Posted by Simcha on December 16, 2002, at 1:22:28
In reply to Re: DO medications help for depression long term?, posted by oracle on December 15, 2002, at 12:36:47
I'm approaching two years on anti-depressants. I'm really glad that I have chosen to stay the course. I remember what life was like before medication. I woke up daily (that is when I woke up) with a feeling of wanting to be dead. That was during the mild depression. When my major attacks would hit I would not be able to function at all in any situation. I was not eating. It was a living Hell.
I have been told by 2 different pdocs now that I will never be able to be off of medication. In fact the current pdoc said it would be unethical for any doctor to suggest that I stop medication given my case history and my genetics.
I would assume that being on meds for 2 years makes me a long-term user. I'm assuming that I will need to be on them for the balance of my life, that is unless they come up with something better.
I was in therapy for ten years, resisting meds. The only thing that really took care of the base depression was the meds. Therapy helps me to relearn how to live life in ways that won't bring on depressive episodes. It helps me to live as a functioning human being. The medication allows me the prayer of a chance of using all that I'm learning in therapy in my life. For me CBT has been a wonderful adjunct to my treatment. Even with CBT I was not better without medication.
For some of us meds are absolutely necessary. And, yes, I have come to an acceptance that life was really terrible without medication. Also I've come to the acceptance that my depression is so severe that I require medication in order to be balanced.
Simcha
poster:Simcha
thread:131881
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021210/msgs/131958.html