Depression.

copacetic said:
So, if history is anything to go by I am probably making a terrible mistake, but I must try these things.

I've gone of my meds (Mirtazapine). A couple months ago, I also got a prescription for a very strong tranquiliser. I've now successfully withdrawn from both of these. The reason I have done so is I am concerned about the cognitive impairment that these drugs can effect. The tranquiliser, which very effective at dealing with anxiety basically turns your life into a foggy mess, and the Mirtazapine has profoundly sedating properties.

While I do this, I have completely stopped drinking alcohol. I suspect that booze is a large part of my general chemical imbalance, and I am hoping that in its absence I will have the fortitude to prevail without drugs.

Time will tell. I'll check back in a couple weeks. :)

To everyone who is struggling - Strength.
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copacetic, not to distract from your problems, why didn't you try this before you took medication? How much do you currently drink? Do you exercise regularly, sleep well and eat well? I wouldn't discount the impact a fit and healthy body has on the mind.
 
theratman said:
Nee Copa you need to stay on mate.

I wish tranquilizers worked for me, serdep seems to counter their effect. I only use them for flying. I popped a valium,rivotril and another on a 12 hour flight, no results. Very frustrating.
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They work far too well for me - Completely removes any anxiety and/or existential horror, both of which I've had in the background constantly my entire adult life. It would be great if they weren't highly addictive and wreck your memory... Need to stay on? Possibly, I will will assess carefully and respond appropriately going forward.

Emjay said:
copacetic, not to distract from your problems, why didn't you try this before you took medication? How much do you currently drink? Do you exercise regularly, sleep well and eat well? I wouldn't discount the impact a fit and healthy body has on the mind.
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Without being flippant, this is to some extent asking "why not just act like you're not depressed?". The reality is that depression is not just feeling sad; it can enormously affect your behaviour and when in the grips of it, exercising and other healthy life choices are supremely difficult to action.

You are absolutely not wrong at all about the highly positive impact these behaviours can have on depression, to be clear. But sometimes having a shower is about all some people can manage.

Personally, I am eating relatively healthily, and slowly focusing on the diet to make it even more so. I'm not drinking at all, as I have come to believe that booze is probably one of the most profound factors in exacerbating my condition. Exercise - Not as much as I should be doing, but walk the dogs when I can and go up mountains every now and again.

Definitely part of the reason I am able to do these things is predicated on being on the meds in the first place. Can I go it alone? We shall see.
 
Not encouraging anybody, but if there's a pill for your problems, take the pill.

I hear you though Copa, if the meds turn you into zombi that's a problem. I know from this thread that many of us suffer from depression, some more than others. Those who don't can never begin to understand what it's like.

As has been mentioned before, I watched a BBC interview with a depressive. His sadness at the death of his wife didn't come close to how bad he felt when he was down.
 
copacetic said:
They work far too well for me - Completely removes any anxiety and/or existential horror, both of which I've had in the background constantly my entire adult life. It would be great if they weren't highly addictive and wreck your memory... Need to stay on? Possibly, I will will assess carefully and respond appropriately going forward.



Without being flippant, this is to some extent asking "why not just act like you're not depressed?". The reality is that depression is not just feeling sad; it can enormously affect your behaviour and when in the grips of it, exercising and other healthy life choices are supremely difficult to action.

You are absolutely not wrong at all about the highly positive impact these behaviours can have on depression, to be clear. But sometimes having a shower is about all some people can manage.

Personally, I am eating relatively healthily, and slowly focusing on the diet to make it even more so. I'm not drinking at all, as I have come to believe that booze is probably one of the most profound factors in exacerbating my condition. Exercise - Not as much as I should be doing, but walk the dogs when I can and go up mountains every now and again.

Definitely part of the reason I am able to do these things is predicated on being on the meds in the first place. Can I go it alone? We shall see.
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Personally, I have no idea how someone who is so depressed can even type all these words. You and I have had these discussions before.
 
genelock said:
How easy is it to diagnose depression?
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Very easy or very difficult. It's very easy for a shrink to say you have it based on a very superficial analysis of the individual. However, if the person lies or with-holds information that could lead to an accurate diagnosis, then the call of depression is wrong. Very wrong, with disastrous consequences.
 
copacetic said:
They work far too well for me - Completely removes any anxiety and/or existential horror, both of which I've had in the background constantly my entire adult life. It would be great if they weren't highly addictive and wreck your memory... Need to stay on? Possibly, I will will assess carefully and respond appropriately going forward.



Without being flippant, this is to some extent asking "why not just act like you're not depressed?". The reality is that depression is not just feeling sad; it can enormously affect your behaviour and when in the grips of it, exercising and other healthy life choices are supremely difficult to action.

You are absolutely not wrong at all about the highly positive impact these behaviours can have on depression, to be clear. But sometimes having a shower is about all some people can manage.

Personally, I am eating relatively healthily, and slowly focusing on the diet to make it even more so. I'm not drinking at all, as I have come to believe that booze is probably one of the most profound factors in exacerbating my condition. Exercise - Not as much as I should be doing, but walk the dogs when I can and go up mountains every now and again.

Definitely part of the reason I am able to do these things is predicated on being on the meds in the first place. Can I go it alone? We shall see.
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I am to a degree if I reread my post, and I apologise. However, I have been around alcohol and alcoholism to a very large extent. And it without a doubt feeds depression, and a whole host of other mental and behavioral issues. I am not saying "do not act like you are depressed". I am saying to rather embrace a healthy lifestyle and smarter choices instead of turning to artificial means (medication). I don't want to discount medication, but it should really be a last resort once all the other blocks have been ticked. Depression feeds into other issues, which feeds into depression, I get that. But sometimes people don't see their own behaviors are sabotaging them and feeding their depression.
 
pinball wizard said:
Very easy or very difficult. It's very easy for a shrink to say you have it based on a very superficial analysis of the individual. However, if the person lies or with-holds information that could lead to an accurate diagnosis, then the call of depression is wrong. Very wrong, with disastrous consequences.
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this is what I am afraid of
They put you on medication for some form of depression and in the meantime you dont have it
 
genelock said:
this is what I am afraid of
They put you on medication for some form of depression and in the meantime you dont have it
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Just remember that a diagnosis of depression doesn't automatically come with a prescription for anti depressants. There are other treatments for depression.
 
Ancalagon said:
Just remember that a diagnosis of depression doesn't automatically come with a prescription for anti depressants. There are other treatments for depression.
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Like shock therapy....bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt:D
 
Emjay said:
I am to a degree if I reread my post, and I apologise.
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No need to apologise! I just wanted it to be clear what we were talking about.

However, I have been around alcohol and alcoholism to a very large extent. And it without a doubt feeds depression, and a whole host of other mental and behavioral issues. I am not saying "do not act like you are depressed". I am saying to rather embrace a healthy lifestyle and smarter choices instead of turning to artificial means (medication). I don't want to discount medication, but it should really be a last resort once all the other blocks have been ticked.
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It's all certainly very intertwined - Our behaviour and lifestyle choices impact our mood, and our mood influences our behaviour. When it comes to medication, we can only assume that a given person has been properly assessed, and that medication is reasonably necessary. That medication can be and is provided to people who don't necessarily need it, is an issue, and definitely something we need to be aware of. However, I must again stress that asking a seriously depressed person to make better lifestyle choices is, essentially, expecting someone to act like they are not. I am also not convinced that calling medication an artificial solution is entirely fair - Or at least, it's no more artificial than any other medication that we take for whatever other condition we may have. But in the case of medication for mental problems there is indeed an attitude of it being a last resort kind of thing, which I find a bit peculiar.

Depression feeds into other issues, which feeds into depression, I get that. But sometimes people don't see their own behaviors are sabotaging them and feeding their depression.
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While true to some extent, sure, we must not forget that depression can be caused by a simple chemical imbalance from whence a majority of the other negative behaviours and attitudes stem.
 
copacetic said:
... depression can be caused by a simple chemical imbalance from whence a majority of the other negative behaviours and attitudes stem.
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This!

When I first went to a shrink they tried cognitive therapy. (http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/cognitive-therapy#1) Basically re-evaluate your negative thoughts, that didn't work. But I was really against taking medication.


When the shrink said some people have a chemical imbalance that can be corrected with meds it made me see things in a different way. The took the meds, I felt better.
 
Not sure if this is the right thread to post because I don't suffer from depression.

It is anxiety that affecting health in a negative way. Since quitting smoking three years it seems like I've lost the ability to deal with stress. Exercise has not solved the issue and everyday is an irrational battle to take medication. Adding another will compound the struggle.

Anyone open to suggesting natural remedies to consider?
 
Jings said:
Not sure if this is the right thread to post because I don't suffer from depression.

It is anxiety that affecting health in a negative way. Since quitting smoking three years it seems like I've lost the ability to deal with stress. Exercise has not solved the issue and everyday is an irrational battle to take medication. Adding another will compound the struggle.

Anyone open to suggesting natural remedies to consider?
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You mention both anxiety and "ability to deal with stress" those are two very different beasts - though they often happen at the same time.

Anxiety - this is a mind game thing. You can force a lot of this via breathing exercises & meditation etc. Yes it does work. With enough power of will you can recover from panic attacks / high anxiety levels. It's suppressing the immediate effect though (breathing & mind over matter). Meditation is sorta in between immediate an long term. Usually anxiety has an underlying cause though.

Stress. Already answered - see here.

Natural remedies are a waste of time. I'd also question if it was the cigs keeping you stable. This stuff goes in cycles. A couple months back I was on a ultra higher pressure assignment and got regular anxiety issues as a result. So it's not really like one has a baseline...it fluctuates with circumstances.
 
Jings said:
Not sure if this is the right thread to post because I don't suffer from depression.

It is anxiety that affecting health in a negative way. Since quitting smoking three years it seems like I've lost the ability to deal with stress. Exercise has not solved the issue and everyday is an irrational battle to take medication. Adding another will compound the struggle.

Anyone open to suggesting natural remedies to consider?
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go to your dr. and ask him/her about Indorel. they might prescribe 40mg per day
I've been using it for the last 4 yrs or so
 
genelock said:
go to your dr. and ask him/her about Indorel. they might prescribe 40mg per day
I've been using it for the last 4 yrs or so
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The generic version is called Pur-Bloka. Don't think you get Inderal anymore. its like R10 for 30 pills.

______

Also, Just a generalnote for people going through tough times who do not understand whats going on. just stop caring, people, things, times change. The world only makes sense when you force it to... In the end you only have you.
 
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