I don't know that much about aromatherapy. I beleive as an adjunct to therapy is a sound way to go. I don't think it will necessarily cancel out negative thoughts you're thinking. But if you recall or experience a particularly comforting scent, go for it. I can understand that it can be relaxing.
About me. I'm new to the course. The relaxation tape actually produces anxiety and obsessions in me. I switched to a relaxing tape of my own called The River of Tranquility. I have a better response to that. I'm doing session 2 and working with the flash cards, trying hard to stay in the moment (I have great difficulty with this). If I could live in the here and now I'd be better off. I guess it takes time. I've been a big coffee drinker I guess to aid in my fight with depression. But Lucinda advised to get off it. Now I'm down to one cup a day; the rest of the day I drink decaf.
I'm in a study to help with my depression, hopefully. It's called Deep Brain Stimulation. Has anyone heard of it? I actually had brain surgery to implant an electrode on my brain (the pleasure center) which is attached to a lead down my neck to a battery pack in my chest under the skin. The researcher activates the battery or pretends to. You see, it's a double-blind study; I won't know if it's been activated until July. Two out of three patients on average have it turned on. But there is only three people in the study thus far. It's been two months and I don't feel any better. The doctors say it's too soon to evaluate its effectiveness, that it's a slow process. I get nervous that it's "on" and I'm just not responding. If I find out that it's not been turned on during the initial six months, I'm then guaranteed to get it for the next six months. Anyway, I bought Lucinda's course as an adjunct to the DBS. Perhaps it will help me. I have OCD, yet depression is more of the problem. I'm 51 and I've been suffering for about 40 years. I've been in about 25 years of various modalities of therapy with no good result to eliminate or improve my symptoms. My drug regimen has been a blessing. My OCD and depression are much better. I still suffer a lot, however. I think I have been on all the antidepressants and I've had ECT (which failed and really hindered my memory in a big way since). So DBS and Lucinda's course are sorta a last resort. I'm not going to hurt myself in any case. However, I don't know of any promising treatments down the road. And I'm not getting any younger.
Any comments about any of this? Please tell me how you are doing in the course and how long before you saw a significant change.
Thanks for reading.
Scott
aromatherapy?
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Guest
Hi Scott,You are one brave person to have participated in the DBS study.I,ve never heard of it.I,m interseted in knowing the results.I can,t imagine the anticipation.
Your story sounds similar to mine.I,ve been struggling with depression and ocd for 35 years.As I,ve said before I really think it goes as far back as my childhood.When I think back I recognize the signs of both at an early age.Not sure why.A significant amount of turmoile in the household could have something to do with it.I,ve taken zoloft(7 years),I guess it took the edge off and a little more.Recently I decided to discontinue it,s use.I,ve heard of some side effects and I,d rather not take medecation unless I absolutley must.Lately I,ve been very irritable and overly sensetive (lots of tears).So I have to admit,the zoloft helped.Who knows,I just may decide to use it again.I at least wanted to make an attempt to be medecation free.
You said you,re on the 2nd session,I hope and pray for good results for you.I think if we follow the program as instructed we should expect good results. I,m also on the 2nd week.My problem is NEGATIVITY.The entire day I find myself having to fight off bad thoughts.They actually do cause me to feel sick.I,m stubborn.
OH,by the way,what is ECT?
Liz
Your story sounds similar to mine.I,ve been struggling with depression and ocd for 35 years.As I,ve said before I really think it goes as far back as my childhood.When I think back I recognize the signs of both at an early age.Not sure why.A significant amount of turmoile in the household could have something to do with it.I,ve taken zoloft(7 years),I guess it took the edge off and a little more.Recently I decided to discontinue it,s use.I,ve heard of some side effects and I,d rather not take medecation unless I absolutley must.Lately I,ve been very irritable and overly sensetive (lots of tears).So I have to admit,the zoloft helped.Who knows,I just may decide to use it again.I at least wanted to make an attempt to be medecation free.
You said you,re on the 2nd session,I hope and pray for good results for you.I think if we follow the program as instructed we should expect good results. I,m also on the 2nd week.My problem is NEGATIVITY.The entire day I find myself having to fight off bad thoughts.They actually do cause me to feel sick.I,m stubborn.
OH,by the way,what is ECT?
Liz