Jezebel 
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New York, 5:39 AM
Fri Nov 27
2 posts in the last 24 hours
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09/09/09
The attitude of the program is that mental illness is treated 60% with meds, 40% with skills and processing. Most of us are on SSRIs, many on other psych meds like Abilify, Depakote, whatever helps. They work with the physical, too, giving us appropriate pain meds if needed and offering yoga and relaxation sessions.
We do 2 hours of group therapy daily, at least 1 hour of art therapy, plus journaling skills, emotion mgmt, medication education, nutrition (daily for those that need it). We meet weekly with both our therapist and with the primary dr (2 separate hours/wk).
If you need it, a program like this is phenomenal, and the concept (DBT) was developed by and for women.
09/09/09
I've seen sufferers so deep in denial that they walk away from help and/or committing to the process because they wouldn't admit to themselves the reality of their situation.
May I digitally shake your hand?
09/09/09
I've got anxiety and depression and there have been recent times I feel lost enough that whatever help I'm trying to give myself is not enough, like I haven't got enough hands to juggle it all.
is this a day program, or do you stay there? I really like the sounds of the relaxation/yoga, journaling, and art therapy, and the nutrition skills - along with acceptance of meds.
I am honestly kind of jealous of this. how on earth do you find programs like this?
09/09/09
It's in NJ, Princeton to be exact. They are about to add a second site in Hamilton later this month, and a third in New Brunswick in January. Any Jezzies who want more info can email me.
09/09/09
Elaine Showalter's "The Female Malady" IS that book.
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(I like the fact that the comment with the mistake is my first comment to get noticed here :)
09/09/09
Anyway, I'd say it's basically impossible for someone without a mental illness to understand what it's like for people who do. The whole "whaa whaa, it's all in your head, get over it!" mentality comes out of this.
09/09/09
i keep wondering: has there been an astounding uptick in the number of people on antidepressants? or is it just that people talk about it more openly now? there seem to be so many jezzies who need these, and i wonder if its cultural? environmental? a combination?
09/09/09
I come from a perspective of having refused and hated the thought of medication for depression (like, from the age of 13 to 28) until it got bad enough to land me in the hospital. I am still working out if they are necessary for me, personally. But even though I think they are over-prescribed, I try to leave that conversation for the advocates. I'd rather err on the side of caution and not make anyone taking meds feel shitty. It's not the patients, it's the industry.
09/09/09
There is a long history of depression in my family, and I strongly believe that it was hereditary. Unlike my Grandmother, who was thrown into a mental hospital for a period of time after the birth of her fifth (and final) child, I was cognizant of what was happening to me and was lucky enough to have drug therapy available.
Do I think they are over-prescribed? Absolutely; a large number of drugs are. Are they necessary? Absolutely; they saved my life.
09/09/09
and you were so young when you were first aware that you were depressed. that's what i'm wondering. it's clear from its duration that you weren't just going through bad moods! was the messaging so prevalent even back then?
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09/09/09
that had to be horrible, going through withdrawal from that stuff. but i agree with you that there's a percentage of people for whom depression is hereditary, and so clearly it's chemical and requires medication to balance.
i mean, the worst i ever have is during my period when i get these weird crying jags for absolutely no reason. i know there's nothing wrong, but i still feel down and sad. but when my period's done, so is the mood. so that's the most experience i have, but on even that level i can empathize with anybody who goes through this for months and months and months.
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(Also, in this day and age, I highly doubt many people seek out Freudian psychoanalysts; there are far more modern therapeutic models out there that don't have anything to do with Oedipus.)
09/09/09
My comment about Freud was a musing about how vast and long-lasting his influence was (or is) upon the psychiatric community based on the author's explorations . Glad to hear that you perceive it as of little or no relevance.
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After reading this, I pretty much want to go home and read The Yellow Wallpaper. This is why I minored in women's literature, talk about a lens into some fucked up environments.
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09/09/09
NO! It's a problem with planning and structure. ADHD doesn't just affect me academically, it affects my social skills, it affects my romantic life, my friendships, everything. Even my sleep! I'm in a frigging brain daze all the time.
I'm of African descent, I was born in Africa before I moved to Europe and I had ADHD although it was more manageable when I was younger thanks to my photographic memory.
Doctors have recognized ADHD in the past, I think even Hippolytus described some similar symptoms (don't quote me on that though).
I bet 50,000 years ago, there was somebody in the tribe who was always dreamy and taking incredibly stupid risks and just pissing everyone else off.
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SNRI withdrawal is one of the scariest things I've ever seen.
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As a taker of SSRIs, let me assure you that a you don't get "hooked" on them. They are non-addictive. Now, if you stop taking them you do have to step down slowly or risk withdrawal symptoms. But you don't jones for them like you would heroin, or a cigarette, or a diet coke. They answer a physiological need for me - my brain does not process serotonin properly, and they correct that.
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Prefer THAT to the boner-killing effects of SSRI'S anyday.
09/09/09
You can't completely discount the huge advances in science and medicine in the last few decades by going "well those guys in 1910 were wrong, so the ones now probably are too"
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I am trying to get a talk therapist, though. My prescribing doc alone isn't cutting it.
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I'm so sorry your neighbor had a terrible experience, but saying "I can't believe this crap still has people pushing it" isn't fair to people who have struggled with mental health issues and may be considering ECT, people who have benefited from ECT, and reasonable clinicians who weigh the risks, benefits, and patients' values to provide good treatment. Psychiatrists can be good or bad at their jobs, but they certainly aren't pushing ECT for shits and giggles.
09/09/09
And to Flackette and xgurl, thanks to you, too.
09/09/09
After many medicine tweaks, my doctor offered the alternative of electroconvulsive therapy. I was pretty desperate, so I went through with it. I can honestly say it saved my life. I was able to go back to work and take care of my son.
It was not without side effects, including memory loss of events within months of the therapy, but I have to say it was worth it.
It's my understanding that this treatment is actually being used more frequently and is quite successful. I'm sorry that your neighbor had such a bad experience, but it really helped "reset" whatever imbalance I had in my brain and it didn't "ruin my mind" in any way.
09/10/09
08/27/09
I'm not an expert in psychology, but I think Freud had a theory that people will compulsively recreate traumatic experiences in an effort to "master" them. I think a lot of Freud's theories are BS, but this one always made sense to me. Perhaps recreating trauma in a controlled manner is an effective way to gain mastery over the experiences that shape us, and finally break the harmful cycles that control our lives.
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