Hi guys. I was just wondering if Viv ever got over her depression or if she suffered with it her whole life. I know she was in therapy during I Love Lucy. I know her relationship with her mother and stress contributed partlyto it. I was thinking if it is possible that when Viv first had her breakdown, if Phil Ober was one of the causes since she was married to him at the time. I remember people saying he did horrible things to her. If somone can elaborate, that would be great. Thank you so much.

I can't really elaborate on the causes of her depression but I do know that there is a book out there just about her and it supposedly goes into depth about her whole life including her depression. If I recall, it is called something like "The other side of Ethel Mertz" or something to that effect. I know that the Lucy-Desi museum has it or you can check your local library. Hope this helps. ;)

Thanks again. I checked the library before but they didn't have it. I guess I'll check again. Thank you for your help :)

I have the same problem that she had and I take medicine for it. If she took medicine then it was probably lessened, but it's still there. Even though I take medicine, I'm not as bad as I was but I know that I'm still sick.

She seemed to be a lot happier once she split for good with Phil Ober and married her last husband (whose name escapes me). Viv also cut way back on her TV appearances and lived a more normal life with him. She went through all those problems before a lot of these different meds were on the market and when dirty laundry (mostly) wasn't aired in public. God bless Viv - she seemed like such a cool lady. :cool:

Vivian's last husband was John Dodds.

She seemed to be a lot happier once she split for good with Phil Ober and married her last husband (whose name escapes me). Viv also cut way back on her TV appearances and lived a more normal life with him. She went through all those problems before a lot of these different meds were on the market and when dirty laundry (mostly) wasn't aired in public. God bless Viv - she seemed like such a cool lady. :cool:
Yeah...there wasn't a whole lot around then but Valium. No Paxil, Zanax...I don't think Prosac was even around.

Vivian's last husband was John Dodds.
Thank you...I remembered his first name was John, but not his last name.

Yeah...there wasn't a whole lot around then but Valium. No Paxil, Zanax...I don't think Prosac was even around.
I think they did have electroshock therapy - a lot of which has been discredited since then. But the pickins were slim at the time. I can't even imagine what it was like to live in those times where there were no depression/anxiety meds and people were carted off to live in sanitariums. Many of them ended up killing themselves, too. Living with anxiety/depression is tough enough, but at least we have options that those poor folk didn't. :(

I think they did have electroshock therapy - a lot of which has been discredited since then. But the pickins were slim at the time. I can't even imagine what it was like to live in those times where there were no depression/anxiety meds and people were carted off to live in sanitariums. Many of them ended up killing themselves, too. Living with anxiety/depression is tough enough, but at least we have options that those poor folk didn't. :(

Yes, unfortunately that's how depression was mainly treated. They would just drug you up on Valium or Roach 30s (both just tranquilizers). Anti-depressants didn't come out until the early 1990s.

And the worst part was they did the shock therapy while the person was awake. My best girlfriend had it several times when she was 16 (we were both going through depression but she got institutionalized because of it). She said it was the worst experience of her life.

They still do treat certain cases with electroshock therapy, but the difference today is that they now sedate the person so they aren't aware of the experience. Think of it like a "reboot" to the brain computer. And of course, the stigma attached to any mental illness was devastating on a career. I don't know how they did it back then. Very sad. :(

I had an anxiety attack last night and learned that I may need a stronger presription. I'm glad we have more medicine than they had back then. If that poor woman needed a new prescription she wouldn't have been able to get it because it didn't exist. I hope if she was taking medicine it was working for her.

"religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

I like that TripperFan, that's so true!

I had an anxiety attack last night and learned that I may need a stronger presription. I'm glad we have more medicine than they had back then. If that poor woman needed a new prescription she wouldn't have been able to get it because it didn't exist. I hope if she was taking medicine it was working for her.

"religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

I like that TripperFan, that's so true!
Honey, you are not alone. There are several of us here at SO who are going through anxiety issues as of now. I know exactly how you feel. God bless you. :bighug:

Honey, you are not alone. There are several of us here at SO who are going through anxiety issues as of now. I know exactly how you feel. God bless you. :bighug:
Yeah...this place is full of people with anxiety and/or depression. It's like our own little therapy session. And much cheaper!

Yeah...this place is full of people with anxiety and/or depression. It's like our own little therapy session. And much cheaper!
No cash, insurance, HMOs or co-pays here!! :bighug:

Honey, you are not alone. There are several of us here at SO who are going through anxiety issues as of now. I know exactly how you feel. God bless you. :bighug:

Thanks catlover you're sweet. Huggles! :bighug:

It's true, SO has done more for me than shrinks or pills ever did! It's even better than socialized medical care!! ;)

Yeah, don't get me wrong I love my therapist, but this site makes me feel like there are other people like me. I feel very at home here. I guess that's why I love this site so much.

Yeah, don't get me wrong I love my therapist, but this site makes me feel like there are other people like me. I feel very at home here. I guess that's why I love this site so much.

Same here. I'm not even a member of any other site because I've got enough true friends on here. I've just been through the roughest 2 years of my entire life and I couldn't have gotten through it without the people here.

I agree, therapy helps, but there's nothing like being able to talk to people who know depression and anxiety first hand.

Welcome Ethelfan! Hope you stay for a long time. :)

I will stay, thank you! I feel like I can connect with a lot of people on this site. I've had a pretty hard time myself and my heart goes out to everyone who is going through what I'm going through. I know I'm practically new here, but I fee like the people on this site are my family. I'm sorry to hear about your rough two years, TripperFan, I hope things get better.

I will stay, thank you! I feel like I can connect with a lot of people on this site. I've had a pretty hard time myself and my heart goes out to everyone who is going through what I'm going through. I know I'm practically new here, but I fee like the people on this site are my family. I'm sorry to hear about your rough two years, TripperFan, I hope things get better.


Yes, thanks, they are.....sort of - I could still use a job! ;)

But, life IS a rollercoaster..the ups and downs and even tho at times it feels like the downs go on forever, they DO go back up again no matter what. I used to kid about the saying, "What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger" and that God seemed to love to bring me right to the edge and at this rate, I could lift a bus with my strength, but it does sure make you appreciate the good times more.

Yup, there's some wonderful people here - all ages, sexes and races. :D

Yeah, there truly are good people here. I kind of feel bad for not posting yesterday, I wanted to get on everyday, but I was sick. I'm still sick but I feel well enough to post. And you're right about life being full of ups and downs. My life probably has more ups and downs than a roller coaster. And I'm glad things are getting better for you.

Yeah, there truly are good people here. I kind of feel bad for not posting yesterday, I wanted to get on everyday, but I was sick. I'm still sick but I feel well enough to post. And you're right about life being full of ups and downs. My life probably has more ups and downs than a roller coaster. And I'm glad things are getting better for you.
So am I. I'm still utterly heartbroken that I didn't get the job I applied for last week. Even worse is sitting in the cublicles next to the email team which I'd applied for, seeing the person who got the position getting to know the ropes. I had to fight the urge to burst into tears and/or throw my computer across the room. :crying: :mad:

So am I. I'm still utterly heartbroken that I didn't get the job I applied for last week. Even worse is sitting in the cublicles next to the email team which I'd applied for, seeing the person who got the position getting to know the ropes. I had to fight the urge to burst into tears and/or throw my computer across the room. :crying: :mad:
:( How awful. I'd be in a foul mood, too.

:( How awful. I'd be in a foul mood, too.
It wasn't easy getting through the day, for sure. ohno:

I couldn't post yeaterday because I had to go to the hospital.

I couldn't post yeaterday because I had to go to the hospital.
Awwwww...:bighug:

Awwwww...:bighug:

They were going to take me to the psych ward. I was traumatized. I'm just so glad to be home and to be able to go to school and see my friends. And to be able to get on SO and talk to ya'll! I'm on a new perscription now and I think it's going to work for me. I'll know this afternoon if they need to up my dosage though.

They were going to take me to the psych ward. I was traumatized. I'm just so glad to be home and to be able to go to school and see my friends. And to be able to get on SO and talk to ya'll! I'm on a new perscription now and I think it's going to work for me. I'll know this afternoon if they need to up my dosage though.
Keep us posted, sweetie. I'm sort of in the same boat.

Ya'll, I'm sorry I haven't been on in a while. I've been so busy what with it being the last week of school and all. I've had a pretty bad day so far. My friend's mother died in a car wreck and my other friend just fell apart because she was very close to her. My English teacher took her to the guidance counselor and my ex best friend started trying to start a fight with me while I was upset about my friend's mother and that's what got me crying and I haven't stopped yet. Oh, now she's talking about me to my other friends. This has been a horrible day and it's only third period. I wonder if it can get any worse. :( Oh, and they've put me on 100 mg of Zoloft now.

Ya'll, I'm sorry I haven't been on in a while. I've been so busy what with it being the last week of school and all. I've had a pretty bad day so far. My friend's mother died in a car wreck and my other friend just fell apart because she was very close to her. My English teacher took her to the guidance counselor and my ex best friend started trying to start a fight with me while I was upset about my friend's mother and that's what got me crying and I haven't stopped yet. Oh, now she's talking about me to my other friends. This has been a horrible day and it's only third period. I wonder if it can get any worse. :( Oh, and they've put me on 100 mg of Zoloft now.
I'm on that, too, plus I also take 0.5 mg of Xanax three times a day. I can feel a difference now that I'm on both. Please take care of yourself, sweetie. I will pray for you. :bighug:

I'm on that, too, plus I also take 0.5 mg of Xanax three times a day. I can feel a difference now that I'm on both. Please take care of yourself, sweetie. I will pray for you. :bighug:

Thank you catlover, it's nice to know that someone cares. :bighug:

Thank you catlover, it's nice to know that someone cares. :bighug:
Anytime. :bighug:

I join the drug group. Paxil here.

LOL, I come to the Lucy board and find such a great discussion! I truly feel for all of you, hope you get feeling better. I have anxiety and depression, mostly triggered by an earlier life experience :crazy: ... it IS awful. Thank heavens for medications!

And Ethelfan, I see you're in South Carolina too. Ah! You aren't far from where I'm at.

Thank heavens for medications!

YES. I'd probably never leave the house without them.

YES. I'd probably never leave the house without them.
I never do!!

I never do!!
:lol: Well, I don't much either, but without the Paxil, I might never go to work. Before I went on it, I skipped school all the time; it was college, so it was easy. It just scared me to death to have to sit in a room for an hour or more. I felt trapped.

:lol: Well, I don't much either, but without the Paxil, I might never go to work. Before I went on it, I skipped school all the time; it was college, so it was easy. It just scared me to death to have to sit in a room for an hour or more. I felt trapped.
Yeah, I know what you mean. It's a scary way to live.

And Ethelfan, I see you're in South Carolina too. Ah! You aren't far from where I'm at.

Oh really, where are you?

I've had an eventful morning. I burned my arm on the curling iron, got into a fight with myself, alost injured myself and my cousin the cafeteria lady, went all over the school searching for boxes for my English teacher, had to get the janitor to help me get a sip of water because my hands were full, and let my friends cheat off my exam. That was just this morning!

Oh really, where are you?

I'm in Laurens :o not exactly the best place, lol.

Sorry for the late answer, I just got around to this board. Hope everyone's doing well.

I didn't know about Vivian Vance's depression, but I know very little about her to be honest. I'm sorry to hear that a lot of you are going through some really bad times right now, and I hope everything works out for the best.