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saben
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On fire! |
Registered: May 2003
Messages: 1537
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What are people's experiences or thoughts on the use of drugs in the treatment of depression and anxiety.
I still struggle sometimes. I speak with a counsellor at Uni. But I sometimes wonder if I should consider speaking to a doctor and getting some kind of prescription for when I'm going through my rough periods.
So therapy, meds or both? I know there's no silver bullet. But have I been ignoring a potential aid to my depression by ignoring drugs?
Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time [...] No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Master Oogway
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13751
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It depends upon the ailment.
As with all medicine you need to discuss the options and consider the positive and negative effects and set those against the suffering you face.
Consider the addictive nature of some medicines in the discussion and work out what, if anything, you need. Sometimes we need help to get over a hill, and at other times we need longer help. And often we need no chemical help at all.
But know that there is no stigma about taking relevant and useful tablets except that which you lay upon yourself.
[Updated on: Tue, 30 March 2010 17:56]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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Saben,
Drugs do make a difference. They have a bad name and I'm sure they are misused as much as they are used, but there is a place for them.
I was on Proac (Fluoxetine) for 14 years after my doctor suprised me by diagnosing depression. Recently I found that my Testosterone was abysmally low and I figured that that was the cause of my depression, so I began Testosterone augmentation and weaned myself off Prozac. You might want to have your testosterone levels checked. Certain malfunctions of the endocrine system can send it plummeting even in a young man, and that can cause depression.
Off of Prozac, I was always on the verge of falling off into the abyss. Depression hit regardless of the Testosterone augmentation. I also increased my alcohol consumption to cope. My conversations with my wife did not flow as smoothly. To make a long story short, I began taking the Fluoxetine again.
Although I'm on half the dose I took before, I notice a huge change in my mood with Fluoxetine. I have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a social abnormality on the Autism spectrum. Research shows that chronic depression is a co-morbidity of this condition. So I'm on Fluoxetine for the duration. MY life is so much better with it.
The drug narrows the range of my mood swings. I don't get as hyped up happy nor as down draggin sad as I do without it. It also stops me from dwelling on certain thoughts. With the drug, I can say..no I won't think of that and I can stop perseverating on something that could throw me into a depression. Without the drug, thoughts gang up on me and drag me down.
For me, the downside of the drug is that it has made me impotent. Even when I weaned myself from it and took Cialis, there wasn't much activity down there. Since I've already suffered the consequence there's not much of a disadvantage of taking it for me now.
They didn't know of this side effect when I started taking it. So if you do any anti-depressants, you should ask about this risk. It doesn't make a lot of difference to me now, but when I was in my 20s I needed a whole lot of hard. Hopefully they have new drugs that don't have this unfortunate side effect.
My family does cognitive behavior therapy mostly for the benefit of my son, who also has Aspergers among other disabilities. This therapy teaches one to analyze and look at feelings in a reasoned manner. This helps my son with his obsessions and anxieties. It's sorta like...screw the reasons I'm this way, lets figure out how not to be this way. No couch or looking into the past. In this type of stuff, you would look at what gets you down, and work out reasoned methods to circumvent the process.
I always cheer myself by considering the truth that its just neurotransmitter chemicals out of balance and not me. Diet, exercize, drugs, and reasoned preparation for the onslaught of depression all work to make things right again.
I would recommend that you see your physician to test for possible physical causes of the depression, look into drugs, and get a referral to a competent cognitive therapist.
Max
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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There are 2 people who are close to me that went through severe bouts of depression. Therapy just made them delve deeper into the black hole and therefore more depressed. Meds brought them back to the real world and enabled them to function again. I had never seen them doing so well as they are now. I am far from an advocate of drugs and chemicals, in fact I avoid them as much as possible, but seeing these two people benefit the way they did is a good thing.
This being said, I think it is important to make sure you have a good doctor who knows the medications well, and prescribes the one that is right for you. I have also seen the wrong medication have the exact opposite effect than the one intended and the result was nearly catastrophic.
I prefer guys that don't come in a box.
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For my money, Saben, they are to be avoided if possible. But this is an opinion based on prejudice, not experience. I was brought up to believe that my personality was profoundly based on my mind and that if I wanted to be true to myself I should not mess with my mind.
And very few of my father's prejudices have stayed with me but this one has (and also his extreme distaste for men wearing jewelery). So I've never taken any kind of 'recreational' drug (excepting tobacco and alcohol - I admit that is inconsistent).
So bear in mind my prejudice but please find out the side effects of anything you are recommended before you try it and take great care to assess for yourself the effect it has on you. Mind-altering drugs are commonly addictive and rapidly become crutches that you find it difficult to manage without when you want to.
When I was your age if I had been open with my doctor I'd probably have been put on drugs for my homosexuality. I'm far from convinced that the medical profession has eliminated all its false views of what people are and ought to be. A drug can make you worse as well as better.
You have to take charge and learn enough about it so that, in effect, you are controlling your own self-medication.
I wonder if I'm being too hot and strong about this?
But you know, the subject of psychology, 'the psyche' is something that on the whole the medical profession has ceased to believe in, just as I tell parsons who want to save my soul, that I haven't got one!
Love,
Anthony
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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"I was brought up to believe that my personality was profoundly based on my mind and that if I wanted to be true to myself I should not mess with my mind."
Be careful here Anthony dearest, the way you describe your mind sounds a lot like how people describe their soul.
You mind does not exist apart from your body. Your body is basically a meat machine, and you well know how things go on the bum. If a kidney can fail, why not the systems which control emotions?
But you are absolutely correct about caution. One needs to study drugs and their effects very closely, even when prescribed by a physician.
Max
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13751
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While a substantial quantity of mental health can be managed with force of will and determination, there are recognised illnesses where a chemical imbalance should be addressed with prescribed and monitored medicine. One must be very careful as a friendly advisor to make sure that the advice is not from one's own perspective.
This is hard to do, and harder to do well. I'm not picking you out for comment here, my thoughts had to go somewhere and yo provided the hook is all.
The important thing for the sufferer to do is to capitalise on periods of low stress to have discussions with properly qualified people and to come to a conclusion on how to act when stress is high. And that may differ from episode to episode, trying pure therapy and talking for one episode, medicine for another, and so forth.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Aussie
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Really getting into it |
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 475
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Hi Saben
Sometimes it is necessary to go on anti depressant drugs to get you through a bad patch. In my opinion as long as they are only for temporary use not much harm can be done in the way of side effects.
Keep in mind most of these kinds of drugs are highly addictive and it can be difficult to wean yourself off them after a long period on them. I have personally known a lot of people who have had this problem.
As Macky suggested getting tested for hormone imbalance is a good idea. I was put on T therapy as well, on the basis of my symptoms and it made me feel a lot better. Unfortunately I had to go off this treatment for 3 months following the accident I had and have just had tests again which show I am now very low on T again so will be back on the therapy. If you want to go down this path just find a Dr. who bulk bills and get the tests ordered.
My preference is to go down the track of using natural therapies where possible and this includes getting Vitamin D from sunlight (lack of this has a big effect on depression.) I also take herbal type anti depressants prescribed by a naturopath.
Timmy says the important thing is to find someone who is fully qualified to treat you. This is where the minefield begins as there are many fully qualified in Psychology and Psychiatry who are total idiots.
Feel free to email me if you want to discuss further
Aussie
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kiwi
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Likes it here |
Location: New Zealand
Registered: August 2009
Messages: 317
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My 2 cents' worth - I'm no expert, but my wife is, she has worked alongside many people for many years. I ran this past her and she agrees.
Therapy and counselling are definitely the better way to go. Drugs have their place, in a crisis situation for example, but they don't actually fix anything any more that painkillers repair decayed teeth etc.
I don't know the situation in Aus, but here anti-depression drugs are way over-prescribed. It's an easy fix for the professionals - drug 'em up, shut 'em up and move on to the next case.
The drugs can easily become the problem. Far too many people are on them for years and become dependent on and addicted to them. Look at Michael Jackson!
Therapy is very relationship specific. Find a counsellor you like and dump them for another if it's not working. Good therapy can help you work through the problems, drugs will just put them on hold and they don't go away.
Depression is a bitch and there's no quick and easy fix. If it's a problem, you need professional help but beware of the drug peddlers - there's profit in it too.
For anxiety, often the best fix is the easiest - breathe deeply for 1 minute, and repeat if necessary. There's a good chemical/brain reaction for it, but it works.
Best of luck to you!
cheers
Commas matter - 'Party on Dudes' is not the same as 'Party on, Dudes'
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ray2x
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: April 2009
Messages: 429
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My wife reluctantly requested her doctor to represcribe her an anti anxiety drug which helps her during those hard times. She did initally feel like a failure at her attempts to calm herself but recognized just how tough and strong her anxiety bouts were. I whole heartedly supported her decision. She has yet to take the pill since. She feels good that the medication is there but really wants to not have to take it.
I cannot imagine how hard it is for an individual to take a medication for any ailments. I've been lucky. But I know it can happen to me in a heartbeat.
Raymundo
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