Antidepressants

Anyone else take them? They work for my head, but not for my "partner in crime," if you get what I mean, so I didn't take them for three days.

Bad idea. Withdrawal symptoms out the wazoo. I feel like a crack addict, haha. I was pretty scared; I had no idea what was wrong until I realized the reason.

I'm on them, very glad I am, really. Life was pretty much hell before I got treatment.

Originally Posted by John

I'm on them, very glad I am, really. Life was pretty much hell before I got treatment.

Bro, I'm still curious as to why you were so depressed. However I don't feel as though I know you enough to ask. It doesn't really feel appropriate either.

For about a month, close to eight years ago. Hated what they did to me, so stopped taking them.

Probably should have gone on them four years ago, but didn't ever go to anyone for help.

But most of my close friends either have been or are currently on antidepressants or antianxiety meds of some kind.

These drugs get a worse rap than they deserve.

The suicide rate among teens had been declining, but then word got around that antidepressants can increase risk of suicide, prescriptions went down and suicides went back up.

The reason antidepressants can increase suicide risk is because they work. No, seriously. They can give a seriously depressed individual enough energy to complete a suicide. Antidepressant or not, the time of highest risk for a suicide is when a depressed person begins recovering.

I was on Sertraline (Zoloft) for anxiety. It helped, but I had intolerable sexual side effects. So I switched to Citalopram. Still works, no side effects.

Black Mamba, same **** for me. I was pissed. It wouldn't work right.

Originally Posted by Forte

Bro, I'm still curious as to why you were so depressed. However I don't feel as though I know you enough to ask. It doesn't really feel appropriate either.

Depression. It's a mental illness, and doesn't necessarily need a cause. There was a trigger in my case, but my reaction was ludicrously out of proportion.

Antidepressants always made me feel physically sick and tired.
So no, I never liked them.

Took them. Probably not ever again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI_di...ation_syndrome

Among other reasons, including that they can make you feel "off" and "wrong", as well as cause everything to become monotonous in general. They dull positive emotions as well as negative emotions, so you're left in a state of aloofness and general indifference to many previously exciting stimuli or events, which, to me, can be worse than living in perpetual sadness or anger or temperamentalness. They can leave you feeling unlike yourself, literally as a totally different person, which leaves you confused and uncertain in everything you do, which can in turn cause you to feel even more depressed than you were before.

All of this happened to me, so I weaned myself off of them (not recommended unless you know what the hell you're doing).


However, Emsam/selegiline transdermal patches (they're transparent and worn under your shirt sleeve; sometimes can't even be seen on your bare skin) can be used and are the best pieces of depression-fighting material I've ever tested out. And, better yet, selegiline is not an SSRI, so you can put on or take patches off without having to worry about your hormones going awry from withdrawal in the days following. I used them together with a friend to comfort me after I started crying when he, who visited me from a different state, had to return home. I felt completely like myself, which I've never experienced on an SSRI before.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selegiline

Emsam is the brand name, selegiline is the chemical name.

I took 'em when I was a teenager. Never again, though. Honestly, I don't think I needed them. I was just a kid with issues that I wasn't able to deal with on my own, being a kid and all. The doc prescribed them after the first visit. I wasn't suicidal or anything, but he said I needed the meds. Peh. After a couple months, I stopped taking them and decided to talk to my school councelor instead. Helped a lot.

But eh, some people need them. A lot of the time depression is caused by imbalances, so I can understand using meds to help with that. But just prescribing them 'cause the patient is sad? That doesn't sit well with me.

There really isn't a cure for depression, all you can do is work your way through every trial with a positive and optimistic attitude. God its hard, but its kept me alive and thats the main thing.

The cause of depression is usually a self-centered egotistical attitude. It's too much "Me, me me" and "I". Too much "I am not feeling happy. I am not receiving this. I am this and that. I am not capable." Blah blah blah.

Antidepressants are definitely worth a shot, if you can find the ones that are suited to you the most. Trying your way forward is a pain, but one that is worth it. Be careful with how you take them - always increase/decrease the dose gradually, slowly, if you wish to start/stop taking them.

Therapy is definitely a good idea combined with antidepressants. Why would you just take medicine for something when you can untangle that mess in your brain by talking to someone and learning to think differently? I think antidepressants are good temporary solution, but not the key solution unless you want to fall into depression again.

I personally felt quite numb - as Alonely basically said - with ADs. They made me function, just that I wasn't feeling anything while on them. Not a pleasant experience at all, all the things one can feel on them, that atleast I did feel.

Experience? Yes, I do have years of it.

Also, interesting to see others here posting about their experiences. It's common to feel alone in these problems.

I was diagnosed with critical depression at the age of 10, and given just about everything under the son, but at the age of 17 I quit drugs altogether and MOST people now would think me being depressed is as silly as believing money grows on trees.

Originally Posted by John

Depression. It's a mental illness, and doesn't necessarily need a cause. There was a trigger in my case, but my reaction was ludicrously out of proportion.

I know but in my experience there always seems to be some cause even if small. I mean, when I was depressed there was definitely a cause.

I did not, however, take antidepressants. I'm surprised so many people have been on them.

Originally Posted by Nightingale(ZK)

I was diagnosed with critical depression at the age of 10, and given just about everything under the son, but at the age of 17 I quit drugs altogether and MOST people now would think me being depressed is as silly as believing money grows on trees.

Some people will definitely come off of it eventually, others go years and years and still struggle. That is very good to hear from you (despite not knowing you, but relating to your problems is easy for me) and I hope you keep it going.

Forte, depression definitely has a source. It is crucial to understand all the possible sources of it and knowing one self to work on recovery. Unfortunately doctors today just prescribe Prozac as soon as you seek an appointment for what is usually just the common sadness.

More knowledge on depression is seriously needed among the average person, and doctors. I've found out more on my own than I have ever from professionals.

Also, the general belief that depression is somehow shameful also needs to vanish.

Ugh, I'll never forget the time when I had to take antidepressants. It turned all of my depression into uncontrollable rage, and I would lash out at everybody around me. Heck, I even got into fights because of them. Not very good times.

Thank GOD I'm off of them now. Of course, I'm still as depressed and antisocial as all hell, but at least I'm not angry for no reason anymore.

Has anyone ever gone into an uncontrollable rage from taking pills? Or was it something similar, just not along those lines?

Originally Posted by Blaine

Ugh, I'll never forget the time when I had to take antidepressants. It turned all of my depression into uncontrollable rage, and I would lash out at everybody around me. Heck, I even got into fights because of them. Not very good times.

Thank GOD I'm off of them now. Of course, I'm still as depressed and antisocial as all hell, but at least I'm not angry for no reason anymore.

Has anyone ever gone into an uncontrollable rage from taking pills? Or was it something similar, just not along those lines?

Yes, you are not the only one. It's mostly common when beginning or ending treatment, because of how your body reacts - the withdrawal symptoms. It sets off such feelings. It can also make you react that way because feeling good can feel uncomfortable, as you could not be used to such a state. Being comfortable in the misery, which the antidepressants can harshly work against by taking away your comfort zone.

Anyone here can come to me if they want to talk about these things, as I am quite informed and love helping those curious or uninformed.

Originally Posted by WillZ4E

Yes, you are not the only one. It's mostly common when beginning or ending treatment, because of how your body reacts - the withdrawal symptoms. It sets off such feelings. It can also make you react that way because feeling good can feel uncomfortable, as you could not be used to such a state. Being comfortable in the misery, which the antidepressants can harshly work against by taking away your comfort zone.

Feel free to talk to me about things like this, as I am willing to give advice and information. I can relate very well, so I can and want to help a lot.

No, I didn't say that going into withdrawal from the pills made me angry, I said that taking the pills themselves made me angry. All I can remember is uncontrollable anger and hate for no reason.

For someone like me, it would be better just to be depressed than have to deal with all that again. I don't ever want to have to do some of the things I've done from taking antidepressants, more or less re-enact it in my mind.

I can say those two years of my life were very dark, but I can also say that now that I'm off the pills, things are better that way. It was only for the best, nothing more, nothing less.

Originally Posted by Blaine

No, I didn't say that going into withdrawal from the pills made me angry, I said that taking the pills themselves made me angry. All I can remember is uncontrollable anger and hate for no reason.

For someone like me, it would be better just to be depressed than have to deal with all that again. I don't ever want to have to do some of the things I've done from taking antidepressants, more or less re-enact it in my mind.

I can say those two years of my life were very dark, but I can also say that now that I'm off the pills, things are better that way. It was only for the best, nothing more, nothing less.

Of course, there could be other reasons, as I mentioned in my second example. =) Others have felt the same, without withdrawal symptoms having anything to do with it.

I've never had any, but sometimes I wish I would.