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I think, if I were Tom, I would not be taking advice on how to deal with this problem on a medical basis on this forum. I would seek the best medical advice I could... which is probably sourced through your GP.

The thing is, depression and bi-polar disorder are very different problems. So what works in the treatment of one doesn't work for the treatment of the other. It is very important not to change the medicine you are taking without seeking medical advice first. Because, frankly, any change to the medicine even with doctors monitoring is risky.

That doesn't mean Mark Lewis is wrong; you should see a doctor, and get second opinions, and adjust the medicines as appropriate.

Beyond medicine, you can do things to reduce the severity of episodes even without contacting a doctor, such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs, following a consistent exercise program, minimizing stress, and keeping your sunlight exposure stable year round.

Further, you really should use Cognitive-behavioral therapy , Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy and/or Family-focused therapy. These are really about learning to live with the disorder. It can't be cured, even with medicine, so you must learn coping strategies.

Writing down your moods every day may help you learn what triggers your episodes. Keeping a diary,etc.

Beyond that, working out a program and character you can do when in a depressive episode may be another coping strategy... think Jack Dee.

If he is really taking 33 pills a day then I don't think I am wrong. I agree that he should take a doctor's advice but they are probably the ones who told him to take that many pills in the first place.

Sorry. I don't trust doctors. They get things wrong all the time. Just like magicians screw up card tricks all the time. The trouble is that if a magician screws up the worst that can happen is they look an idiot and most of them should be used to that.

If a doctor screws up he could bloody well kill you. The solution is obvious. See a GOOD doctor. That was all that I was trying to get at in the first place.

a therapist friend of mine would argue over whether depression should be seen as an illness, or an emotive state/condition...

if you tell yourself you are depressed - therefore you will be...

if you learn to see the signs of when depression sets in, you can learn coping mechanisms to help see you through...

i wonder, for those who experience depression how many is a genuine chemical imbalance (one of my best friends was born with very low serotonin levels) to 'being' depressed...i find it interesting how depression can be caused, but never cured...just as how some people are rarely depressed or down, yet another is, as said by someone else on here, crippled by it...

to go full circle - if you tell yourself you are 'something', then you probably are more likely to be that 'something'...

30-odd pills a day is a helluva lot of medication. Colin is 70 years old with several serious health problems, and he's only prescribed 11 pills a day. It sounds like a very good idea to schedule an appointment ASAP and go carefully through your meds list with your doctor.

Cognitive therapy is helpful to a lot of people. I'd agree that you'd probably benefit from some sort of coping assistance, whether it's cognitive or some other type. There might be all kinds of things you can do to improve your life and well-being, and you might never stumble across them on your own.

Being a teenager on top of it all isn't going to help, obviously. Things might well improve by themselves to some extent once you're past adolescence and the hormones have had a chance to settle down and even themselves out.

Meanwhile, get good food, exercise, and plenty of rest. Now that spring is here, get out in the fresh air and sunshine when you can. Go for walks, especially if you can experience a bit of nature along the way. Eat your lunch in a park as often as the weather allows. What nature can you see from your window? Keep an eye on it day by day. Even city pigeons can be fascinating once you get to know them.

mark lewis wrote:If he is really taking 33 pills a day then I don't think I am wrong. I agree that he should take a doctor's advice but they are probably the ones who told him to take that many pills in the first place.

Sorry. I don't trust doctors. They get things wrong all the time. Just like magicians screw up card tricks all the time. The trouble is that if a magician screws up the worst that can happen is they look an idiot and most of them should be used to that.

If a doctor screws up he could bloody well kill you. The solution is obvious. See a GOOD doctor. That was all that I was trying to get at in the first place.

I'm not disagreeing with you, Mark... but, it isn't so much sheer quantity as what is in the drugs he is taking for his bipolar disorder. And the drugs are both very strong, and difficult to get right. Even if you have a really good doctor.

But the reason I said he should see a doctor first is that these are very powerful drugs, and when you stop taking them it can cause psychotic episodes, and other nasties. A friend of mine tried to kill themselves after stoping taking the medicine.

Iain... I said I don't think biploar disease can be cured, most normal depressions actually do end after some period of time.

tomterm8 wrote:The thing is, depression and bi-polar disorder are very different problems. So what works in the treatment of one doesn't work for the treatment of the other. It is very important not to change the medicine you are taking without seeking medical advice first.

Absolutely agreed. I think everybody posting on this thread should read those three sentences at least two times

We don't know what medication Eshly is taking, some of them might not be for the treatment of BPD, remember he also suffers from Autism. And to tell someone to stop taking anti-depressants is very, very dangerous. It can kill if you're not weaned off them properly, or at the least the side-effects can be very unpleasant

And bipolar disorder isn't depression, the depression is a side-effect of bipolar disorder. The depression can be controlled with medication and other techniques (such as CBT), but bipolar is a physiological condition which sadly can't be cured.

On the flipside, bipolar has many positive attributes and concentrating on these can work wonders for your self-esteem

Whether or not it is a side-effect of another condition (diagnosed or not), depression can be crippling and is not nice at all. Most people thankfully get over it, but shouldn't we be helping these people rather than arguing semantics with them, treating them as lower class sufferers because their depression is for some reason less significant?

Call it clinically depressed, depressed, a bit low, under the weather, whatever. Like other medical conditions it will hopefully get better, and sometimes people just need help getting better. "Go out for a walk" isn't as easy when you're depressed and only want to curl up in the corner of a darkened room, not wanting to talk to anybody


Sorry for the rant

Beyond that, working out a program and character you can do when in a depressive episode may be another coping strategy... think Jack Dee.

Excellent idea

Can I ask that people be wary of what they reply to Eshly.

As someone who in his own words doesn't understand sarcasm etc etc, it may be wise to refrain from offering any opinions on medications,

All im saying is, albeit poorly.

Stating that's a hell of a lot of medication etc etc, may not be the best idea given Eshly's sometimes poor understanding of written context.

At the end of the day Eshly, you have far more available medical support than most.

Use them and be grateful.

My Dad and Grandad both died of smoking related diseases, and despite the things they suffered; emphysema, bowel cancer, heart attacks, and when one was classed as terminal and the other in intensive care....neither of them were prescribed anything like 30+ pills a day.

Every medication has side effects, from steroids to paracetamol. The human body would be a wreck within days handling the mix up of more than 30 lots of medication. IF Eshly has been prescribed that many, i'd imagine he has a pretty strong court case on his hands in this compensation culture because his brain and body are probably in tatters. No offence.

Before i started studying psychology i used to hate the term depression, as to me it was something too many people confused with being p*ssed off.

And we all get p*ssed off from time to time. Doesn't make you depressed. Makes you human.

The 'solution' to depression is whatever works for the individual, be it pills, talk therapy, lifestyle changes, whatever, and even that can sometimes only be a temporary fix.

I too have never heard of someone suffering a depressive attack in the middle of something like a stage performance but if it was Shakespeare i guess i can sympathise...

I am not telling him to give up his medication without permission from a doctor. However I am telling him urgently to discuss with someone who knows what they are talking about if 33 pills a day is a wise thing. I think it isn't. Still, I agree that I am not medically qualified so I am hesitant to tell him to stop. I am merely telling him to see a qualified person to discuss the amount of medication he is taking.

I suppose it was a psychiatrist who prescribed that amount of medication. I must say I am even more prejudiced against psychiatrists than I am against regular doctors. I have NEVER met a psychiatrist in my life who is actually sane. EVERY single one I have met appears to be madder than their patients.

I think some of them need to see a psychiatrist.

Kreskin has often said, "Anyone who sees a psychiatrist needs their head examined!"

I am half wondering if Eshly is a real person or if this is a great wind-up. I have never heard of a doctor prescribing 33 pills a day. It sounds downright dangerous to me.

mark lewis wrote:I am half wondering if Eshly is a real person

You're not the only one, I can assure you!

33 may not be as much as you think.

A while back I had a rather nasty injury for which I was prescribed painkillers.

two different one, paracetamol and brufren.

two each of those four times a day - 32 tablets.

Not particularly dangerous stuff but i can make it sound so if i tell you i took 32 different painkillers a day. (as each individual tablet was indeed different)

just take some of Eshlys stuff with a pitcher of salt lol..

Harris wrote:
i took 32 different painkillers a day.

ARRGGGHHH!!! Call an ambulance! Oh... So thats what reading the whole of a post before panicking is?

I must say that personally I am greatly looking forward to Eshly's show. I assume he will post details on here as to the venue & date?