Antidepressants: What is your take?

[vampiregenocide]

I've actually just started taking anti-depressents after being worried about side effects etc, but I spoke to my doctor and therapist and they reassured me that there are very few side-effects nowadays, and they generally aren't serious. Most anti-depressents nowadays are supposed to be fairly good. That said, I haven't been taking them long enough to give any real personal experience.

Talk to your doctor or psychiatrist and they can recommend the best one to take.

[Raoul Duke]

If you're abit un sure about medication maybe try exercising on a regular basis. Regular exercise helps produce serotonin.

Or maybe look into 5HTP

5-Hydroxytryptophan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It helps produce serotonin which makes you feel good basically

Obviously check with a Doctor about it

[matttttYCE]

Originally Posted by CapenCyber

You are being ignorant in repeating and implying that psychiatrists will just push drugs. Psychiatrists are trained in psychology and psychotherapy aswell as a full medical doctorate, that's why I said they are more qualified. I'm sure there are good and bad people in both but that's not an argument at all.

Most of the time the drugs which are prescribed by psychiatrists do work in a positive way.

Ah but see I said ALOT of psychiatrists, not all. But I'll give you that one. Because it's probably closer to a third that are just pushing pills. And the fact of the matter is that IT IS an argument because even though psychiatrists have more training, you could still have a psychologist or therapist who is better at treating certain cases (like anxiety and depression) if they are using the proper treatment methods. And in case you didn't know, research has shown that when used properly, therapy alone works significantly faster than just pills or a combination of pills and therapy. In any case, lets just chock it up to what we CAN agree on..That there are good and bad people in both. And the main goal is to have our friend Mike here see either, as long as they are both some of the good ones in their respective fields. Okay? As long as there are results, who cares about the means to get them.

Anyways, Mike, my feelings on it are, if you can, give some therapy a try. Stick with one for a while and if it doesn't work, maybe try another. And then if that one doesn't work, try something else with the combination of medication or the same therapies with medication. At least with the therapy first, you wont have any side effects and you can only get better!

EDIT: And let me say one other thing. Just realize that your problems may be SOLELY psychological (i.e. NOT physiological). If this is the case, it seems odd to me to try to treat this with meds, when the problem ISN'T chemical. And from what it sounds like this may be the case with the things you've described, Mike. It also could be the opposite (physiological and not psychological) in which case, I would indeed recommend some form of medication. Also, it may be a combination of both. So, you really need to see a good licensed practitioner (of either persuasion).

[Gilbucci]

Originally Posted by matttttYCE

Ah but see I said ALOT of psychiatrists, not all. But I'll give you that one. Because it's probably closer to a third that are just pushing pills. And the fact of the matter is that IT IS an argument because even though psychiatrists have more training, you could still have a psychologist or therapist who is better at treating certain cases (like anxiety and depression) if they are using the proper treatment methods. And in case you didn't know, research has shown that when used properly, therapy alone works significantly faster than just pills or a combination of pills and therapy. In any case, lets just chock it up to what we CAN agree on..That there are good and bad people in both. And the main goal is to have our friend Mike here see either, as long as they are both some of the good ones in their respective fields. Okay? As long as there are results, who cares about the means to get them.

Anyways, Mike, my feelings on it are, if you can, give some therapy a try. Stick with one for a while and if it doesn't work, maybe try another. And then if that one doesn't work, try something else with the combination of medication or the same therapies with medication. At least with the therapy first, you wont have any side effects and you can only get better!

EDIT: And let me say one other thing. Just realize that your problems may be SOLELY psychological (i.e. NOT physiological). If this is the case, it seems odd to me to try to treat this with meds, when the problem ISN'T chemical. And from what it sounds like this may be the case with the things you've described, Mike. It also could be the opposite (physiological and not psychological) in which case, I would indeed recommend some form of medication. Also, it may be a combination of both. So, you really need to see a good licensed practitioner (of either persuasion).

I'll definitely take your advice into consideration. I think I'll see my therapist for a few more weeks and make a decision at the end of that. I'll post with an update

[RawrItsRaptor]

Anxiety is a difficult thing, especially when not handled correctly. It will only become worse if nothing is done. My brother, age 11, has severe anxiety (won't go into details) and refuses to see anybody about it. We once took him to a physiologist (not a psychiatrist) and he refused to talk to her. He literally spends every waking minute angry, frustrated, depressed, and an overall empty. One of the worst parts I have noticed is, when he does have his glimpses of happiness it almost seems abnormal. He is so over joyed by the happiness that he begins screaming of laughter causing somebody to tell him to quiet down starting his anger again.

Basically, my point is, see help now. Call somebody. It doesn't have to be a professional. I could be a relative, a friend, just anybody you are willing to vent to. IF that doesn't help see a psychiatrist. He will address your case and provide a solution (hopefully). I truly hope you get better.

[Lucas Crowe]

I'm normally not the story type, but I'm gonna go for it.

Once upon a time, I refused to leave my room for nearly two years. I had no true motivation to do anything. I wanted to do things, but I just couldn't do them. I didn't answer my phone, I lied to friends and family about anything and everything I could think of, and I just sat in my room. I was confused, angry, and generally felt like shit the whole time.

I was in high school, and I was luckily able to get them to bring my work to me so that I could get my diploma, but I missed out on some important social interaction that I can never get back.

In an attempt to remedy these problems, both during high school and shortly after, I saw a psychologist who attempted to help me with behavrial therapy. I did what he said. Diet, exercise, putting a real effort into socializing, and setting realistic short-term and long term goals for myself, but I DID NOT GET MUCH BETTER. The whole time I refused to take any sort of medication because, in my mind, it seemed like I would be giving up on myself. I thought that it would just make me numb, boring, and that I would only be trying to cure "human." Well, I think that I was wrong. After much thought, I decided that it was at least worth a try to go with the pills, otherwise I was just gonna rot in my room or kill myself. Besides, there are many other things that we injest daily that change our mood. Caffene, nicotine, etc are part of many people's daily lives, so why shouldn't I make an effort to feel better with medicine?

Fast forward to two months ago. I went to my primary care psysican and told her that I need help. After some talking, I discovered that she also suffered from similar problems at some point in her life and anti-depressants helped her greatly. She wrote me a prescription for Zoloft and I started taking it.

Honestly, I don't think I've felt this good in a while. I don't feel numb (Well, maybe a little, but I think that may be because I can see the bright side of things now. Haha.). I feel good. I can get out of bed properly, and I have been able to craft a slightly better sleep schedual for myself. I feel passion (I suppose that I always felt some sort of passion.), and I can act on it. I'm just doing what my psychologist said to do before and I'm taking the meds at the same time.

So, uh, that is my experience with antidepressants.

[budda]

Does your therapist help?

what is the difference between a therapist and a counsellor?

do you have a support network?

do you know what you can do to make yourself feel better, even if the effects aren't long lasting (such as a walk, guitar, etc)?

[AySay]

Wow there are a lot of helpful people here! Anyway though, for a short term solution, I'll let you play my p2

[budda]

I'm in my graduating year of social service worker, although my response on here would make my profs cringe

[aphelion]

I think that the most important thing to remember is that they aren't mutually exclusive. You can go to a psychologist and a psychiatrist. You can take medication and go for therapy at the same time and they can work together. Most mental health professionals don't mind working as part of a team. There seems to be quite a lot of misperception on both sides of this debate regarding medication, psychologists and psychiatrists from all sides, including level of qualification and what they tend to do. There are different kinds of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety related medication. A psychiatrist can help you find the right one for you, as well as the right dose, as well as help manage side-effects or unintended consequences of medication. A psychologist can help with the more psychological aspects of the problem. Both can be really important, and find out what works for you as an individual in your individual circumstances. take anything anyone says about this online with a pinch of salt and consult with professionals, and ask them questions and voice your concerns, that is what they are there for.

Best of luck to the OP.

[K-Roll]

one thing just came to my mind.. i just wanted to ask you guys what you think. I did not see any specialist just a usual doc.
The thing that bothers me is that i feel like shit, most days i feel like flu was going all over me, waves of hot feel inside, it is now like 5 months or so and my temperature is like 37.3-37.4 Celsius.. my doc she said it may be from stress but i somehow can't go with that..

[budda]

then go get a second opinion.

[TonalArchitect]

Originally Posted by matttttYCE

EDIT: And let me say one other thing. Just realize that your problems may be SOLELY psychological (i.e. NOT physiological). If this is the case, it seems odd to me to try to treat this with meds, when the problem ISN'T chemical. And from what it sounds like this may be the case with the things you've described, Mike. It also could be the opposite (physiological and not psychological) in which case, I would indeed recommend some form of medication. Also, it may be a combination of both. So, you really need to see a good licensed practitioner (of either persuasion).

Not to just stir shit, but one of the first principles of modern psychology (to Neuroscience... and BEYOND!) I learned is that "Every biological event is simulataneously a biological event." The mind-body connection; the two are inextricably bound, it seems (at least at this time in psychology).

[oremus91]

I took anti depressants for a while, I think I can shed some light on this. At the time I did need them, and they helped a great deal... but I felt different on them like it was a weird false reality that made me happy. I stopped taking them gradually and now I still suffer from depression but not quite as bad as I used to. I am more able to control my moods or handle them when/if things take a turn. I am more creative and real when not on the drugs and if that's the case I can handle being sad once in a while because the trade off is well worth it for me.

EDIT: Meds helped me and they're good for a lot of people but in the long run they weren't me. Hope this helps!

[Konfyouzd]

^is there anything in particular that triggered your depression or is it something that just happens as it pleases? i feel like it's probably a little different for everyone.

i've found that i go through periods of being REALLY down for a while and then i'll be really happy for absolutely no reason. but i've also noticed that during the happier periods i'll think back about when i was down before and i'll start to notice certain trends... like there are just certain things that REALLY bring me down and i'll notice that when i try to eliminate those things specifically i'm necessarily "all better" but i do feel better than before the next time one of those "down" periods comes around.

again... i'm sure it's different for everyone. i'm sure you've probably been dealing this for a while. and i don't think i'm like a badass or anything, but when i have something in my life that i don't think is right i usually try to take a look at myself and see if it's perhaps me that's making me unhappy. and it's difficult to change ANYONE, but i feel like i probably have the best chances of being able to influence and change myself. but that's just how i feel about it.

i hope you found that at least kind of helpful...

[FiLbY]

google kineasiology... at least i think thats how you spell it... only go to a REAL one as their are some weird ones out there!!

[guitarplayerone]

go to the gym, if you aren't already

[neoclassical]

Getting on them for both the OCD and the depression has been the best thing I've done for myself and my family. I do miss the manic episodes though.

[JBroll]

As I've probably said a few times on here, I was on Zoloft for a month or so. It was a very small dose (about a tenth of what's usually given for depression), meant to act as an anti-compulsive - I've been extremely obsessive-compulsive for as long as I remember, and my therapist (a psychologist - Ph.D. - not a psychotherapist - M.D. - for the record) suggested it for a few reasons.

I'm sure that what I faced was an odd case, but I was left entirely unable to function. I was a zombie for no apparent reason - I don't know how much of that was from the drug itself and how much was my mind trying to sabotage everything, but I was incapable of just about anything I consider meaningful. I couldn't do math, I could barely drive and cook... nothing worked. Once I got off the pills everything was fine, so I'm lucky there, but if I had stayed on I would probably have gotten nothing useful done.

I was originally led to that path because I was going through serious panic attacks - I'd be rendered unable to do anything but figure out escape plans for entirely unreasonable situations while sitting in a dark room pointing improvised catapults at the doors and windows. Zoloft stopped the panic attacks... and replaced them with the feeling of dread that comes right before a serious panic attack.

Talk with a proper doctor - or several, if possible, especially if you can get a mix of behavioral doctors and doctors who specialize in chemical oddities - and take notes about how you feel before and after them. Make note of changes in anything you find important - in my case, panic attack occurrence and ability to think properly - and don't be afraid to ask questions. (Warning: doctors tend to give better answers than forum members.)

Jeff

[Gilbucci]

Thanks for all the advice guys! After talking to a couple doctors, they recommended that I start using Celexa, so they started me at 20mg and I've been on them for a week now. I feel pretty drowsy and I get a headache after I take it, but nothing more than that. If anything changes, I'll make sure to leave a little update. Thanks again for the advice.

[CooleyJr]

Weed>Pills

/thread

[Wolfenstein]

I know some one who is close to me whom I suspect has Despression and I can say that you should seek medical advice on this issue and not rely on peoples opinions unless they're qualified to give medical advice (Me included) I think you should speak to your doctor about this issue and see what they recommend whether that be Anti-Depressants or Cognitive Therapy. I'm trying to help the person I know who I think has depression seek help but it's hard and you have to be committed to resolving the problem. Best of luck and I hope things work well for you.