i struggle with very mild depression.  i wouldn't call it clinical, but it is chronic.  it's not debilitating or anything, though, so i can't tell you anything for sure.  all i know is that taoist and zen buddhist writings have helped me a lot in those times (i'm neither a taoist nor a buddhist).  i recommend any of the following:

the chuang tzu

the lieh tzu

any of the writings attributed to bodhidharma

yamamoto tsunetomo's hagakure (one of the best books i've ever read)

takuan soho's unfettered mind

the last two blend zen buddhism with samurai philosophy and confucian ethics.  confucian books are great too, especially the analects.

all these books just recalibrate my perspective.  good luck, dude.

 

 

 

    How to deal successfully with depression ?  I'm not sure that I ever had much success and I've been trying to find relief since I was a young boy.  Doubt I ever will.  Apparently the human brain is a notoriously difficult thing to repair.

 

For me, talk therapy helps.  And it doesn't have to be with a therapist, though I have seen a number of them over the years.  I'm 60 - so I am very familiar with me. 

I have tried drugs - trazodone desyrel specifically - which seems to put a layer of cotton between me and the depression.  Being a control freak, I was very uncomfortable with the sensation of not being aware of and at the same time not in control of my feelings.  Mind you, at the time, it was very helpful as it gave me some space to get over the worse of it without doing something stupid.

My depression is cyclic so I know now that I can wait it out and it will usually go away.  It is only when it interferes with my life that I need to get serious about doing something about it.  And as I said, talking to a disinterested third party helps.  You can tell your therapist anything and it won't get back to your family, friends or co-workers.  A good therapist will not be judgmental.  A good therapist will be interested and engaged with you and your problem.  A good therapist will listen carefully and ask appropriate questions and make suggestions when asked.  Much better than talking to the walls.  And I have done that as well.

None of which may be helpful for you.  I have a friend who is clinically depressed and for her, it was a matter of finding the right medication and sticking with the schedule.  She has tried most of them at one time or another.  Her sister is also clinically depressed and is on a different medication that seems to work for her.  So if one med is not comfortable for you, talk it over with your doctor and try another.

In the meantime, put one foot in front of the other.

 

   Interesting that you mentioned desyrel.  My shrink prescribed it for me back in the eighties.  Did nothing for my depression but one of the possible side effects was anger / hostility.    I threw a temper tantrum at work and smashed some doors and got arrested.

  As a very frustrated 28 year old it was the last thing I should have been prescribed.

 

  edit: I am currently prescribed an anti-seizure medication called neurontin / gabapentin.  It is being issued off label by shrinks because one of the unexpected side effects of gabapentin is that is sometimes has a significant calming effect.   A similar drug that worked for me ( in sufficient quanities ) was lyrica / pregabalin but withdrawal is tough unless you enjoy fever and chills.

I don't know if it helps, but all of you here talking about your own personal depression has helped me. It won't ultimately solve my current fears, but it does help me know that I am not alone and that my problems are quite normal.

 

Again, I must state that this is my own opinion and I'm not an expert, so keep that in mind.

IMO, I would attempt to meet with the Dr. that prescribed your medication as soon as possible and consult as to how to get back on medication (whether the same one or different, I have no idea), because stopping anti-depressant medication without slowly tapering it off has very large side-effects. I've heard that it can put people into depression deeper than their actual depression, and this is probably why you're having such a hard time right now. It takes at least several weeks of controlled reduction of the dose, probably more like months to taper it off all the way. It is simply dangerous to stop abruptly, and IMO (again, not expert) you seem to have stopped too abruptly.

That's number one.

Number two is that if I were in your situation, I would try to find some way to make sure that I could get proper treatment by either working with my work schedule, or by making sure my work schedule is made around my scheduled health appointments. Depending on where you work, and especially depending on the laws of your province, you should be able to get whoever makes your schedule to accommodate whatever health-related appointments you need. Even though your friend might not be able to counsel you directly, s/he should be able to give you general advice regarding what your workplace rights are. If you're working for a decent company or if you have a union, they should have programs or processes for ensuring that you are able to access the health services you need.

Number three is that if you work for a company/industry that is too inflexible to accommodate you, you might want to think about finding another workplace or industry, if that's possible. Ultimately, what good is such a job if it means you have to suffer through depression just to work there? Imagine you had diabetes, and worked at place that required you to go long periods without being able to take insulin, or worse, required you to eat large amounts of sugar. Mental health has a kind of a stigma attached to it that physical health doesn't. The stigma is completely undeserved. There's really no difference between needing medical help for depression vs. medical help for heart disease or cancer or asthma or allergies or anything else. The brain is a part of the body. It is an organ. And a very complex one. It's no surprise that it sometimes gets sick, and there's nothing anyone should hold against you for that. Just like any other organ, the brain is allowed to get sick. Would you toss away your physical health for the sake of a job? How is mental health different? I know some people are critically dependent on their jobs and don't have much choice in finding accommodation from work. I'm not saying you should definitely quit or whatever. I don't know anything about your job. But I'm just saying it's worthwhile to consider things from a different perspective where you put your own mental health high up on your list of priorities. Really, is work more important than that? It isn't to me. I've had to go through a lot of rough times in (un)employment because I just couldn't manage maintaining my career in the face of my mental health issues. Again, my own opinion.

Good luck!

I second Natural's post.

If one anti-depressant is making you too sleepy, it is the wrong dose or the wrong anti-depressant.  A discussion with your doctor is your best bet.

Talk therapy in a small town is tough.  I once traveled 60 miles every week so as to avoid anyone in town knowing that I was seeing a psychiatrist.  Another time, in a slightly larger small town, I went to a counselor - no one seemed to care.  It all depends on the town and your neighbors.

Most counselors want to see you face to face.  They want to see your body language.  Maybe Skype?  I don't know as I have never pursued that option.

 

Well Said !

I have written a couple of blogs about the fact that theism was far more damaging to my mental health than atheism ever could be.

I have been thinking about writing another blog about the treatment center industry and they way that they push "god" or a "higher power" down the throats of those who seek help.

I feel that it is wrong, that people attribute the alleviations of their addictions and depression to a "god" or "higher power".

Higher Powers do not cure people, people cure themselves.

I recently experienced a motorcycle injury. I am currently on pain meds and having to go about the house on crutches (just about driven my girlfriend crazy with my somewhat childish attitude about this thing)and am coping with some depression.

I think, as long as I keep in mind,  their is nothing out there punishing me or rewarding me and life is my sole responsibility to myself and those that I care about, I have a far less problem with depression.

But after an entire lifetime of theistic beliefs and indoctrination, my deconversion is always a continual work in progress.

I found that believing in god and ultimate purposes was probably the heaviest contributing factor to my own unhappiness and depression in life.

Now, I am no expert or counselor, these are only my own personal experiences.

I agree about the depression associated with believing in this perfect god who created and loves me meanwhile is constantly pissed at me and only he can solve the problem by taking a chunk of his divinity and crucify it and that makes it all ok. Blood is required for god to forgive the time I stole a peppermint patty from a drug store. I cannot be in a relationship where I am always the one that is wrong.

My family and extended family was heavily dysfunctional where alcohol and drugs and Jesus were the answers. It sort of a chicken or egg thing. Did the dysfunction lead us to Jesus or was because we were Christians did that lead to the dysfunction. 

I think depression is a uniquely human emotion. Any animal associated with humans can also become depressed. I saw a real depressed Orangatan in the National Zoo. Stuck in a building where people stare at it during the day. No out and about in nature. Humans have boxed themselves in and poison themselves with chemicals and processed food. We live outside of nature or at least try to and Christianity is right there teaching that we are to be separate from nature. It is evil. The combination of eating unnatural foods in an unnatural environment breeds this depression. If we lived in nature we would be less depressed and maybe not depressed at all. I live in the country and the birds, squirrels, foxes, etc don't have any hang dog look. They are rather upbeat. Why isn't when we go for a nature walk we just feel so much better?

Then to fix this problem we have to take pills (more chemicals) into our body to relieve us of the nasty processed foods and unnatural living to balance it off. When I was taking chemo for NHL I had to take pills to counteract the side effects of other pills. The winner in all this is the food & drug industries.

So the answer is to sell all we have, give it to the poor and go out and find some natural environment to live in? Not for me. Too old. Too soft. Like the convenience of modern society. 

Recovering was getting into therapy and she told me I grew up in a violent, alcoholic environment and I should try Al-anon. It is so odd that I never understood that before. I started going and have been for years. They talked about me and my higher power and it could be anything I wanted it to be. It could be a rock and not THE Rock of Ages.  I was still into Jesus back then but angry. There were, as in most of these rooms, a mixture of beliefs. I started expressing my doubts and anger about this Christian god and no one got offended or try to straighten me out. That certainly would not happen in church. I eventually focused on my childhood and the abuse, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. In time I started to say and believe the only thing I need to know about god is that I am not him. I stopped trying to figure out who god was and what his will was. I did learn I could just let things go and feel my feelings, accept whatever was inside of me as good and valid. I no longer rejected me. Depression is anger turned inward. I had to learn to accept and air any anger I had. I did have a lot to be angry about and was no longer mr nice guy. 

It was a long road and only in the past year have I said in meeting things like I don't believe in a personal god and eventually that I am an atheist. I am grateful to another atheist alanon member and RRS that gave me the courage to say that publicly.

I think the higher power language is useful because so many people come into those rooms with major issues about god and family. Sorting out the god shit is a road to recovery. The great thing is they say god can be anything. That threw my arguing out the door and trying to prove I was right. I was left to figure it out on my own. I matured and became my own man, which doesn't happen in a alcoholic or fundy environment. I do see people who still cling to fundamentalism and they are stuck shaming themselves and not growing up. There are others who have dropped the fundy crap and accept some form of god and I see they are happier people.

I will be ever grateful to alanon. It literally saved my life.

 

 

It is a way to get through the day.  Some people don't care - I have lived in areas where people would say, animals don't feel pain like people do.  Nonsense.  Other people do care - but there are so many things to care about, you have to pick your battles. 

We work with someone who cares about every dog that is put down.  Even if there are no other options for the dog.  Even if it is ill, or injured, or crazy from abuse, and there are no foster homes available, she wants to save every dog.  It just isn't possible.  We try to do what we can, but we can not run a shelter from our house.  And this person has not made any concerted effort to start a no kill shelter herself.  So you do what you can when you can to the best of your ability.

And then you put it out of your mind, because otherwise, we would all be locked up together.

If you focus on what brings you despair, you will feel nothing but despair.  And that path leads to suicide as there is no way any of us can cure the ills of the world.  So focus on what you can change.  On making your corner of the world a little better - adopt a rescue dog or cat, volunteer at your local shelter or get involved with a rescue group.  (search <home area> <favorite breed> rescue)  One step..... another....... another......

 

 

Yes, I have seen your posts and I was not intending to be facetious or disrespectful.  I can not imagine where else I would wind up if I allowed myself to focus exclusively on those issues that set off my hot buttons. 

 

 

We have had as many as 14 dogs in the house - Australian Shepherds.  We were on five acres with decent jobs and good health.  Even so, it was too many dogs.  Now, we are living in town and my husband has been very ill recently.  So we are not accepting foster dogs at the moment.

I can not allow either of us to get down about it.  We will do more when we can.

 

Thank you.

 

I'm on meds, and have done mindfulness stress reduction training, and have and use social support. But I still struggle with it.

Cathy

Hope your husband is ok as well.

Great general advice, TG!

Ooh, another excellent point. There are, as far as I'm aware, a large number of different studies all pointing to the significant benefits of exercise on mood (e.g. depression/anxiety). Even just going for a walk around the block is better than no exercise at all. If you find it difficult to get motivated, try recruiting a friend to schedule a regular time to go for a walk with. Often having someone just being there will help you break through a motivation barrier.

Also, pets. (Only try this if you're reasonably sure you can take decent care of a pet.) Pets are also shown to help with mood, and a dog is a great motivator to get up and go for a walk (pet plus exercise = bonus benefits). A pet like a cat or dog is in many ways like having a human friend around, and if you are having a hard time maintaining relationships with humans, a pet can be a great substitute. (Personally, I love animals.  I consider cats and dogs as 'people' even though most humans wouldn't. To me it's just too obvious that they have individual personalities. Personality => Person. IMHO.)

I agree, it is hard. In the end, I decided that I simply could not give up caring altogether (I know lots of people who have given up caring, yuck). However, I also knew that I couldn't continue to care about everything. So, I picked the one thing that I think is the most important root-cause of most of the problems I see, namely religion, and that's what I focus on.

Bin Laden dead? I don't have time to care, one way or another. If I really spent the time to think about it, I would be able to rant all day, but my mental health would suffer, and ultimately I would be less able to take care of the things that I really care about. I let it slide, knowing that my powers are very limited, being only one person. I choose to reserve those energies for working on the theism problem in my own little way.

Tsunamis? Tornadoes? Floods? Incredibly tragic, but I simply cannot put in the effort to really care about it. I wish I could, but again, my mental health would suffer, and ultimately, I would end up paralyzed and ineffective.

Politics? I stopped caring when Dubya got 'elected' the second time. That was the last straw. My camel's back got broken on that one. This camel ain't going nowhere if he doesn't dump that whole straw pile for the time being. Again, religion had a big part to play in it, so if I just focus on that, I'll indirectly be 'caring' about politics without going crazy actually caring about politics.

Etc. The list of nasty shit going on in the world is virtually endless. Gotta focus on what I have the best chance at influencing. Don't spread myself too thin. Pick one major issue and care deeply about that.

That's how I've managed to overcome a large portion of my anxieties. And then there's all the anxieties from just life in general, not to mention the global stuff. It's perhaps more challenging, but definitely worthwhile to pick and choose your battles in your personal life as well.

I can't care too much about what other people think, for instance, because other people tend to think really crazy shit, and there's nothing I can do in most cases to influence that. For me, I've chosen to focus on critical thinking and education, which is about influencing people to stop believing in crazy shit in the long run. Again, this is all tied to religion as well, so it fits nicely with my strategy for staying sane on the global level as well.

Anyway, I think that's what's meant by 'not caring'. It doesn't mean not caring at all (or at least it doesn't have to). It's about picking and choosing what you have the ability to influence and the capacity to care about deeply without sacrificing your mental health.

Quoted for truth! The Emperor's New Toilet Paper: The little kid yells out, "But the Emperor's got shit all over his hands!"

Sorry to hear about your stress/panic, Brian. Here's wishing you a happier mental state. I'm not praying for you!

yeah, i know.  i would be majorly pissed off by it if i thought it actually bothered you, but you seem as centered as a person can be under the circumstances.  but i'm glad he got put in his place here, b/c Ben is obviously not coping as well as he'd like and is reaching out.

We are here ta talk with ya. Find time for sunlight.  I was a second and third shift person for years and found some studies as to inadequate sunlight as contributing to depression. I like the night better than the day but you have to open those curtains and get outside a bit. Studies have found Seattle's populace to have higher levels of depression because of all the rain. There are studies on long term nights in Alaska I've seen. I am not saying that I am certain that these are valid but you can not dismiss them with out a try.  Find what the depression is about if anything. Share it with someone. Talk to friends about meaningless or funny stuff. It is the companionship and socialization that is therapeutic. Seriously relaxation techniques and meditation help. It changes oxygen levels because of learned breathing.  There are changes in serotonin and attitude. Research it with a google and find a method comfortable for you. I am producing specific relaxation technique CD's for my wife to sell.  Some people do well with guided meditation. Some with relaxation. Others with breathing or a combination of several. When you cahnge heart rate and oxygen levels as well as blood pressure it effects your endocrine  glands. Do not assume this is an end all solution. Check for different medication, socialize and watch very funny movies. My wife and I go through all 11 seasons of Frasier in a year's time because it makes us laugh more than most comedies. I love Community as well and Friends. Watch 'em with someone. WE are here a type away.

 

 

 

I've tried drugs for my depression too. Nothing available in the 1980s would touch it. Eventually, the shrink said that was all there was, and he and I decided that I could and should try other things - mostly from talk therapy. It helped some.

I tried Paxil, started having mood swings (a possible side effect), so put on a mood stabilizer by a GP. Then, I attempted suicide. I've been suicidal before, but nothing like this. It was a job for me to talk myself out of it - it seemed almost a compulsion. I was taken off the Paxil, and the mood swings went away. I was taken off all psychiatric drugs 8 years ago, and have never looked back.

I've learned since that there are no studies that show that any antidepressant works for longer than 6 weeks. There are a lot of other long-term effects too. One of the most disturbing of these is that many antidepressants increase the risk of suicide - double or even triple. The whole "chemical imbalance" theory is week at best, but seems to be used in advertising that you will need them the rest of your life - which is accepted - even by doctors, almost the way a religion is. There are various places to read about this, but Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker is probably the best referenced book I've seen on the subject. Robert Whitaker is a journalist, not on either end of prescribing medication. Read the book, and look up at least some of the referenced research results. For a pretty good review, see http://www.randomhouse.com/book/189611/anatomy-of-an-epidemic-by-robert-whitaker/9780307452412/

I'm still depressed, and probably always will be. There are several safe, non-drug approaches to this, and they've made it all but unoticable most of the time. Here's the combination of things that seems to help me (in no particular order):

1) Get enough rest, and enough exercise.

2) Get enough full-spectrum light. Sunlight is best for at least a few minutes per day, but that may not be possible for everyone with daily schedules particularly at northern or southern latitudes in the winter.

3) Change your thinking habits. Everything isn't dire, nor the worst that's ever been. Material in the book Mental Health through Will Training by Dr. Abraham Low, MD, is excellent in talking yourself away from the "disturbing" issues and projections of the future. It teaches you to take a rational approach, and avoid illogical or even superstitious/magical approaches that can well lead into delusion. Rational approaches are also more likely to solve the problem at hand.

4) Eat a balanced diet. Nothing faddish. I'm suggesting eating things from all of the food groups in proper amounts each day in several meals - like your health teacher, school nurse, or mother would have been proud of. Taking supplements is okay, but do it wisely. A daily multi-vitamin probably won't hurt you, but excessive amounts of some vitamins and minerals might. Plenty of quacks tout the benefit of overuse of some supplement, which they often conveniently sell and recommend their own brand of.

5) (Probably the most important) Do something  Do anything that is worthwhile in some way, is important to you, interests you. It can be your job, but it can be a hobby, doing something to the place you live (cleaning or redecorating). It can be to do something in or for some segment of your community. Best if it's active, and also usually it's very helpful if doing this puts you in contact with other people.

6) Have someone, or several people, you can confide in about things that bother you. You can use a professional counselor for part of it or not. Several different people are best. They can be a combination of your partner, your parents, your friends, or others.

I'm sorry you've had bad side effects with Paxil, but that is not an excuse to spread anti-scientific claims about anti-depressant medication. That's a dangerous and irresponsible habit.

You claim there are 'no studies' that show 'any antidepressant' works 'longer than 6 weeks'. These are very specific claims, and are easily debunked. There are in fact many studies that show a variety of anti-depressants work much longer than 6 weeks. How could you make your claim when you could have checked Google yourself to verify whether you were right?

I tried a couple searches, such as 'antidepressant efficacy weeks', and found lots of stuff. Note, I also found lots of nonsense from 'Big Pharma' conspiracy theorists, but when you filter that crap out and stick to the scientific literature, it is clear that many anti-depressants, notably Sertraline and Escitalopram, have lots of evidence to support them.

This general report summarizes the research and provides references to dozens of specific studies that you can check independently: http://www.pswi.org/professional/pharmaco/depression.pdf

This report from an organization affiliated with the CFI discusses the 'controversy' and shows that, as usual, it is over-hyped and catastrophized by the media and conspiracy theorists: http://www.srmhp.org/0201/media-watch.html

It turns out that depression is much more highly responsive to placebo effects than other illnesses, but it is still true that anti-depressants are more effective than placebo! That report also includes many references to other studies which can be confirmed independently.

Furthermore, a quick glance at Wikipedia (also including multiple references that can be checked) quickly dispels the myth that there are no long-term studies showing effectiveness of anti-depressants:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_serotonin_reuptake_inhibitor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sertraline

 

---

Again, another anti-scientific claim. The studies which show increased risk of suicide are too small to show a statistically significant increase in suicide. When they report an increase, they clearly state that it is not statistically significant.

If your study has fewer than 1000 patients, and a single person commits suicide (by chance rather than by a side-effect of the drug), that single person will bump up the study's 'suicide rate' from 0% to 0.1%, because all of a sudden you have 1 in 1000 patients committing suicide.

But suicide rates in the US, for example, are already only about 1 in 10,000! So while a single suicide makes the rate go 'up' from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 1000, there is no way you can call that a statistically significant result. The study is just too small, and suicide is too rare that even a single suicide would make it appear that there's a huge jump in the suicide rate.

In one of the wiki articles, a researcher was quoted saying that in order to really get a statistically significant result for suicide, you would have to have a study of more than 1 million people, which is totally out of the question in terms of cost.

Now, if you had something like 3 or 4 or 5 pople committing suicide in a study, then you'd have cause for concern.

The scientists are just being responsible when they report even these statistically insignificant results. You on the other hand -- and whoever you got that claim from -- are being irresponsible when you fail to report that the rate increase was not significant!

Right. Peer reviewed, double-blind studies from multiple sources (not just phramceutical companies) and comparing competing drugs. E.g. company A tries to prove that their drug X is better then drug Y from competitor B. Wouldn't company A love to find out that B's  drug  doesn't even work better than a placebo! Oh yes, company A would love that. But no, they find out that both X and Y are better than placebo, but X is better than Y under certain conditions.

So, what is it then, BethK? Is this a huge global conspiracy, with all the researchers (including non-profit and academic) in on it?

Oh yeah, and don't forget those drugs which have expired patents, such as Prozac and Zoloft (Sertraline). So-called 'Big Pharma' doesn't make shit off of those any more. They are sold as generic drugs, and they are still prescribed by responsible physicians who base their treatments on science and not conspiracy nut fear-mongering.

Wait wait wait. A journalist? Not a scientist? Not someone with a scientific reputation to uphold, but some hack looking to write a juicy conspiracy book to get famous with? Please.

I'm sincerely sympathetic and sorry to hear that. Your other advice is good and helpful to just about anyone, I think.

There are indeed people who for various reasons do not respond to medication, or have too severe side-effects to continue taking them, or simply don't have access. And even for those taking medication, your tips would be beneficial to augment their treatment. But it is seriously irresponsible and dangerous to go around spreading fear-based rumours and anti-scientific claims as you did. This is depression we're talking about, and suicide is one of the increased risks from depression, and if someone is deterred from seeking professional medical help because they are afraid of the drugs, I hate to say it, but you're contributing to that problem. Stop it.

I had nasty depression the past few years, about 6 months ago I woke up and the dark cloud lifted somewhat.  At first I lied to myself, almost the same as finding a religion, but I didn't go that far.  This just made the depression worse since it heaped loads of extra problems on me that I made up.  What I found helped me the most, other than withdrawing from everyone and everything and restarting my life from almost day one.  I question everything that was taught me.  I talked to someone that wasn't family or friend.  Someone who had no stake in my future, someone who could really give a rats ass about me.  That was a psychiatrist.  They were blunt when they needed to be, but they listened.  On most topics they agreed with me and said it wasn't wrong in any way to think that way.   I think it was because I was brutally honest with them.  My depression was so bad I actually looked like a cancer patient, with the hair of course.  We talked briefly one day about drugs to help, since I couldn't hold a job and was blacking out in my car while driving.  I was never prescribed anything though, since mind altering drugs should be for recreation not for healing.  I had quit drinking and everything during this time.

I guess my advice, find a place of security.  Be it your room, closet, mountain top.  Then once you are there relax, meditate, run around naked, scream at the moon, punch a baby.  What ever relaxes you.  Just be truthful to yourself and don't try to be an adult, the world be damned.  In the end only I could bring myself out of my funk, almost all the way there now.  I know have reset my career goals, and remembered what it was I wanted to do with myself when I was a kid.

 

  At first I was going to reply to BethK but then I thought why bother ?  Nevertheless, I appreciate that she was willing to offer what she considered to be helpful advice. ( thank you Beth )     At this stage I really don't put too much stock into what other people believe works best or any other anecdotal evidence they have to offer.  I am 52 years old and I have been consulting mental health professionals since I was 19.  None of this is new to me.  If any of these drugs and or protocols were going to work for me I would already know it. 

   The only new drug that I might consider taking now is called viibryd.  I believe that it's just now been approved by the FDA.

 

 

 

 

                                  Thank you TG.  I will google it for additional info.

    Did you mean ultram / tramadol ?    I checked it out and it does seem to come with some constraints that might prevent it being prescribed for psychiatric  ( off label ) purposes.  It's chemically similar to opiates, is somewhat addictive, lowers seizure threshold, yada yada.   It probably would make me feel better but I doubt that I could find a shrink whose willing to prescribe to me as I don't have issues with physical pain.