for anyone who says medicines are not effective for people with depression / anxiety disorders you probably dont have a true condition ... i hear lots of people say the side effects are horrible ... well i have taken meds for both now for 3 yrs ... there are side effects but i will take these over the symptoms everyday of the week .. real depression is not feeling sad or angry for a while .. it s something that creates real physical pain and limits how you live to almost nothing .. it lasts a lifetime and makes one very serious when they say they want to die .. i lived it for almost 20 yrs .. it is sheer terror .. unless you truely have it , you have no idea what it is ... i have been on several meds for 3 years and i feel like a person again .. everyone goes through sad times .. i still do, but infact when i get sad , i think back to how i used to feel and it makes me giggle alittle . imagine thinking its kinda funny to be sad ... well thats how it is when youve been truely depressed .. tell me your stories

I agree robdad, as I have had the black dog of depression bite me real hard. I've suffered from dysthymia since I was 5, and recently have been diagnosed as a long-term functioning schizophrenic. Medication is a big help, and I don't really know if I'd be here today without it. After 40 years of fighting my condition, some chemical help is greatly appreciated.

Spot on! Without Meds i dont know if id even be here!

Agreed. My life would be horrible if not for my medications. They keep me stable and calm so I can actually enjoy the days...

Like you said, if you don't have a real mental disorder/problem, you can't understand how great medication is, regardless of a few side effects.

It would be nice if I didn't have to gain weight though... haha.

Dysthemia, PAD with Agoraphobia here...

on meds: out of bed everyday. Can enjoy even the worst of days. Still have nagging endless "blah" in the background but it can more easily be suppressed if not entirely forgotten.

Anxiety under control through therapy and meds. Diligence is required to stay on top of things though

Off meds: within a week I am living in my jammies again. Not bothering to get out of bed. not eating, sleeping WAYYY too much and generally not able to enjoy even the best of days. Even with therapy the meds really help.

It was weird when I first started taking them (Paxil) I didn't feel anything different really. I expected to feel dozey or sluggish...not at all. I went off them thinking that I didn't need them (cuz I didn't feel them working).

Within a week...the old pattern started again. back on the meds and it all evened out PDQ.

Took going off twice to get it into my thick skull that it WAS helping and the fact that I didn't "feel" anything was simply my metabolism and the nature of the drug. It was hard to cope with the knowing that I needed the Paxil and likely will for the rest of my life.

Now I am on the lowest dose possible and though I have had bouts of depression I'd classify them as blissfully "normal"...situation related and not the overwhelming "dread of waking up everyday to the sad realization that I am still me". LOL

I can laugh about it now but it was terrible. Self loathing is a very common effect of many mental illnesses and people with depression are highly susceptible.

I take the 10mg daily without fail. During Xmas though with stress being higher than usual I bumped up to 20mg for most of december, Coming back to 10mg now that christmas is done for another year.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - it takes a hell of a strong individual to accept when they cannot cope, and a stronger person still to seek help.

We are strong people...being on meds doesn't make us weak as many might feel or try to suggest.

Without meds I am virtually useless to anyone who needs me including myself.

In retrospect I wish to hell I hadn't waited and ignored the signs until I was 30...I missed out on a lot being ill and being unaware and/or in denial.

For the first time in my life (since I was five) I am actually happy.

I don't think meds are for everyone...therapy can help most people, and if a Doc thinks meds can assist in recovery and treatment then I would try it.

I did cognitive therapy (I got 6 mos from a 3 month program cuz I was a royal mess) and it changed my life...sounds totally corny...but it really did.

I feel sorry for anyone too ashamed to admit problems coping but sympathies only last so long with me. I have a daughter who was RX bi-polar and refuses to even entertain the idea...I watch her crash and burn and it infuriates me that she is so determined to continue whining and feeling suicidal when there is HELP for her and it has been offered numerous times.

You can't help those who will not help themselves I guess.

I hope she figures it out before she winds up 30+ and still struggling like I was.

sorry to ramble...a bit passionate on the subject

I completly agree. While I have battled Depression for years, I wouldn't go so far as to say that I couldn't function without it. However, my mother has Bipolar Disorder and terrible Depression and I can asure you she most likely wouldn't be here with us today if it wasn't for the help of her medications.

One thing I have always maintained here int he medical forum is that if your MD suggests you need medication for depression etc:

1) Get a second opinion. You regular MD should never be offened and if he/she is then its time to find a new one.

2) make sure the person prescribing said medication is a specialist in the treatment of whatever issue you are dealing with. GP's or family medicine doctors have no business prescribing the stuff. The last time any of them dealt with pschy issues is most likely when they were in residency.

Originally posted by robdad
for anyone who says medicines are not effective for people with depression / anxiety disorders you probably dont have a true condition ... i hear lots of people say the side effects are horrible ... well i have taken meds for both now for 3 yrs ... there are side effects but i will take these over the symptoms everyday of the week .. real depression is not feeling sad or angry for a while .. it s something that creates real physical pain and limits how you live to almost nothing .. it lasts a lifetime and makes one very serious when they say they want to die .. i lived it for almost 20 yrs .. it is sheer terror .. unless you truely have it , you have no idea what it is ... i have been on several meds for 3 years and i feel like a person again .. everyone goes through sad times .. i still do, but infact when i get sad , i think back to how i used to feel and it makes me giggle alittle . imagine thinking its kinda funny to be sad ... well thats how it is when youve been truely depressed .. tell me your stories

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.

I too suffer from mental illness, bipolar disorder. Let's just say without my meds, I wouldn't be here. they literally saved my life.

We are not weak, or lazy or looking for a quick fix. Only people who suffer with
these types of disorders or have someone close to them with mental illness can understand what I am talking about. I'm sure everyone of us would give anything not to suffer with this illness. Accepting that we are not to blame and understanding that medication, while not a cure is key to managing our condition, is half the battle.

I thank God everyday, that he placed helpers in my life in the form of doctors and nurses. He has shown me through much trial and error, that it is o.k. to lean on other people including medication.

My cousin is a severely sick man. Shew - without his meds - he is like a pure lunatic. Showering at 2 am with no reason. No need to sleep for days and not be tired.

Heck - he tried to steal the Azalea Princess from the Parade back in like 1988 or so in Wilmington NC.

With his meds... one would NEVER KNOW he was even sick. Problem is: he will NOT take his meds so he has to stay locked up.

To the OP - I admire your courage - have a star on me!

It's my understanding that a major change in routine and diet needs to be done as well. Since many people can't do this while they're working and or living in the same routines, it's not so easy to treat.

I guess it also depends on the source and severity of depression. Since I was diagnosed with schizoaffective and dissociative identity disorder with manic depression, the worst was hitting the deepest bottom around 9/11.

I recall the depression as if walking the 'green mile' to my execution. I was on imipramine a fews years before and the doctor refused to refill the prescription because it had maxed out without seeing a psychiatrist.

Going off the medication and the apparent reaction was like a gong going off in the back of my head that would drop me to my knees.

I've had many bad experiences with reactions from certain medications. I've always had a history of sensitivities to foods and additives and even went to a few allergists for blood testing. They came back negative and I'm sure they were wrong somehow. So, I have major trust issues with doctors and medications.

I've been forced to do eliminations in my diet I wouldn't have been helped with by my current doctor. Finding the right kind of doctor is important.

The internet has been helpful in doing my own studies. It's still a long walk back to reality though. Is ATS good therapy or just a distraction? I guess it depends on ther person and not their diagnosis.

I had a lot of difficulty with medications also. Through many doctors and many trials I found the medication that changed everything. Abilify. It was developed to treat schizophrenia, but has been very effective in treating bipolar disorder as well. My mania manifest in psychosis that looks very much like paranoid schizophrenia. Since being on Abilify I have not had another episode. I have not experienced any side effects since being on this medication.

Maybe this is worth a try aleon.

[edit on 3-1-2009 by paxnatus]

For some reason I was being treated with seroquel and abilify together. I was already having problems with the seroquel. It seemed the abilify and the reaction together was more like chemotherapy and seemed to drop my blood pressure at night similar to raynaud's disease. idk My finger tip pain and toe pain would wake me up at night and my fingernails were white. It scared the crap out of me so I quit the abilify.

I hadn't really given much thought about going back to the abilify. I'm currently on lamictal and just 25 mg of seroquel to sleep at night.

I suffer from terrible depression (a few times a year), where everything looks bleak and all hope is lost.

Not to disagree with any of the members on this thread, i truly appreciate that certain medicines can help people with a variety of problems...

But for me.... Anti-depressants made me worse, far worse....

I have learned to deal with my inner pain by my own methods... But obviously this is not for anyone.

My only words of advice for anyone suffering from depressions.....

You are not alone and people will listen to you.

Peace

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.

There are many other reasons why Florida would make a great place for me to plant my roots but Seasonal Depression is WHY I am here and would never leave.

No meds - no moods - no problem... as long as I get a certain amount of photosynthesis - natural or otherwise - doesnt seem to matter.

Now I know tanning beds can be bad for your skin. However - when I travel for a shoot and its gray and cold there - I find hoping in a tanning bed for a bit to get me through until I get back here to the Keys. Wear sunblock if exposure is a concern.

I would rather none of us have to take meds even though I do believe they are a god-send. On the other hand - I hope before people jump on the RX band wagon... try some of the other approaches mentioned in this thread.

Nothing at all wrong with something that makes someones life tolerable. I have been to PAST tolerable and its not pretty. If one needs them - got my support 100%. AS LONG AS THE RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS ARE KNOWN - UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PATIENT.

No offense to those of us on meds - I actually admire you for the courage to speak so freely and honestly about this topic. Its needs to be discussed - lacking any and all judgment.

Stars to all! Great Thread and replies!

I totally agree. I had depression for a few years, mainly due to being extremely anxious with everything and everyone. didn't want to be around anyone, even my friends, or make new friends, talk to people. if someone would take to me i would get that conversation over and done with quick smart and wouldn't start any conversation.

Then i started taking laxapro the anti-depressant / anti-anxiety tablet. i take 40mg a day. It gives me the shakes. But i will stay with the shakes any day than to go back to that anxious / depressive state. It's truely a god-send for me and has turned my life around ;-P

I am on Paxil and my life is a 100% better than when I'm not on it. I do have to say it's been a 5 year struggle to find the right kind of meds though. When starting meds over here (the Netherlands) that are for depression etc you always get a 3 month period to see if it does anything... So the meds that didn't work I had to took for 3 months to find out...

As for the sideeffect, they are there and nobody should take these meds for mild depression or anything that can be resolved without meds. Prozac somehow killed my white bloodcels and that's a serious problem, however some people do great on it so it's a very personal thing... What works for one person doesn't always work for another.

not a doctor but i have been in psych prision and have mental illness first off dont give children over 13 ritalin or dexies because it is are a hard core drug and in school they will find out the truth about this drug and its abitlities.(take large doses at parties or sel it to other kids) witch will lead to them abusing the drug and giving them psychosim or in the worse trigger them pschotic a irraversable condition.
my other reason is that 13 -19 is hormone time this is contorlled to some degree buy the dompamine. this part of the brain controlls the auditory and visual halucinations so being at a hormone increased state and taking a amphetamine of a sort like ritalin or dexies will increase the dopamine function. i natually had a large dopamine at this age and was add causing vivid episodes and ritalin solved add but turnded psychosim into over drive. and was a gateway to further drug abuse. 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