Comments for Such A Downer

Comment on Depression-Hypomania Bipolar II for 17 years. Is the depression external event caused or chemical imbalance. by gotta luv da Li

gotta luv da Li — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 04:17:18 +0000

I have bipolar. I think the answer is yes to all of your questions. A traumatic event can trigger depression in anyone and ppl with bipolar are more susecptable. For those with bipolar, depression can kick off for no reason just as can hypomania, mania or mixed states. Bipolar II mixed states can be very hard to diagnosis since for some they can appear more like anxious depression. Sometimes it is much more extreme but creeps up slowly enough to be unclear what it is. This alone is a good reason to see a psychiatrist instead of a GP. Pdoc’s are more attuned to the difference. Yep, anyone with bipolar with lack of insight. Personally, I think the more dramatic the swings, the easier it is for a person and their friends/family to tell something serious is wrong. Your behavior probably started to change due to both the event and perhaps the start of symptoms. The lines between illness and life events often are not clear or clean. Whether that started your bipolar is hard to say, but there’s a good chance that it didn’t.

Btw, all mood states are chemical as is everything that goes on in the brain. In the case of bipolar, it is not clear which neurotransmitters (including GABA) play what roles and what others systems are involved (calcium and ion channels, etc).

Comment on EMDR: The Breakthrough “Eye Movement” Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:10:48 +0000

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

I am excited about the information I found in this book., May 12, 1998

rod@gj.net (Grand Junction, Colorado) -

This review is from: EMDR : The Breakthrough Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma (Hardcover)

This book contains hope for anyone who has gone through a life treatening experience, including the experience of having parent figures who were negligent or abusive. My own experience with this type of therapy is just beginning, but the results so far have been excellent. I became interested after seeing the life of a friend transformed through EMDR therapy. Beginning with this book I have gone on to explore variations in this type of therapy, and it is my impression that almost all types of emotionally stress can be addressed with one or more of these variations. The book is not just informative. It is also spell binding. It is a pleasure to read something that is both informative and well written.

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Comment on EMDR: The Breakthrough “Eye Movement” Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma by rod@gj.net

rod@gj.net — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 04:55:08 +0000

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

Description of EMDR in action, April 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: EMDR: The Breakthrough "Eye Movement" Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma (Paperback)

This book gives a description of the evolution of EMDR, the eight phases of treatment, theories regarding possible underlying mechanisms, and controlled research. Most importantly, the book give extensive case descriptions with verbatim transcripts of EMDR sessions so that readers can see it in action. Chapters are devoted to the treatment of anxiety, trauma, phobias, depression, physical complaints, and a wide variety of fears and clinical conditions in children and adults. Through the detailed discussions and transcripts readers can see for themselves whether EMDR might be applicable to themselves or a loved one.

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Comment on The Linden Method: The Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, OCD & Agoraphobia Elimination Solution by Darren Coombs

Darren Coombs — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 04:30:44 +0000

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence, July 4, 2010

Darren Coombs -

This review is from: The Linden Method: The Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, OCD & Agoraphobia Elimination Solution (Paperback)

The claims made in this programme are bullish. We are asked to believe that this is the one true way to rid yourself of panic attacks, anxiety disorders and phobias. At one point it says that it is the only cure for anxiety. But before looking at the evidence for such extraordinary claims, lets look at the process.

Firstly, one has to learn the "nine pillars", read the material, do the visualisation exercise twice each day, do Tai Chi exercises as often as possible and do exactly what the Method teaches you. Confusingly, there are then two "powerful" elements; diversion which apparently re-balances the sufferer's conscious logical thinking and subconscious habits. Secondly, the sufferer needs to breathe correctly and improve their posture.

So what are the nine pillars?
Stop visiting your doctor (and other doctors too)
Talk to your doctor about stopping the medication (confusingly as you are not supposed to visit them)
Stop looking for answers to your problems elsewhere
Only use the Linden method
Stop talking to other people about how you feel
Stop relying on other people for help with your feelings (which follows from not talking to them presumably)
Get rid of memories about your problem
Keep busy as a diversion (distraction)
Don't allow anxiety to change what you do.

You don't have to be a psychologist to see that 1-7 are all ways of saying "rely on the this method alone". That leaves two pillars which are about not giving in to anxiety. Good stuff, but not good enough.

Interestingly for someone who says that the way to getting better is not to dwell on the details of your past problems, Mr Linden offers the story of his own problems in great detail in the "Nine Pillars" booklet. The story comes to its culmination when he received Cognitive-behaviour Therapy. His cognitive therapist taught him all kinds of useful stuff, which Linden applied and added to. I found myself musing about this. Why is this person, who benefited from cognitive therapy (and added to it in ways any sensible CBT therapist would encourage one to do) now taking the position that other people should not seek help from anyone except himself? I'm keeping my answers to myself, I'm afraid.

The Nine Pillars book then offers a reasonable account of the physiology of anxiety (although some of it made me wince). Nothing unique here, and certainly not the best account available. For someone opposed to the use of medication Linden seems very fond of biological accounts of anxiety. Oddly, although he seems to have benefited from cognitive-behavioural therapy, the cognitive component does not come through directly. For example, this early section on Panic Disorder he neglects to mention catastrophic misinterpretation of bodily sensations, choosing instead to suggest that the brain has been programmed to produce panic. Linden is also fond of diagnosis, and paraphrases the American diagnostic system as a way of describing anxiety disorders. This improves later as one listens to the CD based material, but the nuggets are well hidden.

The chapter on stopping anxiety has some good snippets, and Linden is fond of the idea of hyperventilation, resurrecting the old "brown paper bag" idea. Some other practical ideas are to be found in "diversion tactics"; these are good old fashioned distractions, varying from splashing water on the face to eating apples. Maybe he thinks an apple a day keeps the doctor away, so it fits with his first pillar? But there is another major problem here. He gives no consideration to safety seeking behaviour. This is a shame, because a lot of his "behavioural activation" stuff (meaning: don't let your behaviour be changed, reach for the things you want) fits with current views on and evidence about the role of safety seeking in anxiety disorders. However, in places he is implicitly encouraging safety seeking behaviours. This in my opinion is further evidence that Linden's science is, as best, muddled.

The supplementary materials are interesting. The introduction on the CD is a pleasant and slightly soporific lecture which re-iterates the positive message in the nine pillars book. In the interview which follows, we are treated to more of the same. The visualisation exercise is even more soporific. It follows the convention set by progressive muscular relaxation, and again is worth doing for its relaxation and distraction potential, if relaxation and distraction is what you need.

The "Panic Attack Eliminator" seemed more promising on the basis of its preamble. And I mean promising; the promise is there, right at the beginning; "this is the conclusive method for disarming panic attacks". Apparently it can work on the first occasion, but might take up to three times. In the rest of this seven minute wonder, the sufferer is told that they cause their own panic... Read more

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Comment on The Linden Method: The Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, OCD & Agoraphobia Elimination Solution by L. Ellis

L. Ellis — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 04:05:50 +0000

94 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

The one thing that changed and saved my life!, March 21, 2006

L. Ellis (NYC) -

This review is from: The Linden Method: The Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, OCD & Agoraphobia Elimination Solution (Paperback)

I have used this method. I went through a period of anxiety for about a year. I saw a real Psychologist, not one with a bogus `holistic' degree from a mail order school. He was highly recommended and is considered one of the best in the United States. It was effective to a point. The biggest thing was getting over that hump. I did not take drugs for this; I did not want to go that route. I stopped going to the doctor, thinking I was cured. But I wasn't.

Then I heard about the Linden Method. I was skeptical at first. When you have anxiety you read a lot of `possible' solutions. There is a lot of crap out there. But I told myself I had nothing to lose. I remember sitting in the park reading that book and crying. Finally, someone who understands! And then I heard his CDs and I felt more assured. Within a month all the terror, being scared all the time and not understanding what was happening to me stopped. That yearlong nightmare was over.

I know some people are saying that I only had anxiety for a year and I can't understand what they are going through.... CRAP! The length of the time you have had anxiety is no badge of honor, it just means you have not treated it effectively. I had EVERY symptom you can imagine. I went from happy go lucky to looney in one instant. I had 2 MRI/MRAs of my head, multiple CT Scans of my head and chest, X-rays of my lungs, heart, & back. Lyme disease, Glucose, STDs/, AIDS/HIV, liver and a million other blood tests. I went to 2 GPs, 3 Chiropractors, Psychologist, Neurologist, Pulmonary MD, holistic doctors and a couple of others I have forgotten. I don't even want to mention how many times I went to the emergency room, thinking I was having a stroke, heart attack, seizures, etc. The only thing I had in all those test was high blood pressure-caused by the anxiety! I had over $100,000 of test according to my insurance company. I stared at the walls all the time. Lost 40lbs just from not eating. I thought I had diabetes, Asthma, MS, Lupus, Parkinson's, AIDS, ALS, every cancer you can imagine and some diseases maybe 5 people in the whole world have gotten. I had and today continue to have NONE of those things.

Mr. Linden might not be a doctor, but he is still helpful. He is not diagnosing anyone. The people buying this I am sure have gone to doctors already. They know they have anxiety. Mr. Linden's method I find is very effective for most people.

Mr. Linden does not say to never see a doctor. He says stop seeing doctors after they told you all that is wrong with you is anxiety. Any legitimate psychologist would tell you the same thing. Many people with anxiety develop some form of hypochondria, because most people don't understand how anxiety causes physical symptoms. And medical and mental health doctors really don't explain it. Seeing a doctor over and over will just prolong and worsen the anxiety. If you have not seen a doctor, see one. If you have no underling medical issues (which most with anxiety don't) than why do you need to see a doctor every time you have a symptom?

Mr. Linden states to stop researching you condition. THAT IS GOOD ADVICE. Most people with anxiety have read a million things already. All these chat forums about anxiety are populated by scared people with anxiety. When you talk to them you get more scared because they are just pulling you down with their horror stories. Then you research your psychical symptoms at all these medical sites, and you think you have MS, AIDS, ALS or the Bubonic Plague! THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS RESEARCH ANXIETY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

For a cheaper version of this program, go to his website and you can download the book, DVD and CDs.

Good luck to everyone! And I hope and pray you will be well soon. Trust yourself and you will. I did it. I am in the best physical and mental shape of my life. I enjoy life every day. It took me awhile to say it, but anxiety is the best thing that ever happened to me. I discovered more about myself and life than I could have ever had before. I know you will say it one day too.

"When thinking won't cure your fear, action will" -Plymouth Stone

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Comments (11)

Comment on EMDR: The Breakthrough “Eye Movement” Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma by d. e. dodson

d. e. dodson — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 04:04:31 +0000

79 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

Welcome Home with EMDR!, May 13, 2000

d. e. dodson -

This review is from: EMDR: The Breakthrough "Eye Movement" Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma (Paperback)

As a Vietnam Veteran who fought for 28 years to deny any Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) lingering from my year there, EMDR has allowed me to finally come home! Whether it is war, crime, abuse, neglect, whatever; this book helps you recognize yourself and inspires great hope for overcoming your taumas. EMDR is not hypnosis nor the power of suggestion. It is truly a breakthrough, allowing the physical brain to unload the emotional terrors locked inside in an amazing way. EMDR will bring you home! Don't live another day carrying around whatever is locked inside of your brain. I commend this especially to my brothers and sisters who have spent half of their lives trying to un-live Vietnam. Peace be with you.

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Comment on Social Anxiety Disorder Signs and Symptoms by kronicaster

kronicaster — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:40:58 +0000

Do you bite your fingernails?

Comment on Social Anxiety Disorder Signs and Symptoms by BabyMitch94

BabyMitch94 — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:50:55 +0000

@kronicaster Yes, but only when i’m really stressed or nervous, like if i feel ill on the bus to school i’ll start doing it, but i dont know if it’s an actual symptom or a way certain people use to distract themselves.

Comment on Bullying and Suicide {I Love You} by threestrikes101

threestrikes101 — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:51:27 +0000

<3 This is inspirational. peace and love xxx

Comment on Bullying and Suicide {I Love You} by 8SerenitySurvivor8

8SerenitySurvivor8 — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:19:57 +0000

Yeah, its so said what is going on, and it breaks my heart. Peace and love to you!