coping with depression

Can anyone offer any ideas for a recently diagnosed friend who is deeply depressed by the diagnosis. Feeling totally lost and unable to see ahead this person desperately needs something diversionary. I had suggested cranial osteopathy. Does anyone with a MSA diagnosis have any experience of this complementary medicine for depression? Many thanks in advance - I’m new to this and I really am asking for a friend!

[FredaE]

it maynot help but if it makes her feel for better for a little therapy it will do no harm The eary stages of diagnosis is terrible time

[Hidden in reply to FredaE]

Yes I think the diagnosis was very shocking for my friend.

[Yanno]

We have no experience of the treatment you mention however it’s worth talking to your local hospice to see what they can offer. Hospices aren’t purely about dying but making the very best of living. Our local hospice offers some excellent complimentary medicine support. Good luck.

Take care, Ian

[Hidden in reply to Yanno]

Thank you. I’ll look at what hospices are available locally for my friend.

[Paul_and_Sue_Wood]

HiSorry to hear about your friend and we have all gone through something similar when we find out the news I am sure.

Acceptance and moving on with what you have is a big step for everyone and Sue and I have found that the local hospice was fantastic. They are they to listen and chat and you will meet people who are in similar positions of diagnosed illnesses.

Also chat with the nurses at MSA trust as they may be able to offer alternatives.

I know medication can also offer help during this time so chat with your GP.

Hope this helps

We are all on the same route and take care.

Paul & Sue

[Hidden in reply to Paul_and_Sue_Wood]

Thank you. Yes this website is a bit of a revelation. Good information, and a good 'go to' for starting to understand more about what’s happening.

[Musicmadgran]

I agree with the earlier poster who said that the early years after diagnosis are particularly frightening and painful emotionally. In Addiytibthe existing recommendations about the local hospice , I would recommend speaking to an NHS psychologist about how to tackle the sssociated depression and anxiety that your friend is feeling. I’m based in Scotland and received counselling from my local hospice as well as Six sessions with an NHS psychologist. I was then able to think about how to plan to be a bit happier living with the diagnosis. Hope your friend gets some help, it is a horrible time.

[Gill-C]

Agree with everything everyone is saying although I must admit that, as a newly diagnosed person myself, the thought of contacting a hospice is very scary!

I have had cranial osteopathy recently (and very gently). It was for neck and shoulder stiffness/pain rather than psychological symptoms, but I felt great afterwards, which of course improved my mood no end.

Personally I see everything as a stage that I will eventually come to terms with and move on eg anger, grief, denial etc etc.

Your friend is lucky to have your lovely caring support

[Hidden in reply to Gill-C]

I’d suggested it as another friend had recently had cranial osteopathy for depression and found it very helpful. Interesting to know that you had CO for something else with a side effect of lifting your mood.

[Honghua]

Hi, I suggest she try acupuncture .

It can really help with depression and some of the physical symptoms she may experience.

Just ensure she sees a fully qualified practitioner not a physiotherapist who has done a short course!

If she doesn't benefit she doesn't have to go back.

[Hidden in reply to Honghua]

Thank you for that suggestion.. I’ll suggest this.

[SilentEchoes]

You are confusing depression with grief. It's a natural process that one ordinarily goes through and it's not linear - there are good days and bad days. It was about 6 months before I felt like I could talk to anyone besides my husband and I still cry talking about my ALS. It's natural to want to "fix" things but sometimes just active listening is what the person needs. Right now they're in crisis mode, when they figure out this is more of a marathon they'll take a more proactive approach. Worry makes symptoms worse and can actually excellerate progression. I'd suggest meditation, breath work for anxiety and good nutrition, hydration and sleep! As a friend, start looking for success stories, it's important to not lose hope - there are about 100 documented cases of ALS reversal - why not MSA?! That what focus on. Remember, this is their journey and they may not make the same choices you would - some people chose not to fight it and that's okay too.

SE

[Hidden in reply to SilentEchoes]

Thank you for your response. Some interesting and useful points..

[ReverendBadger]

Everyone is different so what works or is liked by one person could be useless for another. My general view would be that anyone who thinks they might have depression and/or anxiety should speak to their GP. I did and got prescribed Sertraline, now ramped up to 100mg daily.

My mood changed in less than a fortnight and I'm happy to continue taking it right now. These type of drugs can take several weeks to take effect so I'm lucky mine worked that fast but then you never know if it was the drug that did the trick, was something else or if you would have been the same without it anyway.

In my case the something else was a bit of professional counselling provided by the local hospice. They took a self referral, it's obvious I'll be spending some time there later and I don't just mean for the last thing I will be doing. They have a regular meeting/club for people with neurological issues and physiotherapy classes for starters.

One can of course get professional counselling privately or, as other replies have mentioned, NHS psychiatry. I understand availability & waiting times for the latter can vary a lot by area.

[Hidden in reply to ReverendBadger]

Thank you for replying and good luck.

[ReverendBadger in reply to Hidden]

You are welcome but if I was susceptible to absorbing even a scintilla of good luck I wouldn't have acquired a rare incurable life-limiting brain disease.

I've stoppped buying lottery tickets now and spend the money on whiskey.

[Hidden]

Yes, true. But make sure to keep your spirits up.... Cheers.