Posted by Cam W. on October 4, 2001, at 4:26:06
In reply to Social Support/Therapy while on meds, posted by jay on October 3, 2001, at 21:57:09
Jay - I have been undergoing cognitive therapy to help me deal with my depression and grief for the last couple of months,. It is by far the best and most effective treatment I have ever undergone! I have learned so much about myself. I am working to build my self-esteem and self-confidence, control my negative self-talk, and to actually live in my body, rather than in my head (ie. I am learning how important emotions really are).
What is really incredible is that my psychologist hasn't told me anything that I didn't already know. She has helped me connect my thoughts and beliefs to my actions; and how these developed throughout my life.I may come out of this a little closer to self-actualization, or at least become a little wiser (knowledge is not wisdom). As Dr. Betty says, it's time to get out of my head and return to my body.
I have been to several therapists, but none have the intelligence and insight that Dr. Betty Stevens-Guille has. I would highly recommend her to anyone in the Edmonton, Alberta area. She is tough, but tender; you can't B.S. her for long, nor will she let you change the subject when she has you by the short curlys. But she has an honest, spontaneous laugh and a very witty sense of humour.
I really do believe that in order either to "cure" exogenous (reactive) depression or to properly manage endogenous (genetic or life-long) depression, one needs some sort of cognitive shift. In other words, ya gotta fix the shit that caused the HPA axis to uncouple. Yes, I know, some forms of depression are not entirely a result of an extremely stressful past or present environment(s), but most are.
I still think that learning to live with depression is as important, if not more important (in some cases) than medication. Pharmacotherapy is, in most cases of true MDD, absolutely necessary. Someone on this board has described medication as "putting the floor under one's feet". Antidepressants can allow psychotherapy to be understood.
- a healing Cam
"Sometimes you can see the light in the strangest places, when you look at it right."
"Scarlet Begonias" - Robert Hunter
poster:Cam W.
thread:12078
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010927/msgs/12090.html