Sylvie, a patient suffering from a depressive disorder, explains how a psychoeducational workshop and a spa treatment allowed her to reduce her consumption of tranquilizers.
- After the course devoted to the reduction of tranquilizers, 163 curists saw their consumption of drugs decrease by 30% at the end of the cure.
- To relax and let go, Sylvie now does pilates and qi gong, traditional Chinese gymnastics.
30 years. This is the number of years during which Sylvie, housing project manager in the public service, suffered from depression. “I had several burnouts during this period,” declares the 58-year-old mother of the family, during a press briefing carried out by the Thermes de Saujon on July 7. Several factors caused its “almost constant malaise”. In his company, reorganization and job cuts have taken place on several occasions. “Sometimes I had to take care of files completely different from mine. This earned me memory lapses”, remembers the patient.
Several caps
His personal problems and his “painful journey” also did not help him. For years, Sylvie was the victim of domestic violence. “After the separation, I had to fight to have sole custody of my daughters”, she reveals. Also, in 2006, her father was hit by a car. “As the eldest, I had to manage everything after her death. In addition to working and raising my children, I became my mother’s caregiver. She had a stroke. at 45. I accompanied him to his medical appointments all the time, because my brothers and sisters felt that they should not get involved, “ says the resident of Valenciennes.
Benzodiazepine addiction
For several years, the patient took antidepressants and anxiolytics, including Xanax, and became dependent on these drugs. To improve her mental health, she decided to see a psychiatrist and turn to Chinese medicine. But the results were not significant. “It was horrible for my husband to see me like this… One day my body told me ‘stop’. So I decided to think about myself and I did some research. I came across this cure spa specializing in mental health which is offered by the Thermes de Saujon. In order not to sink, I signed up for the course called ‘Stop or reduce tranquilizers’. It was a real effort to get back behind the wheel and go to the thermal baths only”, confides Sylvie.
“I learned to let go to heal”
During this care corresponding to balneotherapy treatments in the form of three-week psychoeducational workshops, the mother of the family spoke about her addiction to benzodiazepines and its long-term effects with a psychologist from the Thermes de Saujon. “During this treatment, I was removed from my responsibilities and my living environment. I left my phone far from me and I went back to reading. I had a click, I learned to disconnect and let go to heal”, recalls the 50-year-old.
A reduction in tranquilizers
During the course, the patient learned to gradually reduce her consumption of tranquilizers. After the workshop, she no longer used Xanax in the morning and sometimes took it in the evening. “This spa treatment specializing in mental health really facilitated my withdrawal from anxiolytics. As for the seroplex, an antidepressant, I managed to reduce its use, but I wouldn’t know how to completely stop”, explains Sylvia.
Now, a year after the cure, the patient continues to see her psychiatrist every two weeks. The Valenciennes also benefits from acupuncture and Shiatsu sessions, a technique using manipulations and pressure with the fingers to relax the body. Sylvie plans to register again for a course offered by Thermes de Saujon, but this time, on stress management.
