if you have a real mental disorder medicine is a godsend

I tried medications. lots of different kinds. some worked some didnt work as well. others made me feel like a completely different person, which was uncomfortable.

I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, with associated Hyper vigilance and Psychosomatic. most of the medications that CAN be prescribed are merely to sedate or relax me. or to help me sleep through the night, and curb reoccurring nightmares. I stayed on the medications for a couple years. then stopped. I have managed to keep things under control. the only downfall is the Psychosomatic episodes (where as my body reactes when i am stressed or upset) are diffucult to control or manage. I have been tempted to go back and get medications for it, but I just didnt like the feeling of not BEING ME.

Anyway...just thought I would add to it. it's not quite depression like many have mentioned but it's a mental disorder none the less.

Thanks for starting this thread, OP. There are plenty of anti-depressant threads floating around, but very rarely do are they started from the perspective of one of us who has truly benefited from psychiatric medication.

I'd like to repeat what FredT said: if your doctor recommends anti-depressants or other psychiatric medication without a referral to a specialist, demand the referral.

For one thing, very few psychiatric medications are as effective without talk therapy or other supportive care as they are with them.

Second, as he points out, there is a very good chance that the doctor hasn't had any training in treating psych conditions since his residency. That may very well have been before SSRIs were introduced, so their main training in prescribing SSRIs and other new generation anti-depressants will be from the pharma companies and the Physicians Desk Reference.

As most of us who have had to go through the process of finding medication that works for us can attest, it's not as simple as looking up a standard dosage in a chart. And some of the meds that are important in treating psych conditions (especially if they're generics) are prescribed off-label; they may be "officially" anti-seizure medication used for mood stabilization, or anti-depressants used as sleeping aids – it's an entire field to itself, and what works best for each of us is different, and may even vary in one patient over time.

I applaud and am envious of people who have been able to go off anti-depressants and rely only on diet, exercise, and "alternative" therapy. I tried, and it didn't work. There's no doubt that these things help control my depression, but they aren't enough without the medication. And without the medication I went into the killer spiral of depression: all the things that might make it better become impossible to handle (eating right, or at all; sleeping regular hours; exercising, or even leaving the apartment; asking for help, or talking at all). If I'm on the meds and my exercise slips and I start feeling a little down, I can recover. If I'm off the meds and my exercise slips and I start feeling a little down, I spiral out of control.

_________________________________________________

Just a thought, since this is the medical conspiracies forum:

Is it possible that the anti-psychiatric medication propaganda is disinformation designed to force polarization on the topic of pharmaceutics, so that people are "forced" into either pro-Pharma or anti-chemical camps?

To make sure that cooperation between the moderates on each side never happens? That we never get a medical model that recognizes diet, exercise, and spirituality as intrinsic components of health, but also recognizes the benefits of laboratory science and medical interventions?

reply to post by americandingbat



I definitely agree with that.

My doctor has known me for nearly 16 years....during my whole diagnosis we did a lot of talking and she had me making notes. It takes a doctor willing to invest some time into their patients to make an accurate diagnosis and then start the referral process.

Before we tried medications she thought I might try relaxation classes. She suggested a diet change as well and gave me a full physical to make sure the anxiety and depressions weren't the symptoms of an underlying medical issue.

When medications were first suggested it was on a trial basis only and I had to report back weekly.

When she was finally satisfied that all options had been looked at she prescribed the paxil and made the referral to the UBC Panic and Anxiety clinic.

I am extremely fortunate to have an awesome doctor. It was not like she immediately prescribed medication and sent me away to deal with things.

A doctor of any value is one who invests in their patients.

I have had Schizophrenia for 2-3 years now and i have not found the med that works for me. Every med they put me on increases the symptoms of what I have. It also dulls my mind and i don't like that. I went to the hospital awhile back and they put me on strong meds and i was a zombie. I actually got worried. Certain meds are ok but other ones are bongwash.

"anti depressents are often givin to people and while i feel there use full i feel if u can live with out them do get over the complexities of your emotions and anxiety exercise will trigger seratonin simmilar to a typical anti depresants you have to work at life to be happy to have what you want takes effort and most importantly education. drugs are givin to people as a sort of insurance in case you do some thing bad and the treatment is covered. but get a script and do reasearch lots of it"

O.K., first this is not an attack, but I knew it would be just a matter of time,
before someone made a comment like this.

Your quote,"do get over the complexities of your emotions and anxiety. Exercise will trigger seratonin similar to typical antidepressants you have to work at life to be happy to have what you want takes effort and most importantly education."

It is blatantly obvious, you do not know what you are talking about.

While depression may look like it is stemming from purely an emotional source, nothing could be further from the truth. Clinical depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain involving the neurotransmitters seratonin
and dopamine.

When a person is clinically depressed they are suffering from an illness that is beyond their control. Just as a diabetic needs insulin, A severely depressed person needs to take an antidepressant. No different.

No amount of education or effort is going to change the fact that I am bipolar. I have a masters in nursing and guess what? I'm still bipolar!!

Yes exercise and nutrition are very important, but a severely depressed person does not have the energy to take a shower let alone go for a run.

Very clearly, you have misunderstood the clinical diagnosis of depression.
please do not advise others that they should not be taking medication most of us struggle enough with this issue as it is. Non-compliance with meds. is our biggest issue.

Originally posted by predisposed
LIES ALL LIES. YOU HAVE BEEN SPOON FED MATE.

i study traditional chinese medicine, and have also been thru the mental hospital system. those drugs that are there to help you destroy your will to live, self worth and esteem

i lost a friend to suicide from these. i have tried to kill myself and didnt realise it was actually the very same pills prescribed to help me that made me feel this way. llook at the damn side effects in the pamphlet

bro.

START doign some qi gong, internal energy cultivation and eliminating negative thought patterns.

chuck all thsoe long term western medicines. lest you never know what it is like to be truly alive again.

Here's the thing though... a lot of people (which probably includes some of those posting in this thread and certainly includes me) can't work on doing things that would help us get better because we are so consumed by the infliction we're suffering with.

I spent 7 weeks in a hospital this summer where they taught techniques to handle things like depression and anxiety (sorry, I don't know how people were treated for things like schizophrenia or bi-polar). I found many of these really helpful, especially CBT and similar methods and I do feel like learning more spiritual techniques (outside of the hospital) involving energies are great... the doctors and nurses at the facility want patients to eventually be able to come off of their meds if they're able to.

But for a lot of us, if we want to learn to deal with our ailment without medication, we need to be on medication while we figure it all out so that we're clear, motivated, and can actually function.

If you have some sort of mental disorder and this doesn't apply to you, then that's great... but if we feel our meds are working for us, let us stick with them.

Yeah?

EDIT:
Paxnatus, I just read your post and you said it perfectly.

[edit on 7/1/09 by xhorrorgasmx]

reply to post by xhorrorgasmx


"Here's the thing though... a lot of people (which probably includes some of those posting in this thread and certainly includes me) can't work on doing things that would help us get better because we are so consumed by the infliction we're suffering with.

I spent 7 weeks in a hospital this summer where they taught techniques to handle things like depression and anxiety (sorry, I don't know how people were treated for things like schizophrenia or bi-polar). I found many of these really helpful, especially CBT and similar methods and I do feel like learning more spiritual techniques (outside of the hospital) involving energies are great... the doctors and nurses at the facility want patients to eventually be able to come off of their meds if they're able to.

But for a lot of us, if we want to learn to deal with our ailment without medication, we need to be on medication while we figure it all out so that we're clear, motivated, and can actually function.

If you have some sort of mental disorder and this doesn't apply to you, then that's great... but if we feel our meds are working for us, let us stick with them.

Yeah? "

Funny, that you think I said it perfectly, I had just given you a star and was
about to reply when I read your edit.

I would totally agree with everything you wrote. I'm sorry about your long stay in hospital. I've been there myself. It is basically the same for people
with bipolar disorder as for people with depression. The absolute exception may be that with bipolar disorder, a person will be on medication for the rest of their life. We too must pay attention to our diet, exercise and sleep patterns. For me, my spiritual walk has been key in helping me get through the most difficult times.

I also found, if I had a support team in place, before I was in crisis, this was extremely helpful. Everyone on that team knows their role and exactly what to do in time of need. Overtime I have learned to recognize the signs
and I have one or two people that periodically ask if I'm doing O.K. The key
to implementing though, is drawing up the plan when I am feeling pretty even keel. I would encourage you to think about this. It brought great security and relief to the many "what if" scenario's

Stay well and I'll keep you in my prayers.

Paxnatus

I have bipolar disorder and if it was not for the meds I'm on I don't know where I would be.
My only problem is that the last pdoc I had gave me antidepressants which caused me to become severily depressed and suicidal. (My exwife didn't help either)
But I ended up being 302 cuz that dr didn't show me all the info he had on me to get me to that point.
Now I can't own a gun EVER and I'm an avid hunter. My current wife is much more understanding and she wants to own a gun now. The problem is I'm not allowed to have a gun in the house either.

Has anyone here had this problem and able to win at getting the 302 revoked.
Any help would be helpful.

Originally posted by Little One
I would also feel most confident to say many are now suffering from 'Seasonal Depression'. Now here I can speak on my own behalf.

I moved to Florida BECAUSE OF SEASONAL DEPRESSION. This is a very real and serious phenomenon that I know exists as I have lived it. When in NC - the skies went gray and so did I. I made up my mind - had to find the sun.

I also suffer from SAD. It's been only this year that I decided to try meds. What a world of difference! I'd tried the light box therapy, the exercise, cut out the carbs,etc, and nothing helped. I'd drag myself out of bed, run two miles on the treadmill and was back in bed right afterward.

The doc prescribed Celexa and within a weeks time, I was a totally different person. I don't have that heavy feeling of dread, sleepiness, and total disinterest of everything anymore. I live in a northern state and have suffered this since I was a kid. I could sleep 17 hours in one day before. Not anymore


Thank god for meds that work. I am not one to take medicine, but I was at the end of my rope.

True. I was on medication for 12 years and just got off less than 6 months ago. The difference is that, with certain medications, they not only block the bad emotions but they weaken the good ones that you feel too, like happiness and joy. However, they can help you get out of the house more and prevent the bad feelings from eating you up.

This is not true. I am now 16 I have been on them since I was 12. I have recently stopped taking them because when I am on them I just feel calm all the time, like I have no control over my emotions. I also stopped taking them because I am almost positive they cannot be good for you because if you stop taking them you can have hallucinations, suicide thoughts, fits of anger, and that's only a few things. But if it causes those things to happen that means your body is physically and mentally addicted to them. But when i stopped taking them for about 2 weeks i started feeling sick, so for no i lowered my dose by more than half, I feel better now and i have more control. This may also sound bad but marijuana for this reason is help to.

Marijuana can cause an increase in side effects and withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants.

Alcohol can, too.

I stopped. I don't think everybody can stop and be okay, especially after 12 years like I did, so I suppose I am lucky.

reply to post by ravenshadow13


Marijuana helps when I dont take them. It hasnt made it worse for me.
But then again everything affects everyone in different ways too.

reply to post by ryckE


I know that my boyfriend, who has some form of biopolar disorder, used to smoke marijuana as an antidepressant illicitly because he could not afford to see a psychiatrist or get prescription medications. I don't doubt that it can work, but I think that in the long term it may not be a great idea.

I recently saw an article out of England or Canada that they were testing THC pills on people with mental disorders as a mood stablizer with good results.

Don't know how that research is going though.

reply to post by ryckE


Just something to consider: if your source isn't 100% reliable, substances may be cut and/or combined with any number of things that will not have beneficial effects on mood or mental disorders (PCP for instance).

[edit on 1/8/09 by americandingbat]

Chemical imbalance causing depression is only a theory. Never scientifically proven. However, taking antidepressants will cause your serotonin receptors to down-regulate, this is a known fact and documented in the pharma literature. For the pro-drug people, have fun getting off your meds!

reply to post by WEOPPOSEDECEPTION


It's a theory with a good amount of evidence to back it up.

The underlying pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) has not been clearly defined. Clinical and preclinical trials suggest a disturbance in CNS serotonin (ie, 5-HT) activity as an important factor. Other neurotransmitters implicated include norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA).

The role of CNS serotonin activity in the pathophysiology of MDD is suggested by the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of MDD. Furthermore, studies have shown that an acute, transient relapse of depressive symptoms can be produced in research subjects in remission using tryptophan depletion, which causes a temporary reduction in CNS serotonin levels. Serotonergic neurons implicated in affective disorders are found in the dorsal raphe nucleus, the limbic system, and the left prefrontal cortex.

Clinical experience indicates a complex interaction between neurotransmitter availability, receptor regulation and sensitivity, and affective symptoms in MDD. Drugs that produce only an acute rise in neurotransmitter availability, such as coc aine, do not have efficacy over time as antidepressants. Furthermore, an exposure of several weeks' duration to an antidepressant usually is necessary to produce a change in symptoms. This, together with preclinical research findings, implies a role for neuronal receptor regulation over time in response to enhanced neurotransmitter availability.

source

Perhaps most telling is the finding that relapse symptoms can be produces in depressives in remission by depleting tryptophan (which is necessary for the body to produce serotonin). And btw, simply increasing tryptophan in the diet does not make the body increase serotonic production, which is why tryptophan itself is not an effective anti-depressant.

Originally posted by ryckE
This is not true. I am now 16 I have been on them since I was 12. I have recently stopped taking them because when I am on them I just feel calm all the time, like I have no control over my emotions. I also stopped taking them because I am almost positive they cannot be good for you because if you stop taking them you can have hallucinations, suicide thoughts, fits of anger, and that's only a few things. But if it causes those things to happen that means your body is physically and mentally addicted to them. But when i stopped taking them for about 2 weeks i started feeling sick, so for no i lowered my dose by more than half, I feel better now and i have more control. This may also sound bad but marijuana for this reason is help to.

Hello rycke,
Let me say I'm sorry you had to go through this. As a nurse, I can tell you that antidepressants have no addictive properties. With that said, you can not abruptly stop taking them cold turkey. You will get very sick due to the chemical changes taking place in your brain. A person needs to be weaned off these drugs gradually reducing the dose as you have found out.

I had personal experience when I stopped my mood stabilizer abruptly; it through me into psychosis, so I know what I am talking about.

With smoking pot, you are self medicating to feel better. You should be honest with your dr. and tell them. If you have to get high to feel better then you are not receiving proper treatment. Marijuana causes severe depression esp. in people your age. Not a lecture just the facts.

Don't give up trying to find the right medication. It is out there. Sometimes it takes a while but you will have success. If you find your doctor is not willing to stay on this, then I would encourage you to find another doctor who will.

Stay safe and take care,

Pax