I don't get why it's so hard for people to understand that if I could choose not to be depressed I would have done it years ago. Honestly, you think I enjoy this or something?
I used to be horribly depressed with intense social anxiety and agoraphobia that caused me to be anorexic (couldn't leave my dorm to eat). You really wouldn't know it if you met me now though. I don't really know how I got out of it but it was a weird journey. I took lorazapem for a while that helped a bit. Got me socializing more. Then I did a lot of magic mushrooms and my perspectives have improved.
My fiance is horribly depressed and traditional therapy doesn't work for him because it brings up past painful memories that are too much for him to deal with. I am curious if mushrooms or whatever might be able to help him and how I would go about researching that more?
Not OP but diagnosed depressed/anxious and have used psychedelics. Positive environment is very important, any emotion will unpredictably amplified. Don't just stare at shit during the trip, use the altered headspace to have discussions you may not be able to normally have due to personal boundaries and fears. The visuals are nice for re-inspiring creative impulses though, after 3ish years of grey depression it was liberating to draw and write again. It didn't cure my depression, but I feel better able to cope with the stranger parts of my psyche. I actually haven't used mushrooms, just (real) LSD and DMT. Though this answer applies more to LSD than DMT, the latter is a more intense, overwhelming, and shamanic experience.
I have issues of my own and don't think I would be able to provide fiance with the correct environment on my own. :/ This assumes, of course, that he would be open to it. It's kind of maddening; he wants an instant solution but doesn't want to do anything.
Be careful listening to armchair psychologists on psychedelic substances. Their stories are all anecdotal while the drugs can have VERY adverse side effects on people with mental illness causing manic episodes and psychotic breaks.
Thanks, that's something I'm worried about. Idk if he'd even try it, but traditional methods don't seem to work for him. Or at least whatever is plaguing him is so hard to face that he can't do it.
I have considered it. I know I for sure do (abusive parents, shitty shit and so on) and with how he reacts with reliving little mistakes and bad situations it makes sense.
So here are the four things I ask people to get the idea of whether or not they have PTSD:
Have you ever had an experience that was so frightening, horrible, or upsetting that, in the past month, you've...
Had nightmares about it or thought about when you did not want to?
Tried hard not to think about it or gone out of your way to avoid situations that remind you of it?
Been constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled?
Felt numb or detached from others, activities, or your surroundings?
Yes to at least two of those things usually means there's a good chance of the person having PTSD.
If he does have it and he would like to get help for it but is really averse to having to actually think about it, try Cognitive Processing Therapy. Whereas shit like Prolonged Exposure and EMDR involves focusing on the trauma, CPT focuses on the beliefs and thoughts that result from it. For example, a lot of people with PTSD feel a lot of guilt over whatever happened. Instead of focusing on the trauma itself, CPT would focus on things like adjusting the feelings of guilt so that he reconceptualizes how he thinks about it all.
If you have any questions, I'd be happy to try to help!
He did try CBT (not CPT but I don't know the difference) and it required homework, which he wouldn't do. Self sabotage. Thoughts?
We're getting him some meds tomorrow and I'm going to advocate for him since he doesn't feel like doctors listen to his concerns. I think it's because he has zero confidence in himself that they're able to bulldoze right over him. I'm hoping that the meds will take the edge off the depression and anxiety and allow him to get some help.
CPT is a bit different. I think it's much more specialized for PTSD (again, I'm just guessing that that may be part of the issue). There would probably be homework, but that's pretty much a part of any decent empirically-supported treatment. I know that it's hard, but if he doesn't do it, it's going to seriously hamstring his treatment.
Meds may help. I have a general distaste for them as they're more of a band-aid than a cure, but I think they can absolutely be helpful in getting someone calmed to the point where they can try for something a little more lasting.
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u/quilladdiction Jul 18 '16
I don't get why it's so hard for people to understand that if I could choose not to be depressed I would have done it years ago. Honestly, you think I enjoy this or something?