After the death of my 16 year old son in an accident, I was on Prozac for three years. A the end of that time, I ceased it "cold turkey" (not recommended - but it worked for me). Since then, the only medicine that I take for depression comes in a brown bottle - and that wrs better than anything else that I have ever tried!
Are You or Were You Ever On Meds For Depression?
by minimus 56 Replies latest jw friends
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squinks
Codeblue, a hug for you.
Can you get some help from a therapist. I wish I had when the chips were down! Please don't feel alone, come commune here and maybe seek a professional.
It really and truly does get better.
I did not have a miracle recovery like some were lucky enough (or strong enough) to have.
For me it was more like climbing a mountain.
Remember, the summit is there waiting for you -and me-our job is to climb to it!
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steve2
I acknowledge everyone's responses. While it's very much an individual matter, there is much that can be done through psychotherapy to reduce the need for medication. The worst medications to be on are from the benzodiazpine group (e.g., Clonazepam, Diazepam otherwise known as Valium). They were never intended for use for months on end, but it's not unusual to hear of people being prescribed them for months and even years.
Benzodiazepines are primarily used to help people calm down (they're referred to as anxiolytic s), but if taken over a longer time period, people become addicted to them and suffer side effects that actually include increased nervousness. Also, when they try to stop using them, they experience massive surges of physical symptoms that resemble symptoms of anxiety. These withdrawal symptoms can last for months. When I see people "hooked" on benzos, I wish they'd never been prescribed them in the first place, because now their problems are so much more difficult.
Antidepressants, especially those from the SSRI group, are generally not as addictive and can be successfully reduced under medical advice, although clinical reports suggest that discontinuing Paxil can be extremely difficult.
My advice to anyone who is on medication for either depression or anxiety: Find yourself a good psychologist and have a goal of reducing your dependence on these medications . With qualified, professional help, the task of doing so is all the more achievable.
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cheeseman
Short answer...yes.
262mg of Effexor Venlafaxine anti depressant plus 1mg Risperidone for my psychotic ramblings about God and Satan.
All of it induced courtesy of the WTBTS.
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JH
No, I'm not the type of person that gets depressed.
I don't take pills, and never did.
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absent without leave
Hi, I'm new... and that's my 1st post :D well, I wasn't on meds, but I definately used to drink more
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devinsmom
I just started taking effexor this week, my deppression isnt a result of the jw's (been out for 8 years) but have been down ever since I left my husband.
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love2Bworldly
Depression runs heavily in my family as well as other mental illnesses. I have been suffering from depression since I was a small child--I just didn't know what was wrong with me until I was in my 30's. I am currently taking Prozac, although it sometimes causes me severe heartburn and stomach pains. But it keeps me from having a nervous breakdown when I am under stress.
I am surprised I didn't commit suicide while a teenage JW, life really sucked then, especially because you are brain-washed to be so isolated from other people and 'worldly' relatives. They just kept preaching trust in jehoover and don't use worldly therapists.
Now I enjoy so much being 'wordly' especially holidays like Christmas! I enjoy the little things in life that I couldn't as a JW.
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Mulan
Briefly, when I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I gained 20 pounds on them, which added to my depression so the doctor didn't refill the prescription.
My depression ended when I quit pioneering. So did the CFS. Hahhahahha.
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BrendaCloutier
JH:
No, I'm not the type of person that gets depressed.
I don't take pills, and never did.
They test antidepressants on rats...... big, angry, scary looking.... rats
I've been on antidepressants of one sort or another since 1993 - 14 years. It is what my rhumatologists now believes was the beginnings of my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/FibroMyalgia. Unfortunately, with alcoholism and depression "mental illness" in my birth family, and with my attempts to go off of them with disasterous effects, I'll likely be on them the rest of my life. My wiring isn't transmitting very smoothly, so I need the assistance.
If they had them in 1970's I surely would have qualified. But things imporoved greatly once i was "out", until the other illness set in.
I started with Zoloft, moved to Effexor, and I'm now on Effexor XR - timed release
Whyamihere.... check with your doc on Effexor, it doesnt cause weightgain line the others, and is actually prescribed to assist in weight loss.
It is of the new breed of anti-depressants that is a norepinephrine, seratoinin, and dopamine reuptake inhibitor. I don't flatline on this one.
Those who have written how they needed them as JW's or for other short-mid-term issues are case-in-point on how effective they can be until a person can take charge of their life to the point of the drugs not being necessary. I wish I could say the same.
Oh well. I'm grateful I have my Effexor! AND my light box.