Depression

[Birdland]

I wrote the following in response to a member on this sight and thought I would share with everyone.

"I am taking the very small amount of Bupropian. I was prescribed 300mg daily but if I go over 12 mg the anxiety and headaches are unbearable. I was on prozac for 25 years. For me it was calming and worked very well with my depression/anxiety. I stopped taking it 5 years ago when I found out it can make RLS worse. After stopping prozac I wasn't depressed and I can only attribute that to the high levels of dopamine I was getting from Ropinirole. After getting off the high dose of Ropinirole a year and a half ago, I suffered extreme DAWS. It seemed as though I had no hope of any solution. I was suicidal. I tried rTMS, didn't help at all. At the suggestion of my GP I went to a doctor who administers ketamine. I never went through with the Ketamine treatment because the doctor said that for me he would recommend micro dosing psilocybin instead. Only problem was that although he is currently conducting trials he could not prescribe it because it is an illegal substance. Well, I know someone who grows these mushrooms and purchased some. I take an extremely small dose twice a week. Not enough to actually feel anything. To my surprise my depression started lifting within a week. Johns Hopkins University has done research and claims it works. I'm not suggesting you do this, just passing along my experience."

[Goldy700]

Thank you Birdland - These new treatments are showing great promise. One can only hope that trials are done quickly as so many people are dying from suicide and living miserable lives. If they can help it would be wonderful. Our own son died of suicide.

[Birdland in reply to Goldy700]

So sorry your son felt as if suicide was his only relief. I say that because I understand what can go through a person's mind when the pain becomes too difficult to bear. And I realize how difficult it is for loved ones to witness someone feeling this despear. My heart goes out to you.

Yes, these treatments are showing great promise. Unfortunately there is some stigma attached to psilocybin. There was promising research done in the 50's and 60's until it was scrapped due to the association with the "counterculture". Thankfully that is changing. I have read that psilocybin may be legally prescribed by psychiatrists within a few years here in the United States.

All the best to you and your family.