Books on Depression Post-Medical Occurrence

Hi, bit of misinformation or cross-messages. No one has left me due to my new rectum. I do not currently have a 'love interest' or partner. My husband died 17 years ago. Thanks for the advice--nothing goes to waste in this little brain. Will archive it for future broken hearts. DLS

It's not specifically related to health issues, but I highly recommend "Lost Connections" by Johann Hari. I haven't finished it yet, but everything I've read in it so far makes so much sense!

Besides the fantastic folks I learned to love on this site, I got myself into counseling specifically for trauma and PTSD. My counselor is fantastic and has been very helpful to me. I still struggle with sleeping but I gotta take it one step at a time. I had to have two surgeries within 7 months for the same issue. I had my first ileostomy surgery for the traumatic bowel death and then the new ileostomy strictured and it had to be redone. I almost died both times. If you get into counseling, your counselor can help you find literature to help. Embrace this site and your life. You are here for a reason. God bless you! Pamela

Hi freedancer, I'll get right to the point: personally, I have absolutely no respect for anyone involved in the mental health areas of medicine. Mental health applications are in their infancy--there is just too much we don't know. Many psychiatrists are downright dangerous with their cabinets full of psycho-drugs which they pass out like candy. I was almost killed by one of these so-called doctors.

I will talk to a counselor: if there are no drugs involved and they have a higher IQ than me. No joking, I have sat and listened to the most common sense, 'everybody already knows this' tripe being spouted by a so-called expert.

Someone wasted a lot of money on a useless education. My grandmother gave better mental health advice. I know of what I speak. An old high school friend of mine is a qualified M.D. in psychiatry, but never sees patients--live ones, that is, she does 'brain mapping' hoping to find causes and effects of certain behaviors. She never wants to 'practice' on living people. Like me, she will freely admit that mental health issues are the least reliable to treat, as they are so misunderstood and many have not yet been identified.

We are all different, and I am thrilled to hear that you found someone that's a real help to you. My wish is that it won't be long before you're happy and yourself again. DLS

Hi there,

I have read and reread this quote and I'm wondering why you are feeling that you are only left "with no one except a book full of doctor appointments and procedure follow-ups. I wonder if any of it was worth it."

What is missing? What did you have before? It was worth it, those doctor appointments will be over and the follow-ups too. You can then move forward in whichever direction you choose. Life teaches us many things, some we learn easily and some not so easily. Whatever you are going through, I hope you know that you are worth it! Sometimes I have to accept what life deals out to me and sometimes it's harder, but it is what it is. I believe we are all here for a reason and we need to keep working out our life to find those reasons. Stay strong, everything will not always be the way it is now.