Shaner

Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) Depression

I had a severe brain injury in September 2006. Been battling depression ever since I got out of rehab and I think that the depression battle will be a long term fight in my life to stay in "the light"

Treatments

Positive Thinking Working / Worked

I have always had a really positive outlook on life, it really helps to be a positive person when struggling with depression

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

I was seeing a clinical counselor for a while , and I am happy with the tools he taught me to combat my depression.

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

My wonderful girlfriend, enough said.

Trazodone Somewhat Helpful

Well, I was on this for a while, but I decided that antidepressants are not the best idea for me because they will just "cover up" the depression and not really do much for the actual cause of my depression.

Writing Working / Worked

I try to journal quite often because I believe that it is really healthy for your brain and certain brain diseases like depression.

Open Stroke

During the first few hours after getting to the hospital after my brain injury, I had about 5 small strokes. I know it could have been worse, but now I am partially blind.

Open Marijuana Addiction & Recovery

I used to smoke weed in highschool. I don't any anymore because of my brain injury.

Open Insomnia

I have always been a good sleeper. I started experiencing insomnia when I was in recovery for my injury. I get it now most days of the week. I just can't shut my mind off and relax. It really puts a downer on your day when you are running on about 2 hours of sleep.

Treatments

Lunesta Working / Worked

This medication works really well, but I don't take it anymore because it is habit forming and I don't want to become addicted to sleeping pills.

Meditation Somewhat Helpful

I learned how to meditate a few years ago. Unfortunately, when I am awake at 3am, I usually don't have the patience to meditate. I have to work on that.

Reading Somewhat Helpful

Well same with meditation, I usually don't have the patience to pick up a book and read if it is 3am.

Trazodone Working / Worked

I am not taking this anymore, but I did for a period of time. I just try not to take any pills for fear of forming a dependence.

Open Blindness & Visual Impairment
Type: Partially Sighted

Well, I am now partially blind due to the strokes I had while in the hospital because of my brain injury. It affects my reading (double lines). My eye doctor told me that it will never fix itself, I know that my vision will come back eventually though, I just know that.

Open Family Issues

Well, to tell the truth, I have a heavenly family compared to some people. That does not mean that I get along with my Mom and Dad well though. I lived with my Mom for 27 years and now I have so much animosity towards her. It is so hard when I have been through so much and am continually struggling with depression and my parents don't treat me very well, especially my Dad. As I said before, I know my family isn't nearly as bad as it could be, but it still isn't good at all.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

I was doing psychotherapy for my clinical depression and I am gonna start to approach my therapist about my family issues with my parents

Writing Working / Worked

I journal a lot on this site. I find that journalling is a really helpful way to vent frustrations and "get it all out"

Open Coma

Well because of the fall that caused my brain injury, I was in a coma for a month. Reportedly I was at the Glasgow Coma Scale #5 (the deepest) on the way to the hospital. There is just a big void in my life that I can't remember.

Open Bereavement
Type: Loss of a Friend

Well, I am only just 27 and I have lost a lot of friends and people close to me from various tragedies, car accidents, suicides, etc.

Treatments

Crying Working / Worked

I am not one of those guys who won't let myself cry because it is "not manly". I let my feelings out when I feel them, that is the healthiest way to do it.

Prayer Working / Worked

I pray to God for strength and for their families.

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

I have done a fair amount of psychotherapy for my depression and other issues that may arise as life hands you challenges and whatnot.

Open Accidents

I guess you could call this a car accident group for me. My life has been affected a lot by car accidents. I have lost a few good friends to car accidents. In 2001, I got in a head on collision on the highway and it totalled both cars. I was okay, but it was scary as shit.

Open Breakups & Divorce

Well, I have no personal experience with divorce, but it is in my life somewhat. My parents split up when I was about 6 months old and I never lived with my Dad. Then my dad got "the rug pulled out from under his feet" when his second wife of 18 years, just didn't love him anymore. That was really hard on him. I guess I am a bit jaded by marriage now because of what my parents have experienced. I think I have found the right woman already, but who knows? Right?

Treatments

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

I have other friends who have experienced divorce with their parents and whatnot, it just helps when you are there with someone

Support Groups Working / Worked

Well, you are looking at it. This site is so great, I can't get over it. Just thanks to everyone who reads this for playing their part in all the support

Open Mononucleosis

Well, I had Mono once, and the doctors said that people don't get Mono more than once. Well, guess what? i proved them wrong. I have had Mono three times, twice along with strep throat

Treatments

Relaxation Working / Worked

Well with Mono you just dont have any energy so rest is the most important thing

Open Children Of Divorced Parents

Well, my Dad left when I was 6 months old. He stayed in my life a lot, but I don't know what it is like to have a Mom and a Dad at home.

Open Bullying

Well, I was bullied a lot throughout school, from grades 7-11.

Open Pancreatic Cancer

Well, my grandmother, whom I grew up with, died of pancreatic cancer. I love her and I know she is looking down upon me. I love you Nanny.

Treatments

Prayer Working / Worked

I pray to God to reassure me that she is in comfort now.

Open Depression Supporters

Well, ever since I had my brain injury, I have been depressed. I aspire to support and love my girlfriend and love of my life to help her with her depression. To be able to have a positive impact in her life gives me so much more self-confidence and respect for myself.

Treatments

Patience Working / Worked

You have to be patient with all those who are depressed. My girl has to be patient with my depression and I with hers.

Talking Working / Worked

We talk about our feelings and that helps.

Open Anxiety

Well, ever since I had my brain injury, I have been experiencing anxiety quite often. I have never experienced this before and I don't really know how to deal with it. It is the cause of a lot of my insomnia, just can't shut off at night to go to bed. I think my anxiety is perpetuated by my depression and insomnia.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

Well I do psychotherapy for my depression and inturn I am sure it helps with my anxiety

Trazodone Somewhat Helpful

I was taking this for a bit, but didn't want to rely on it, so I stopped.

Open Cocaine Addiction & Recovery

Never touched it, but one of my best friends has an addiction to cocaine, and I have seen how it negatively affects his life and the relationships in his life.

Open Body Modification

I love tattoos, I find it very powerful to commit to something like a tattoo that has deep meaning and will for the rest of your life. I see it as a bit of healing and letting go of things in the past. I also used to have my ears stretched out with tunnels.

Open Healthy Sex

Well, I believe enjoying sex in a committed relationship is healthy. Also I practiced safe sex in my "uncommitted sex" phase of life (early 20's), I believe that is also healthy.

Open Alcoholism

Well, I never had a problem with alcohol, but I don't drink anymore because of my brain injury, so I would love to be of some support for others who don't drink for whatever reason.

Open DailyStrength Members Community

I have been asked by DS admins to join this group to help make this great site even greater!

Open Other Heart Problems
Type: Heart Murmur

So far this has not proven to be a real problem, but I do have an "innocent heart murmur". At least that's what they call it. It's just an irregularity in my heart beat. I played sports since I was 5 and never had any troubles, but it won't ever correct itself.

Open Financial Challenges

Well, because of the severe brain injury that I had, it left me with some disabilities, which prevent me from working full-time. To top it all off the government won't pay me disability, so I am really struggling financially.

Treatments

Budgeting Working / Worked

My girlfriend and I try not to go out much anymore. Too much spent each month when you go out for dinner 3 times a week. It helps to have a plan and have everything written out in an organized fashion.

Open Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Never officially diagnosed with this, but it is kind of part of a brain injury. When you have had a brain injury, you tend to get "stuck" on certain thoughs, or not be able to let certain thoughs go. I have noticed that this is a problem for me. I mean, as I recover, it is getting better, but it is certainly something that is good to be aware of.

Open Families & Friends Of Addicts

One of my very best and oldest friends has had a cocaine addiction for years. I am always there for him and he knows that, but addictions like this can be very nasty and distort who a person actually is.

Treatments

Patience Working / Worked

The way I see it, you have to be patient with addicts. That's pretty much it.

Open Color Blindness

Well, I am red green color blind. That is by far the most common type of color blindness. I have done research reports on this and it is very rare for women to have this because of how it is carried on the genes, either only on the X or Y, I can't remember. I found that it affected me more in childhood while playing with a red ball on grass for example.

Treatments

Acceptance Working / Worked

I find that no matter what you are born with or what happens to you acceptance is crucial to learning to live with it.