TMS, Spravato....

[eschneid]

Trying to find anyone who has had a good, bad or neutral experience with the drug resistant alternatives for depression- or any others. Lithium helped someone I know, anyone try it? Thank you peeps.

[AButterfly]

I was given lithium for many years when I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 but didn’t really believe that I did have that. When I started with a new psychiatrist, he agreed that I did not have bpd but major depressive disorder and anxiety, dysthymia PTSD and ADHD and treatment resistant depression. I haven’t really had any success with traditional meds, other than for a very short time than it stopped, and there are so many side effects with them. I prefer not to take anything if possible.

If I remember correctly, lithium is hard on one of the organs so I had to have to get tested regularly.It may have helped me a little, but eventually ordered off of it because of being misdiagnosed. I’m not aware of lithium being given for depression, other than if it’s bipolar depression only, but I’m not a doctor.

I am now in trauma therapy specifically for childhood and adulttrauma, and that is really helping me more than anything. I am also reaching out to some different churches and groups, hoping that that will help as well. I am a woman of faith so I listen to my Christian music station all day, it lifts my spirits, I read scripture, pray, listen to Christian podcast as well as YouTube videos on the different conditions I have. Knowledge is power. I like to listen to the videos, but also read the comments. I get some helpful advice there.

There are natural supplements, people recommend, but I couldn’t specify. But I do recommend looking into it. I believe natural is better God put a cure for everything on the planet. We have to get back to these natural things. My grandmother used to believe in that I remember as a child as she got herself well many times natural Things.

Spending some time with some people who are supportive either online or even better in person is helpful as well. I think moving instead of just sitting still and ruminating, we need to get our bodies doing something that gives us purpose some sort of fulfilment and joy. Reaching out and helping others in whatever way I can makes me feel good inside and also them so it’s a win-win situation. It can be as small as sending a little word of encouragement through a text or an email or a phone call or a little note left for somebody to brighten their day.

I am also just starting to look into ketamine treatments for depression and chronic pain. and SGB shots for PTSD and pain, in a nearby clinic run by doctors and nurses. I looked into electric shock therapy, but it can be hard on your memory and I already have memory issues form a brain injury so we decided not to do the shock treatment and not take the chance of making my memory worse.

I have also read lately about transcranial therapy that some people have had success with. Lastly, EMDR is where you go back in your memory think through a trauma, using certain eye movements, and your reprocess the trauma in a different way that is supposed to be helpful too, unprocessed trauma can cause a lot of mental health issues which can lead to physical issues as well.

I’ve also heard bio feedback and neurofeedback can help as well, retraining the brain to process things in a different way. I’m not sure if that helps with mental illness. But it’s supposed to help with chronic pain.

Learning to putup boundaries is very important so that we can let others know what we will and will not allow into our lives and also for them to tell you theirs, everyone should have boundaries to keep them safe, but unfortunately, most of us have not been taught boundaries are.

Drinking lots of water, eating nutritious food, keeping the body moving maintaining the best sleep that you can going to bed and getting up at the same time is also helpful. You can get blood work done through holistic practitioners find out if you have deficiency or parasites and also address that I have not done that, but I am wanting to look into it.

Pushing myself to go out and do something with others, or by myself especially to me helps show me that I am capable of doing something that I thought I was not capable of, also to avoid becoming or being codependent and avoiding feeling trapped in a bad situation. Spending time in nature, listening, watching smelling feeling putting your bare feet in the grass or in the soil grounding. All these things are helpful.

I hope this helps. I’m not a professional. I’m only someone who has experienced what I speak of or I am looking into it, best wishes and I send you a virtual hug.

[eschneid in reply to AButterfly]

AB.............A hug right back at you for all of the heartfelt options you provided. You deserve to feel better every day. Keep me in mind if you come across anything that works for you or any TMS/Spravato sightings. Thanks and feel good🙂

[fauxartist]

Lithium is a very powerful drug, and specific to certain diagnosis.... I'd talk to your doctor and even pharmacist about alternatives... supplements, diet, exorcise, probiotics, lower stress, all can help with our mental health.

[eschneid]

No-one else has tried TMS or Spravato?

[gajh in reply to eschneid]

I tried Spravato and TMS. I did not notice any benefits with Spravato. TMS treatment was 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The only real benefit I noticed was that I got into the habit of leaving the house which I wasn't doing before. I did not notice a change in my depression. Wish I had something more positive to tell you.