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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by crazychickuk on July 13, 2005, at 18:29:13
Does our brains grow or renew brain cells that have been damaged by drug use?
i been told yes, no and in 10 years? by research etc...
thanks
Donna xxxx
ps... sorry i aint been here for a while, i hope all the regs are ok and everyone else reasing this :-)
Posted by linkadge on July 13, 2005, at 18:55:57
In reply to I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by crazychickuk on July 13, 2005, at 18:29:13
Yes they can grow new brain cells.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on July 13, 2005, at 18:58:41
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by linkadge on July 13, 2005, at 18:55:57
I don't think you ever use all your brain cells. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Racer on July 14, 2005, at 0:38:42
In reply to I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by crazychickuk on July 13, 2005, at 18:29:13
Up until very recently, the answer you would have gotten was "No. You have all your brain cells at birth." <<< Nutshell version, but that's the idea.
Recently, however, it's been found that adult brains are a lot more plastic than anyone thought before, and that anti-depressants actually stimulate the growth of new cells in the hippocampus. Pretty cool, huh? One theory is that that's why it takes so long for ADs to kick in: it's not the chemical changes per se, but that those changes foster new growth.
Anyway, the simple answer to your question is, "Yes. You will grow new brain cells to replace those you've lost or damaged."
Of course, it helps to stay away from drugs now, and so on. Also, and just because I care about you -- and have missed you -- lemme say that I strongly recommend therapy for you, if you're not still doing it, because that can also alter your brain chemistry, which in turn will foster new brain cell development. Win-win, huh?
How you doing, girl?
Posted by Phillipa on July 14, 2005, at 0:46:37
In reply to I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by crazychickuk on July 13, 2005, at 18:29:13
Donna, are you still doing the CBT? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by crazychickuk on July 14, 2005, at 2:49:57
In reply to I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by crazychickuk on July 13, 2005, at 18:29:13
Hello..
yeah im sort of doing ok, im doing cbt, i have met a wonderfull gut we been together for 2 mnths now he is perfect !!just asking cus i got a scare today, like i was losing my mind, was well scarey, was due to pick demi my daughter up from school i didnt wanna go cus its so hot here its the hottest in history i think in the uk, anyway i was pretty anxious dunno y, and when i got to the school i held onto the gate cus i thought i was gonna fall, susan and jo was talking to me i looked at them and it was as if i wasnt there that i was somewhere else.. and i felt all panicky had to sit down thought i were gonna pass out not cus of the heat but cus of my mind was well weird..
and still feels weird now to as if i aint here.. i cant think of anything iom stressed about apart from this..
but my physcologist reckons drugs have damaged me and it will never get better but i will just learn to cope with it.. (no ad's she adviced also same as my doctor, they not doing me no good)
i just take day by day live it as i go by, no emotion etc i try..
how are all of you doing? and what can u suggest about my funny turns?
love yall
Donna xx
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on July 14, 2005, at 4:09:32
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by crazychickuk on July 14, 2005, at 2:49:57
Donna, was it a panic attack? I don't know, but sounds like it....maybe? I'm get those funny turns too, but from what I've read, mine aren't as serious as panic attacks, but I go really really weird. Ususally things to do with my health. My friend was given benzo (something or other - I can't remember) and they calm you down for a couple of hours or so. I don't know if your GP would be willing to give you a couple for future attacks - they have high street value. But my friend swears by them.
Anyway - I'm enjoying the heat here in the UK! :0)
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on July 14, 2005, at 4:14:44
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by Meri-Tuuli on July 14, 2005, at 4:09:32
PS
Donna, I meant to ask you - did you get cbt on the nhs? I would love to give it a go but dunno if I can get it - I was offered 6 councelling sessions on the nhs, and thats it. And its like, what can you accomplish with just six sessions? By the time the concellor has got their head round my family and all my childhood issues, it'd be over! I've tried cbt books, but I give up - its too painful and like obvious. ah well.Hope you're feeling better today!
Posted by crazychickuk on July 14, 2005, at 4:17:55
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by Meri-Tuuli on July 14, 2005, at 4:14:44
I pay £40 every 4 weeks to see a physcologist private !! dont even waste your time with the nhs !! (wales here)
i have valuim but it makes me anxious ...
i fight everything my mind is so overpowering ! :-(
cant stand the heat
Posted by xbunny on July 14, 2005, at 4:59:54
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by Meri-Tuuli on July 14, 2005, at 4:14:44
Hi, Im not Donna, but...
> Donna, I meant to ask you - did you get cbt on the nhs? I would love to give it a go but dunno if I can get it - I was offered 6 councelling sessions on the nhs, and thats it. And its like, what can you accomplish with just six sessions? By the time the concellor has got their head round my family and all my childhood issues, it'd be over!
I got CBT on the NHS and found it to be of decent quality and worthwhile utility. I got quite a few sessions, 12 I think, with a lady who had just started specializing in CBT for psychosis which is my primary problem. We stopped as she had to move to continue her research work. Took me forever to get an NHS therapist though; from the horses (psychiatrists) mouth "we have available CBT slots but none of our therapists are willing to take you on as a patient." - gee thanks. In a way Im glad I had to wait since I really got the right therapist in the end.
I have also been on an NHS group anxiety management course which included some CBT like elements, I found it to be of poor quality and minimal use. We never had a a final session where we evaluated the quality of the course but I reckon most of the other people probably didnt get very much from it either.Buns
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on July 14, 2005, at 7:56:41
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION » Meri-Tuuli, posted by xbunny on July 14, 2005, at 4:59:54
Hi Buns and Donna
It really sucks that we pay all this money in tax to get the nhs - which is a good thing in theory and in emergency situations and god help us if we were to live in the US where you have to pay for everthing....
but, I have found the nhs to be of soooooo little use in helping me discover the underlying conditions of depression and aniexty and what annoys me, is that if you were to do to the doc with a PHYSICAL illness, there would be all kinds of help, clinics etc for you. But no, they don't realise that depression is really dehilibating and don't do anything other than presribe ADs. I guess it depends on where you live as well. I had some sessions with a CPN (community physch nurse) but then I had to move and it wasn't much use anyway. And at that point in my life I was so bad then that I he was just literally checking that I was living/eating/sleeping. Ah well.......
Maybe I should pay to see a CBT. I think it would really help. I guess you have to get a good GP. Also I have problems expressing myself and I never really manage to get out what I really what to say and you have like a minute to tell everything to your GP.
Posted by crazychickuk on July 14, 2005, at 8:41:00
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by Meri-Tuuli on July 14, 2005, at 7:56:41
Look through the yellow pages .. find a physcologist i pay £40 may be cheaper or same where you are, see them every 4 weeks if you can, i get disability allowance so im lucky with money till my review in january :-S
go from there hun all will be gr8 .. i also have a fantastic partner who is my soul mate and he helps me so much..
cbt is wat the physcologist does and also she/he can diagnose you proply.. sod the meds if you can, they have caused me more greif !! i take vitamin b and omega !!
my email is [email protected] if ya wanna chat .. i will try find a website i went to which does cbt i printed aloud of stuff out but i cant member the site address, i did post it here some time ago... if u do a google search for online cbt i am sure you will come accross it, was the belljar one !!
again get looking in the yellow pages !!
Anything i can do to help just buzz me..
Donna xx
Posted by xbunny on July 14, 2005, at 11:58:06
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by Meri-Tuuli on July 14, 2005, at 7:56:41
> Hi Buns and Donna
>I had some sessions with a CPN (community physch nurse) but then I had to move and it wasn't much use anyway. And at that point in my life I was so bad then that I he was just literally checking that I was living/eating/sleeping. Ah well.......I cant recommend enough getting a CPN. CPN's are like hidden elves who get thing done for you in your local CMHT (community mental health team - if you arent refered to yours get referred, it is were the help is).
Useful things my CPN does:
Goes with me when I visit the psychiatrist, helping me to get out what I am trying to say and generally acting as an advocate.
Talking to the psychiatrist and GP on my behalf when I have a problem.
Arranging for crisis team intervention, extra psych appts, calling the ER ahead of me should that kind of thing be required.
Allowing me to keep in the know of resources which might be available to me such as group therapy, CBT, occupational therapy, employment support etc.
Visits me at home to discuss meds, life, mental health etc often visits then cycle back to the other things such as getting a support worker.
Arranged for a nice lady to fill out my DLA application with me and hence get DLA with miminal hassle.
Organising and following up my careplan, its all great if the psychiatrist says oh you should get CBT but the CPN is one who can follow that up and you can nag them etc :-)>
> Maybe I should pay to see a CBT. I think it would really help.As far as I know its unlikely CBT would get to the root cause of your problem. CBT is a problem solving, todays issues, kinda therapy.
That said I recommend CBT. Good luck finding an affordable private therapist. In my town there is a building with about 6 therapists all acreditted by the British Assoc for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the one I saw was pretty rubbish and the one my wife saw was ridiculously bad! They were vaguely affordable at £30 a visit at least.Buns
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on July 15, 2005, at 4:12:56
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION--meri, posted by crazychickuk on July 14, 2005, at 8:41:00
Hey Donna and Buns, thanks for the advice. I will defo look one up. I'm moving in two months, so will probably start something then.
Wow- I didn't know that CPNs did so much! Sounds like they really are the hidden saints of the mental health team. I probably wouldn't be classed as serious enough to get a CPN, but maybe when I move I will be more assertive and actually just tell the doc what I need - like what the options are wi/CPNs therapy etc on the NHS. I really really really HATE going to the docs - its like my worst nightmare! You get like two minutes or whatever, and I have real trouble expressing myself and telling him what I really feel, and like that I have a history of self harm and things like that. ah well. I'll have to make a real go of things at the new place I'm going to. :-)
Posted by Sebastian on July 17, 2005, at 12:12:15
In reply to I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by crazychickuk on July 13, 2005, at 18:29:13
Brains grow new brain cells, after drug use. I read that in NIDA notes. And they often can grow faster.
Posted by crazychickuk on July 17, 2005, at 14:15:07
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION, posted by Sebastian on July 17, 2005, at 12:12:15
WOw thanks ..
how long does this take?
i feel the antidepressants have made me like this, i only went to doc with baby blues after having my daughter 5 half yrs ago.. he gave me effexor ever since i have suffered....
i feel it is cus my brain has got so used to my thought patterns and stuff thats why i am like this? then i feel the meds have damaged me for life, my phsc reckons my past drug use extasy speed made me like this(took these 9 yrs to 7 yrs ago) had this condition for 5 yrs ?i dunno just need to stay positive cus when i am i feel good then when i get one neg thought in my head thats it then !!
wats your opinion on this?
Posted by Phillipa on July 17, 2005, at 17:47:55
In reply to Re: I HAVE A QUESTION-- seb, posted by crazychickuk on July 17, 2005, at 14:15:07
Donna, It's true. I thought me and my husband would go somewhere today relaxing instead he made me a nervous wreck by almost falling asleep at the wheel. And he had plenty of sleep. I felt positive when I went to sleep last night so no nightmares and minimal joint pain today. I feel it was the positive thoughts of a good day today. Fondly, Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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