasional Xanax work for you. It's good when they finally find a combination which works. Thanks for commenting :) Hi Greg,
Thanks for commenting.
Your experience with Prozac seems to be repeated again and again. My problem with this is, that Doctors (in the UK - where I was prescribed at the time - anway) tend to prescribe Prozac or another SSRI first and when the patient says they are not working, first they say ‘it will take time’ and then, when it obviously isn’t working, they prescribe another SSRI instead!

It’s only several months later that they (or a psychiatrist) prescribe something different, as you were eventually prescribed the SSNRI, Cymbalta, so the patient has had to go through months of depression with no real release.

I was offered an SSNRI (can’t remember the name now), but I knew someone who had already taken the same drug and had suffered quite traumatic side effects (massive fluid retention and kidney problems which she had never had before, plus constant blurred vision and disorientation), so I looked it up on the net, saw these side effects ‘may occur’ and refused to take it. It could have worked, but I wasn’t prepared to take the risk.

I do take a benzodiazepine like Xanax (I take Valium), on rare occasions, if I suffer a major panic attack, but I am only allowed a small supply. You see, my UK Doctor prescribed Valium when I suffered from Anorexia (I never could be sure why…) and with my extremely low weight at the time, I became addicted very quickly, even to a small dose. It took me 2 years to wean myself off.

So you can see why I prefer to find other methods to help my depression!

I’m glad that Cymbalta, plus exercise and the occasional Xanax work for you. It’s good when they finally find a combination which works.
Thanks for commenting :)

]]> By: zania http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/#comment-99 zania Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:42:35 +0000 http://frayingedges.com/?p=44#comment-99 @Jackal Hi Jackal, thanks for visiting and thank you. I like your blog by the way. It's quite unique. I like that! :) @Jackal
Hi Jackal, thanks for visiting and thank you.
I like your blog by the way. It’s quite unique.
I like that! :)

]]> By: zania http://frayingedges.com/2008/07/did-the-manufactureres-of-prozac-get-it-wrong/#comment-98 zania Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:38:02 +0000 http://frayingedges.com/?p=44#comment-98 @ Andy, Trouble is, even those who went to medical school can't seem to make up their minds about what's best for us, can they? ;) I suffer from <a href="http://frayingedges.com/types-of-depression/dysthymia/" rel="nofollow">Dysthymia</a> too (at least that's the last diagnosis they gave me...), and to tell the truth, I find exercise hard at times (especially when the weather is really hot, as it is here right now), but it does make me feel a bit better. I'm not sure if it's because the exercise is 'healing my brain', 'producing more endorphins', or simply because I'm a latent Anorexic who feels she's in control when she exercises ;) What I do know though, is that I feel better when I am doing something rather than being tranquilized and traumatized by meds! But that's just me of course :) @ Andy,
Trouble is, even those who went to medical school can’t seem to make up their minds about what’s best for us, can they? ;)

I suffer from Dysthymia too (at least that’s the last diagnosis they gave me…), and to tell the truth, I find exercise hard at times (especially when the weather is really hot, as it is here right now), but it does make me feel a bit better.
I’m not sure if it’s because the exercise is ‘healing my brain’, ‘producing more endorphins’, or simply because I’m a latent Anorexic who feels she’s in control when she exercises ;)

What I do know though, is that I feel better when I am doing something rather than being tranquilized and traumatized by meds!

But that’s just me of course :)

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