Do antidepressants work?

[SilverLining]

Honestly I think a big part of my anxiety or depression in life has been essentially not knowing "where do I belong, where do I fit in, where is my home, who are my people, who do I belong to, where is my constellation that gravitationally holds my life together, maybe belonging and identity issues had a lot to do with the depression...and fear of the worst.

I'm with you there boat.  We come from environments that did not provide any positive answers to these sorts of questions.   My parents tended to squash any efforts the offspring might make to find their own answers.   Depression became the glue holding the whole dysfunctional association together.   If the offspring stayed depressed, there was no chance they would pick up and leave the program.

The chemical AD's seem to have stimulating effects that feel like a cure, but it doesn't last very long, at least in my experience.  Adjusting to the frenetic pace of an insane society isn't the answer. 

 

[Guest]

Not every person is an energizer bunny...and why the heck should a person have to be?

There is a coffee sign that says "Do more stupid things faster". 

Maybe this is depression speaking but for God's sake A LOT of what goes on in life, in the human world is STUPID.

Tremendously important stupid stuff that MUST get done or else.

I love this Boat and I feel like I've always felt this way. Maybe as 'outsiders' we get to see things more clearly (assuming you agree with the term outsider). I call it being realistic, not being depressed.

[BonesMS]

Honestly I think a big part of my anxiety or depression in life has been essentially not knowing "where do I belong, where do I fit in, where is my home, who are my people, who do I belong to, where is my constellation that gravitationally holds my life together, maybe belonging and identity issues had a lot to do with the depression...and fear of the worst.

I hate to think that I have not experienced the worst yet, but I'm experiencing things I never thought I would ever so I guess I'm living out some of my fears and I wonder if that experience negates some of the depression.....I don't know.


Once I started getting the pills the only things doctors ever considered was increasing my dosages.

I don't take them now and even though I am very troubled in my life I don't feel that at this point they would enhance my wellbeing enough to justify putting the strange substance into my body any longer. I don't care if I get fewer tasks done. I get a few essential things done. Not every person is an energizer bunny...and why the heck should a person have to be?

There is a coffee sign that says "Do more stupid things faster". 

Maybe this is depression speaking but for God's sake A LOT of what goes on in life, in the human world is STUPID.

Tremendously important stupid stuff that MUST get done or else.

I also struggle with similar thoughts...."Where do I belong?"  "Where do I fit in?"  "Others have families who love them.  Why not me?"  "Who do I belong to?"  "Where is my support system?"  A "Happy Pill" cannot fix that!

Bones

[Guest]

Bones, good questions. I thought

Where do I belong?"  "Where do I fit in?"  "Others have families who love them.  Why not me?"  "Who do I belong to?" 

all the above I thought, they're no longer relevant to me. Maybe I don't need to belong, fit in, maybe I'm happy not fitting in. Look at what we might have to fit into!  'Why not me' is easily answered - 'bad' luck and it's not going to change. Sad but true kind of thing. It's not even 'bad' luck, because what doesn't kill you ... etc... but it takes a while to feel that way.

"Where is my support system?"  now that's a great question and highly relevant.

[BonesMS]

Bones, good questions. I thought

Where do I belong?"  "Where do I fit in?"  "Others have families who love them.  Why not me?"  "Who do I belong to?" 

all the above I thought, they're no longer relevant to me. Maybe I don't need to belong, fit in, maybe I'm happy not fitting in. Look at what we might have to fit into!  'Why not me' is easily answered - 'bad' luck and it's not going to change. Sad but true kind of thing. It's not even 'bad' luck, because what doesn't kill you ... etc... but it takes a while to feel that way.

"Where is my support system?"  now that's a great question and highly relevant.

Thanks, Guest.

My concern is that as we all age, and develop age-related medical issues, who can we rely on in an emergency, especially when everyone else you know are so busy with their own lives?

Bones

[Nonameanymore]

Bones, I have had that question for some time. But let me tell you this. I am going through the loneliest 8 months of my life. At the end of January I was working two jobs and as a result I had a herniated disc. It happens that I went through this on my own, in fact I remember that when on the 4th day I couldn't even turn around in bed and decided to go to the hospital, I was unable to get up or put on shoes because I was in such pain that I never felt before in my life. Anyway, I went to the hospital with slippers (!) and had some shots done. After the physical pain wore off thanks to the shots, the emotional pain hit through and I was crying because I was so lonely and alone and I had nobody to take care of me (in fact I broke up with someone at the time who, because on the first day the aches started offered to take me to the hospital and I said no because I wanted to go to church, he said that he 'punished' me for not taking me on the day that I was bedridden because I didn't go when he wanted me to go - go figure). But first, I realised that I took care of myself pretty well and months later when I was talking about with someone else, he said 'you should have called me'. I didn't even think of calling that person at the time and I am sure there would have been others who would be willing to take me to the hospital too.

I think that help is always there when we need it. Somehow when we are deep in the pit of self-despair, we don't see it.
I think asking for help has been my toughest issue. I don't mean financial help but actually coming out and admitting 'I can't deal with this on my own, I need some help'.
Another issue has been for me to see that we are not really separate from one another. Maybe it's all these new age and metaphysical seminars I have been going to that talk about oneness but I am starting to really believe that this is truly the case...

[BonesMS]

Bones, I have had that question for some time. But let me tell you this. I am going through the loneliest 8 months of my life. At the end of January I was working two jobs and as a result I had a herniated disc. It happens that I went through this on my own, in fact I remember that when on the 4th day I couldn't even turn around in bed and decided to go to the hospital, I was unable to get up or put on shoes because I was in such pain that I never felt before in my life. Anyway, I went to the hospital with slippers (!) and had some shots done. After the physical pain wore off thanks to the shots, the emotional pain hit through and I was crying because I was so lonely and alone and I had nobody to take care of me (in fact I broke up with someone at the time who, because on the first day the aches started offered to take me to the hospital and I said no because I wanted to go to church, he said that he 'punished' me for not taking me on the day that I was bedridden because I didn't go when he wanted me to go - go figure). But first, I realised that I took care of myself pretty well and months later when I was talking about with someone else, he said 'you should have called me'. I didn't even think of calling that person at the time and I am sure there would have been others who would be willing to take me to the hospital too.

I think that help is always there when we need it. Somehow when we are deep in the pit of self-despair, we don't see it.
I think asking for help has been my toughest issue. I don't mean financial help but actually coming out and admitting 'I can't deal with this on my own, I need some help'.
Another issue has been for me to see that we are not really separate from one another. Maybe it's all these new age and metaphysical seminars I have been going to that talk about oneness but I am starting to really believe that this is truly the case...

A thought just occurred to me about why it is so difficult to admitting to ourselves that "can't deal with this" and asking for the help we need.  I think that, due to being forcibly trapped with NWomb-Donors and NSperm-Donors, we were FREQUENTLY PUNISHED for DARING TO HAVE ANY NEEDS AT ALL.  When we learned, the hard way, as children that we could not rely or trust those that were SUPPOSED TO BE OUR CAREGIVERS, who could we rely on?  Who could we trust?  We were trapped in the double-bind and still struggle, to this day, in attempting to escape.

Bones

[Nonameanymore]

Bones will you allow me to recommend a good movie on the subject (if you haven't seen it already)? It's '28 days' with Sandra Bullock. I know it's another cheesy, rehab movie but it has been one that I go back and watch when I need to be reminded of how important it is to ask for help...

[SilverLining]

A thought just occurred to me about why it is so difficult to admitting to ourselves that "can't deal with this" and asking for the help we need.  I think that, due to being forcibly trapped with NWomb-Donors and NSperm-Donors, we were FREQUENTLY PUNISHED for DARING TO HAVE ANY NEEDS AT ALL.  When we learned, the hard way, as children that we could not rely or trust those that were SUPPOSED TO BE OUR CAREGIVERS, who could we rely on?  Who could we trust?  We were trapped in the double-bind and still struggle, to this day, in attempting to escape.

And unfortunately "taking a pill" becomes a meager substitute for real emotional help.   My parents were always good at providing cheap substitutes for  emotional support.  They'd gladly hand over a buck or two to let the offspring go off and console themselves with some food or trinket.   I was essentially trying to self medicate myself out of depression by the time I was 14 years old, starting with caffeine and sugar.   There was no real emotional support from the FOO, and the peer group was of little functional help.     

[Meh]

That seems to be a big part of the problem in the ineffectiveness of the treatment IMO because the pill really is suppose to be like an imperfect aid to treatment NOT the whole treatment.

I still think it's all a big scam from pharm companies.

I've pointed this out before but will say again. Makers of prozac tried to get a re-patent on the pills for PMS (Premenstrual Disphoric Disorder). Because all women of child bearing age according to them temporarily develop a mental illness for one week a month. What a big lie!

$$$$$$$$$

The last prescription I had for antidepressants cost $60 a month.

Money is all relative I know, it wasn't a lot of money for me at the time that I was purchasing it but now I couldn't purchase it even if I wanted. But I don't want it anyways

A deep depression and a huge life changing event is what contributed to me stopping the pills.

I thought whoa! Sh*t is flying and the pills are not going to change that, and I feel like crap and the pills are not going to change that. Life just isn't perfect for some people and a pill doesn't fix that.

[BonesMS]

Bones will you allow me to recommend a good movie on the subject (if you haven't seen it already)? It's '28 days' with Sandra Bullock. I know it's another cheesy, rehab movie but it has been one that I go back and watch when I need to be reminded of how important it is to ask for help...

Thanks!  I have seen it as it was one of my required assignments when I was in school.

Bones

[BonesMS]

A thought just occurred to me about why it is so difficult to admitting to ourselves that "can't deal with this" and asking for the help we need.  I think that, due to being forcibly trapped with NWomb-Donors and NSperm-Donors, we were FREQUENTLY PUNISHED for DARING TO HAVE ANY NEEDS AT ALL.  When we learned, the hard way, as children that we could not rely or trust those that were SUPPOSED TO BE OUR CAREGIVERS, who could we rely on?  Who could we trust?  We were trapped in the double-bind and still struggle, to this day, in attempting to escape.

And unfortunately "taking a pill" becomes a meager substitute for real emotional help.   My parents were always good at providing cheap substitutes for  emotional support.  They'd gladly hand over a buck or two to let the offspring go off and console themselves with some food or trinket.   I was essentially trying to self medicate myself out of depression by the time I was 14 years old, starting with caffeine and sugar.   There was no real emotional support from the FOO, and the peer group was of little functional help.     

AMEN and AMEN!!!!

[BonesMS]

That seems to be a big part of the problem in the ineffectiveness of the treatment IMO because the pill really is suppose to be like an imperfect aid to treatment NOT the whole treatment.

I still think it's all a big scam from pharm companies.

I've pointed this out before but will say again. Makers of prozac tried to get a re-patent on the pills for PMS (Premenstrual Disphoric Disorder). Because all women of child bearing age according to them temporarily develop a mental illness for one week a month. What a big lie!

$$$$$$$$$

The last prescription I had for antidepressants cost $60 a month.

Money is all relative I know, it wasn't a lot of money for me at the time that I was purchasing it but now I couldn't purchase it even if I wanted. But I don't want it anyways

A deep depression and a huge life changing event is what contributed to me stopping the pills.

I thought whoa! Sh*t is flying and the pills are not going to change that, and I feel like crap and the pills are not going to change that. Life just isn't perfect for some people and a pill doesn't fix that.

That is ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON!!!!!!

[SilverLining]

That seems to be a big part of the problem in the ineffectiveness of the treatment IMO because the pill really is suppose to be like an imperfect aid to treatment NOT the whole treatment.

I completely agree.  I remember back in the early years of Prozac, the instructions and literature said it was intended for short term use only.  I don't know how we got from there to the current protocol of lifelong chemical treatment.  Is there any proof out there that these chemicals are effective in the long term?  And what about the possible side effects or  damage from long term use?  

IMO the whole AD thing started out as something positive and possibly helpful for a limited population, but it's been turned into a monster by the corporate medical system.   The need for predictable and ever increasing profit ends up overriding all other concerns. 

[Ales2]

Do anti-depressants work? My reaction is NO. I have taken Prozac (1991)  Zoloft (2003)  and now Lexapro (2011). NO. They do not work at all.

Here is my last entry on the depression study I participated in. I decided to do the study, hoping for a better diagnosis than with traditional psychiatrists and more monitoring of symptoms, side effects and progress.

This will be my last post on this subject. My participation in the study ended today. I left with mixed feelings. They regard me as a success story because it looks that way on paper, but I feel like anything but. 

My anxiety improved.
My insomnia is unchanged.
My mood (on paper) seems to have improved, but mostly, I don't feel any better.
My productivity/motivation is at an all time low, I have no interest in doing anything or finishing anything, besides basic household chores.
Side effects were minimal, mostly loss of appetite, but I was still overeating, so I did not lose any weight.

Meeting with Psychiatrist in charge of the study was good, but I was intimidated and did not ask the right questions.  It was revealed that I was in fact on Lexapro, just as I guessed. I was given a prescription for more meds, including a bigger does of Lexapro and could also take wellbutrin to deal with the low motivation. But, I have decided I am done with the anti-d's I have  a one week supply left, but will stop taking them tomorrow. There is no point in continuing.

Thanks to everyone again for your support.