[ps-med]

I was introduced to this book this weekend (Warning: Psychiatry can be hazardous to your mental health by William Glasser). So far it has been an interesting read. Glasser basically says that most "mental illness" is just the result of being unhappy and that there are simple ways of changing to become mentally healthy.

Sounds like it is worth me giving it a try. Maybe it will be helpful to others.

You may be able to read this online here http://books.google.com/books?id=lHe...sec=frontcover

There's another good book I'd recommend entitled "7 Weeks to Emotional Healing" By Joanne Larson.

The premise of the book is the food/mood connection, and how the modern, processed, junk food diet doesn't provide the essential nutrients for healthy brain function (ie EFAs and aminos). Also, it discusses how a balanced diet corrects hormonal imbalances that can create mental instability, as well as sugar and it's impact on mood.

Combine healthy diet, exercise, and shifting perspective (going from negative thinking to learning how to see things more positively) can do wonders for a person.

[Smokus Cannabis]

I'm sure it is a good book with plenty of good info, but I'm wondering, PS-med, if you have ever had a mental illness? I have had one for years. Depression. I love it when people like to tell me it's all in my head (duh), and that I just need a better lifestyle.
I tried that theory out for myself. After my first depression, I changed my life and changed my career to where it is (was, now everything is f'ed) very stable and I was happy. I tried getting off the drugs once my life was stable. I went right back into a depression.
If any of you who don't have depression want to know what it feels like, imagine that feeling you get when you're about to fall down accidentally. You know that fear you feel right when you know you're about to come crashing down? Imagine sustaining that feeling for weeks at a time. Anyone can handle a few minutes of it, but you can't imagine what happens to you when it goes on and on and on. It's the most pain I've ever felt. The fight or flight response never shuts off, it just keeps on going - hence depressives take drugs to shut it off. One depressive once told me that it felt more painful to her than childbirth. Can't say I know what that feels like (I'm a boy), but let's just say it's incredibly painful and about as debilitating as living with 104 fever for weeks on end. If you're in a depression, you're sicker than hell.
I do agree, though, that exercise is probably as good as the anti-depressants. That's what I'm doing now - manual labor and exercise as often as possible. I've dropped a ton of weight, but I'm still crazy as a bedbug. BTW, I've heard of Olympic athletes affected by Depression. It can hit anyone, believe it or not. Just takes one event to cross you over that line and you'll never be the same.
Nobody likes to be diagnosed with a mental illness. Everybody, me included, wishes Tom Cruise was right, and that we didn't have to take these stupid pills to survive, but the truth is - some of us can't function at all without them. Once I started taking those pills, I was able to accomplish things I could never ever do before - like to go back to school and get trained for a new profession. Now I'm friendly and positive, instead of negative and depressed. The second I go off them, I'm right back in the hole. I've tried this on several occasions, all with the same results. The drugs do have terrible side effects, but none of those even comes close to what a full blown depression feels like.
My depression once kept me awake for five days straight - until I finally got hold of a script of Trazodone. Another time, my only time in the ER for it, I had a heart beat rate of 180 plus beats per minute. I had been sitting down for three hours when I was waiting and hadn't taken any drugs (not even MJ) in years. It's a real as can be for some of us, unfortunately. But I do agree that a healthy lifestyle is very good for anyone. Exercise and diet are just as important as the anti-depressants. Still, even elite athletes suffer from depression, as this article shows:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/...ssion/ad1.html
I'll also throw out a book that is really good for depression. It's called FEELING GOOD, by Aaron Beck. Most shrinks give it to their newby depressive clients. It uses Cognitive Behavior Therapy (changing your thinking) to cope with depression better. It really does help, but some of us need the drugs, as a last resort when nothing else works. Good luck to everyone. Sorry this was so damn long.

[Smokus Cannabis]

I feel like a swine for hogging this thread, but I do agree with one thing the book states - people are misdiagnosed like crazy. They're also put on drugs often when they don't need them at all. Not everyone needs them - probably not most of the people on them, but those folks usually get off when they feel better. Still, it is DEFINITELY true that the pharma companies are laughing all the way to the bank. A bottle of Zoloft cost me about $250 a jar when I paid out of pocket about 3 years back.

Also, focus on breathing. A typical person uses only 20% of lung capacity. Breathing deeply, but as important is breathing slowly, both on the inhale and exhale. Balanced inhale/exhale breathing provides balance in oxygen, carbon dioxide,and pH levels. This benefits the brain, heart, and entire body. It also improves mood and outlook.

Babies breath balanced. As we go through life, we pick up bad breathing habits. Balanced breathing helps center and relax you. Too much oxygen can make a person anxious. Too much carbon dioxide can tire and depress.

Cannabis improves breathing. Dr. Andrew Weil has stated that if he could give just one piece of medical advice, it would be on breathing effectively.

[ps-med]

Smokus: I have been diagnosed with Dysthemic Disorder, which is a long term slight depression. For many with Dysthemic disorders they can have a major depression which is then followed by the same generally unhappy feeling, many are never able get to a state of non-depressed.

I came across this book a few days ago and read through it in a day (something a rarely do). I have nothing to lose by trying out the basic ideas (please read more in the book) of "you choose to be depressed, angry, etc.", "you have no control over anyone else, just yourself", and "stop trying to know what is right for anyone other than yourself". Of course I am paraphrasing, but it seems like a good set of rules to try and live by.

I am not trying to say that no one needs pharmaceuticals, or that everyone can be helped by the ideas in this book, just that it sounds like decent advise and maybe it can be helpful even if you still need medication and counseling.