Migraine

Hey guys-

I just have a couple things that I would like to hear your input on. While i was in the hospital, they send around the psychologists as part of the treatment plan. I will just leave it at the fact that my visit with her didn't go all to well. Anyway she thinks that i have underlying depression that can worsen my pain and tried to make it mandatory for me to be in therapy. I know that I do have depression, but who wouldn't when they are in constant un-ending pain. Its a matter of which came first, the chicken or the egg. They both (pain and depression) feed into each other.

So my question to you all is, would you recomend therapy? I know that some of you see psychiatrists and go to therapy. Does it help you at all. Is it just a help emotionally or pain wise, too? I have had a pretty bad experience with counseling and have tried to avoid going back. But if it can be beneficial, I am up for trying it. Anything to help, would be great.

I also was strongly recomended to go to physical therapy. Have you guys had any success with this? It would be great to help with the tension and muscle spasms. But I am not up for waisting my money on things that won't really help me. I would just like to see if I can put hope in either of these to help, before I sink my money into it. Any input is appreciated, thanks guys!
Alaura

Hi Alaura,

First off, welcome back! I'm so glad you're home and doing well.

I know that depression and Migraines can be comorbid so I'm not surprised the psychologist brought it up. While I don't see a counselor right now, I did after my first husband passed away and she was able to help me see things more clearly. She also helped me open my eyes to things that were going on in my life and she taught me how to cope with them. I think seeing someone could really help benfit you. A therapist will be able to teach you coping skills and also listen to your feelings. Just being able to talk to someone can take a huge weight off your shoulders. You can always give it a try and if you don't like it, at least you gave it a shot.

Good luck!

Hi Alaura,
I am seeing a therapist right now with my husband to help us deal with some family issues. I have a tendency to get depressed and with all the health issues I have and the family problems I feel overwhelmed a lot. This forum has helped me a lot just to get my mind off my problems, but the therapist has helped us come up with some coping solutions. I think it is important to find the right person to talk to, someone that you feel comfortable with. Maybe the person you saw before was not a good fit for you. You might have to see a few therapists before you find the right one. Also, some therapists just don't understand migraines.

I don't know about physical therapy, but I do know that massages have helped me because my neck muscles get really tight and may contribute to some of my headaches.

Peggy

Alaura,

Yes, I would suggest therapy. I have seen a therapist for about 1.5 years now and she is very helpful dealing with life issues that include my migraines. My therapist and I click very well together. She is very non judgemental and in my opinon a real asset to my life. But I have not felt that way about all therapists I've seen. It's sorta like you have to kiss alot of frogs.......

Regarding PT. I've not had that for my migraines, but like Peggy I get massages when I have bad migraines and my neck/shoulders get really tight. It helps tremendously to do that. I have a health care reimbursment account and since my doctor wrote an order for them, I can get them reimbursed!!!

Cindy

hey alaura-

welcome back! therapy has helped me a lot since my major depressive episode about 2 years ago. while i'm in school i go to therapy about my school's counseling center regularly. during the summer i usually don't see anyone, although this summer i definitely regret that however i am still in contact via email with my therapist. as already mentioned it teaches you coping mechanisms and it just gives you a place to go every week or whatever to just talk things out. which sometimes helps sooo much.

best.

I just started in therapy (as in I've had one visit). I don't know how much it is going to help me but I figured it is worth a shot. My company offers Employee Assistance Program so I get 8 free visits.

I agree with Cindy that you have to kiss some frogs, but its that way with any doc you go see. I mean, how many neuros have we all been to?

I have to say, since my support system other than the forum is a bit flimsy right now, I like the idea of some who has to sit and listen to me rant

I think you should at least try 3-4 visits. I know it stinks paying for another doc, but it might help

Alura,

If you and the psychologist are talking about clinical depression, aka major depressive disorder, it's a matter of comorbidity, which means that you have the two conditions simultaneously, BUT neither causes the other.

However, it is well documented that depression, especially untreated depression, can intensify pain.

Certainly, a therapist can help you develop better coping skills for dealing with your Migraines, and that can help with both depression and Migraines. When I started at the Jefferson Headache Center, a psychological evaluation was part of my first visit, and a big part of that was evaluating my coping skills. The psychiatrist I saw felt my coping skills were excellent and that therapy was unnecessary. Had he recommended therapy, I would have willingly complied.

Many of us have a huge chip on our shoulders about psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapy because we've been told all to often that "it's all in hour heads," but I don't get the impression that you were being told that. IMO, it's worth a try. It could really improve your quality of life.

Thanks for the input guys. I have an appointment with my PCP on monday. While i am there, i figured that I could see who she recomends. I might as well try it. Even if it doesn't help, what will it hurt? LOL as long as I can keeep that thought in my head. I just really don't like shrinks but it may help so.....

Teri- I don't know what kind of depression i have. I didn't even know there were different kinds. I have just been told that depression can prevent our headaches from getting better and even lead to worse pain. But also in return, I have been told that chronic pain can lead to depression. Personally I think that it is all just a big mess. I will give the therapy a try, but how do I know what kind of depression I have? What kinds of depression are there?

Once I found the right person, therapy changed everything for me. I'm just as incapacitated and in as much pain as I was before, but I actually want to be alive. I care about trying to live my life and getting out of bed.

Depression and migraines are such a chicken and egg situation. Further, they each feed into each other, both making the other worse. It is just as important to treat your depression with everything in your arsenal as it is to treat your migraines themselves.

I hope you're able to find someone you click with. It's hard to take that first step, but so totally worth it.

As for physical therapy, I never had much luck with it, but it certainly didn't make anything worse. I'm not sorry I tried it because at least I can check it off my list of things to try.

Take care.

Diana

Alaura-

here is what i can remember from my psych/nursing class.
there is major depressive disorder- single episode and recurrent. If you have a second episode there is a greater chance to have a 3rd. If you have third there is greater chance you will have a fourth. With MDD, you can have it with or without psychotic features. there are various requirements, if you will that have to be met according to the DSM-IV, in order for one to be diagnosed with MDD.

There is also Dysthymia. This is a nearly constant depressed mood for at least 2 years. There are requirements that have to be met according to the DSM-IV. From what was described to us, this type of depression, is often less debilitating than MDD but, it is different in every case.

There is Seasonal affective Disorder. This type of depression has to do with the different times of the year. Don't hold me to this, but I believe it usually hits in more of the winter months when there is less sunlight.

There is also post partum depression. This is usually associated with women who have just given birth. And vary in intensity from woman to woman.

This is just a little survey, if you want more info there are definitely places to find info. Let me know and I can give you some.

best.

We have a site right here on HealthCentrai, MyDepressionConnection.com

quote:

Originally posted by soccerstudentnurse:
Alaura-

here is what i can remember from my psych/nursing class.
there is major depressive disorder- single episode and recurrent. If you have a second episode there is a greater chance to have a 3rd. If you have third there is greater chance you will have a fourth. With MDD, you can have it with or without psychotic features. there are various requirements, if you will that have to be met according to the DSM-IV, in order for one to be diagnosed with MDD.

There is also Dysthymia. This is a nearly constant depressed mood for at least 2 years. There are requirements that have to be met according to the DSM-IV. From what was described to us, this type of depression, is often less debilitating than MDD but, it is different in every case.

There is Seasonal affective Disorder. This type of depression has to do with the different times of the year. Don't hold me to this, but I believe it usually hits in more of the winter months when there is less sunlight.

There is also post partum depression. This is usually associated with women who have just given birth. And vary in intensity from woman to woman.

This is just a little survey, if you want more info there are definitely places to find info. Let me know and I can give you some.

best.

Alaura,
Depression and I have danced with each other for as long as I can remember.

I started trying to treat it when I was in college, over 30 years ago, and learned talk therapy alone doesn't quite do it for me. Neither do meds alone.

I'm now seeing a wonderful therapist who understands migraines and depression. I leave her office feeling like I can keep on enjoying life. I'm now able to shed a lot of my "passive-agressive" tendencies, and say what's on my mind.

I'm finally becoming a Steel Magnolia!

When you find a therapist with whom you "click," s/he is a joy in your life.

Rebecca, The Island Mama

Hi Alaura,

Ditto what Rebecca said, I totally agree. Even when you have (or thought you had!) great support and home and from friends a good therapist can do wonders.

Hang in there, we're here.

Hi Alaura, I have read some of your posts but I don't think I have chatted with you. Your question about which came first the chicken or the egg with regards to depression and pain is something I understand all to well.

A little background about me. I am 37 years old, and have been sick with cfs/fibromyligia/HMs since Christmas of my senior year of high school 1989. I tried for three semesters to go to college but had to give up a full ride scholarship that I had earned from my science fair endeavors. I haven't ever been able to hold a job outside of the home because I am completely unreliable. I have been on SSI since 2001. Pain is my daily companion and depression stalks me all the time.

I grew up with a chronically depressed father who even though he went to therapist didn't seem like he improved any. The first few times I was told I was depressed I argued with the doctor and told them I was sick not depressed. To me depression was my dad's excuse for his "unorthodox behavior" that never changed. My dad was looking for that one ellusive anti-depressant that was going to change things, and only meds would make his life better.

I ended up in the psych ward at our local hospital before I was willing to acknowledge the suffocating blanket depression was for me. I had a doctor tell me that depression was only part of the answer for my real medical issues, but it could fatal if ignored. That's important to realize, people die everyday from depression.

Chronic illness which migraine disease is a legtimate reason for being depressed. They go hand in hand. If you will look at the Anatomy of a Migraine you will see that depression is mentioned in 3/4 phases of a migraine. If you have had migraine after migraine like you have been having of course depression is going to be an issue to look into.

On Teri's Too Many options to Give Up!!! there are over twenty different antidepressant drugs listed.

As to therapist there are times that the can do more damage than good just like any other health provider that we see. Yet sometimes their help is as important as our visits to the doctor. A good therapist is a sounding board, someone to report goal progress to, and a impartial listening ear to help us deal with our lives.

There are some excellent books on depression that can help you with self awareness and education to help you develop coping skills on your own.

Hope that something in my long ramble helps you.

Mary in NM

Thanks guys. You are helping me accept the idea of this a little better. I have decided to go into this and give it a real shot. I have had a bad experience before, but that doesn't mean I will happen again.

I am a very emotionally gaurded person. I am starting to think that it will be kind of good to be able to let that gaurd down and be open and honest with someone. Maybe this won't be so bad after all. I don't know what will happen or how well it will work, but I am at least open to it. Thanks for your input, it has helped me open up to this. I will let you know how things go, once I find somewhere to go. I am still hunting down somewhere that I think will meet up to my expectations, lol. But at least I am looking.

Thanks again
Alaura