Can we treat my husband's depression better than all the drugs he's been given?
My husband had a stroke in September 2008. All was well until March 09 when our daughter's husband divorced her. My husband went into a depression, resulting in insomnia. His doctors put him on all types of meds - Prozac/Lexapro/Paxil (with adverse reactions) - the latest being Trazadone 100mg and Velafaxine. Is there some way without these meds to get his brain chemicals back in order?
Expert Answer
I'm sorry to hear about this. Depression after a stroke is very common, and it certainly does not help to have other regrettable life circumstances.
Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet for depression. When a patient of mine is suffering from depression after a stroke, I will sometimes try an anti-depressant, but I always strongly encourage them to seek out the help of a Psychiatrist or Psychologist. They have much more experience with lifestyle modifications and medications that can help. If you are interested in trying a non-medicine centered approach, I would start with a Psychologist. Psychologists are trained in treating depression without the use of medicines. I think you might find that very helpful.
I find the main hurdle is getting people to go for their initial visit. There is still a large stigma that surrounds seeking the help of a mental health professional, but I find that once people go for their initial visit, they continue to go thereafter.