Hello everyone:

I'm knew to this board, and a bit nervous about posting about my personal problems (I feel like I'm not important enough to bother other people (who have their own problems to deal with) with my problems, but here goes...

My doctor referred my to a psychiatrist about 6 weeks ago because of severe depression (and some other problems). I finally thought I was getting somewhere, after being terribly depressed for the past 8 years (and not being brave enough to seek help/tell anyone about it). After reading about how depression can be caused by all sorts of things (food allerges, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, etc), I thought that my psychiatrist would do an exhaustive batch of tests on my to ascertain whether or not something like that was contributing to/causing my depression -- but he hasn't done anything of the sort! All he wants to do is to talk about my past life experiences. Now I know that I could be depressed because of things that have happened in my past (and I'm glad that he didn't just unthinkingly dish out pills), but some underlying physical complaint could at least partly be contributing to my depression. (I've read at least a couple of accounts on this board about how people's depression has virtually cleared (after suffering for years) after finding out that they had something as simple a yeast allegry.) I've been seeing my shrink for over 6 weeks now and he hasn't prescribed any medication or done any physical tests; all he wants to do is talk about my past experiences. I feel wretchedly depressed, like I'm tettering on the top of a precipice. It takes a monumental effort of will just to get through each day. I tell my shrink this, but he doesn't do anything -- just wants me to talk about my past. Do people think that I should demand that he do some physical tests? I'm scared that the shrink's gonna miss something crucial by neglecting the potential physical causes of my depression. I know I could be wrong, that my dpression could be completely psychological -- but shouldn't he just check for possible physical problems?

Anyway, sorry about the long post -- it just helps to get it all off of my chest.

Thanks for listening in advance -- if you manage to get to end of this post, you certainly deserve it.

Best,

Dave_81

Dave,

Unfortunately, your psyc is doing his job. That is basically all they do is talk....and hand out meds. For some people, this is all they need or desire. For other's....this is only half "the answer".

If the possibility of finding an underlying cause(or ruling them out) is your goal.....you will have much better luck seeking out the help and advice from doctors who practice either Environmental Medicine (have personally had wonderful results here), Alternative Medicine, Homeopathy or Holistic Medicine. These Doctors have a higher tendency to find and treat the "whole problem" rather than just the presenting symptoms.

I hope this is the information you are seeking.....or helps in some way. Good luck on your road to wellness.

All my best,

mj

I am surprised that your psychiatrist has not done any blood levels or given you any antidepressants to try. If you are clinically depressed - therapy alone will not do the job. Maybe you should try another psychiatrist. There are alot of good ones out there! Please do not be embarrassed to talk about this with anyone. It is nothing to be ashamed of.

Do you feel physically ill, Dave, or is depression your only complaint? Generally a person whose depression is caused by a physical illness will have a multitude of physical complaints- e.g. headaches, joint pain, GI problems, sore throat- as well as feeling depressed.

If you're also experiencing physical symptoms, you would need to see your general practitioner to have him/her rule out an underlying illness. A psychiatrist's job is to get you mentally healthy, and that's the extent of it. And speaking of, he should've prescribe medication by this point in time...I agree with Litthotwm that you might need to find a new psychiatrist.

Good luck to you.

Ok, first off, are you seeing a PSYCHIATRIST or a PSYCHOLOGIST/THERAPIST? Because psychiatrists pretty much only prescribe medicine and will usually refer you to a psychologist/therapist for "talking" therapy.

Secondly, it is not true that if your depression has a physical cause then you will feel other physical symptoms. Depression IS the symptom. You may have a chemical imbalance, but there is no test for this, psychiatrists simply put you on one anti-depressant or another and see if it helps.

Of course, this chemical imbalance is only a pre-disposition for becoming depressed. Most psychologists now a days agree that depression (along with most other mental health disorders) are caused by the interaction of a genetic predisposition for a certain disorder AND the "proper" environment for that disorder to flourish. But we interact with the environment in such a dynamic way that 1) we may not even realize the impact our environment is having on our mental health and 2) we may develop habbits that allow us to temporarily cope with stressors in our environment, but, ultimately, these habbits may only make our condition worse. So although we cannot control our enviroment, we CAN control how it affecgs us by 1) becoming aware and 2) actively working to undo maladaptive habbits.

As far as depression being caused by "other" things, you should really look at these other things as exacerbating factors. A poor diet/exercise lifestyle won't CAUSE depression, but it can certainly make it worse. And I don't know where you heard that food allergies can cause depression but I doubt this has any validity to it.

I have been receiving various forms of "treatment" for depression for about 5 years now, and never has a doctor (be it physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist) even SUGGESTED that I get my blood or thyroid tested. This is very disappointing to me, because there is evidence to suggest that hormone imbalance can play a causal role in depression. But the bottom line is that you have to get these tests done for yourself. You have to be proactive about getting yourself help because doctors don't always (or hardly ever) exhaust all the options available. Moreover, different doctors will cover different options. So go to your general physician to get some bloodwork done, go to a therapist to get talk-therapy, and then, only if necessary, go to a psychiatrist to try some anti-depressants.

I agree. A psychiatrist isn't going to give you a physical or blood work. In fact, a lot of them assume you've already had one. If you feel that there is an underlying medical condition then you need to talk to you family doctor about that. I also feel that you should talk to your psychiatrist about giving you an antidepressant. I know for me, as well as others, that without medication I'm unable to funtion on a day to day basis. Talk therapy alone just doesn't work for everyone. :nono:

I guess my husband has a good psychiatrist. His did do blood work to check his thyriod function as well as other things to make sure that he didn't had a medical cause for his depression. She prescribed the meds and he had the talk therapy with someone else in her office. I am wondering also if you are going to a psychologist rather than a psychiatrist. By all means, do go to your GP to have a panel of blood work done to test for any underlying conditions that could contribute to the depression.

As far as depression being caused by "other" things, you should really look at these other things as exacerbating factors. A poor diet/exercise lifestyle won't CAUSE depression, but it can certainly make it worse. And I don't know where you heard that food allergies can cause depression but I doubt this has any validity to it.

My husband has suffered horribly from depression and anxiety for over 24 years. He has taken just about every AD there is, along with anti-seizure drugs, anti-anxiety, sleeping aids, Bi-polar meds, anti-psychotics....you name it...he was on it. He was also subjected to cat scans, mri's, thyroid tests, testosterone level tests, emdr treatments....and ultimately, because nothing else brought any sort of relief, ect treatment was finally suggested.

I have watched my husband journey up and down over and over...until he got so bad he couldn't function at all!! After suffering at this level for 8 months, he opened his mind enough to agree to try an alternative route. My husband was refered by a chiropractor friend to a Doctor who practices Environmental Medicine. It was through this man, that my husband finally found the answer to his depression.

Not only did this man actually listen to my husband and all his "problems" entailed.....but he promised my husband that he would find his cure. Not only did this man take an extensive medical history, he took an extensive life history as well. He then ordered up some very in depth blood tests and a comprehensive digestive test (fancy name for a stool sample...imo). It was through these tests that his diagnosis was that of.....food allergies!! Ends up he's allergic to wheat, yeast, milk, cheese and eggs. We immediately removed these foods from his diet and with-in days (4 to be exact) he was rocking and rolling!! He has been symptom free for the 8 months since his dx. I will be honest enough to say that he did have a "slight regression" shortly after starting this "program"....but the reason for that was of his own doing. In all actuality....and you would have to know my husband to get the full gist of this....he was feeling SO good....that he decided he could eat all things bad. With-in 48 hours....he was back in his " black hole". But.....to futher bolster my claim.....once he admitted his "fault" and got right back on his "diet" he was fine and has been ever since. Oddly enough...this diagnosis also aided him in other areas. He also suffered from high blood pressure and cholesteral (on meds for both) and also IBS(meds for this too). Since his dietary changes....all of these (along with their meds) have disappeared as well.

So, is there any validity to food allergies causing depression? I believe so. If my story isn't reason enough to believe.....run a search on wheat, yeast and gluten allergies and just exactly what they DO cause......I think you'd be amazed. Here's another story......the doctor who treated us was a prominent surgeon sidelined because of fibromyalgia......his dx? Gluten allergy. Once eliminating all things gluten from his diet....he suffers no more. In fact....he was so impressed with the "theory" behind Environmental Medicine, not to mention his cure....that he officially retired from his surgical practice to take up "EnMed".

As I've mentioned in numerous posts...this may not be the answer to everyones depression......however I think one does themself a disservice if they don't at least consider this, as well as thyroid, hormonal imbalances, nutrient difficiencies, etc. as a possibility.


Sorry for such a long post.....

mj

Dear Dave:

If you are depressed, you have a chemical imbalance that won't go away through the use of talk therapy only. There are still some practitioners who don't believe in prescribing medications or other treatments, and yours may be one of them.

I realize you are averse to taking medications and don't wish to push you. Still, would it hurt for you to talk this over with your current psychiatrist and to get a second opinion? Even if you opt for not taking meds, another doctor might steer you in a direction more beneficial to you.

There is no excuse for a doctor of any kind to allow you to suffer one moment more than what is inevitable. Indeed, you should be feeling some relief (or at least hope) after six weeks of seeing your doctor. Please consider getting a second opinion; it certainly can't hurt and it might help a great deal.

My wish is that you feel better soonest!

Thanks everyone for the replys; the response has been amazing -- the people on this board are brilliant.

Macsjuls -- thanks for the for the detailed reply. I'm definitely (at some point) gonna try and get my self checked out by someone who practices environmental medicine.

ladybugshz -- I'm seeing a psychiatrist, not a therapist or a psychologist.

Queserasera -- the only physical symptom I have is a funny sort of numb/pins-and-needles type feeling in my forehead, which is causing me to wiggle my forehead up and down all of the time -- or at least it's making me feeling as though I want to. Weird --but it must be being caused by something!

Dave,

I agree, there is a vast amount of knowledge here!! Hopefully, you have found some "direction"! Once again, I wish you the best in finding your answer.


Here's to health and happiness!!

mj