Comments on The Ritter Report: Thoughts on St. John's Wort

Very short reply: the experiment has failed after ...

2009-09-22T04:01:09.074-07:00

Very short reply: the experiment has failed after two weeks. I wasn't depressed, but I didn't feel much anything else either.

Sylvia and I watched a movie that was actually rather sad, and she cried, and I was just sitting there numb, understanding the severity of the depicted situation, but unable to respond.

At that point I realized that the drug is pulling us apart, because I can't feel the same way she does, and this is more important to me than anything else. I can live with depression when it keeps me connected to somebody ;)

Keep in mind that St. John's Wort is an SSRI, as m...

2009-09-04T12:44:14.565-07:00

Keep in mind that St. John's Wort is an SSRI, as much as Prozac or Zoloft or the myriad of other patentable variants. It is a powerful drug with significant side effects, especially when coming off (which you should plan to do when you begin with it).

I have found it to work for a couple of months, and then it will insidiously begin to make me progressively more anxious to the point of near panic attacks (which run in my family, but which I don't experience without the effect of medication). But as you note it can raise the blinders of depression for a while, perhaps enough to remind you of what the world really looks and feels like. It's a tool with which you can gain some insight into the limits of your perspective when depressed, and all antidepressants work better when combined with some cognitive-behavioural therapy.

A follow-up post on your extended experience with SJW would be appreciated.

Thanks for this description. I was just thinking t...

2009-03-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks for this description. I was just thinking that I need to try St. John's Wart because I am struggling with what I think is depression. I have never taken any medication for it, so I figured I'd give this a shot, since you can get it without a prescription at any health food store. I'm going to by some right when I get out of work!

Wikipedia says: "Some research shows that St John'...

2009-02-20T22:55:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia says: "Some research shows that St John's wort may adversely affect fertility in both men and women." and even provides a citation! (Obviously not a perfect contraceptive, but it's something to think about.)

And since I'm going through something similar, thank you for the heads up; I may just try this stuff. Of course, as has been mentioned, music (including yours!) is great for temporarily lifting moods. Perhaps enough to go outside and do some running and further boost your mood... An upwards spiral?

thanks for sharing

2009-02-19T15:59:00.000-08:00

thanks for sharing

I'm sorry if I offended you. I will consider your ...

2009-02-19T11:59:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry if I offended you. I will consider your suggestion.

No need for sarcasm. And let me point out that you...

2009-02-19T09:46:00.000-08:00

No need for sarcasm. And let me point out that you're a bit ignorant here - You're fighting the symptom not the cause and reject my suggestion without even giving it a second thought.

If it works for you, that's fine, hooray for you. ...

2009-02-19T03:50:00.000-08:00

If it works for you, that's fine, hooray for you. But it does certainly not work in my case. If it did, we would not have this conversation right now.

I hear you. But i'm not sure if it's that bad if y...

2009-02-19T02:40:00.000-08:00

I hear you. But i'm not sure if it's that bad if you do recognize it as a "mild depression" yourself. And i'm not convinced that you are without any own will.. Even fat people have the choice to get up and do some sports instead of staying miserable. ;)

Anyway, that's why i didn't say "eat healthier now" but "start reading about" - just telling you to do something won't help, you have to see for yourself what and why. Everybody need's a reason.

Oh and it's not that easy - i struggle myself, but i know my reason.

I picked up on your reasoning in the middle of the...

2009-02-19T01:20:00.000-08:00

I picked up on your reasoning in the middle of the article, and proposed an answer for it. Have a look. The issue is that in order to eat healthy, and to do sports, you need to feel okay already. If you feel too depressed to do anything, it's kind of a downward spiral. An antidepressant could leverage healthier eating and more physical activity.

Are you sure it's really a depression? It's a fall...

2009-02-19T01:06:00.000-08:00

Are you sure it's really a depression? It's a fallacy to think that you should be happy every minute of your life - it's natural to have "good and bad days". (A job you love would help, of course.)

Considered that food is a drug too - i suggest you should start reading about eating habits and nutrition; how it influences your body and mind.

And what about some physical activity? Running can be a (natural, good?) drug too - i always welcome the rush of endorphines when finished.

I know i'm a bit generalizing when saying: Taking pills is a false hope for a quick fix - You can't stay on them forever..?

good point. and thanks for the praise :) i'm glad ...

2009-02-18T22:47:00.000-08:00

good point. and thanks for the praise :) i'm glad you like it.

On your question of whether it is bad to take a dr...

2009-02-18T17:22:00.000-08:00

On your question of whether it is bad to take a drug that aids you in enjoying life more, and feeling right without anything else (which I understand were more rhetorical than anything else) I would say this:

For one, we don't live in a world "without anything else". Not only were we all born into a world with a multitude of substances in the air we breath, the food we eat, the water we swim in, that all most likely influence us in a variety of unknown ways, but we are also constantly exposed to a wealth of information and stimuli that bombard us all the time, without or permission. And again, most of this will have effects on us both physically and mentally in ways that most likely won't be understood in our lifetimes.

So living in this imperfect world, being born into the world and not living in some sort of blank slate vacuum, many things are going to upset whatever balance and equilibrium nature has worked out over the millennia.

It then seems that have every right to try and restore some of that balance. To try and put back in what is missing. To correct what my be slightly askew. Not to achieve some sort of perfection, but to hopefully nudge closer to some balance and harmony.

I personally think that the amount people medicate away problems these days (especially in the US) is most likely doing more harm than good, as it tends to ignore the potential real problems that could be at the root. But that doesn't mean it is all bad and should all be avoided.
I guess my main point is we should try and do the best with what we are given, and try and improve things if we can.

And just for the record, YOU have already messed with my universe by creating amazing music that has both inspired me and fueled me creatively! I have used your music to aid my mood and lift me up. So thank you for helping elevate my mood from time to time. :)