Depressed But Not Wanting to Take Medication Posted: 04-11-07 03:39am
I have been diagnosed with major
depressive disorder (along with
generalized anxiety and
obsessive-compulsive disorder) but I have
had a bad experience with anti-depression
meds in the past, which I took for about 3
months. They made me go manic during the
treatment, so I think I might also have an
underlying bipolarity issue which has
slipped under the radar of the initial mdd
diagnosis (I will get checked out for that
to make sure). I also thought that
Wellbutrin was going to give me a heart
attack (even though it was mania with
severe panic attacks) - that I got
convinced I was actually in the process of
dying, and that's when I threw all the
meds out the window.
After those bad experiences, I'm now
really scared to take anti-depression
medicine again. Some of you may have
noticed I made another post asking how
depression was treated before medicine was
invented, and that was due to this fact
that I will not take AD meds anymore.
Can someone help me out here, please?
Maybe convince me that I won't survive
without AD meds? My psyc. told me that if
I didn't take the meds when he first gave
them to me - then I might've died. That
was kinda what got me started on them, but
at the same time I thought I was going to
die from taking the meds themselves.
I have a big fear of such meds (also due
to my GAD and OCD) but this depression is
starting to get a hold of me (well, I've
been hanging in there for 6 months
now)...
Any help will be greatly appreciated -
thanks in advance!
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Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1650 Location: ,
Posted: 04-11-07 09:51am
Why don't you try the natural route first
to see what happens? Core to this is
eating healthy, and then combine this with
certain foods such as walnuts and then try
some herbs and supplements that are known
for having the same effect as medications
without side effects. St. John's Wort,
which is very well known, is the only one
I can think of with a side effect; in some
cases it makes you more sensitive to
getting sunburned.
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hawkeye69
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 29 Location: Wisconsin
Posted: 04-12-07 08:52am
I know how you feel. I have all the same
diagnosis as you. I use talk therapy which
has helped so much, but it takes a long
time. You must be patient with yourself. I
also use Effexor which I find works really
well for depression, OCD, and anxiety. I
also do not have any unpleasant side
effects. Maybe talk to your doctor about
it and good luck to you!
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Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1650 Location: ,
Posted: 04-12-07 09:04am
Yes, but keep in mind that no one knows
the long term effects of using
pscyhotropic medications. You may have no
side effects, but they all carry side
effects, some of which are very harmful to
the body. Before ever taking medication,
you should always try natural approaches
to see how it makes you feel. There are
never side effects in this process, it can
only be good for you.
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v00d00cita
Advanced Support Team
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 722
Thanks: 0
Thanked:4
Posted: 04-13-07 03:32am
Stan Stepanic
wrote:
keep in mind that no one
knows the long term effects of using
pscyhotropic medications. You may have no
side effects, but they all carry side
effects, some of which are very harmful to
the body. Before ever taking medication,
you should always try natural
approaches
I totally agree with Stan. It's always
better to try talk therapy or other kind
of therapy than going on medication.
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cgort1
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 3 Location: kcmo
Depression Posted: 04-13-07 03:42am
I totally agree with the natural approach.
I think that if you would change your diet
as well as your lifestyle... whatever it
may be... you would see some kind of
result. That is if your depression allows
you to change your lifestyle. So not to
sound like one of the preachy people but
jesus helps! I had mild depression do to
drug, then I became Christian and that all
went away. I also had friends that had
heavy depression and they no longer have
those signs. The bible says where the
Spirit of the lord is there is freedom!
And it is true! Well God bless.
Chris
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Stan
Moderator
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 1650 Location: ,
Posted: 04-13-07 07:44am
I too know of people that found help
through religion. Always try your best to
fix it yourself before becoming reliant on
medication. Once you're taking it, you're
pretty much on it forever.
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v00d00cita
Advanced Support Team
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 722
Thanks: 0
Thanked:4
Posted: 04-13-07 08:46am
Indeed, but not only in depression
problems... :\
But I believe there are always ways of
dealing wiht those issues and getting
better without using medication.
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johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 04-14-07 00:08am
Future have you tried cbt? It has changed
my life dramatically more than I ever
thought anything could. I highly recommend
cbt for panic, anxiety and depression. If
you can't afford a cbt group pick up a
copy of been there, done that? Do this! By
sam obitz and start doing the tea form
exercise in it. We used this book in my
cbt group. Take care and know you can get
better if you learn to think more
objectively about your symptoms through
the cbt exercises. The more you work on
the exercises the more relief you get, I
am still improving today. Good luck!
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Akkette
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Australia
My Experience With Meds Posted: 04-14-07 09:11am
After being on anti depressants for quite
a few years, I decided I wanted to take
myself off it as i told myself i "didnt
want to rely on medication to make myself
happy" and the weight gain and the flat
moods and gotten to me . I had gone
thorugh a physcologist and a physchrist
and was given many different methods to
deal with the depression but for myself
none of these were successful. After 6
months of an emotional roller coaster ride
i went back to the drs and I have not
looked back. If you have had a bad
experience with one type of medicine
consult your dr to see what other
medication they can recommend. I was on
Efexor at first but when i went on them
for a second time i was put onto Zoloft.
For me the difference in the medication
was amazing. Zoloft did not make me gain
weight like Efexor did and the "flatness"
in my mood was no where near as bad as it
was. My mood is quite stable with no where
near as much ups and downs. Meds can be a
scary thing but its a matter of finding
the right medication for you.
Good Luck
Natalie
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johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 06-01-07 13:38pm
That's too bad Akkette, but I am glad you
found meds that are helping you. I would
suggest trying to use the tea form
exercise from cbt while you are on your
meds. Many people need meds to level out
and help focus when they start cbt and
then eventually pick it up so well that
they no longer need the meds. Take care.
