an alternative perspective on depression

[divastrop]

i found this site a few weeks ago when looking for self-help info on depression,it looks at depression in a different way,and says that the 'chemical imbalance' is a symptom,rather than the cause.
i dont know if its a load of old wotsits or if its all true,and wondered what other people would make of it? clinical depression

I had a look but found the site off putting..where abouts is the "philosophy" on it?

it just seemed to be links

'the depression learning path' its very long i think,i will go and have a look for the specific bit and post a link to that page

this is the intro page that explains the basic ideashere

the chemical imbalance can be a symptom and a cause if that makes sense....

your serotonin is low or is not being produced because you have had a trauma or are depressed...and therefore you become depressed or more depressed, which means your serotonin is not being produced....and its a vicious circle...

i think that;s right...

the chemical reasons are incredibly complex and newer ADs involve noradrenaline and serotnin - venlaflaxine is one such drug.

self help - is great, learning about your illness is great, but not at the expense of tried and tested medication...

i would not have got better without ADs, self help and intensive counselling...

I've tried reading it but find it written in a way too unappealing to me to pursue so can't comment I'm afraid...I did try

i flipped through the learning path and it seems to reiterate general depression advice - cbt, relaxation, exercise, making sure your "basic emotional needs" are being met. all that was out of the ordinary was the stuff about dreams, and i didn't really get/don't agree with their point there.

personally i'd be put off by their disclaimer; "Before you embark on the Path, you should be fully aware that this information is for educational purposes only, to be used in a similar way that you would use a book in a library. Its creators are not medically trained, and it is not intended to replace medical advice." combined with the fact that they're trying to sell you something.

tried to find the bit on dreams but all the adverts are putting me off, i find it a very energy sapping site to lookat

dreams bit

thank you...I do find the style this is written in very heavy going

I think some anit depressants mean you don't dream I wonder if there is a connection?

not sure how it fits with dreaming being a healing process, what would the cut off point be between good dreaming and over dreaming? and why do some depressed people have dreams about things which non dpressed people would consider "completed" in day time

thats what i didnt get about it...i mean i can accept the serotonin thing cos o dont think theres anything wrong with taking ad's even if they are just treating the symptoms.i dont understand the dreams thing.i also dont understand how it would apply to ante and post natal depression.i was looking for info on AND when i found this site,and at the time i believed it all cos i was very low at the time,butit almost put me off taking ad's.when i looked back at it today i wondered if it was all tosh thats why i wanted other ppls points of view.
thanks for your replies and taking the time to read it.

I think mind is a good organisation for advice and help

agree with Zippi - MIND is definitely somewhere that will give you good and reliable advice....i'd be wary of over complex, sales orientated web sites and would wonder what their motivation was...

there is also evidence that diet and in aprticular certain foods can help mood improve..eg tryptophan in eggs and cheese, seeds and nuts, chicken and turkey and omega 3 in oily fish and seeds and linseed supplements

i read a book called ' potatos not prozac', which did elucidate on that theory...might still have it somewhere...

i used to do voluntary work for the local mind drop-in centre(in between bouts of being loopy myself).ive been taking omega 3 supplements for 3 weeks now and im noticing an improvement.

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