Depression & Mood Disorders....Perhaps We Are Losing Our Best Minds...

[Guest guest]

Hi, Frank.

 

Given the state of the country and of the world, it sometimes seems

to me that those people who cannot cope, who " let things get to them "

might be more valuable human beings than those who can just keep on

going, come what may.

 

Certainly I know that " mental hospitals " , where people are supposed

to go to get well from mental illness, are a farce.

 

The doctors in those hospitals, who supposedly know most about mental

illness, have the LEAST amount of contact with the patients;

the " psych techs, " who supposedly know least about mental illness,

have the MOST contact with them. I actually believe that in

most " mental hospitals, " the main difference between who is

a " patient " and who is " staff " is simply a matter of who gets to be

on which side of the Nurses' Desk!

 

Taking patients' vital signs(temperature and blood pressure) and

keeping detailed and voluminous " records " are the two MOST important

things that are done all day in those hospitals.

 

Patients are not allowed to remain in their rooms during the day(that

is considered " sick " behavior)but instead must remain in the main

lounge area, where the foul and moronic TV is kept blaring all day,

or they must attend " therapy " sessions.

 

The various " therapies " patients are put through are ridiculous and

worthless: art " therapy " , " current events " therapy, " cooking "

therapy, " music " therapy, " group " therapy---If I were the director of

a mental hospital where such nonsense was going on, I would be

embarrassed to pieces if I did not know that the TV and all

those " therapies " were just meant to keep patients " busy " until their

doctors surmise that the drugs 99% of them are given have " kicked

in " , or until their insurance runs out. At one of those points,

patients are " discharged " back into the world---their own, private

dysfunctional world, and the world at large, both of which PUT them

in the hospital in the FIRST(or second, third, fourth or tenth)

place!

 

I have read enough RD Laing that I agree with him in thinking that

people who have " breakdowns " or otherwise become " mentally ill " would

do far better in hostiles or halfway houses that were staffed wholely

or in very large part by people who themselves have recovered

from " breakdowns " and " mental illness. "

 

It's a crime what is done in today's mental hospitals, because

a " breakdown " can actually be a good thing if it is properly dealt

with. It is very possible for someone who has a " breakdown " to grow

from it, and to emerge from it in far better shape than they were

prior to the breakdown. But the chances are slim to nil of that

happening via the system we now have in this country, a system in

which the sound of money jingling matters more than sound minds.

 

Best wishes,

 

Elliot

 

 

 

, Frank

<califpacific> wrote:

>

>

> :SSRI-Research

> 25 Apr 2004 18:17:50 -0000

> [sSRI-Research] File - Depression & Mood Disorders

>

>

> Depression and Mood Disorders

> http://www.gsdl.com/assessments/finddisease/depression/

>

> Feelings of hopelessness, chronic apathy, and low energy levels are

some of

> the crippling symptoms of depression. Depression can appear as a

consequence

> of a life change such as divorce, death of a family member, or loss

of

> work‹or it may insidiously unfold without a clear cause. For this

disorder,

> the well-known adage, " sound body-sound mind " reveals a simple

basic truth.

> That's because depression is commonly intertwined with a vast

number of

> diverse conditions and illnesses--and uncovering potential

imbalances can be

> a powerful tool for an effective natural and holistic approach to

emotional

> healing.

>

> Depression and Amino Acids: The building blocks of protein, amino

acids are

> crucial source material for the production of important brain

> neurotransmitters. Imbalances can result in several major

dysfunctions of

> the central nervous system linked to depression.

>

> Depression and Thyroid Function: A substantial portion of patients

with

> depression suffer from thyroid hormone imbalances that may make

them more

> treatment-resistant.

>

> Depression and Allergy: Depression seems to predispose individuals

to

> increased immune hypersensitivity to a wide range of food and

environmental

> allergens.

>

> Depression and Melatonin: Imbalances of the pineal hormone

melatonin are

> linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder and other mood and behavior

problems.

> Disrupted secretion patterns of melatonin can also seriously

interfere with

> sleep, worsening existing symptoms of depression.

>

> Depression and Adrenal Hormones: Overly high levels of the adrenal

hormone

> cortisol often underlie the biochemical pattern characteristic of

> depression, particularly when stress and obesity are also part of

the

> clinical picture.

>

> Depression and Digestive Function: A faulty digestive process can

result in

> the malabsorption of key nutrients necessary for maintaining

healthy mood

> patterns and overall feeling of well-being. Overgrowth of certain

intestinal

> yeasts such as Candida albicans can also trigger mood swings.

>

> Depression and Toxins and Nutrients: Overexposure to heavy metal

toxins like

> lead and mercury have been clinically shown to induce a psychiatric

symptoms

> such as anxiety and depression. Mineral nutrient imbalances can

also cause

> resistance to treatment.

>

> Depression and Glucose and Insulin Tolerance: Fluctuating blood

sugar

> levels, particularly in diabetic patients, can result in increased

> depression, tension, and fatigue.

>

> Depression and Vitamins: The B-vitamins play an important role in

the proper

> metabolism of important brain neurotransmitters linked to mood and

behavior.

>

> Depression and Fatty Acids: Fatty acid deficiencies could

significantly

> contribute to symptoms of depression, particularly in those at high

risk of

> omega-3 deficiencies, such as alcoholics and post partum women.

>

> Depression and Female Hormones: Female hormone imbalances may help

explain

> why women are much more prone to certain types of depression than

men.

>

>

>

> Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory

> ©1998-2002 Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory

> This site is intended for professional healthcare provider use only

and is

> part of the GSDL communication links with our physician customers.

 

>

> Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢

>

>