Comments on: Daphne Merkin: A Journey through Darkness

By: Angelika

Angelika — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:02:33 +0000

I was sufferring from depression, too, several years ago. I don’t know if I’ve recovered or not now. Anyway, at least I gave up committing suicide in my life plan any more. In China, even in such a big city like Shanghai which I live in, people can’t find an active therapist. I remembered I was brought to a so-called famous doctor, at the first time diagnosis, he just asked me several questions in a very fast pace, then he began to write the dose of medicine. I was forced to eat the disgusting pills and seperated from the society, getting fatter and fatter. Few people will talk with me in a normal way, I mean, bias towards a mental disease patient is very tough. Guess, what did I do? I refused to get the medicines. The therapist never means to talk with me, they just gave me medicines and bills. Cheats!!! And then, I went to fitness club and do what I like to do, keep seperating from the surrounding environment, because as I said, few people will handle me in a normal way. Then, I think I recovered. Because I built a world just for myself in my mind, just existing for myself. Daphne, you are much more lucky than me, cause you are living in an environment without so many prejudice like mine. So leave the therapist, once you mean to depend on them, you will lose the hope to recover. To build up a world just for yourself and I think finally you will find a way to save yourself. Cut the hope from the outside world and just believe yourself.

By: Wednesday Round Up #115 « Neuroanthropology

Wednesday Round Up #115 « Neuroanthropology — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:19:16 +0000

[...] makes therapy tick and why she continues to go. This is a follow-up piece to her earlier essay, A Journey through Darkness, a haunting account of her life-long struggles with [...]

By: Nancy Douglas

Nancy Douglas — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:29:41 +0000

I would lie to find a way to contact DAphne Merkin. Thanks

By: leslie england

leslie england — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:59:27 +0000

Suicide is not preventable more widely for the same reasons that alcoholism/addiction are not successfully treated. In the United States we “patch you up and send you on your way” without effectively addressing attendant emotional trauma. As a sideways speaking culture that “spins” what offends, the physical hurt is all we understand. You’ll have to get your act together on your own. Good parents help this process. But any untreated family trauma renders individuals lacking the kiler instinct to survive our competitive economic system which favors 20% of the population with 85% of the wealth. Yes, 155 of the wealth is sprinkled over 80% of the people. Work your self to death, or kill yourself, is the result. Fox news has to talk alot to keep us believing this is the way it has to be.

By: Christine Smith

Christine Smith — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:13:19 +0000

I too, am diagnosed with pyroluria, which only became a problem for me from about age 30, after some very stressful life events. I could never relax again, and a few years later became severely depressed. I used to wish that I had cancer, because then I would either die or recover, and to people who have or have had cancer, this must sound insane. I am now recovered and will be eternally grateful to the doctor who diagnosed me. I also had high histamine and copper overload, either of which on their own can also cause depression. Daphne, I hope you read this and find your way out of that very dark tunnel. Thank you for sharing, I could really relate to the “bloody Wound part’. Lots of love and kind wishes.

By: M Goldner

M Goldner — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:27:15 +0000

Please visit my website. It offers a familial journey supporting a loved ones battle with mental illness.

By: adreal

adreal — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:42:19 +0000

Do magnetic therapy products really work? Does the pain really go away? I found this company that sells magnetic products and wondering if anyone has tried their products or heard of them? http://www.therapymagnetic.com

By: Bev Morrison

Bev Morrison — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:49:34 +0000

Hi Laurence,
I too am eager to get thru to her. I did send her something thru the Times but have my doubts as to whether it made its way to her.
What’s your story?
Thanks for any help.
Bev

By: Joanna Bird

Joanna Bird — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:38:46 +0000

I have just finished reading Daphne Merkin’s article on chronic depression and wanted to thank her for her outstanding and courageous article. I have not dealt with chronic depression, but I have dealt with a chronic panic disorder since I was 11 (I am now 39) that has left me debilitated and unable to leave the house unless I am on a cocktail of medicines, many that Daphne has mentioned in her article. I am writing to tell others who read this post that I was diagnosed with something called Pyroluria this past January. It is too soon to tell if this diagnosis will prove to be long lasting, reliable, and helpful. However, after reading Daphne’s article, I feel compelled to say more about Pyroluria for those who wish to research it further. Since January (with my psychiatrist’s approval — she did her own reading on Pyroluria and said the research she looked at was medically and scientifically sound), I have been going down on my medications slowly and steadily with no ill effects, while gradually going up on my dosage of pyroluria supplements just as slowly and steadily. Pyroluria supplements contain Zinc, Vitamin B6, Manganese, and Magnesium. My panic and anxiety have eased off gradually these past 5 months since following this protocol.

The symptoms that people with Pyroluria exhibit are: chronic depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and panic disorders, and schizophrenia. Pyroluria has something to do with Zinc and Vitamin B6 not being properly absorbed in the body. I am cautious about writing this because I know many who will be reading this will have already tried everything on the planet (and then some) to relieve their symptoms. This is the only thing that I have tried beside standard medications (and I too have tried everything under the sun), that has supported my health and well being for such a sustained and consistent amount of time. I thought some of you might be interested in researching this as a possible support and salve to what can be a horrible and debilitating illness. If you do wish to look this up further on the web, go to drkaslow.com, or just look up Pyroluria.

I am grateful this article was published in such a prestigious and widely read magazine. Thank you Daphen Merkin for your honest account of your experience. And thank you to the New York Times magazine for publishing it.

By: trisha pearce

trisha pearce — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:39:37 +0000

Is there any way to get a message to Daphne Merkin? Thank you.