Is it wrong to take antidepressants?
Posted by Ohm_i on Oct 05, 2008 · Member since Sep 2008 · 341 posts
Hello my fellow vegwebians, I've gotten a lot of good opinions from reading some if the other posts and I decided its time I ask my own question!
I've been on antidepressants for about 10 years now which is almost half my life :o, I hate the fact that I have to be dependant on something, especially a chemical cocktail but I just cant seem to make it without. Has anybody else dealt with this and if so what did you do. I jsut feel like I shouldnt be taking this stuff but im scared not too.
Please help!
Please don't stop taking your meds. There are times (like this) when we need to take a "chemical cocktail". Talk to your doctor...please!
My roommate in college stopped taking her meds. She went a bit nuts. Being vegan is about doing the best you can. I take thyroid pills and I'm not about to stop. Being hospitalized doesn't help and they'll force you to take meds there, anyway.
It's interesting to post this on the Chit Chat board because people can't debate meds here like they could on the News & Debate board.
hmmm...maybe i should have, didnt think about that.
Many conditions that are treated with anti-depressants (anxiety, depression) can effectively be treated with therapy. If you haven't ever tried that, and have just always taken anti-depressants, then it's just like always putting a bandaid on something. If you'd like to try something other than anti-depressants, I recommend you find a good psychiatrist (for med maintenance) and psychologist/clinical social worker to work through the underlying issues.
Many conditions that are treated with anti-depressants (anxiety, depression) can effectively be treated with therapy. If you haven't ever tried that, and have just always taken anti-depressants, then it's just like always putting a bandaid on something. If you'd like to try something other than anti-depressants, I recommend you find a good psychiatrist (for med maintenance) and psychologist/clinical social worker to work through the underlying issues.
Yes. As a veteran of the mental health system in the US, I see the helpful side of both medication and therapy...with a healthy dose of doing something to change the situation that's creating the depression. Which is down to each one. Because, as RC says, if you just treat the symptoms, the problem will go merrily on. And doctors love a quick fix. Here, take this. Feel better? Fine, keep taking them. (I'm not talking about the sort of medication used for organic problems that, like diabetes, will not "get better" on their own.)
For years I felt like the message was, "Oh, we know you'll never be able to do it on your own, but that's OK--we're here for you." But it was like having a broken leg, and being put in a broken leggers support group, and having people willing to help me learn to live with the limitations of having a broken leg...but no one actually suggesting setting the broken bone and applying some plaster. After many years, I found someone willing to "set the bone" through therapy and behaviour modification suggestions...but in the end, I ended up having to "remove the plaster" myself.
I have taken antidepressants and found them helpful sometimes, in damage control for temporary situations. But in my particular case, overuse was what was leading to my insomnia and later dependence on OTC sleeping meds. The solution created a new problem. Now there are drugs I can't take, because my CNS is so sensitised. Some relaxants etc. will have the opposite effect to the one intended.
ETA: And never ever be afraid to go to a different doctor and get a second opinion. You're entitled to a second opinion, and a third, if you feel you need a new perspective. And if your physician gets upset with you, THEY are the one with the problem.
Many conditions that are treated with anti-depressants (anxiety, depression) can effectively be treated with therapy. If you haven't ever tried that, and have just always taken anti-depressants, then it's just like always putting a bandaid on something. If you'd like to try something other than anti-depressants, I recommend you find a good psychiatrist (for med maintenance) and psychologist/clinical social worker to work through the underlying issues.
Yes. As a veteran of the mental health system in the US, I see the helpful side of both medication and therapy...with a healthy dose of doing something to change the situation that's creating the depression. Which is down to each one. Because, as RC says, if you just treat the symptoms, the problem will go merrily on. And doctors love a quick fix. Here, take this. Feel better? Fine, keep taking them. (I'm not talking about the sort of medication used for organic problems that, like diabetes, will not "get better" on their own.)
For years I felt like the message was, "Oh, we know you'll never be able to do it on your own, but that's OK--we're here for you." But it was like having a broken leg, and being put in a broken leggers support group, and having people willing to help me learn to live with the limitations of having a broken leg...but no one actually suggesting setting the broken bone and applying some plaster. After many years, I found someone willing to "set the bone" through therapy and behaviour modification suggestions...but in the end, I ended up having to "remove the plaster" myself.
I have taken antidepressants and found them helpful sometimes, in damage control for temporary situations. But in my particular case, overuse was what was leading to my insomnia and later dependence on OTC sleeping meds. The solution created a new problem. Now there are drugs I can't take, because my CNS is so sensitised. Some relaxants etc. will have the opposite effect to the one intended.
ETA: And never ever be afraid to go to a different doctor and get a second opinion. You're entitled to a second opinion, and a third, if you feel you need a new perspective. And if your physician gets upset with you, THEY are the one with the problem.
Yabbit, I love your analogy of the broken leg! It is still very true. I also agree with you on not stopping 'till you find someone who you like....It took me years to find a psychiatrist that understood me! My theory has been in order to help you, the therapist has to be crazier than you. If they haven't been there before, how can you expect them to show you a way out?
Ohm, I've fought with medication for 6 years..... Up until recently, I had what I thought was my longest successful run w/o anti-depressants, until I realized I had somehow wandered over into the Manic side of things. Now if I had kept up with my depression medicine, could I have prevented crossing over from anxious depression into Bipolar type 2? I don't know. What I do know is that once again I am on medication, and we are playing the roulette game of which one(s) work and which don't.
I treat drugs as tools, use them when you need them, put them away when you don't. Know when you need a power drill (medication) as opposed to a manual screw driver (talk therapy), and go on from there. Sometimes the tool becomes a constant like a car or a chair, and you need to tell yourself it is alright, because without the car, you wouldn't be able to go where you needed, and without the chair, you'd be stuck on the ground.
Hang in there, and do go talk to a dr before you try to go off meds....some of them have to be tapered off in order to avoid nasty withdrawal symptoms.
I was taking xanax and some stuff to treat anxiety disorder... though I personally stopped because I felt it didn't do more than make my mind work less-right. Although, my "anxiety" and near-psychosis is probably a result of mixing psychedelics, horrid stress, traumatic situations, and the family history of schizophrenia :P
I've been dealing with it on a personal level (as in bettering myself) as I feel that's benefiting me the most! I talked to a doctor about it, and they said it was not necessary for me to take it unless I felt it was helping me.
I would definitely talk to you your doctor about it, about how you feel, and what your expectations/goals are.
Wow, thanks for all the feedback so far you guys, i've gotten a lot of helpful responses. I have been seeing a pyschiatrist about my meds forever and every so often I see a therapist. Therapy does seem to help a little. Ive also taken on the self improvement projects which i think is what has brought this question up for me. My long term goal is to be meds free but I've tried coming off before and it wasn't pretty but I wonder if that could just be side effects.
Once again thanks for the input!
Depending on what you take, just stopping is usually not a good idea. There can be some seriously not-good side effects. Usually you need to slowly work your way off.
It's a really personal thing. I agree with pretty much everyone else who has replied - meds are an option, and they can be a useful and important option so are definitely not wrong, but there are also other options.
Antidepressants really didn't work for me, I spent years being shunted from one variety to another with dosages being changed all the time and it felt like I was never out of that "adjustment period" where your body is getting used to the new drug or new dosage and you get side effects. I got fed up and stopped taking them of my own accord, but I wouldn't recommend that since it isn't very pleasant.
What did work for me was finding the one psychologist I could work with, and he helped me to process some stuff and make some massive changes in my life. It's really important to find one you trust and respect who also trusts and respects you - and that can take some time but it's really worth it.
Basically if you want to find another way than the drugs there are options out there - just make sure you're comfortable with what you're doing, don't try and take it too fast or make a sudden change, or expect the first option will solve everything - it's a process. Most of all look after yourself, don't be hard on yourself about whether you take meds or not :) It's no reflection on you as a person. Good luck and I hope you find what you're looking for :)
I had problems with depression for as long as i can remember. I have always countered with illegal drugs. They basicly do the same thing. They manipulate your brains feel good centers. Booze = dopamine, opium = endorphins , weed gets your opinoid senors. E = saritonin . Some times these can be alot cheaper than perscription meds. I never go over board and let the drugs get the best of me. I just do alittle here and there.
i took antidepressants and antianxiety meds for 6 years, on and off. i would feel better, then stop taking them and go through intense withdrawal, convince myself i was going to die and then have to go back on them... very up and down. i say, if you're gonna take em, take em. and you should also do therapy in conjunction, because usually depression/anxiety has deeper roots than just a chemical malfunction in your braind (but not always). that way, eventually you might learn the tools you need to cope without the meds. definitely do not stop taking them cold turkey! when i did that, i would get so dizzy i couldn't walk until they were totally out of my system. mostly though...the meds just made me feel like half a person. i'm a photographer, and when i was on meds i felt unable to be truly creative for some reason. and they could never figure out which meds to put me on.. in those 6 years, i was on about 8 different combos of medications. finally, when i graduated from undergrad, i lost my insurance.. so i had no choice but to stop. i weaned myself prior to that since i knew it was going to happen, so there was no intense awful spell when i was out of pills.
then i was depressed for awhile, but i survived.
then one day, i was fine. don't ask me what happened...but one day it was like i snapped my fingers and it was gone. i still get down sometimes, but i no longer have paralyzing panic attacks or depression so deep that i cannot get out of bed or talk to anyone. my social anxiety is still present, but i found other things to occupy my time. i think for me, it was mostly about distracting myself from myself because...when i start to think on things too much it's a formula for disaster. hopefully for you, one day, you won't have to take your meds, but until that day truly comes and you feel confident that you will be fine without them (and stay in contact with a therapist afterwards), i say don't stop, as long as they make you happy.