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Sinead and List, In looking at my replies to you and others I realize that in an effort to promote my medical view of depression I may have been interpreted as putting down non-conventional therapies. I think that they at times might be quite helpful. Certainly biofeedback can be useful in breaking certain cycles. St. John's Wort has some data which supports its use in mild depressions (although it also it also decreases the effectiveness of birth control pills) Acupuncture might have a role in certain illnesses. And that old placebo effect undoubtedly makes certain people better because they want to and are doing something. In testing new antidepressants 1/3 of depressed people get better from placebo while 2/3 improve with any particular drug. The trick is the 1/3 that gets better from the drug not all respond to the same drug. What my point is is that one should not reject standard medical treatment of depression and continue to spiral down. If a non standard treatment works and it is not harmful then by all means use it. But don't reject meds because of the bad experiences of someone on the internet. BTW I did not mean to imply that you made any reference to PD. The comparison was mine not yours. Charlie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sinead Aungier" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 3:14 AM Subject: Re: depression > > ---------- > > From: Charles T. Meyer MD[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > > Reply To: Charles T. Meyer MD > > Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2000 7:19 PM > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Re: depression > > > > > > > > As already stated I AM not clinically depressed NOW. But I WAS for > > several years. I think I am more in a position to talk than someone who > > has never had clinical depression and I'll give you a list of my symptoms > > if you don't believe me. Suit yourself, know as little as YOU would like > > to know. I am not telling people to pull themselves together and talk > > themselves out of it. I said nothing like that. I said nothing about PD > > if you read my emails on this subject correctly and I didn't say that the > > medical profession know little about PD. I think people can decide for > > themselves. > > > > Sinead > > > > > > ------------- > > I am sorry that you had to get out of the depression yourself but I > > disagree > > strongly that the medical, profession knows little about depression and > > how > > to treat it. If you are able to achieve things and get the natural high > > that gives then probably you are not all that clinically Depressed. The > > fact that you were able to shift your attitude without medications is > > useful > > but does not prove that "the medical profession knows little about > > depression." All it proves is we don't know as much as we would like to > > know. > > > > The issue is what is depression? Is it a medical illness that results > > from > > the interaction of our genetic make-up and our experiences or is it a > > moral > > weakness that one can talk one's self out of and that people get and keep > > from doing something "wrong"? I personally see it as a medical illness > > with > > meds and certain types of psychotherapy as being quite helpful in treating > > most (but not all) people. > > > > Depression is a brain disease just like PD. and requires medical > > treatment > > like PD. Who- especially among this group would say that PD is not a > > brain > > disease and the decreases of dopamine in the brain are just coincidences > > that can be wished away. And who among us would say that MD's know little > > about PD because they can't cure it? In fact in depression the "cure" or > > remission rate is about 80+% with what we do know while with PD the cure > > rate is zero. With depression we just know more about the illness' > > treatment rather than its pathogenesis. > > > > I am taking time to make these points because I fear that some people > > might > > take what you did for yourself as a prescription for themselves and miss > > out > > on what for many is a potentially lifesaving treatment. > > > > Charlie > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Sinead Aungier" <[log in to unmask]> > > To: <[log in to unmask]> > > Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2000 4:46 AM > > Subject: depression > > > > > > > > I had true clinical depression for several years and know all about it > > and > > > > drugs did me no good. I got out of it by eating foods high in vitamin > > C, > > > > such as potatoes, brocolli and cutting out foods that rob you of > > vitamins > > > > and also by maintaining a moderate body temperature. The medical > > > > profession know very little about depression and I had to get out of > > it > > > > myself. I find that when you're busy and achieving things this gives > > you > > > > a natural high which can only be good for you rather that being stuck > > in > > > > your thoughts thinking about your problems, which only reinforces this > > bad > > > > mental habit. > > > > > > > Sinead > >