Diving with Depression

[B]

Hi,

desperate Dane here.. question to you all.. yes, I know the small print on the PADI form but what are the rule on diving when you are diagnosed with depression and is on regulating medication???

[purple vonny]

you will need a doctor's OK. Antidepressants alter brain chemistry. They can also cause nausea and dizziness.

Clinical depression alters perception, decision making and awareness and may cause other symptoms like panic attacks.

Best to get a doctor's opinion.

[louigi]

Look I've been diving all year with it since my brake up. now and one of my students came up to me on the eve of our dive trip and said he was being treated for it. I look at it this way we all can verry easily get into this mind set but very few get so bad that they do somthing about it. Ok so bung the pills down the bog and get on with your life. it's there for living and some times that involves a bit of crying too. ok. Lou.

[frosty the snowman]

Well it depends what you're taking and to some extent on the nature of the depressive illness. In some circumstances diving would be encouraged if it lifts your mood. As Vonny says you need the opnion of a doctor who understands a bit about diving.

[Hazel W]

pm sent

[Fiona]

You need proper advice on this sort of thing but you could check this out
Depression and Diving

[B]

Originally Posted by Fiona

You need proper advice on this sort of thing but you could check this out
Depression and Diving

Thank you Fiona, that was incredibly helpful actually.. incoming..

B x

[Steven]

Originally Posted by louigi

Look I've been diving all year with it since my brake up. now and one of my students came up to me on the eve of our dive trip and said he was being treated for it. I look at it this way we all can verry easily get into this mind set but very few get so bad that they do somthing about it. Ok so bung the pills down the bog and get on with your life. it's there for living and some times that involves a bit of crying too. ok. Lou.

hope you don't mind me putting my oar in here.
But that isn't very good advice. I've live with someone who has clinical depression - if someone is on antidepressants they shouldn't come off them without their doctor telling them to do so - sometimes to come straight off - it can be harmful.

B, I don't belive you should dive while using them - but that is only an opinion.

Steven

[applepie]

my ex was on constant anti-depressants and to be honest I have no idea why. I used to work with the pharmaceutical companies in R&D (i no longer for ethical reasons.)

yes they do work on specific cases but generally nope or mild benefits.
nothing that cant be treated with other methods, e.g regular exercise, psychotherapy, meditation, etc.

in addition, the pressure from pharm corps on hospitals and subsequently some doctors regarding drugs are horrendous IMHO.

however, I do not know your specific case nor am I an expert in these matters.

I used to go diving when I was depressed, nothing challenging but just floating about underwater to chill out. I personally wont do any technical/difficult or deep diving when depressed as it affects my response time.

Hope you start feeling better, I highly recommend looking up the teachings of the Dalai Lama. He has written some books if I recall correctly. There are some real gems there.

[frosty the snowman]

PM sent Berit.