Viv's Depression - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

IdolFan · 03-09-2005, 07:41 PM

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.

desilu #1 · 03-10-2005, 11:16 PM

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.

IdolFan · 03-11-2005, 12:38 PM

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

Ethelfan1993 · 04-23-2009, 04:58 PM

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.

catlover79 · 04-23-2009, 07:48 PM

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.

Marvo301 · 04-23-2009, 08:29 PM

Vivian's last husband was John Dodds.

dawsongirl · 04-23-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

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.

Yeah...there wasn't a whole lot around then but Valium. No Paxil, Zanax...I don't think Prosac was even around.

catlover79 · 04-24-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Vivian's last husband was John Dodds.

Thank you...I remembered his first name was John, but not his last name.

catlover79 · 04-24-2009, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

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.

TripperFan · 04-24-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

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.

Ethelfan1993 · 04-25-2009, 12:22 PM

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!

catlover79 · 04-25-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethelfan1993

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.

dawsongirl · 04-25-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

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.

Yeah...this place is full of people with anxiety and/or depression. It's like our own little therapy session. And much cheaper!

catlover79 · 04-25-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

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!!

Ethelfan1993 · 04-26-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

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.

Thanks catlover you're sweet. Huggles!

03-10-2005, 11:16 PM	#2
desilu #1 Lucy/Desi 4-EVER Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 23, 2000 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan USA Posts: 724	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.
	__________________ Amy M. Weaver

04-23-2009, 07:48 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	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.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

04-23-2009, 08:29 PM	#6
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	Vivian's last husband was John Dodds.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

03-09-2005, 07:41 PM	#1
IdolFan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 40	Viv's Depression 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.

03-11-2005, 12:38 PM	#3
IdolFan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 40	Thanks again. I checked the library before but they didn't have it. I guess I'll check again. Thank you for your help

04-23-2009, 04:58 PM	#4
Ethelfan1993 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 20, 2009 Location: Calhoun Falls, South Carolina Posts: 71	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.

04-25-2009, 12:22 PM	#11
Ethelfan1993 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 20, 2009 Location: Calhoun Falls, South Carolina Posts: 71	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!