| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 8:16:23 AM | I think I'm a very strong woman.....life hasn't been all roses, but I went through a period where I needed that extra help.
Situational depression coupled with pre menopause really messed me up for awhile. I never would have imagined it would happen to me......but it did.
Growing a pair was not an option.
Everything is back to normal now but believe me I needed that extra help at the time.
We are not super human there may come a time when you need the extra help.
The thing is not to stay on medication too long and use that rest period to fix whatever is wrong. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 8:17:54 AM | | I was speaking to time 4 2 by the way. Bipolar, Manic, All diseases like diabetes. Don't think you know everything about folks till you have been there, its all I am saying. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 8:19:05 AM |
So... in light of this. The drug companies ( no fools) have targeted these depressed citizens and and have made it easier for them to pop a pill, rather then deal with their issues head on.
Are there people out there that are in fact clinically ill, suffer true mental illness?? ABSOLUTELY!!!
Has the medical and drug industry made it much too easy to obtain these drugs in order to make their pockets richer..... ABSOLUTELY!!!
For those of you having a bad day, or going through a divorce, a sick family member, a lay off OR any NON physical ailment, I suggest you put the pill bottle down.... grow a set, grow up and face the situation head on instead of putting a band aid on how your feeling by popping a pill......
Sorry if that offends, but really... it sucks being an adult and its suckier having to behave like one at times.
I wholeheartedly agree.
there are many ppl on antideps who don't actually need them (i know a few personally who admit it) but they don't want to deal with the situation and because the option is there to take the pill (put a band-aid over it) they do it.
I've never taken pills for depression. I dealt with the situation (as hard as it was) and now i'm stronger cause of it.
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 8:25:06 AM | | Oh man, what a seriously ignorant view of antidepressants. You probably think high octane gas will make your car run better and faster too. Before you spout off about something you don't know about try reading some literature on brain seratonin levels and how the new class of antidepressants are designed to work. For someone who doesn't need them chemically prozac, zoloft and lexapro have no efffect. They're not uppers at all you fool. Dope, narcotics and alcohol are mood alterers that you are referring to. Shame on you. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 8:31:57 AM | | has anyone over 30 tried taking vitamin b it is a natural antidepressant when i dont take it i feel depressed about my divorce .i once put a gun to my mouth after my divorce i was depressed all the time espec on rainy/gloomy days.one day i went into gnc they told me to take vitamin b its also gives you energy and keeps your arteries from clogging.alan | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 8:39:09 AM | The ignorance on this thread is amazing...just freakin' amazing. I understand that we don't all have the training to have an informed answer. Or the personal experience to speak from. But hey....if you don't have the facts, keep your mouth shut about what people should or should not do.
Antidepressants don't change who you are. THey don't make you into a new person. They do help regulate your mood...they make you feel normal again. If you spend yoru day crying with your head under a pillow, tell me how on earth are you going to cope with the problem in your life? The antidepressant makes it possible to cope and deal with the issue. Now if you take it and go on your merry way and continue to avoid the problems then no, they won't help.
Also, in a very real way, some physical disorders *cause* depression. That depression won't go away with talk therapy. Talk therapy is always helpful. But if the cause of the depression is literally in the brain, then an antidepressant is a goo dmed to help it. MS is one. I know that from my stbx-hub...it's somehow connected to MS an dI don't mean b/c having MS is depressing...it's actually a byproduct of what's going on in the brain. I have perimenopause. I never had depression or anxiety before it. But about 6 mos after my dx of perimenopause, I started having anxiety at night -not situational, not due to any particular problem. But it was still very real. The antidepressant, low dose, took away the bizarre anxiety...the ruminating and worrying over everythign in the world.
When my world came crashing down about 6 mos later that's when I started cryign every day. I do n't know if the perimenopause/aka hormonal changes made it worse or not, but I ended up having to increase my dose of the antidepressant. Now I am fine and despite my sometimes super crappy life, I am able to make plans, goals, deal w/my problems.
I still have highs and lows. I still have happy and sad days. But I feel good. I feel normal.
Everyone makes jokes about PMS. Everyone knwos that women going thru menopause have wild mood swings and mood changes. Folks, that's all real. And it's not "all in my head". It's from the hormonal changes going on in the body as the ovaries shut down. The antidepressant is able to stabilize my neurotransmitters. Nice side benefit, it also helped my IBS (Irritable bowel) so that I am normal that way also.
My stbx-hub is a clinical psychologist, phd. He would be the first to tell you that antidepressants are a useful *tool*. No, not the end all. And not a replacement for talk therapy. But they are a fine tool. IF someone is so depressed they can't face their problems, then talk therapy won't get them very far, now will it?
I was scared to death to go on effexor. I felt like a failure. I didn't even tell my stbx-hub...that tells you something. OF course, that's partly b/c he's an arse and I didn't want him to use it in an argument. I went to my nurse practitioner and described what I was feeling and asked her opinion. She is the one who put me on effexor. (I did tell the stbx afterwards). I was scared to death that I wouldn't be "ME" if I took an antidepressant. I thought it would change me into a different person... It didn't. Still me. Still creative. Still have a sex drive...actually much more now that I don't hide in a bed all day sleeping. Still the same ol' kaylie. Just have normal ups and downs now.
I am hopeful I can decrease the dose after my divorce is final and I have a job and a better home. I think that's a great goal. OTOH, if my IBS comes back, I'll gladly take this dose of effexor to fix that annoying problem!
One other note: remember there is a difference b/t situational depression and chronic depression. Or situational anxiety and chronic anxiety. Very different mental disorders and very different ways to treat them. you may have one but someone else has another. That's why a doctor is the one to treat you and discuss what you need...rather than somebody online.
Kaylie...yes over 30 | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 8:50:17 AM | Antidepressants are not dope. If anyone out there knows a little bit about anatomy, or physiology, they would know that antidepressants help individuals reabsorb seratonin into the synapses in their brain. Some people have naturally bad re-uptake of seratonin, while some people damage their ability through drug or alcohol abuse. Ectasy is the worst at this, so i have heard. Its literally like playing russian roulette. So, like a previous post said, if you dont need them, I really dont think they do all that much for you. However,if you do, They may make all the difference in the world. So remember kids... too much of this  , may lead to problems with this   | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 8:53:56 AM | | In my experience , talk therapy can be very effective. But for a therapist to be effective , they must have three very important qualities. Congruence , Empathy , and Respect. To many therapists these days are to quick with that prescription pad. Of course , once again , thats just my personal and proffessional opinion. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 9:00:50 AM | What I want to know is if ANYONE that has posted to this forum is a properly trained and fully,currently licensed practicing psychiatrist?
Just off the top of my head I know of a few both old and new anti depressants being used to treat idiopathic pain, fibromyalgia,smoking cessation, mild brain injury situations....plus some other things mentioned by previous posters( IBS, MS)
But oh, wait...unless one is in perfect health, they have no business dating or being in relationships, right? OK we can even drop the word health...unless you and your life are perfect,you might as well resign to being imperfect alone. Everyone in datingland is wearing red flag glasses, dontcha see?
To the OT,
I'm quite sure that not everyone over 30 is taking anti depressants. And yes I'm sure some drs over prescribe them. I'm also sure there are many who would benefit, even for conditions other than depression,but are afraid of being somehow stigmatized by taking a "happy pill". Better narcotic pain meds, steroids, etc...antidepressant? Perish the thought!
Cindy O | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 9:23:20 AM | IM ON EM and neva go off they DO try to trick u into thinkin ur ok but O well u find out soon enuff
im the same i cry alot off of em NOT because of deaths but post traumatic stress disorder (got into the wrong hands at 7 yr old for 7 yrs) but am on the pills and doin gr8...so u keep takin em n try NOT to let em fool u
i will pray for u today girl
kathi : | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 9:26:56 AM | NO!.....not everyone!...I`m taking a Natural one, that has raving reviews......Keeps one thinking and Feeling Great!....and NO side effects!....Yeah.
Contact me and I`ll share it with ya. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 9:29:27 AM | Nope, I don't. I get depressed and have bad days like everyone else. But I reach deep for the strength to pull through it.
Now, this is of course a very touchy subject, but you can place me firmly in the "antidepressants treat the symptoms, not the cause of depression." category.
Now, if you are using them for a limited time to be functional enough to engage in active therapy to work through the root causes of your problems, then fine, that is their proper purpose. However, lets not kid ourselves, in this day and age antidepressants / anti anxiety meds are a lifestyle drug for the vast majority of people taking them.
Now, it is perfectly fine to say 'I don't want to be involved with someone who needs alcohol / pot / meth / cocaine / heroin to be functional enough to make it through their day'. But if you dare say that about someone who needs a prescription drug all of a sudden you are an insensitive, backwards thinking dolt.
And to those who say 'trust doctors', it isn't quite that simple. Pharmaceuticals are BIG business, and doctors have a long history of overprescribing drugs like Laudanum (opium) , amphetamines (speed), Valium, Ritalin, Prozac, etc.
So, for those of you who are using drugs to assist in working through your problems, I wish you the best of luck. To those of you who use them to avoid having to work on your problems, your problems will still be there when the pill bottles are empty. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 9:35:15 AM | There is a difference between someone that has a physiological chemical imbalance and remains on anti-depressants or other medication and someone that should have been taking meds temporarily and did not undergo the therapy that would allow him or her to maintain a productive primarily happy life without them.
Which category the OP falls into is something that only a trained psychiatrist can answer. I had a very serious illness in the spring. They had me on enough drugs while in the ICU and acute care to start my own pharmacy and when lucidity returned, I rejected the antidepressants because I didn't feel that the "happy pills" were working and they made me feel worse than I already did. I didn't kill anybody and felt like I was in a pretty damned good mood considering everything I had been through. For me, the antidepressants made me sort of psychotic, no thank you.
Depression is a physiological condition that is different than someone that is depressed. Too many people that are truly clinically depressed don't seek psychiatric attention and too many that are merely going through a blue phase are put on meds by doctors that go for the quick fix.
I have seen the problems created when people are either on meds they do not need or some type of c*cktail that is ill-advised and causes them to become someone with whom you no longer care to be associated. That said, there is a need for antidepressants but people should explore other solutions first to make sure that they are necessary. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 9:35:23 AM | | I am 52 and blessed because I don't take anything. I know that I am blessed too. I have known a number of people who meds have really helped. I feel if you need them then take them. If you don't,at least know how lucky you are that you don't have to and quit judging others until you have walked a mile in their moccasins | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 9:39:21 AM | Your life has not been easy. I too have lost loved ones, two husband and both of my parents.
Sorry, but "feel perfectly normal" changes with time and the events of our lives. Yes there will be both good days and bad. First find a grieve suport group , several depending on the size of your city.
Like going to AA, it help to be around people who understand. Then find a new doc, some one in the group might know of a doc who understand what your going through. If you can take a couple of weeks off work and everything else, to give youself time to take care of youself. This is not just sit around and cry time (but it's ok too cry any time and any place). Taking care of youself includes getting you food thing together, eat right, walk every day. We all know this, but it's easier to do drugs. Even at the best of time, it's easier to eat junk food and watch bad tv.
I wish you well, this process will take time and support.
When we lose family we lose alot of our suport team...now you have to find suport teams, it's not the same a family, but it helps. As you heal you need to work at finding other support group/people.
Always remember to take care of yourself,,,,everyday! | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 9:46:50 AM | | Very well said carbonrust and packagedeal. Anti-depressents for the the most part cover up the depression and does not do much for treating it. I've had this debate over and over with friends who work in the Psychiatry field , and what I've told them is this. If a person wants to be medicated they seek therapy from a Psychiatrist , but if they want to be healed they see a Psychologist or a Psychotherapist. Psychiatrists tend to focus mainly on medications for treatment , whereas Psychologists are trained and educated in research and various forms of treatment. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 10:23:43 AM |
One in thirteen, divorced men, have gone beyond the anti depressants, beyond the grief, beyond the doctors and have suicided.
That's an interesting claim. Can you cite a source to support that c laim? | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 10:43:27 AM | Fortunatus you seem to have little respect for psychiatrist. Maybe where you are the psychiatrist that you interact with are not very reputable ,but that is not how it is with all . A psychiatrist is a doctor so having one follow you while you are on medications is the way you should go if you are in need of being medicated.
A reputable psychiatrist will not just fill you out a prescription and not follow up with you . They will see you regularly not only to check on how you are with the medications ,but also for talk therapy.
Perhaps it is you own arrogance that is showing when you say that
If a person wants to be medicated they seek therapy from a Psychiatrist , but if they want to be healed they see a Psychologist .Having worked with and dealt with psychiatrist during my life they are every bit as good at healing you as a psychologist.They can not only offer talk therapy which is a necessity but if depression or anxiety is severe enough they can help with medication during the worst of it. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 11:03:39 AM | Fortunatus, I wasn't RESPONDING to your post, but to one that had the huevos to say "A dope is a dope" and "Google is your friend". Looking at what you wrote, we seem to agree that some are addicted and needlessly. It also appears you and I were likely typing at the same moment so your post ended up above mine. I agree that the meds don't work for everyone, and that some get meds who don't need them at all...it's also evident that some docs routinely prescribe the same meds for everyone, which is equally wrong, especially if therapy isn't part of the regimen...
And for the record I'm not reading some "popular psych" book...I've been through it. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 11:27:17 AM | Sorry for the miscommunication wease. I did'nt mean to be disrespectful to your situation. I hope that you are doing well in your healing process.
I mean no disrespect to Psychiatrists Annika , but even the most reputable Psychiatrists tend to lean towards medicating instead of researching possible treatments. | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 11:37:23 AM | Right on JustJanice Right on. You folks think some head shrink is gonna save you from the BS in life?? Forget it. A lot of these shrinks need shrinks themselves. If you women can't handle us men then start chasin women. Or stay to yourselves. Quit reading all those d*mn romance novels. Christ you have the lyons share of laws in your favor now. And your STILL not satisfied. Glad my chasin years are over. Now where's that remote???   | |
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| is everyone over 30 taking antidepressants?
Posted: 12/26/2007 12:08:31 PM | | Very caring and insightful hiway. The fact is , us so called head shrinks can and do help people. Not everyone has someone that they can trust talking with. And although I have stated that I am against medicating for depression , some disorders do need to be treated with medications , for instance Bipolar Dosorder. And I know what your going to say. "Head shrinks just do it for the money right. Well , to be quite honest , the money isn't that great dude. I see people once a week at a local free clinic , and I also see veterans free of any charges. People do need the help of mental health proffessioanls. | |
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