Light Therapy (not to be confused with Lit therapy)

[sincerely_helene]

Thanks Abs.

Also would be very interested in hearing about other techniques and products that have helped you or someone you know throw away your/their anti-whatevers.

For example, I find that something as simple as going to the gym seems to have a positive effect on the imbalanced chemicals in my brain. Maybe it's from all that jumping around

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Thanks Abs.

Also would be very interested in hearing about other techniques and products that have helped you or someone you know throw away your/their anti-whatevers.

For example, I find that something as simple as going to the gym seems to have a positive effect on the imbalanced chemicals in my brain. Maybe it's from all that jumping around

I know they say that omega 3's in fish and such increases your serotonin levels.
I just got my meds upped so I can't really say anything new.
I do find that meditation works for me. I used to get anxiety attacks, but I've learned to supress them.
Are you diagnosed as depressed sweets?

 

[Guest]

For example, I find that something as simple as going to the gym seems to have a positive effect on the imbalanced chemicals in my brain. Maybe it's from all that jumping around

Helene, it can work. When I had "the" big break-up of my life my best friend forced me to go to a gym and sign up for a training and workout schedule. I'd never done that in my life and hated the idea but she told me what she'd do if I didn't go and I knew she meant it. I hated getting myself there and changing into sweats, etc., but always I felt good after. I believe it's endorphins that kick in when you exercise hard. I went nearly every day for over a year. Sometimes I'd be working out on a weight machine in the corner and crying silently but I kept at it.

best, Perdita

p.s. I quit when I knew I was Ok, never really liked exercising on machines.

 

[sincerely_helene]

Hey Abs. You name it, I have been diagnosed with it. I'm pleased to hear you have found something that works for you. I may bitch about pills and doctors and the like, but I do recongnize that it is necessary in certain instances. I just think the system needs to learn to be more discrimanating and closely monitored. There have been times where all I have really wanted was to talk to someone, but have been refused assistance unless I was willing to go on the latest drug craze.

I was not aware that fish had any sort of effect on serotonin levels. Thanks for sharing that.

Hello, Perdita. I used to love working out, but I was never overly fond of them cardio machines. I quickly learned that I build muscle at an amazing rate, and gradually had to cut back on the weights. I just don't suit Arnold arms.

Similar to your situation, a break-up prompted the decision.

 

[Guest]

Hello, Perdita. I used to love working out, but I was never overly fond of them cardio machines. I quickly learned that I build muscle at an amazing rate, and gradually had to cut back on the weights. I just don't suit Arnold arms.

Helene, I made sure the trainer knew what I wanted - to tone up vs. pumping up. After I learned how to use the machines I adapted ballet exercises to them so I never got big muscles, they just got lengthened and toned. Adapting the machines to what I wanted helped make it a bit less boring.

As for docs and therapists, mine only prescribed meds out of necessity, she told me it had taken her ten years before she believed they could help, but not as a given for everyone. It's really too bad about the current state of mental health departments, they're forced to merely prescribe drugs cos it's less costly to an HMO. Very crappy all round.

Perdita

 

[GingerV]

Perdita gave you some great links. I just want to add that Light Therapy does work for some people with SAD. Using it for other forms of depression is more unusual (but I'm glad to hear it's helping Cookiejar), so whether it's right for you might depend largely on what sort of depression you have. Are you following up on a doctor's suggestion? They'd be in the best position to help you determine if you might benefit from a combined therapy.

While this isn't my field, my understand is that you need quite a lot of light to have an impact. The little palm sized one seems suspect to me. Like those itty bitty air purifiers that were so popular 5 years ago. Convenient, cute, but probably not useful really.

Because it doesn't always work, and the lights ARE expensive, you can sometimes pick 'em up second hand. I had a quick swing past Ebay and saw a couple. Something to think about.

G

 

[GingerV]

Oh heck, I didn't see there was a second page.

Exercise does work for a lot of people. Situational depression (as opposed to clinical) especially. It's definately all down to loads of yummy endorphins . Well that, and it may improve sleep patterns.

I haven't heard the Omega-3 story, I'll have a look around. - - - OK, back. The evidence is epedemiological at the moment. Society's diet has changed and depression rates have increased. I won't bore you with how they think it might work. Actual tests are underway in various places, but there's no solid evidence yet. Still, it wouldn't hurt you if you wanted to try.

But generally, good diet helps mild mood disorders. As do little things like regulating your sleep pattern.

It sounds like you're deeling with more than a case of the blahs, though. Sorry Spam. The hoops one has to jump through are no damned fun, and the doctors that want to treat depression like pnemonia (just throw drugs at it so it'll go away) drive me crazy. There are effective drugs available, but fitting the drug to the patient and finding the right dose is rough. And some of the side effects are miserable. If you're getting them through your GP, you might find a more sympathetic ear by switching to a psychiatrist. Not always, but I hear the odds of "whole patient" care are better.

Anyway, I'm not going to rattle on. Hope this helps a bit, and that you find what you're looking for.

G

 

[sincerely_helene]

Hi Ginger.

Unfortunetly, I'm not exactly in the best financial situation to be seeking out anything more elaborate then what my current medical care plan will provide, and perhaps that's a great majority of my problem. I have under-gone the psychiatrist route for what is availible to me, only to have doors closed on my face for my unwillingness to go on certain perscriptions.

After some nasty side-effects with the last pill I reluctantly agreed to be a genuia pig for, I finally have concluded that I am finished with medication and Doctors. I still wouldn't mind exploring other options, though, should they present themselves.

Perdita: I am an adrenaline junkie! I have actually requested a one day trainer for my birthday so that I will have a clue what I'm doing, right and wrong. I personally think it might be something as simple as decreasing my weights, as I tend to enjoy the challenge of lifting heavy things.

 

[GingerV]

I totally understand, Spam, and I'm sorry to hear that you're between such a rock and hard place. I'll keep my ear to the ground, and pass on anything that sounds like it might help as a do-it-yourself antidepressant.

Let me know if the light works for you, I'm kinda curious now .

As far as the weights go, I've got this vague memory that you're supposed to increase weight for bulk, and increase number of reps for tone. Something about each sort of change increasing a differing sort of muscle fiber.

 

[sincerely_helene]

Thanks Ginger. Am interested in anything in non-pill form that treats bi-polar disorder, manic depressiveness, personality disorder, anti-social disorder, add, adhd, insomnia, alice in wonderland syndrome, anxiety disorder, or brain damage due to lack of oxegen to the left vortex of the brain.

(Any wonder why I dislike the Docs?)

I may take the advice of snooping around Ebay regarding the light. At the very least it will give me something pretty to zone out on for a while.

 

[GingerV]

Thanks Ginger. Am interested in anything in non-pill form that treats bi-polar disorder, manic depressiveness, personality disorder, anti-social disorder, add, adhd, insomnia, alice in wonderland syndrome, anxiety disorder, or brain damage due to lack of oxegen to the left vortex of the brain.

(Any wonder why I dislike the Docs?)

Good grief. I think somewhere in the middle of all that, maybe they just should've diagnosed you as human and let you get on with it. Some doctors are terrified of admitting they don't know the answer when presented with a pack of symptoms. Not all of them, certainly not the best of them, but way too many of them if you ask me. So they slap a name on it, and treat the name they picked instead of the patient in front of them.

Maybe you're just having an allergic reaction to doctors?

If that list is for real (well, obviously not the vortex bit....but the rest of it), I've got two adhd cousins. They might have some advice on tips and tricks. I know one hates his meds, and goes off them periodically. The other just uses them during term time (still in high school). I could ask if you like.

G

 

[sincerely_helene]

Bingo! Your post encompasses the whole reasoning behind my dis-trust of those in the medical field.

By the way, none of the afore mentioned titles were made up, even the ones that sounded mildly sarcastic. The vortex bit was later changed to 'hemisphere', but still remains in my medical history report. 'Alice in Wonderland Syndrome' also really does exist.

Would love to hear more about your cousins. Please feel free to PM me at any time if you wish.

 

[GingerV]

Oh Hon, I know they're real. The brain is on the short list of things I actually know something about. I figured vortex for a misinterpretation, misspelling, or joke. They are, however, an eclectic mix. You must be a complex and deeply interesting person to have so many doc's confused.

I'll shoot a note off to my cousins, see if they have anything to offer. It'll just be ADHD rather than Depression, but you never know what'll help.

G

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Short and brief description of foods that naturally increase your levels of serotonin.


One of the questions asked of a team of Columbia University health educators and health care providers -- had to do with which foods put the mood-altering chemical into a person's system. The answer cautions that attempting to raise serotonin levels through eating alone is tricky, because people often react differently to similar foods. However, the site states:

Carbohydrate-rich meals often increase serotonin levels... Believe it or not, candy and sweets, which are simple carbohydrates, have the greatest impact, but the effect will only last 1 - 2 hours. Complex carbohydrates (rice, potato, pasta) may increase serotonin levels, but not to the same extent because the protein content of these foods might actually inhibit serotonin production.

I headed back to the search results for more details. I wanted to find some specific examples of foods that increase serotonin levels.

An article on how food alters your mood from ParentsPlace.com suggests that carbohydrates trigger the release of insulin into the blood stream, which clears all the amino acids from the blood, except tryptophan. When competitors are out of the way, the tryptophan floods the brain, where it's converted to serotonin. Whole-grain breads, crackers, pasta, rice, cereal, and fruit all have the potential to increase your serotonin level.

 

[GingerV]

If you're looking for triptophan heavy foods, turkey's a good choice. It's got silly amounts for a protein.

 

[Weird Harold]

It's possible that I'm way off base here but I'm under the impression that 'blue' light is what helps plants grow.

If this is the case and if 'blue' light is the equivalent of this 'sunlight' lamp (without the UV) then craft lamps are the inexpensive alternative.

You're partly correct. Some "Grow Lights" are noticeably heavy on the blue and violet part of the spectrum and are NOT particularly soothing.

However, the "Full Spectrum" type of grow lights provide a soothing and energizing white light that is very close to natural sunlight -- without excessive harmful UV rays and heat.

It looks like cookiejar's light-box uses the kind of full-spectrum flourescent tubes I'm talking about:

http://www.alaskanorthernlights.com/Images/WebBox.jpg

The replacement light for that fixture will work in any flourescent light fixture -- most of which are cheaper than purpose built "therapuetic" fixtures.

 

[sincerely_helene]

Hi Abs: Sent you mail, but your box kept telling me it was full.

Ginger: Have heard of turkey making people sleepy before, but it never seems to have that effect on me. Perhaps a positive finding, because the last thing my girlish figure needs is one of mom's thanksgiving dinners each night before bed.