Medication - Why?

[lofi_tokyo]

In my American lit. class last year, my professor told me that the 80's were a time where there was a drug for everything, a pill to take for every psychological problem. A lot of post-modern writers made fun of this obsession with drugs as a form of help, and personally, I don't blame them!

 

Maybe its just me, but I find it TERRIFYING that I read so many posts on this site where people are like "well I'm really upset so maybe I'll try medication to help out with my depression" or "I'm on medication and its helping but I still struggle with ____".

 

Is taking meds ACTUALLY helpful when it comes to depression related to heartbreak? And can you really blame depression for ruining a relationship? There seem to be a lot of posts saying "Well I struggle with depression, it was hard on my ex."

 

I personally have clinical depression and I do not take medication at all. I guess I'm pretty holistic because I hardly take medicine ever. Especially when it comes to my depression - I just feel like meds may help, but in the long run its me who has to conquer it, its me who has to stand up and be happy for myself!

 

I guess I'm concerned because I feel like I'm seeing a lot what I feel is...

people being prescribed medication but not really doing anything more. Maybe their depression did break their relationship, okay... so thats great they see it, but I feel like a lot of people aren't actively seeking change in their lives, they're just waiting for the drugs to kick in.

 

Maybe I'm reading it all wrong. But it scares the **** out of me. Since when did we land in such a drug culture?

[quankanne]

I agree that there's a problem with prescribing a pill for every little ailment, but depression isn't just psychological, it's chemical in nature, and can be eased or even "corrected" with the right medication.

 

http://www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/article.php?artID=160

this will give you a better idea how an outta-whack blood chemistry can wreak havoc with your mental health.

[a4a]

I agree that there's a problem with prescribing a pill for every little ailment, but depression isn't just psychological, it's chemical in nature, and can be eased or even "corrected" with the right medication.

 

http://www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/article.php?artID=160

this will give you a better idea how an outta-whack blood chemistry can wreak havoc with your mental health.

 

As in the other thread...... I have an issue how depression is diagnosed along with other emotional/mental ailments.

[sedgwick]

I have Borderline Personality Disorder, and when I finally got on meds, it was like the clouds parted and I had some idea what it felt like to be normal. Lamictal is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I would never have made it through this breakup if I hadn't been medicated.

 

All I can say is thank god for psych meds. Are they overprescribed? Perhaps. But if I had to go through ECT to get out of some of the depressions I've survived, I'd have done it. Untreated clinical depression is hell.

[lofi_tokyo]

I suppose if its working for other people than thats great!

 

It makes me wonder if going back on my meds would help me... but I don't know. I really prefer battling my depression head on, even if I realize its a chemical imbalance, I feel like doing my own thing is more effective for me personally.

 

Who knows!

[sedgwick]

I think that taking antidepressants IS battling your depression. If you had cancer, would you refuse chemo because you'd rather battle it on your own? If you needed an organ transplant, would you turn it down and try to heal the organ on your own? Mental illness should be treated with the same respect and seriousness.

[lofi_tokyo]

Thats a really good point Sedgwick. I was going to try and argue that depression is not as terminal as NEEDING and organ transplant or having cancer, but the fact of the matter is, depression can hurt physically, and furthermore, it can be equally terminal, I suppose.

 

I guess I'm just one of those people that is afraid of a) popping too many pills, and b) is ashamed to even deal with depression with anyone else but myself. That is to say, I don't like talking about how I'm feeling with my doctor.

 

It would be even weirder I think to go back to him after I kind of fell of the planet when I decided to quit taking my medication. Blah. Maybe I'll sit down and talk to him and see what the right course of action is.

 

At the end of the day, I still feel kind of stuck in my ways - mind over matter. Even if sciences argues against it, its just how I am!

[sedgwick]

If it helps to put things into perspective, 20% of people with anorexia die from it. People with bipolar disorder are 37% more likely to die from suicide than non-bipolar people. Mental illnesses ARE terminal!!! Not all of them in every person, obviously, but people do die, and it is okay to seek treatment.

[carhill]

Even if the mental illness is terminal, medications can improve the quality of life for the patient and their loved ones. As with anything, there is a balance. Some brain meds will risk shortening the patient's lifespan, but one must weigh the quality of that life against the quantity of it.

 

IMO, behavioral and/or cognitive therapy should occur adjunct to treatment for depressive illnesses/conditions. If the condition is situational in nature, one should weigh the risks of medications with the benefit, as situational conditions generally will resolve as the situation improves/resolves, even without medication.

 

When in doubt, engage a competent medical professional. It's what they do

[dead-dyke]

Tokyovogue, the way you post in here, I wouldn't have the slightest clue you have clinical depression. You'd be the last one to suspect. Anyway, JMO, but when my wife first left, I was in a downward spiral. I was thinking things I've never considered before, and about two months into it I think, I saw the doc.

 

Now I only took them for a couple months, I think it was ciprolex. Very fast acting, and got the right one first. I couldn't cry if I wanted to. Suicidal thoughts - gone. Not that I'd do it, but I had never thought that way before. And I didn't after. Maybe some people become dependant, or use them as a crutch, but it helped me, and when I felt able to cope when I ran out, that was it. Don't get me wrong, it didn't make the world seem like it was filled w/ kitty cats and butterfly's' but it sure did the trick for me.

[lofi_tokyo]

Tokyovogue, the way you post in here, I wouldn't have the slightest clue you have clinical depression. You'd be the last one to suspect. Anyway, JMO, but when my wife first left, I was in a downward spiral. I was thinking things I've never considered before, and about two months into it I think, I saw the doc.

 

Now I only took them for a couple months, I think it was ciprolex. Very fast acting, and got the right one first. I couldn't cry if I wanted to. Suicidal thoughts - gone. Not that I'd do it, but I had never thought that way before. And I didn't after. Maybe some people become dependant, or use them as a crutch, but it helped me, and when I felt able to cope when I ran out, that was it. Don't get me wrong, it didn't make the world seem like it was filled w/ kitty cats and butterfly's' but it sure did the trick for me.

 

I was actually on Ciprolex (10mg) too - I just checked my medicine cabinet... the stuff is like a year and a half old now.

 

But um... I guess I'm pretty good at hiding my depression, but its been my ghost since forever. In fact, the turn around never really happened UNTIL I talked to a doctor. But um.. I'll explain... maybe then you will understand a bit more? ;p

 

Ever since I was in Kindergarten (this is as far back as I can remember) I would pray to God to please give me cancer so I could die in peace. Every night I'd curl up in a ball and pray and pray and pray. I was too scared to kill myself, but so so so uncontrollably unhappy that I just wanted to be given the gift of death. I never physically hurt myself, never cut my wrists or anything - it all seemed so pointless, unless you're gonna go all out, why bother?

 

I never liked the idea of living past 30. I did not want to get married or fall in love. The idea of having children seemed ghastly when I knew I'd be dead before then. I imagined myself to be just a shadow on the earth, destined to just fade out one day, and thats how I wanted it. I tried to be happy, I had happy moments, in pictures I'm always smiling. People always commented on how I never stopped smiling. I did not want to bring anyone down.

 

A few times I asked my mom to get me help. She told me to shut up. She told me there was nothing wrong with me. She told me I made things up in my head. She kicked the **** out of me growing up but convinced me I imagined everything. She told me if I tried telling people they'd think I was crazy or take me away from home. So i internalised my depression and kept quiet.

 

When I turned 16 I could drive. Each time I got behind the wheel I'd be waiting to get hit. I wanted to die. In gr. 12 my mom finally left physical evidence that would stick forever that she beat me up - she broke down a door in my house and smashed two drawers in the bathroom trying to get me while I was in the bathtub crying. From there, I knew at least I wasn't making the abuse up. Maybe thats why a year later I finally talked to a doctor... maybe there were other things I knew but was denying.

 

I've heard of placibo's before. I didn't think my doctor believed I had a problem. I believed my medicine was fake. In the same way I believe mind over matter can be a good thing - you over power your weaknesses, it can do the adverse too I think, my meds maybe couldn't work because I didn't believe.

 

But... I had a shattered door, two broken drawers, and a prescription. I could finally admit things were truly wrong. Thats when I picked myself up, not on my medication, but on my own. Sometimes I still wonder if I'm just making it all up, thats why I'm ashamed to talk to a doctor I guess. I was ashamed to take my meds.

 

 

So! I never EVER expected to tell this story ever. I honestly wrote this post because I thought it was insane how many people take drugs (I still do). Thats part of my story. Probably the most I've ever spelled out at one time.

 

Why don't I seem depressed? I'm a good fighter I guess. Also, theres two Lauren's out there (and god this sounds crazy). When my dog died, Sailor, he died at about the same time I went off my meds, when I decided to become happy.

 

Depressed Lauren floated away to heaven with Sailor. In my imagination, shes a small girl (no older than 6) who sits with Sailor on a cloud. She watches out for children who get beat up. Sometimes I cry for her because I'm sorry I couldn't protect her and save her.

Its complicated and hard to explain. She and my dog watch over me, and I tell her how sorry I am.

 

And that is why I seem happy. I am happy. The Lauren in this chair is happy Lauren. When normal sadness comes my way, the Lauren in this chair deals with it. When sadness related to childhood trauma comes back, when depression creeps up on me, those emotions fly up to heaven.

 

Yup. Its insane. If you read all that **** wow.

 

 

I am SO SORRY THIS IS ON COPING BREAKUP FORUMS. lol

I'd tell you I'm not crazy, because I feel completely sane, and I don't want anyone to think less of me, but yup, I have an imaginary self up in heaven with my dog. I guess suicidal me did die, but shes gone now.

[lofi_tokyo]

And again, I don't ever talk about this. Ever. All my ex knew was I was diagnosed for depression once, but he never heard of it again. Three of my closest friends know I was diagnoses, but we havn't talked about it for probably a year, and I doubt they ever think about it.

 

I'm dealing with my issues in my own way I suppose.

 

I won't bring anyone down because of it! And on that note, if you're feeling sorry for me, please don't. Because the thought seems ridiculous to me... I even feel crazy thinking people would feel bad. lol

 

Smile and love life. Thats all it takes.

[dead-dyke]

And again, I don't ever talk about this. Ever. All my ex knew was I was diagnosed for depression once, but he never heard of it again. Three of my closest friends know I was diagnoses, but we havn't talked about it for probably a year, and I doubt they ever think about it.

 

I'm dealing with my issues in my own way I suppose.

 

I won't bring anyone down because of it! And on that note, if you're feeling sorry for me, please don't. Because the thought seems ridiculous to me... I even feel crazy thinking people would feel bad. lol

 

Smile and love life. Thats all it takes.

 

Of course I read it. If I feel sorry about anyone, it would have to be little Lauren. If you are handling things on your own successfully, then you should be proud of yourself. Especially after a childhood like that, where you didn't deserve that kind of treatment. I guess the old saying goes, what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. It takes a ton o' guts to put that out for the world to see. Don't be embarrassed, because someone like yourself will likely come across somebody that needs help, recognize it, and possibly save them from themselves.

 

It's generally the people like yourself that will leave a very positive footprint in this world. Besides, in time, if you're not there yet, and you will be, what people think of you will not have the bearing on your life the way it did when younger, highschool, and even in college. If it hasn't kicked in yet, you will soon not give a rats' ass what somebody will think of you, because if it's a critical view, be sure they are only projecting to cover their own insecurities.

 

Smile, Tokyovogue, smile.

[Melrapuo]

My family has a history of clinical depression. I'm not different. I've never been on meds, but after my really ****ty break-up I considered it a lot. The pain is the same as anyone else's when we feel rejected, but when it prolongs to a point that is well beyond normal (and you begin to get bad thoughts in your head), the best thing one can do for themselves is seek therapy, which may lead to medication. It's more of a stabalizer than anything else, and people don't have to become dependent on it. But then again, sometimes people do. Some just need more help than others.

[sedgwick]

Oh god girl...get yourself some SSRIs, like, yesterday!!! Seriously! If you want to feel less embarrassed about taking them, I'll send you a photo of all the psych meds I take in a day!!

[a4a]

not being on any meds makes one feel like an outsider..... is there meds for that too?

 

Seriously..... I probably only know a handful of people that are not on something. Makes me wonder. How did people survive life 30- 50 years ago?

 

Yet everyone says "the good old days".

[sedgwick]

 

IMO, behavioral and/or cognitive therapy should occur adjunct to treatment for depressive illnesses/conditions. If the condition is situational in nature, one should weigh the risks of medications with the benefit, as situational conditions generally will resolve as the situation improves/resolves, even without medication.

 

Well put!!

[lofi_tokyo]

I guess after reading through this thread, I'm accepting/realizing taking medication is not such a bad thing but... I still don't know if its for me, and I still find it crazy how many people out there ARE on drugs. But I guess even if I find it crazy, its not a bad thing. People are finding the help they need.

[HighPlainsDrifter]

Anyone have any personal experience with St. Johns Wort? Does this do anything or is it a waste of cash? Anyone have any bad side effects? Thinking about giving it a shot and wondered what people thought.

Thanks in advance...