Meds

[p1nkfl0yd1an]

I know this could be a little awkward, and I'm not really a very regular visitor of the forums. But it seems like nearly everyone here is pretty cool and I can't really think of any other place where I could get a response from a pretty varied group. Anyhow I've been suffering from periods of heavy depression on and off for the past 4 or 5 years and I've always been very against taking any medication to try and fix it. To me it felt like it would have been giving up on fixing whatever problems in my life are by myself. Right now I'm basically at the lowest emotional slump i've ever had and the issues that have me so down have become out of my control at this point. So now I'm rethinking my position on taking any medication. If anyone here's ever been, or is taking any sort of anti-depressant medication and you'd be willing to share whether or not you feel like they help anything I'd really be gratefull if you could tell me. I also understand that it can be a hard and embarassing thing to admit to in a forum so I don't mind if you e-mail me anonymously or contact me on AIM. My screen name's the same thing... p1nkfl0yd1an.

Life sucks, and I can't just seem to suck it up and deal with it anymore. =\

[zombie@computer]

I dont know why you are depressed, but if you cant do anything about it then talk to people who can. Your family, friends, physician etc. Offcourse if there's no way out, you can try anti-depressants for a while, but their greatest use is when your depression makes you depressed (throwing you in a downwards spiral). And since no sane physician would prescribe you anti-depressants unless theres no other way to help you, theres no way you can avoid a serious talk with your physician

Its no use asking other people about their experience with anti-depressants, they act differently on every person.

[slayera]

I agree with z@c. But I would like to add if friends and family don't work for you there are support groups also. Also if you don't think your doctor working in a direction that suits you then you must seek a 2nd opinion, even a 3rd or 4th. Pills are not always the answer, but they can help you get over the rough times.

Pills over time do lose their effectiveness and if you don't want to deal taking them the rest of your life you will need to come up with some coping tools to deal with your depression.

[source-maps]

I got a girlfriend whos depressed,
its sometimes heavy on me to but Im a strong dude so I can take it.
they organized a meating for here, the whole fammaly came and here best friends (including me)
well I can tell you it helped,
we made a plan for here what needs to be done to make here feel happy again(there are allot more details but thats not important) its a slow procces but it needs be done

I can understand why you post it on a forum because you dont know anybody and you can tell your story a bit easier whitout feeling uncomfortable, but believe me its very important to tell your friends and famaliy what you are going trough.
they can give you love and support nobody else can give you.
serious take my advise

owyeah one more thing, I would not start taking medicine, only if its only thing left you can do to solve your problems (drugs and medicine only makes you feel more insecure)

[SlappyBag]

I got a girlfriend whos depressed,
its sometimes heavy on me to but Im a strong dude so I can take it.
they organized a meating for here, the whole fammaly came and here best friends (including me)
well I can tell you it helped,
we made a plan for here what needs to be done to make here feel happy again(there are allot more details but thats not important) its a slow procces but it needs be done

I can understand why you post it on a forum because you dont know anybody and you can tell your story a bit easier whitout feeling uncomfortable, but believe me its very important to tell your friends and famaliy what you are going trough.
they can give you love and support nobody else can give you.
serious take my advise

owyeah one more thing, I would not start taking medicine, only if its only thing left you can do to solve your problems (drugs and medicine only makes you feel more insecure)

Its spelt "her" not "here".

To be honest, you should play Stalker, that will solve your depression.

I'm not very useful I know. Sorry.

[source-maps]

"sorry for the grammar"

[ad_hominem]

actually its spelling

and I agree with Z@C, go and see someone who really knows what they're talking about

[Mr. Happy]

I myself have not been on any anti-depressants, which is honestly kinda strange considering. My Mom has taken Prozak and Wellbutrin for years and years and it has really helped her. The medications don't take away the depression, but do really help for some people. Of course, you can't just pop a pill a day to make the doctor go away, real psychotherapy is needed.

My brother on the other hand hated anti-depressants, and was taken off them after a year or two. He, however, was misdiagnosed at one point early on and given something that he should not have been. (DONT see doctors in florida) I won't give any details because it's not my place, but, I will say that the effectiveness of medication really depends on your brain and your past and current medications.

There are a few couple anti-depressants which, if taken, you NEED to take for the rest of your life OR ELSE YOUR BRAIN WILL NOT COPE. HOWEVER, there are only a couple like that and they are usually only prescribed in extreme circumstances when all else has failed. So make sure you have a well qualified psychiatrist and just mention that concern to your psychiatrist about that.

DONT get prescribed by a physician, see a well trained psychiatrist.

Alot of people see both a psychologist and a psychiatrist, which can be expensive, but for serious mental problems it can really be neccesary and very helpful at times. Most people start with a psychologist and, if he believes that medication might be neccasary, he will send you to a psychiatrist for that kind of evaluation. I really suggest you start with a psychologist as they only have the power to talk. Don't see a neurologist, because they can prescribe med's and aren't in the business of talking. They're more for things like epilepsy, attention disorders, etc.

Good luck, I hope you get healthy soon

[Athlete{UK}]

I'm bi-polar myself (manic depressant to give the none PC name.) I deal with it since my case isn't too severe (although I do go into serious depressions now and then)

In all honesty depending what age you are. If you're a teen to young adult most of it will honestly be hormones. I know you're thinking. "No you don't understand." Well I do mate. When I say i've dealt with depression I really fucking mean it and at this age your body is going mental and it just makes things a lot fucking worse.

My honest advice is don't turn straight to meds. Infact don't turn to them at all unless you're a danger to yourself etc. Someone very close to me has been on meds for the last 8 years or so and that was only after a severe mental break down. She's only just started coming off them and they're addictive. They are causing her a lot of problems with it but she needed them.

This always goes down really well but alot of it is also probably in your head. I did the same thing. my worst depressions now I think back were just made worse by themselves. I got to the point where I just wouldn't leave my room and refused to talk to people and that made things worse. When i gotto my worst it took me a long time to come back out.

At the end of the day it's different things for different people. Stay away from meds at all costs if it can be helped and by the sounds of things it can and remember you're not alone. Friends and family are you most important things when in a depression.

Also If your life sucks. Change it. I was at the same point feeling sorry for myself sad the world sucks life sucks everyone hates me. Exactly how I felt and thought for a long time. I decided to go and do something which I wanted to. I'm now doing the things I want to do and loving it. I still get depressed cus well that's bi-polar (the highs are fun) but lifes better now cus that's what I made out of it

[Mr. Happy]

My honest advice is don't turn straight to meds. Infact don't turn to them at all unless you're a danger to yourself etc. Someone very close to me has been on meds for the last 8 years or so and that was only after a severe mental break down. She's only just started coming off them and they're addictive. They are causing her a lot of problems with it but she needed them.

This always goes down really well but alot of it is also probably in your head. I did the same thing. my worst depressions now I think back were just made worse by themselves. I got to the point where I just wouldn't leave my room and refused to talk to people and that made things worse. When i gotto my worst it took me a long time to come back out.

100% agree and in some ways same with me.

Friends and family are very important, you can almost always turn to them. But sometimes it's hard, sometimes you just can't talk to them about something, sometimes they just don't help.

I really suggest seeing a psychologist (NOT a psychiatrist), you can always talk to them about ANYTHING. Med's are really good for some people, but without therapy they just won't cut it. You gotta talk it out, and let a doctor help you decide if they are right for you.

Anti-depressants are really addictive, but for some people, like my mom, completely neccesary.

[Rocket_Robinhood]

okay, I have never been on meds, or depressed or what not... But I do have some very valuable advice

The first: People on internet forums (maybe with the exception of Athelete in this case) are by no way a good means of making a life changing decision, and some professional advice, or good support groups should be your way of getting advice

The Second: If you do decide that medication is the answer, seek medication professionally administered, Don't self medicate!

[Zabiela]

The Second: If you do decide that medication is the answer, seek medication professionally administered, Don't self medicate!

I think most of the anti-depressants in question are perscription only. Or, maybe you're talking about smoking a joint, which wont solve your problems.

[dragonfliet]

When things are that bad, I strongly, strongly recommend talking to a psychologist who is reluctant to prescribe medications. Talking can be a very, very helpful thing, even when you don't think it is.

That being said, I've known people that have taken meds and it has done worlds of good for them. They had tried everything else and it was a simple bio-chemical thing. They're doing great now.

Sorry I don't have any more first hand experiance, but I hope that helps a little.

~Jason

[Dionysos]

My dad is a psychiatrist+neurologist. Comes in handy during depressions

I have never taken any "hard" anti-depressants, and I wouldnt suggest so either. The most important thing to do when youre in a deep depression is to get "outside", do something that makes you get another perspective, get outside your head and stop thinking in those same patterns all the time. What really helps (from my experience anyways) is sports (hurts doesnt it), going outside, doing things youve never done before etc etc. Also dont sleep long, get up early, discipline and bodily strain "wakes" you up.

If you want to take something, cyprexa (sp?) is ok. Its purpose is to kind of get you to "wake up" and get that new perspective, so that you cognitively feel the difference.

If the "wake up" stuff confuses; I find that when youre really depressed, youre always in a kind of drowsy state, if you get what I mean. Feeling mentally sluggish.

Well, Im not a doctor myself and this is all just my experiences so nothing of this is guaranteed of course

[Head]

I am going to sound like a totatl perfeconist (I AINT) but enjoy the small things in life like even how sily and stupid and fucked up if its fun its worth it (expect rape its NOT fun) i try to enjoy life as much as i can i got around in school saying meow (mjau) to evryone and i try to socialies and talk to evryone even thoes who i dont know. Life is shit it really is. but begin depressed and hideing away wont make it go away. its the same thing with pepole cutting thier wrist its stupid its dumb and i have even tryed it to see any satatifaction of it. i did get none after begin bullyed for around 7 years i broke free from the bullys and fougth back. and gave me a quite not very popular guy that is crazy makes dumb jokes and enjoy my life even if i am poor dont got a shit,mom and dad fighting. me failing all my subjects. Still i try to make the best out of it.

Atlest try

this wont probly help you tho. its me and i am crazy