Depression and Treatments (Deep Brain Stimulation)
By Richard
@rbailey83 (1428)
Canada
July 11, 2008 12:00am CST
Have you had to go to the more extreme measures of treatment for your depression? My depression started when i was about 11, it went untreated until about the age of 21 or 22 (can't remember which). Anyways, i was living in colorado for a while, moved back to Canada, and shortly after, my depression hit hard. Over the following 2 years, i spent the equivalent of just over 1 1/2 years on the mental illness ward in the hospital.
Doctors and psychiatrists went through many meds, but i was unresponsive. Because my depression was so severe, and i was unresponsive to the meds, the psychiatrist had me start ECT (shock therapy) treatments. The first two made a very slight difference, the remaining 10 did nothing at all, so the treatments were stopped.
Finally, as a last medication, the doctor started me on an older med called Nardil. It seems to have brought me to a level where i no longer act on suicidal urges, but my levels of depression are still severe, and there are times i still don't get out of bed for 3 or 4 days.
Because the doctors are out of options, my psychiatrist is wanting me to consider a new treatment called Deep Brain Stimulation, the gist, some part of the brain is stimulated which seems to help relieve the depression.
The only problem i have is that it is still in the test stages, it has not been FDA approved, but my psychiatrist is confident in the treatment.
Has anyone ever had the treatment, or had to consider it? What are your thoughts if you were to be confronted with an option like that?
3 people like this
11 responses
@Xdrowninghavocx (3117)
• United States
26 Aug 08
You had EST? That's pretty extreme. I didn't know that they would do that for depression. I've had it since i was around 13. And I don't think I would ever go to that extreme, but you never know. I do find my depression very annoying and I can control it sometimes. And then there are other times when I just..you know. I do wish you well in your treatment. And let me know if anything changes.
@carloLL2004 (376)
• Philippines
12 Jul 08
i had a depression too before, but it's not that long, I just prayed to God everyday. i found peace and calmness in my heart.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
12 Jul 08
that has always been a help for me, there is not a day that i don't pray for the strength to continue forward, for the clarity of mind to think of solutions and not dwell on the depression
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
11 Jul 08
I have heard of this treatment a year or so ago. I don't know too much about the risks. I would definitely look into it deeper, read up, get second opinions before I did anything.I take meds and as of now they still work. When I read the article about
it I thought it sounded great if there isn't any side effects like I have with the medication that I take. I would have to have more info about it before I would have it done though.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
i agree, i am doing some research on it now, i think my biggest issue is that i don't want to admit that my depression is that bad that i have to do that type of treatment, on the other hand, having been unresponsive to all the meds tried, i don't want to live the rest of my life like this
it's a tough decision for me
@eachen2002 (889)
• United States
11 Jul 08
I've never heard of this treatment,it sounds interesting.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
yeah i hadn't heard of it either until my psychiatrist told me that he had run out of options...initially he wanted me to do another treatment where they insert this thing in your chest that has two wires connected to a battery and it is attached to a vein or artery and sends small shocks to your brain throughout the day, but he wants me to go with the other now
@cbreeze (1205)
• United States
11 Jul 08
Look up Brain Entrainment. See what you think of that. I think I would be willing to try just about anything. But I do think you should do some homework on it. Ask the doctor if this treatment has been used for anything other than depression and what the results were. Why do they think it may work on depression.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
thanks for the advice, the treatment is meant specifically for the most severe cases of depression and bi-polar when medications are not working, its a kind of last resort option
@Nana530 (286)
• United States
11 Jul 08
Hi rbailey83,
I am so sorry that you have such severe depression. It really seems that you and your doctors have tried most everything available; and still you have not found the right treatment for yourself.
Depression is really so hard to treat and unfortunately so many people don't even understand depression and how it affects your entire life. We all need to be better educated on this subject.
My niece has severe depression and she has been through much of the same treatments that you have and for years and years she suffered this disease mostly alone. No one understood her and her family weren't as supportive as they could/should have been. Simply because they didn't understand depression.
But she finally checked herself into a mental health facility and they did the ECT on her. Thank goodness, it did work for her and she is so much better. She now comes to our family gatherings and takes part in her son's life just like any other Mom. I am so happy for her.
I would be so happy to hear that you found some treatment that would give you back your life and allowed you to function in this world.
I know nothing about the Deep Brain Stimulation but if I were you, I would definitely do lots of research on this and perhaps seek the advice of other psychiatrists to see what their opinion of this treatment is. And learn how safe it is and what possible side effects the treatment may have. Then you can make an educated decision on whether or not to go forward with this treatment, of whether or not it is worth the risks. Oh how wonderful it would be if it turned out that this would help you. I pray that you do find something to help you. I pray that if you do decide to try this treatment that it works for you with no side effects or problems.
At least you are making an effort to help yourself. So hang in there and keep on keeping on.
Best luck from,
Nana
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
thank you for the kind words, i am glad to hear your neice has gotten better, i can definately understand what it's like and it's no picnic, good to hear she is more involved with family
@Flowerchild21 (161)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
Hi there, I feel bad for you. Life has been so hard for you. You know what- I will do some research concerning this matter. I think it might be good but because it's in the early stages you don't know. It might kill other brain cells or some of your memories might disappear. Just hang in there, if you don't feel like getting out of bed it's ok, its not your fault. Have you tried writing out all your bad, depressing feelings on a paper then ripping it up. I do this. Its not an answer but it might help a bit. I will get back to you about the other thing. Take care.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
thank you for your help on the research, i appreciate that. Writing is actually a techinique i have used from the beginning, first it was poetry, stories, then just thoughts and feelings.
I don't regret everything i have been through, it has made me into who i am today and given me a perspective on life that many don't get to see.
@Flowerchild21 (161)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
Hi there, I feel bad for you. Life has been so hard for you. You know what- I will do some research concerning this matter. I think it might be good but because it's in the early stages you don't know. It might kill other brain cells or some of your memories might disappear. Just hang in there, if you don't feel like getting out of bed it's ok, its not your fault. Have you tried writing out all your bad, depressing feelings on a paper then ripping it up. I do this. Its not an answer but it might help a bit. I will get back to you about the other thing. Take care.
@Flowerchild21 (161)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
Hi there, I feel bad for you. Life has been so hard for you. You know what- I will do some research concerning this matter. I think it might be good but because it's in the early stages you don't know. It might kill other brain cells or some of your memories might disappear. Just hang in there, if you don't feel like getting out of bed it's ok, its not your fault. Have you tried writing out all your bad, depressing feelings on a paper then ripping it up. I do this. Its not an answer but it might help a bit. I will get back to you about the other thing. Take care.
@Flowerchild21 (161)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
Hi there, I feel bad for you. Life has been so hard for you. You know what- I will do some research concerning this matter. I think it might be good but because it's in the early stages you don't know. It might kill other brain cells or some of your memories might disappear. Just hang in there, if you don't feel like getting out of bed it's ok, its not your fault. Have you tried writing out all your bad, depressing feelings on a paper then ripping it up. I do this. Its not an answer but it might help a bit. I will get back to you about the other thing. Take care.
@Flowerchild21 (161)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
Hi there, I feel bad for you. Life has been so hard for you. You know what- I will do some research concerning this matter. I think it might be good but because it's in the early stages you don't know. It might kill other brain cells or some of your memories might disappear. Just hang in there, if you don't feel like getting out of bed it's ok, its not your fault. Have you tried writing out all your bad, depressing feelings on a paper then ripping it up. I do this. Its not an answer but it might help a bit. I will get back to you about the other thing. Take care.
