[SoupDragon]

l have tried meds, now 4+ years in therapy and still those dark thoughts return. Does any treatment work or is it just about "symptom management" and learning to live with it?

How daunting if so.

People can criticise others for opting out, isn't it just equivalent to euthanasia though?

[Travelinglady]

SoupDragon, are you talking about "dark thoughts" of suicide and/or other things?

[glok]

Hello, SoupDragon.

How Do You Cure Mental Illness? | World of Psychology

I wish you well.

[Fuzzybear]

[Altered Moment]

With meds it is often a game of keeping on trying different things to find what works. that can be a huge frustrating struggle. And then they can quit working. Therapy can take a long time and if it is very rooted biologically and not so much situational how much can therapy help??? I think it does help because it has been shown to change brain chemistry.

I think it is different for different people. Some people have great results and full remission after trying one med. Others like me are very treatment resistant. I am 50 and have been dealing with it my whole life and came to the conclusion that I had to learn to manage the best I could and live with it. Then recently we have found a set of meds that is working very well. That doesn't mean they will continue to work. I don't see what choice I have other that to keep trying. I have been very seriously suicidal many times but it always passes. I have often thought euthanasia would be a compassionate option for me but of course no one would understand that. I just keep on trying. Acceptance can be a powerful tool I believe.

[SoupDragon]

Thank you for your posts. The dark thoughts are the Sui ones. l guess l use the SI to escape them, but it is the darker ones l struggle with.

l think today the death of Robin Williams has bought it to mind, if someone so talented, rich to the point of being able to afford any treatment can't escape it, then what is the best that can be achieved.

l keep waiting for it to stop to get on with my life, but it doesn't.

l just don't know how to become comfortable with it, to accept this is how it is. l am really not sure that life is meaningful for me.

Just to reassure, l am seeing my T tomorrow, so no safety issues with me. Just lots of questions and debates in my head.

[Altered Moment]

My mom said she heard an interview with terry gross and robin Williams that aired in 2006 where he denied having clinical depression. I know he was very open about addiction and recovery but I don't remember him talking about mental illness. I just assumed he was getting the best treatment possible but maybe he wasn't.

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[ThisWayOut]

♡ feeling very much the same way today myself. Kinda feels hopeless a lot of the time. I've actually found I bounce back quicker without meds, and the lows are not quite as low, but that's just me. I have found intensive therapy in a safe setting also helps, but no real accesses to that at the moment, so left feeling hopeless.
I think recovery is very individual, and different things work for different people. I hope you can find relief soon.

[IrisBloom]

Therapy and meds are definitely a part of getting better, but you have to work on yourself too. A lot of people with depression have gotten into a habit of thinking negatively, allowing dark thoughts to take over. You can reprogram your thinking, and it takes a lot of conscious effort, but it can be done.

[vans1974]

Originally Posted by SoupDragon

l have tried meds, now 4+ years in therapy and still those dark thoughts return. Does any treatment work or is it just about "symptom management" and learning to live with it?

How daunting if so.

People can criticise others for opting out, isn't it just equivalent to euthanasia though?

Hi, so sorry to hear! I've personally battled bipolar depression for 21 years now and there's only a few things that help me out of the dark, torment and agony of horrific depression...med changes every 2-3 months which include proper dosage, and only the SNRIs don't poop out on me. Lithium helps augment the anti-depressants, Latuda is great for bipolar depression, Abilify at 2.5mg-5mg. Sometimes admitting myself to a top psych ward in the country, I love UNI in Utah. Sleeping or napping sometimes relieves the hell of hells, praying and pleading for help and strength to not commit psychological suicide or suicide! Somehow not loosing hope, if I become hopeless I'm in trouble of giving up! Changing my environment! And sunlight or a happy light! And listening to guided imagery by Bellaruth Naparstek. So sorry, it's so painful and total misery at times oh and also that better meds and techniques will come out! Best of luck and hope that helps a bit!!!