Help, 61 year old mom suffers from severe depression

[Topaz Emerald]

Hi everyone....I don't know what to do or how to help her anymore. She has been on anti-depressants for several years, to a point where she is an addict. I am her 35 year old daughter. She has a total of six kids. To me, she's accomplished a lot in her life: raising six grown responsible kids. However, it seems my mother suffered from depression my whole life, but she hid it very well from her children in order to keep the family together and protect us. About 14 years ago, she started taking anti-depressants due to my father's infidelity. She now takes clonezapam, sertraline, and seroquel. It has been a battle trying to get her to stop taking those meds, as it's making her body feel worse. She spends a majority of her time in bed or on the sofa. I came home for the holidays, and I tried my best to get her to go shopping with me, get a massage, took her to do one acupuncture (as her body's been feeling restless, and she convulses at night) and wanted her to follow up everyday with it, but she refused. I came home to relax, but I can't seem to relax for I am so worried about her.

I can keep talking more about her condition and the causes of it, but the reason I am here on this forum is to get help on finding some natural herbal remedies to help my mom sleep (she has severe insomnia) and rid of her depression. I DO NOT WANT her to take her prescribed anti-depressants anymore. I know she will go through a withdrawal period, but during that time, I need to find something else to help her. I am feeling desperate. I tried Dr. Christopher's Relax-Eze pills but she's not taking the capsules in the correct dosage, and she's taking it in combination with her other prescription drugs like diabetes type II and high blood pressure meds, and one other anti-depressant. I told her not to do that, but she hasn't listened to me. I want to know if anyone knows other herbal remedies to help her fall asleep/dream. I think if she can get some sleep in, maybe she will get better. She just cannot sleep at all. Please help.

[gypsylee]

Hi and welcome :)

I'm really not sure about herbal stuff to help her sleep.. I've never had much success with any herbs but my anxiety/depression is pretty severe and I've been on a LOT of meds. What I do know though is that Seroquel is a drug that I wouldn't touch again unless I was absolutely out of my mind with anxiety and nothing else was working. It's an anti-psychotic which knocks you out at first but after a while it makes everything ten times worse. So unless your mum is schizophrenic or bipolar I would seriously try and get her off that in particular. My mother is in her 70s and has had anxiety/depression all her life and if any doctor gave her Seroquel I'd want to abuse him or her and tell mum not to go back there.

All the best,
Gypsy x

[Ponder]

Seroquel almost destroyed my life and it was hell coming of it. Plenty of nightmare stories on the internet with regard to "coming off seroquel (http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/05/20/seroquel-quetiapine-withdrawal-symptoms-how-long-do-they-last/)" and being stuck on it.

I'm srry for your pain. Most of my response would only add to your despair as I shudder to think of the obstacles you would be working against trying to help someone other than yourself. The system is quite resistant to people not taking medication and when dealing with others, they will always take the shortest and most painless way. Sadly this leads many only to suffer all the more.

Depression goes beyond a chemical jigsaw puzzle. I'm kind of in between doing things right now but may consider giving this response another shot later on.

It's very hard to give advice as is, let alone give it for others whom can't speak for themselves.

You can at least receive support for yourself ... keep asking questions and or just post away as you feel. Anything Goes.

Welcome To The Forum.

[Topaz Emerald]

Hi and welcome :)

I'm really not sure about herbal stuff to help her sleep.. I've never had much success with any herbs but my anxiety/depression is pretty severe and I've been on a LOT of meds. What I do know though is that Seroquel is a drug that I wouldn't touch again unless I was absolutely out of my mind with anxiety and nothing else was working. It's an anti-psychotic which knocks you out at first but after a while it makes everything ten times worse. So unless your mum is schizophrenic or bipolar I would seriously try and get her off that in particular. My mother is in her 70s and has had anxiety/depression all her life and if any doctor gave her Seroquel I'd want to abuse him or her and tell mum not to go back there.

All the best,
Gypsy x

Thank you for your reply, appreciate it.

[Topaz Emerald]

Hi and welcome :)

I'm really not sure about herbal stuff to help her sleep.. I've never had much success with any herbs but my anxiety/depression is pretty severe and I've been on a LOT of meds. What I do know though is that Seroquel is a drug that I wouldn't touch again unless I was absolutely out of my mind with anxiety and nothing else was working. It's an anti-psychotic which knocks you out at first but after a while it makes everything ten times worse. So unless your mum is schizophrenic or bipolar I would seriously try and get her off that in particular. My mother is in her 70s and has had anxiety/depression all her life and if any doctor gave her Seroquel I'd want to abuse him or her and tell mum not to go back there.

All the best,
Gypsy x

Thank you for your reply, appreciate it. If anyone knows any herbal supplements for insomnia please let me know. Thanks.

[Ponder]

The following was my best search string that gave reasonable results, however you will have to take the time to filter out the marketing hype. Anyone wishing to go the natural route would do well to research "Making The Most - or - Getting The Best from Medicinal Herbs (http://www.planetherbs.com/michaels-blog/herbal-medicines-the-most-effective-ways-and-the-best-times-to-take-them.html).


GOOGLE - "herbal supplements for insomnia" - GOOGLE (https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=herbal+supplements+for+insomnia)



By far Valerian Root (http://au.iherb.com/Rexall-Sundown-Naturals-Valerian-Root-530-mg-100-Capsules/32965) has been the best natural (although processed) supplement for my wife's pain/sleep (long time MS sufferer & student of advanced herbal medicines bla bla bla) & has thus far been regulated with varying success. (Quality of source, dosing and time taken greatly affects)

You can get up 1000mg which is what someone in your mother's position would need, however in all honesty my wife and I (after discussing your post here) don't beleive it's going to do much good given the background story you have thus far presented. That is to say without implementing a hard core strategy for coming off current medications and changing to a lifestyle of clean eating.

Given the 14 years of taking said medications, it's going to take quite some time for detoxing to take place. (little benefit can be derived from herbs during this time)

Unless one has studied the subject for a number of years (as much as I dislike doctors and the medical system) you will have to seek "professional" (rolls eyes) help. Add to this fact that no one likes to consider the dietary implications - A clean eating lifestyle on a Whole Foods Plant Based diet (which very few people are prepared to adopt) will play largely into how effective Natural - Medicinal Herbs become. OR - eating fatty, meaty, processed, salty and sweetened food impede on the healing properties of medicinal herbs.

It takes a lot of time and above all - the person that is intended to go through these changes will have to be the one that really wants to go through the necessary pain and suffering to make such a massive transformation.
___________________________

So there you have it. That is my prescription with a dose of reality. Fact is, we get a lot of people coming in here making all kind of claims of this and that supplementation. People spend the money and then come back only to whine that the supps and herbs did not work. As quick as the list they wanted, they also expected instant results.

No one wants the relevant information ... they just want the fix.

Fact is ... no herb is going to work in your mother's "current" situation and again given the history and no doubt damage done ... it's could be rather dangerous changing things to suddenly. I certainly wish you the best with all that.

It's all in the approach and that's going to take a lot of time, will power on your mother's part and a LOT of information.
________

Anything less than 1000 grams Valerian Root (a lesson on how to get the best from medicinal herbs) and a hard core plan as outlined above - it pointless on your list.

Your mother's example is why I warn people from relying on chemicals when it comes to lifestyle related problems. Herbs too are only for an assist and they quickly lose their effect when the body and mind are ill equipped.

Keep this in mind when further seeking your list.

[gypsylee]

Seroquel almost destroyed my life and it was hell coming of it. Plenty of nightmare stories on the internet with regard to "coming off seroquel (http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/05/20/seroquel-quetiapine-withdrawal-symptoms-how-long-do-they-last/)" and being stuck on it.

I'm srry for your pain. Most of my response would only add to your despair as I shudder to think of the obstacles you would be working against trying to help someone other than yourself. The system is quite resistant to people not taking medication and when dealing with others, they will always take the shortest and most painless way. Sadly this leads many only to suffer all the more.

Depression goes beyond a chemical jigsaw puzzle. I'm kind of in between doing things right now but may consider giving this response another shot later on.

It's very hard to give advice as is, let alone give it for others whom can't speak for themselves.

You can at least receive support for yourself ... keep asking questions and or just post away as you feel. Anything Goes.

Welcome To The Forum.

Good post Ponder. Glad you're on the same page as me re Seroquel. A few doctors have given me anti-psychotics for anxiety (Seroquel, Zyprexa and some old-school one) and apart from helping me sleep initially they all messed me up pretty badly. I put on a ton of weight with the Seroquel as well, which certainly doesn't help depression. Then I started getting bad heart palpitations which I thought was my anxiety getting worse until I read something saying that's a side-effect of Seroquel. I didn't have any trouble coming off it though and from memory I felt better pretty quickly.

I can't speak for people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, who Seroquel is intended for, but as soon as I see it mentioned by people here with anxiety/depression I have to warn them. It's a very nasty med in my opinion.

P.S. For Topaz.. Like I say, I'm not very knowledgable about herbs but from what I've read Passionflower is good. You can get a supplement here made by Swisse called "Sleep" I think, which has a few different herbs and vitamins in it. I took that for a while and it certainly didn't hurt. It doesn't have Passionflower in it but has other things that help the nervous system. Looking at it now I think I'll buy it again myself :)

https://www.swisse.com/en-au/products/vitamins-supplements/sleep-mood/swisse-ultiboost-sleep

[Kirk]

I would consult with a natural physician or pharmacist and see what advice they may have.

[Ponder]

You nailed the primary side effects well there gypsy. It really is crazy how the system is still handing out that particular medication for depression and sleep. I think they are even tending to use something different for schizophrenia or bipolar these days. (something - abif???) Coming off it has caused heart attacks with fatal consequences, so totally believe people when they say people on this drug say they are having heart palpitations. I suffered extreme bouts of hives akin to scabies which I have had. Trust me you don't don't either of those things.

Massive weight gain almost immediately which ultimately added to depression like you suggest and then a host of other physical complications that too - added to my imbalances.

Memory issues a major problem and either due to the drug itself form long term use and or the obesity factor ... lack of 02 was affecting my cognitive ability in general.

Coming off that drug requires extreme care!!! - Seek Professional Help (no qualms about that) I participated is a Blog (http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/05/20/seroquel-quetiapine-withdrawal-symptoms-how-long-do-they-last/)specifically for coming off that drug and researched the hell out of of. I used a pill cutter and weaned off very carefully over a long period of time. I also used clean eating and exercising with an incremental approach as well. The transformation in 3 to 6 and then 12 months was amazing. It's not something you want to rush but well worth the planning, patients and determination.

________________________________________

My thoughts on the herbal route are as above in my last post.

It really pleases me that I am not the only one in here that feels seroquel/quetiapine, is indeed a very Very nasty drug. A seemingly God send early on - but truly from the Devil once you're hooked! I'm no longer into any kinds of meds, but will tell others if they must, you can do much Much better than seroquel/quetiapine.

[gypsylee]

I ordered some Passionflower online after I posted that :) I think I've had trouble finding it in shops here.

Zyprexa (olanzapine?) is horrible as well after a while and as for the old-school anti-psychotic I was on in the early 90s - that was like a chemical lobotomy.

[Ponder]

Good luck with the Passionflower. I have also been reading up on it since you mentioned it gypsy. It's come up a few times now since searching on the topic of Natural Alternatives for sleep. I'm assuming swapping some herbs is also a good way to regulate them. Lemon Balm leaves mixed with Lavender flower (as a tea) works really well for me. However only tried that from growing myself.

Be sure to source the best qualtiy you can.

Care to share a link where you purchased online?

[gypsylee]

I got this one http://au.iherb.com/Nature-s-Answer-Passionflower-500-mg-60-Veggie-Caps/5181

Someone wrote that the liquid worked much better for them but I'd already bought it.

[Ponder]

We buy off iHerb as well. I get organic Organic Kidney and Fava beans from there. (also B12 - D3 and heaps more ... much cheaper than buying in our aussie shops! : )

I would not worry too much about liquid Vs Caps if your looking after yourself. (perhaps for people not so healthy it may make a real difference but then they already have a lot working against them) I think it's best off trying both forms myself, rather than just second hand info - so no real loss there. I actually think you're onto a good product. ;)

TY for the link.

[gypsylee]

Oh cool :)

It's looking like 2017 will be less stressful for me (touch wood) than 2013-2016. So I'll be working on my health/lifestyle. I'm doing pretty well (no booze is the big one for me) but I'm a work in progress ;)