Just finished Operating Instructions, which I loved because I love Anne Lamott and because I was hanging out with Baby Lucy. Am now reading Listening To Prozac, and last night just started "Unhooked Generation," a book that a publicist sent me hoping I would blog about it. And I will, when I'm finished. I am finding Listening to Prozac quite interesting, in its exploration of personality and self and various forms of depression and the things that pharmacology can do versus what therapy can do. I know that everyone else read it about 10 years ago. I just never got around to it. I'd like to read an updated version. Peter Kramer is a smart man.
I'm reading it a little too fast, I think, so the concepts don't have time to absorb and his level of specificity is hard for me. He keeps using terms that he introduced in the last chapter but that I can't quite remember the meanings of, so I'm lost in a sea of dysthymia and dysphoria and MAOIs and imipramine and ipronaizid and kindling and rapid cycling and rejection sensitivity. But I'm too engaged to go back and check which is which so I put my head down and push through hoping that context will remind me or I'll get the gist without focusing on the details. I'm not sure that's the best way to read this book. Certainly I'm missing things. But I find it a very interesting book, that raises great questions about the idea of the self. I've watched loved ones disappear into depression, and come back with the help of antidepressants -- Prozac and others. I guess everyone has.
RE: Listening to Prozac, where does the author stand as far as antidepressants being good or bad? I'm currently grappling with the question of whether or not they are the right path. I know that some people believe antidepressants actually worsen brain chemistry, while others believe that the longer one stays depressed, the harder it is to turn around. Being depressed myself, I am trying out various drugs and with each drug failure, I hope that I am not doing myself harm. I waited a long time--maybe too long--before choosing drug therapy, but I often wonder if I should even be doing it. Would therapy, vitamins, meditation, "getting out there", exercise, and all of the other things I'm doing work fine on their own, if I just gave them more time? (It certainly doesn't feel like it.) Or is it okay to put my faith in modern medicine?
Posted by: Kelly | March 13, 2006 at 05:32 PM
Peter Kramer wrote one of my favorite "relationship advice" books: Should You Leave?
Posted by: Jill | March 13, 2006 at 06:01 PM
Don't know if my opinion counts, Kelly, but in med school, we're learning that depression episodes beget more episodes -- in other words, depression probably damages your brain in such a way as to smooth the way for future periods of depression, so treatment with meds and psychotherapy help protect your brain by not getting it used to that pathway. At least that's my rudimentary understanding of it. Obviously I'm on the side of modern medicine, but from what I've seen, antidepressants really do save lives, for thousands of people. I'd discuss my concerns with my doctor if I were you.
Posted by: Eleanor | March 13, 2006 at 08:18 PM
Kelly, I thought I would get a clearer "good" or "bad" consensus from the book than I have. It doesn't really do that, though.
I suggest you read it for a lot of information about what was known in 1993 about the patterns and biology of depression. As I understand it, there is a connection between episodes of depression and increased susceptibility to deeper depression down the road. So medication and treatment of episodes prevents potentially deeper and longer/worse episodes later.
My sense from the book is that medication combined with therapy is fundamentally different than the kind of "buck up, camper" bootstraps methods you're describing (e.g. vitamins, exercise, getting out there) etc. And that medication/therapy can make it easier to start doing that, and getting positive social reinforcement that can let you change behavior patterns and adopt ones that might work better.
But read the book, and talk to the doc, because it's not crystal clear at all.
Posted by: Scheherazade | March 13, 2006 at 10:28 PM
Posted by: Teodor | July 04, 2007 at 07:43 PM
Hi bros!
Is anyone aware of these products in terms of efficacy and legitamacy? - http://steroidssupplier.com
i have heard they r good. let me know how it goes..
Thanks bros
Posted by: Gonzadexproshoot | July 19, 2007 at 05:53 AM
I am at a loss. I am looking to apply for a car loan but my current credit is not enough for that. I have learnt that I can actually buy good credit history and so improve my credit score. But I am afraid I may delay a payment and do a bad turn to both - the seller of credit history and myself. Maybe it's better to apply for a secured card at
i want to apply for a tribute mastercard
Posted by: bacreditbpu | August 07, 2007 at 01:41 PM