HI

My wife suffers from depression, suffering badly from lack of sleep.

We've tried different things to change this to no avail.

Has anybody tried any alternative medicine such a Chinese?

Hello Marco

Welcome to the forum! I am sorry to hear that your wife is experiencing depression - that must be very trying for you.

You say you have tried several things to help her sleep, and to help with depression. What kinds of things have you tried, Marco?

Have you and your wife taken a look at the Depression Learning Path? This will help you to understand depression better.

I know that some people have found herbal preparations helpful for sleeping better - even things like a lavender pillow can help one relax - but I don't know much about Chinese medicine for this. Maybe other forum members have some experience of this.

Kathleen

Hi Marco

I often use acupuncture for clients with sleep problems, anxiety and depression with good results, it has the immediate effect of calming someone down enabling them to think more clearly and feel more relaxed.

Combined with the knowledge from the Depression Learning Path that Kathleen mentions, it can turn the situation around very quickly.

Do research getting someone good, the British Acupuncture Council can help..they have a web site.

Jill

Thanks for the repiles.

Just to clarify

My wife has tried avoiding caffeine, and various anti depressants, as well as avoiding sleeping at irregular hours ie. daytime. She has tried baths and milky drinks, avoided over stimulation late in the evening, books, and gentle exercise, and expert counselling.

Unfortunately only two things have ever worked. Firstly sleeping tablets, which she refuses to take because of their adverse effect, and prozac which resolved sleep and depression but only temporary.

Her depression lasts about 9 months and comes on despite being in good form and sleeping well. Similarly her depression lifts without any change in lifestyle, medication, or her thinking process. It seemed to start from post natal and has continued on from there.

We have virtually ruled out any link between the depression and her lifestyle/ circumstance, and the depression causes her sleep pattern to be virtually destroyed (rather than sleep deprivation causing the depression).

She is not convinced by the learning path (unfortunately) because she is not in a negative pattern of thought when the depression starts. She is convinced that the depression is entirely medical/ chemical and I must admit I feel myself that this is the case.

We are currently dealing with the depression without medication (dealing is not a good word for this), and once this period of depression lifts are going to concentrate on regular strenuos exercise (enough to release endorphines and affect seratone levels/production), hopefully keeping the depression away.

If that does not work I will look at Chinese therapies, and anything else anybody else is wiiling to tell me about.

My sympathies to all who have depression, and to those like myself who are carers. The only correct advice I can give is that there's always hope, so don't give up fighting.

PS. the acupuncture looks promising too.

Thanks. M.