Induced Coma As Therapy

[TiredHorse]

So many of us here have said, "if only I could just sleep forever." The relief of sleep (provided you can avoid the nightmares) is well understood. This strikes me as an interesting corrolary: in non-depressed times, do we get the same brain activity in sleep as this study creates with propofol-induced coma? (Though I question whether using "coma" is accurate or attention-seeking hyperbole.)

60% success is a far cry from 100%, and I would be surprised if it wasn't financially out of reach for most of us, but it's an interesting line of enquiry and somewhat less terrifying than electroconvulsive therapy. I suppose I might try it if I didn't first have to go through the torture of psychiatric evaluation and pharmaceutical intoxication.

Dying to beat depression: how 10 induced comas saved a blogger's life

Heather B Armstrong participated in a study to see if a medically induced coma had an antidepressant effect – and felt dramatically different

www.theguardian.com

I wonder if he success rate might have been higher if the test subjects weren't (presumably) hopped up on other pharmaceuticals.

 

[Mrs.O'Leary'sCow]

https://radiowest.kuer.org/post/valedictorian-being-dead

 

[suffering]

Slightly off-topic, but I remember the first time I was depressed many years ago, I was thinking how good it would be if I could request to be put in a coma for a while, I was asking myself if I want to die and my answer was "no, I don't want to die, I just want everything to stop" and my thought seemed to bizarre and unique, as if I was the only one in the world with such a weird desire. But this forum showed me how much we all resemble in our suffering.
Anyway, just wanted to share this. You guys mean a lot to me.

 

[JadedGray]

I've thought of this, but in the end I'd rather not exist in this world, even if I'm unaware of myself and the world around me. There would still be people having to take care of my physical form while I'm here and I don't think anything can help me at this point. I'd rather just CTB, be cremated and my ashes tossed wherever and no trace of me being here anymore. This could be helpful for people who need to take a "break" from life though. The closest thing to a pause button.

 

[Jc40]

I've thought of this, but in the end I'd rather not exist in this world, even if I'm unaware of myself and the world around me. There would still be people having to take care of my physical form while I'm here and I don't think anything can help me at this point. I'd rather just CTB, be cremated and my ashes tossed wherever and no trace of me being here anymore. This could be helpful for people who need to take a "break" from life though. The closest thing to a pause button.

I've often said that "I wish I was in a coma". I have been, life just goes on. But as a pause button for people to get relief it's a good idea.

 

[lost_soul83]

So many of us here have said, "if only I could just sleep forever." The relief of sleep (provided you can avoid the nightmares) is well understood. This strikes me as an interesting corrolary: in non-depressed times, do we get the same brain activity in sleep as this study creates with propofol-induced coma? (Though I question whether using "coma" is accurate or attention-seeking hyperbole.)

60% success is a far cry from 100%, and I would be surprised if it wasn't financially out of reach for most of us, but it's an interesting line of enquiry and somewhat less terrifying than electroconvulsive therapy. I suppose I might try it if I didn't first have to go through the torture of psychiatric evaluation and pharmaceutical intoxication.

Dying to beat depression: how 10 induced comas saved a blogger's life

Heather B Armstrong participated in a study to see if a medically induced coma had an antidepressant effect – and felt dramatically different

www.theguardian.com

I wonder if he success rate might have been higher if the test subjects weren't (presumably) hopped up on other pharmaceuticals.

I've had ECT treatments and I'd choose ANYTHING over that nightmare. I still have memory loss and it didn't help me in the long-term anyway.

 

[Weems]

Would it even feel like a break? Wouldn't you just wake up a few months later and resume your misery?

It's really the falling asleep process that feels good IMHO. When your life is wrecked you wake up and it's still wrecked.

 

[Jc40]

Would it even feel like a break? Wouldn't you just wake up a few months later and resume your misery?

Exactly!

 

[BridgeJumper]

I remember this line from a book I relate to so hard:
'i wanted to slip into something comfortable. A coma would be great'

 

[JadedGray]

Would it even feel like a break? Wouldn't you just wake up a few months later and resume your misery?

It's really the falling asleep process that feels good IMHO. When your life is wrecked you wake up and it's still wrecked.

It is supposed to have an effect on how your brain would react to your environment/situation. The Propofol used to help induce a coma is supposed to modulate some of your brain's neurotransmitters, according to the article.

 

[Weems]

It is supposed to have an effect on how your brain would react to your environment/situation. The Propofol used to help induce a coma is supposed to modulate some of your brain's neurotransmitters, according to the article.

Yeah, silly post

 

[JadedGray]

Yeah, silly post

Not at all. Some people's situation is so terrible that changing their brain chemistry wouldn't be enough.

 

[Donewitheverything]

I've fantasied about being in a comatose state myself, at least temporarily. Not really having have to face my reality and living in a dream from here on out sounds great on paper, but it really isn't for everyone. For myself, I have constant nightmares, so I would have to relive my past and face my fears fears without any breaks. If I can have lucid dreams again, then maybe I'd consider it. There's also the thing about being on life support during that period, so that would likely burden everyone around me.

 

[dandan]

changing brain chemistry is a very ancient science/art....
plants,
medicines,
drugs,
and now death
these are only but experimentations to see what we can do if...

its cool, many test subjects available for this therapy I believe.....
those test subjects get paid...

that could be a nice first Ad for this website to have....

"hey you depressed human being,
feel like taking a brake?
want to know what dead be like?
come get in a coma state
and start all over again.
Plus you get paid $15/hour for being 'dead' "

many people would take that job
get in a coma
and wake up a year later with $130k+

 

[Jean Améry]

If it helps and does not damage the brain why not? Of course it'll probably be so expensive it's not an option for most people.

It's ironic that putting someone to sleep seems to be a more effective treatment for depression than trying to talk them out of it which always seemed quite ridiculous to me: besides showing empathy and allowing the person to vent what's there to it really? Indoctrination? Lets not even mention pseudo-medications (so called 'antidepressants') which have been proven to be no better than an active placebo.

If I were a psychiatrist I'd be so desperate by now I'd consider killing myself.

 

[Tortured_empath]

I would like to try this..