The Alpha-Stim SCS DEFINITELY works for me.

[Ladyhawk]

Awhile back, one of our members, Lorien, turned me on to this device.

I have suffered from a lifetime of treatment-resistant clinical depression. I have been on nearly anti-depressant except the MAOIs and only Wellbutrin and Strattera helped a little, and even then not for long. In 2000 I underwent ECT: electro-convulsant therapy...you know, shock treatments. They helped tremendously, but at a price. I suffered from amnesia and barely functioned for at least two months afterward. If I had to, I suppose I would have ECT again, but I've resisted the idea, even when faced with severe depression and a suicide attempt a couple of years ago.

I have been using the Alpha-Stim SCS for a few months now and I feel a lot better. I won't say it's restored me completely, but the longer I use it, the better I seem to feel. When negative self-tapes start, I plug myself in and the little fuckers disappear. It's great. My psychologist friend says that it makes perfect sense to him. Of course, I can't guarantee it will help you at all or make you 100%, but hey, I've regained at least a little creativity. I wrote a duet for pianos last month. Yes, it's amateurish because I am an amateur pianist, but I did something creative and I did it for self-gratification, not to impress anyone. I thought I had lost the ability to feel joy at creating, but it came back at least long enough for me to compose a short piece for two pianos. Maybe someday I'll feel like drawing and painting and sculpting again. I don't know, but I do know that I'll never force myself. It will be for my own creative gratification.

Anyway, I thought I'd share this with you. I suppose it's possible something else has helped me. I suppose it could be temporary, but I will cling to this hope for now.

Thanks. :)

[shrike]

1. That's wonderful

Drugs aren't for everybody, and it's wonderful that there are other options -- and that people can find out about them.

You must be feeling better if you're creating again. (Duet for pianos?? Holy Sh*t!!) When I'm in the depths of depression I can barely get out of bed. I hadn't had a really serious depression in ten years, until this past year when I got a bad case of the flu. My husband, who didn't know me when I could get like this, was scared to death. I got my meds adjusted and I was fine again, and then, this past summer, I got a diagnosis of ADHD ...

Well, enough of that. Keep up with the treatment, and here's hoping you can paint, sculpt, draw and compose again, to your heart's content. I know you're not a believer, but for me, art is the closest thing I know to God.

[DemExpat]

2. This is fab news, Ladyhawk.....

hearing that 2 people have found improvement with this device is most
encouraging.

I have kept myself in a relatively comfortable balance for over 15 years now with Homeopathic remedies prescribed by a Homeopathic doctor, (after many years of therapies and meds) but if at any time I feel I could use other approaches I think I would definitely try this.

I'm so happy for your improved mood and creativity!!!!!!!

I think that you can keep an open mind about it - by that I mean not expecting it to be permanent OR dreading that it is only temporary.
DO enjoy the support it is giving you at this time.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

DemEx

[ThingsGottaChange]

3. Thank you so much for posting this!

I am so glad that this is helping you. I am about out of options, myself. I also have had depression all my life. Can you give any info on where to buy these or any links on more info?

Thanks and GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!:hug:

Edit: Found their website. Too pricey for someone on SSDI. Crap.

[Ladyhawk]

4. I would recommend contacting DUer, Lorien.

She was most helpful providing information about cranio-electrotherapy.

Also, you can go to the Alpha-Stim site: http://www.alpha-stim.com . They would be most happy to send you information because they do, after all, want to sell their device. :) The Alpha-Stim SCS is recommended for anxiety and depression.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

5. There have been some on ebay lately

at about half the price.

[ThingsGottaChange]

6. Thank You! I will look on eBay! nt

[eowyn_of_rohan]

7. Hope you find one at a good price

:pals:

[Lorien]

8. So glad to hear it!

I've been wondering how you were doing on it. I notice that if I forget to use it for a few days (I also have severe ADD) I REALLY backslide. I've been taking Adderall for the ADD since the Alpha-stim only "dented" it, but I'm noticing that the Adderall has some nasty side effects, like increased nervousness and social anxiety. It does work for focus and energy-but the trade off is pretty rough. So I guess the Alpha-stim works most effectively when there aren't other medications for psychological disorders being taken (now I know why my friend Renee had no relief from it-she's a walking pharmacy). It also only "dented" PMS in my case, but for general depression (not "situational" depression, like grief) I still give it a big thumbs up.

[MrMonk]

9. Please check your inbox.

Anyone else who is using this device, please PM me. I have questions.

[Crunchy Frog]

10. I'd be interested in finding out more about this.

I have a life-long, extremely treatment resistant depression. I've tried just about every medication known to man with no more than marginal effects when they weren't actually making things worse. I'm pretty much at my wits end, and willing to look into more unconventional options.

How have people gone about getting a prescription for this thing? How does that work, and do you run into much resistance from medical personell?

Any information on this would be very helpful and much appreciated.

[Lorien]

11. See this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=276&topic_id=1649&mesg_id=1649

:hi:

[Crunchy Frog]

12. Thanks for the link.

How do you go about actually getting one of these? Do you just find a doctor who will write you a prescription and send it to whoever is selling? How easy or difficult is it to find such a doctor?

Sorry for all the questions, but I've pretty much decided that this is what I want to try next.:hi:

(Feel free to PM me also. Thanks.)

[Lorien]

13. It's best to contact Alpha-stim directly

if you don't know of any psychiatrists in your area that prescribe them: www.alpha-stim.com. A friend of mine is a GP and he became very excited about the technology when he read up on it, but when he tried to get his group practice to carry the device they balked at the idea; not because they were skeptical of it's effectiveness, but because of it lacks the possibility of infinite revenue. Prozac requires regular checkups for new prescriptions. The Alpha-stim is a one time purchase, and if it really works well for a person then they won't return to the doctor for their depression-thus it's hard to find many doctors outside of major cities that carry it.

There is an eBay seller that will sell you one for half price and help you find someone to prescribe it if you don't have a prescription. I got a second unit through him/her, and it still works quite well.