Posted by PoohBear on May 28, 2004, at 11:37:59
In reply to Re: Why are you going off Effexor in the first place?, posted by winifred on May 28, 2004, at 10:37:28
Just a quick general reply to all who have posted regarding this issue, pro and con...
People in general have many reasons for going ON meds as well as many reasons for going OFF. Personally, looking back, I have had to deal with depression all my life, there is a family history of depression and BP, all of which I believe is due to brain chemistry.
For me the meds help to fill-in the chemical "gaps" in my brain chemistry. Some people need meds simply to get through a rough spot on their life's journey and then they can move on, post trama, post meds and be fine. I believe that I will always need something to help me to maintain the life I want, not the depressive, addictive tendancies I inherited.
Your mileage may vary...
I have stated before and I'll say it again, that there seems to be a false notion running around that you're not "whole" or "complete" unless you're off medication. This is, in my mind, attached to the old ideas related to mental illness as a pariah, not an illness like any other.
Someone with a different physical condition, diagnosed through almost any other branch of medicine, who needed medication, perhaps for life, would not feel the "need" to "get off medication". Ask someone without a thyroid if they can live fully without their medication. Their thyroid is GONE. They need to REPLACE the missing chemicals that are no longer being produced.
My view is that there are people, not all, but some, for whom brain chemistry is similar. The necessary chemicals are either simply not being produced or are not able to get to where they need to go to allow normal functioning.
Certainly if a person has no history of depression or other mental illness and is over the stretch where medication would be indicated, they need to try to get off and see how they manage with other therapies. Even those with a history may feel the need to wean themselves from what they may see as a crutch.BUT, if things don't go as planned, if symptoms reappear, then one should allow oneself the grace of continuing medicating WITHOUT the mental self-abuse of always thinking that they're "less" of a person because they need medication.
Just my two cents; Blessings to all,
Tony
poster:PoohBear
thread:1016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040527/msgs/351496.html