Anti-Depressants

[George P Burdell]

An important suggestion, applicable if you are put on anti-depressants. After a few months, you may start feeling better... much better. Infact you may feel that you're cured. At this point, you may think you don't need your meds anymore. DO NOT ENTERTAIN THIS THOUGHT. Getting off anti-depressants is something you MUST leave to a psychologist and psychiatrist to decide. Let them do their job, and they'll slowly lower your dosage and eventually wean you off the medicine. Don't let them do their job, and you'll relapse and end up back on square one.

Another point: stop drinking, immaterial of whether or not you're put on medication. An occasional beer of glass of wine may be fine, but alcohol has proven links with depression. Best thing to do is talk to your psychologist about it.

edit: Some more... you may hear people say all this over and over again to the point where you ignore it... but it's important:
1. Exercise, even if it's just a 1/2 hour walk. Atleast make an effort to exercise for more than 40 minutes.
2. Get some sunlight. Do your homework outdoors, or eat your lunch on a bench outside instead of indoors. Whatever, just get some sunlight. Think of it as free medicine.

 

[illusion88]

WebMD FTW!

 

[moshquerade]

anti-depression meds aren't cure-alls like the commercials portray.

try counseling first. use meds as a last resort. some people honestly do need the medications, but i honestly think they are over prescribed.

plus they can fvck up your system, and can be hard to get off.

 

[Atlantean]

I used to take Zoloft, then stopped taking antidepressants for a couple years and recently started again. This time I am taking Lexapro, and I really like it, it helps with the symptoms of depression, and I don't get any negative side-effects from it. I didn't like the side-effects that I got from Zoloft (the shakes, dry mouth) and I tried Effexor which gave me headaches, upset stomach, and "brain shivers" (little zaps of electricty through the brain is what it feels like or a shiver in your brain). Exercising also helps but you have to make sure that you don't slack off on the exercise front. Thus far my experience with Lexapro has been great (been on it for 4 months now) and I will probably continue to take it for as long as it works, but will see if getting off it brings back the symptoms I had before.

 

[saahmed]

Hmmm.. If your parents are okay to talk too (i.e. they are not abusive and they are understanding and caring) I would talk too them about this issue. I think you have had a lot of things in your past that really put you down, but you still have a lot of life ahead of you. I would really recommend against the pills, I know a few people who take them, but I think all they do is mask the depression, you are still deeply depressed deep down inside and it gradually gets worse, though the pills are covering it up. I think you should talk to your parents, possibly go to a psychiatrist, but what would help most is just getting out more, dont party, but just hang out with/ or just try to make some friends, exercise a little, eat healthy. I have experienced a little myself, and I just feel a lot better when I go for a jog or hang out with friends. Sitting at home watching tv, or even wasting time on these forums can get depressing.

 

[Vic]

I find it odd that people can accept the validity of diseases to every part of the body except to the brain/mind, then it's just a "hey, snap out of it!" :roll:

Depression is a disease, people. Like cancer. Would you tell a cancer patient to just snap out of it?

I'll admit that not everyone medicated for depression actually has serious depression, but for those people who do, anti-depressants can be a real cure.

 

[Proletariat]

Originally posted by: Vic
I find it odd that people can accept the validity of diseases to every part of the body except to the brain/mind, then it's just a "hey, snap out of it!" :roll:

Depression is a disease, people. Like cancer. Would you tell a cancer patient to just snap out of it?

I'll admit that not everyone medicated for depression actually has serious depression, but for those people who do, anti-depressants can be a real cure.

Very well said.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: Vic
I'll admit that not everyone medicated for depression actually has serious depression, but for those people who do, anti-depressants can be a real cure.

And as I mentioned above, if you aren't actually clinically depressed, then the drugs don't work for you anyway. People can't seem to get this clue, they think that anti depressants are like crack or something.

 

[QED]

LoKe...

I commend you on recognizing you have a problem and need to do something about it.

I can only second the opinion of many of the wise ones who have already posted here-- get help, right away.

The best bet would be for you to see a phsycologist AND a pshychiatrist-- hopefully from the same practice. One will work from the medical end-- evaluating exactly what form of depression you might have and any other complicating factors (some people who think they have depression actually suffer from bipolar disease, or also have OCD or some other mental illness in conjunction with depression). The other will help you through all of the contributing factors-- such as family situations, school problems, etc.

Don't listen to the people on here warning you not to go on meds at any and all costs-- they are probably people who have never had to go through the hell of depression.

My wife suffered (and I mean that literally) through her depression for ten long, miserable years before she finally got the help she needed. For years, she listened to the advice of those who told her it was just a mood, it was all in her mind, and she should just be able to "snap" out of it.

She has been on meds for a few years now, and she is doing much, much better. She still has a few bad days, but it is nothing like it was before her meds where every single day was like living in the Twilight Zone.

The biggest problem with meds is that there is almost no way to know in advance which prescription and dosage will work for you, and which ones don't. Also-- the meds can take a full 6-weeks before you will notice any improvements at all. At first I thought that was something the doctors were just saying to cover their asses... but it really is true.
These two factors combine to make the first few months of going on medication the most difficult.

As far as insurance goes, usually you are covered under your parent's insurance plan until you are 18 and out of high school, or in some cases until you are 21 as long as your are in college.

I would definately explore your options... you deserve much better than to live your life like this...

 

[imported_LoKe]

Thanks for all the advice. I suppose I am due to get checked out; I just hope they don't stick me in the looney bin.

I'm going to try and figure some things out, then try to break it to my parents. My school may possibly offer something of the sort; that way I can do it privately. But if not, then I'll tell 'em.

 

[seanws]

i take paxil. gives you a hell of a withdrawal if you forget to take it. works out pretty well for me. side effects: dry mouth sometimes, and the horse will gallop, but cant finish the race if you catch my drift

 

[freakflag]

Before you try any prescription medications, give St. Johns wort a look.

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: LoKe
Thanks for all the advice. I suppose I am due to get checked out; I just hope they don't stick me in the looney bin.

I'm going to try and figure some things out, then try to break it to my parents. My school may possibly offer something of the sort; that way I can do it privately. But if not, then I'll tell 'em.

If you do it privately, then you will fail. You need a support system to get through the depression.

And if you are ever prescribed Paxil, run out of that doctors office as fast as you can.

 

[ArJuN]

How do you guys even admit you are depressed? I know I am, but I always pretend I'm not and just ignore it. Or atleast try to, and I ****** myself up in the process. So I just stopped caring about myself, so no matter how ****** up I get, it won't matter. I have tried to tell my parents how I feel but they just brush me off and never take me seriously. I guess it's much easier to say over the internet where no one knows you...