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Your friend seems to be lacking Serotonin, a chemical naturally produced by the body and used as a neurotransmitter by the brain. For many reasons (genetics, food, lifestyle) very often people's systems sometimes fail to reach the needed levels of serotonin and this translates into symptoms such as depression, irritability, stomach problems, etc...EXERCISE is known to spike the levels of serotonin dramatically. It would appear to me (opinion) that the Doctor is treating the symptoms (imsomnia) and may not be in tune with the underlying cause(s). The fatigue she experiences may also be a side effect of the meds she is in. A Catch-22.
I would definitely encourage her to engage in an Exercise Plan where she gradually increases the duration and frequency of exercise activity. As she gains endurance, to start lowering the dossage of the meds. The exercise should NOT be done right before going to bed, but anywhere between a couple of hours after getting up to 4 hours before planning bed time.
I think that you are very well intended but that you may be over-simpliflying a recovery plan for your dear friend. It takes a lot of hard work and time to get out of a severe depression cycle(s), and three months (March 2015) may be a bit too soon. While working on recovery, she should stay closer to her medical support. I think it is a fantastic idea to plan a travel adventure that involves physical activity, but I would advise you to plan such closer to home and more limited in scope...but by all means, you are definitely on the right track. Best of luck!
Walter,Thanks a lot for your advice, Olivares. It helps to clarify things. However, having had to watch my friend getting worse over the years despite medical support, I feel it's time to try something new. The doctors never supported my suggestion for more exercise, despite all the signals that it helps, just as you outline so well.
Your friend will feel vulnerable when she thinks about doing this camino.With my friend even photos of people looking happy, content could provoke social anxiety, there was an inner mechanism that would make him want to hide from such situations, part of him felt not worthy of being amongst happy people,so sometimes even selling it as a place of transformation could be unsettling, he could not imagine the change for him only other people.
On the few occasions when I managed to motivate her to join me for a day of cycling or hiking, she brightened psychologically, even if she was very tired physically.
@Walter1407, a 1400 mile walk would be daunting to many people, including me. I sense that your motive for wanting to include your friend in this potentially healing endeavor is loving kindness, but I wonder if you aren't being a bit overly optimistic. There is potential healing, but there is also potential breaking. You say that she could quit whenever she wants to, but will she recognize the need to do so should it arise, and more importantly, will she act upon it if she does recognize it? Are you willing to interrupt your Camino at any moment to escort her back to her "safe" world? If you see that she is improving by doing day trips, have you considered postponing your long journey and continuing with day, then multiday, etc while her healing progresses. Your priorities are unknown to me so I can't guess where her healing fits in or how much personal sacrifice you are willing to endure. I do think that you would be taking on a huge responsibility. As for the medication question, I agree that it could be dealt with along the way, but again, dealing with it could result in delays to your progress. Only you know how such delays would effect you. Finally, can you maintain your own well being on such an arduous slog, with the added burden of concern for a fragile companion?
@Walter1407, it sounds as if you are prepared to make whatever sacrifices are necessary. (You may not consider them sacrifices but I do.). I wish you both the very best. Buen Camino, and please keep us posted.
I cannot remember that one, but I liked the authors ironic humour.I applaud your heroic effort on behalf your friend. In fact, I (and tout le monde) would do well to have a friend like you. Sounds like the beginning of...a grand adventure. However, to paraphrase a remark made in a "sci fi" novel (Philip K. Dick) in which a therapist advises his patient: "you've got to stop wanting to help people"
It makes me wonder if she has some other diagnosis that is untreated?, does she suffer from suicidal thoughts?, does she suffer from loneliness?, does she have a job?, friends (apart from you)?, does she have a hard time or history of failing?
The questions that I wonder about is to establish how fragile she is to anticipate the outcome of your proposition.
You ask if it can hurt her.
It may hurt her.
And it may be the best thing in her life up until now.
I think it is crucial that she wants to do this herself.
In order to progress when being in a crisis, the personal self insight; needing the change, has to be present.
Very few project or therapy will be successful if the individual does not want it, but of course the person might not see the potential of a proposition unless someone (you) explains it for them. So I do absolutely think you are doing the right thing, proposing an activity she cannot discover herself.
In the end though, she needs to want to do this herself.
And to make it less frightful, I think one approach could be to make a plan based on one day at the time.
Maybe have a goal of walking for one week. Thats it.
After one week, a new decision is to be made.
Do bear in mind that 1400 miles can seem next to crazy for even the most balanced and prepared person. (sounds great to me)
I think the right thing would be to to have professionals evaluate the situation, unless she would be strong enough to go through this alone.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Lettinggo. And yes, there have been some fantastic replies. Apart from depression, my friend has been diagnosed with an anomaly in her brain function. According to doctors, there is no damage, even though the anomaly is in precisely the spot on which she fell when she had an accident. There could be other, undiagnosed conditions. Passive suicidal thoughts exist, as must be expected in such a case. She has many good friends but has herself withdrawn more and more over the last two years. She is not working anymore; we are (or rather I am) engaged in a legal dispute with the insurance, but a lawyer is now taking over.
My friend finds it hard to understand what a Camino is about. And she does not know what she wants, not just re. the Camino but re. just about everything. The whole thing comes down to whether her trust in me is stronger than her fear of things unknown to her. My concrete suggestion is that she joins me on the first day with just a short hike, and then decides whether she wants to continue, and does the same on day 2, 3, 4, 5 ... Her current thinking is that she will join me for a bit at the beginning and then again later, e.g. for the beautiful stretch between Le-Puy and Conques/Figeac. I doubt though that she'll feel up to travelling to France when the time comes.
The professionals that have been dealing with my friend's case so far, have (let me put this diplomatically) not done too well. Three circulatory collapses were the result. From January, a new and much better psychiatrist will be in charge. She will see my friend twice a week at the beginning.
Valis, or A Scanner Darkly...Can't find the relevant phrase in Google atm so I have to reread them both anyway--in one of "those" headspaces.I cannot remember that one, but I liked the authors ironic humour.
My thoughts come from experience with a brother who was honorably discharged several decades ago from the United States Navy and unable to live independently due to his mild physical and severe mental illness. So the word "severe" stands out for me in the OP. Sometimes when he visits me, he is simply unable to participate in any activities all the while prior wanting to. And much sleeping due to the meds carefully sorted for number of days stay by his nurses. Sometimes I plan (many times) outings but after making the drive to him (three and a half hours), he feels unable. This puts an added pressure on him as he becomes very apologetic for being "unable" and I return home another three and half hours later not having had time with him. But the bottom line is what he is left with: his feelings that he let me down, his feelings of failure, which only exacerbate the condition. The feeling that he is not up to par with others. Of course he gets no pressure from me, and I am used to it. My other thought is regarding down dosing - not something to be done by a non-professional or over the phone but something which needs to be closely monitored. A few good days does not indicate a signal to down dose, but rather , in a severe case, perhaps aiding a stable dose. It is a very long trip to undertake, and I would advise you to seek professional advice from a medical professional both individually and together before chewing off such an arduous adventure. Buen Camino.
I would like to suggest that if, after careful consideration, you do go on the Camino with your friend, the two of you pay special attention to her return to regular life. I sometimes suffer from depression and found the Camino experience to be, as others have said, wonderful medicine for my symptoms. However, when I returned home I was slammed with one of the worst periods of depression I have ever experienced. Whether it was the sudden decrease in the amount of exercise and sunlight I was getting or the termination of a deeply satisfying and spiritual experience I can't say--but it was very, very difficult to return to my regular life. I don't know yet what I will plan for my next Camino's end, but I am already thinking about how I can avoid a repeat of my previous experience.
I was not going to talk about my own experience but here goes. I had depression in 2005, it was a cumulation of things which left me unable to carry on working at the time and close friendships dissolved, I did not want people to be around me and so hid away. My saving grace was that I knew somehow, somewhere, eventually it would pass even if at the time my inner landscape felt like it had fallen under a dark, deep harsh winter. Eventually the time came again to start the walk forward again. I reconstructed my life as best I could. People who know me now but not before can not believe that I suffered from depression. But for me I did not feel complete yet, I found it hard to laugh freely and naturally, I realised that when I was listenining to people I was mostly hearing my own inner dialogue, anything creative(imagination) had been destroyed during the deepest depression and lots of other things which when I tried to talk about them ended up being dismissed as meaningless fears.I sometimes suffer from depression and found the Camino experience to be, as others have said, wonderful medicine for my symptoms. However, when I returned home I was slammed with one of the worst periods of depression I have ever experienced.
Good day!
A close female friend of mine has been suffering from severe depression for a few years. Psychotherapy does not help much, and the medication she is taking makes her sleep for 10 or even 12 hours per day. She has become more and more afraid of things and especially of people.
On the few occasions when I managed to motivate her to join me for a day of cycling or hiking, she brightened psychologically, even if she was very tired physically.
I have recently suggested to her to join me from the outset of my pilgrimage which will begin in March next year. She'll of course be able to quit any time she wants. I am starting 1400 miles from Santiago, planning to take it easy all the way, and especially during the first days.
My hope is that the Camino will help her get away from the circles of dark thoughts that are turning in her head. My fear is that things, something, will run out of control, and that her situation could become worse than it was before. Currently, she would not be able to walk alone. I believe that the Camino could be of great benefit to her, but I cannot be sure. And I don't want to encourage her to do something that could hurt her.
Assuming that she joins me, and assuming that things go well, I think she'll have to adjust (reduce) her medication at some point. We would have to sort this out by contacting the doctor by telephone. Probably because of her medication, my friend cannot handle strong sunlight and heat well. Should we manage to get as far as Spain together, this could become an issue, and is one of the reasons I would prefer to walk the (physically harder) Camino del Norte.
I have talked to my friend's psychiatrist who is hesitant. As she doesn't know much about the Camino I would much appreciate any feedback (forum reply or private message) that might help us take the right decisions. Thanks!
I have Bi Polar. I have severe depressions and moments of "glory" as I call them. One of the things every doctor I have ever been to has told me is to get out and walk. Walking increases endorphins which actually help people with depression. But to jump into a Camino would be daunting. It is something you will have to work with her to help her. I would think the idea of it would be more difficult than the actual pursuit. Sometimes depressed people struggle with getting going or feeling out of place. Also for me I have to be aware of the highs created by an endeavour such as the Camino...coming down from the high of it could be difficult but I think with well laid plans and keeping my Dr and family and friends informed I should be ok. I have also asked my sister who lives in Sweden to join me when I get there so I am not alone at the end of it. I am walking alone and think if she is with someone she will be fine. ALSO the walking is a great way to work through some of the issues she may have that have led to the depression. My opinion for what it is worth is that it would be beneficial for her. Just make sure you take enough meds and replacement meds should they get lost and know how and where to contact medical help along the way.Good day!
A close female friend of mine has been suffering from severe depression for a few years. Psychotherapy does not help much, and the medication she is taking makes her sleep for 10 or even 12 hours per day. She has become more and more afraid of things and especially of people.
On the few occasions when I managed to motivate her to join me for a day of cycling or hiking, she brightened psychologically, even if she was very tired physically.
I have recently suggested to her to join me from the outset of my pilgrimage which will begin in March next year. She'll of course be able to quit any time she wants. I am starting 1400 miles from Santiago, planning to take it easy all the way, and especially during the first days.
My hope is that the Camino will help her get away from the circles of dark thoughts that are turning in her head. My fear is that things, something, will run out of control, and that her situation could become worse than it was before. Currently, she would not be able to walk alone. I believe that the Camino could be of great benefit to her, but I cannot be sure. And I don't want to encourage her to do something that could hurt her.
Assuming that she joins me, and assuming that things go well, I think she'll have to adjust (reduce) her medication at some point. We would have to sort this out by contacting the doctor by telephone. Probably because of her medication, my friend cannot handle strong sunlight and heat well. Should we manage to get as far as Spain together, this could become an issue, and is one of the reasons I would prefer to walk the (physically harder) Camino del Norte.
I have talked to my friend's psychiatrist who is hesitant. As she doesn't know much about the Camino I would much appreciate any feedback (forum reply or private message) that might help us take the right decisions. Thanks!
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