who here takes antidepressants?seriously

[crapyking]

I get pretty bummed sometimes, was thinking of going to doctors for meds. Is anybody on prozac,paxil or similar? Does it help? A ton of people I know are on stuff but I don't really want to discuss w/ them-I'm too ebarrased to.:(

[mireland]

I'm not currently taking anything but I wish I were..that and a bottle of booze ought to calm me RIGHT down...:t

[Cyan]

-Alchohol doesn't do as much for me as I'd hoped it would, I tend to be very resilliant to it. Go figgure-

It is a crutch, you're better off without it if you can handle it (I.E. don't take it, if you don't need it).

I know just how you feel, alot of it has to do with outlook on life and keeping positive (for me it's really a hard effort), you'll want it if you have a medical condition, and even then after awhile they'll try to ween you off the drug, just imagine how you'll feel then!

Alot of my problems have to do with the way I live my life. If you are happy and then depressed at different times, see if you can figure out why, and if, when you're depressed, what makes you happy (if anything) if you really cant think of anything, you just might have medical depression, but there is no wonder drug that will impove your life.

My sister and my mother are on anit-depressants, I get thinking sometimes maybe I should be as well, but I'm trying to fight it by changing some of my habits and some personality traits that I don't like about myself. It's a long road, but I feel like I'm getting there. All the power to ya, whatever you do.

:t

[patrickt]

Most of the people in my family seem to be on anti-depressants. We don't talk about health issues much, though, so for some I'm just guessing. I don't want to take them and have found ways to accomodate my depression.

A friend of mine had severe depression and took Prozac for a limited time. The psychiatrist said they had to get him up a little so he could see options on how he chose to live and deal with life. That made some sense to me and after a few months he was off the anti-depressants and was actually doing much better.

Another friend has been taking Prozac for years and seems rather consistently screwed up. Go figure.

[j.m@talk]

I'm too depressed to discuss any of this :(

[mireland]

Originally posted by j.m@talk21.com
I'm too depressed to discuss any of this :(


smile everyone, smile....http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/grin.gif

[Steve R Jones]

I get pretty bummed sometimes->this is normal.

Go check out www.WebMD.com
They have little tests you can take etc...

The meds were made for a reason and for people like my mother. She can't get out of bed or her apartment without meds. With them, she's perfectly crazy.

[leprechaun_40]

Yes, I've taken an anti-depressant for years. If I don't, I get really hard to live with, grumpy, downright hostile in fact. Or, I'll go the other way, and just sit and cry. Now, with better living through modern chemistry, I'm bearable, most times. At least I haven't seriously considered hurting people in a while:eek:

(I'm not quite bipolar, but may as well be, considered a psychotic/ depressive. Which means I'm to depressed to kill people I guess:D )

Honestly, see your doctor, he/she will talk it over with you, nothing to be embarressed about.:t

[j.m@talk]

Originally posted by Steve R Jones
The meds were made for a reason and for people like my mother. She can't get out of bed or her apartment without meds. With them, she's perfectly crazy.

Umm young Steevie has taken his toll ;)

Me I hit 20mg of Peroxatine daily ............ Keeps me Human :rolleyes:

[mireland]

Originally posted by j.m@talk21.com
Umm young Steevie has taken his toll ;)

Me I hit 20mg of Peroxatine daily ............ Keeps me Human :rolleyes:

you appear BEHIND in your meds mr. JM..J/K! http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/wink2.gif

[j.m@talk]

Whoaaaaaaaaaa Brain shivvers aint funny :(

[fancyf]

I almost did... but seriously here... who wants to be even more messed up ? :x


I have kids to take care of... can't allow myself those few days of "vacation" where you're out of it before they kick in and do something "good"......

)-|

[Dracas]

I have the benefit of situational narcissism.

When depressed, I just remember I'm better than half the sleezy sh*tpiles in the world and then I get all sorts of happy again :D

Seriously though, depression is controllable, you just have to be in a constant state of self-analysis, always aware of your actions, always aware of your mood, then just do little stuff to counteract.

Personally, I haven't been depressed in almost 10 or so years, just because its easier and less destructive to control my mood.

Not everyone can do that though, I'm just fun-kay, if you can't follow up on what Steve said and hit up WebMD, great place for most problems, and answers about the scary stuff

[zybch]

Unfortunatley I've been on anti-depressants for about 5 years.
They are designed to remove the extreme lows that depression can cause, the problem is that they also remove any 'highs' as well so you never really feel too bad, but also never feel that great either.

I've tried several and am just starting on another type (just in time for christmas) as they seem to loose their effectiveness over time.
All have side effects, the one that is the biggest problem for me is weight gain but other people can experience insomnia, dizziness and the list goes on.
I'm currently on 200mg of Luvox (fluvoxamine maleate) a day which apart from severe stomach cramps during the 1st week isn't too bad.

I have a little stash of good old valium to help me survive christmas though :) Pitty its addictive :(

Nowdays most GPs will treat depression with the respect that it needs rather than telling you to just get over it. There is nothing to be embarrased about, your GP will be able to help if you do have real depression (not just the occasional lows that everyone has).
If lost of ppl in your family have depression I'd definatley see a GP as a lot of cases are helped along vai heredity.

[jad1097]

I took zoloft for a while. I don't think I will ever take anything again. Doctors said I was bipolar.



leprechaun_40, I was happier than ever when taking the meds. If it were not for the side effects I would still take them. One reason I don't try other meds is because my sister is always changing meds and none have helped permanently. Poor girl is a human guinna pig...shes tried everything.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

I used to get really down, however ive found a lot of it to be down to sleep or rather lack of it as ive always suffere3d from insomnia, i started taking these herbal relaxant thingies that help you get off to bed and they really did winders for my insomnia. Now im getting more sleep i am much better, though still get down quite a bit, to allieviate that i do tend to hit the booze rather hard :(

I was gonna go to the doctor about it, but there are certain things worrying me about having a possible diagnosis for mental illness on my permanant personal record

--Jakk:t

[comp_nut]

i wouldnt worry over heavy drinking at your age it's
quite typical most young persons drink a lot but declines after
you get a job,more friends and settle down with your
chosen one so don't despair we all been there


:t

[sm8000]

My sister has been on Prozac for several years. She's improved a lot, but can still be a real b!tch sometimes. To anybody.

I found myself moving in and out of depression throughout my college years, but never as badly as this past semester. I was completely unmotivated to go to class or do anything at all, really. And I found myself drinking more at a time than I ever had. Quite scary, honestly.

I went to see a doctor who suspects I may be cyclothymic (Google it). I tried some meds (Lexapro) for a little while, but I was never really good about remembering to take them, and when I did I found they caused me to sleep in and be really fatigued. She's written me another prescription for a generic form of Prozac, but I haven't filled it yet. I've been okay lately :)

[comp_nut]

"My sister has been on Prozac for several years. She's improved a lot, but can still be a real b!tch sometimes. To anybody."


maybe my sister should meet yours she's crazy as they come

my other sister [2] nice as you want to meet just don't
get her drunk

[sm8000]

Originally posted by comp_nut
my other sister [2] nice as you want to meet just don't
get her drunk

Why not? Is she cute? :D :r :D :x

[comp_nut]

Originally posted by sm8000
Why not? Is she cute? :D :r :D :x

a little old for you but she is nice

[G]

Crapyking, I would advice that you go see your MD. There are different types of depression, varying degree categorisation, and you will find that the statistics indicate that over 50 per cent of people will have suffered depression some time in their life.

Your MD will have the experience and understanding to discuss whether medication is the appropriate treatment for you.

There are many different medications available, and again, your MD will know what is best for you if appropriate. The side effects initially will be tiredness, dried mouth and constipation. Many of these side effects will diminish over time as your body adjust and gets use to the level.

Mental illness should not be written as if it is a joke. It is not.

Let me know what you decide and how you get on.

All the best,
G

[capybara]

Originally posted by leprechaun_40
Yes, I've taken an anti-depressant for years. If I don't, I get really hard to live with, grumpy, downright hostile in fact. Or, I'll go the other way, and just sit and cry. Now, with better living through modern chemistry, I'm bearable, most times.
that leprechaun knows what hes
talking about. a low-grade or
"sub-clinical" depression has the symptoms of grumpiness, hostility, blaming others,
hard to get along with.
all the ssri (selective serotonin
re-uptake inhibitors) are rather
similar, imho......
but they do have side effects.
youll have to decide if the improvement in your
mood is worth the side effects.

[leprechaun_40]

I didn't mind the mood, rather enjoyed it sometimes, but the side effects, well, I had my doctor change my meds. I was on Zoloft, it did help the moods, but I was getting depressed about the sexual side effects, so, a different drug, no sex problems and although I'm not quite as happy as I was with Zoloft, least I'm horny again:D

[j.m@talk]

Originally posted by leprechaun_40
least I'm horny again:D


Yeah I'm prone to bouts of that too :(














;)

[scottluebke2003]

Someone mentioned earlier that there is no wonder drug to make your life better, and he is right. Also, alcohol is only a cover up, not a solution. Medical depression is a serious thing that may possibly require medication. Don't be embarrassed about any issues you may have, we all have issues, most of the time we just keep it inside. We keep them inside b/c of others, not b/c of ourselves.
There is no need to tell all the people you know either, tell people you trust and can confide in, people that will offer support and help.

About 2 years ago I felt pretty down and bummed, life sucked, and I was living in an awesome part of Italy too. I had everything to love, but life sucked. But then I did find the wonder drug/cure, and I will give you a clue......its the reason we celebrate "CHRISTmas."