Posted by laima on August 15, 2006, at 10:37:16
In reply to Re: Optimistic part » laima, posted by Dinah on August 15, 2006, at 9:29:48
Sounds like your experiences are much like my own.
"Baseline"- I like your word choice- I'd definately say mine is lower now for the conditions I originally started using medications for, too. I don't know how to make sense of it all, what to think. Obviously the medications are very useful and have an important role for many people-including me at certain points- but at the same time, they scare me as well. I'm also a little concerned that some of them were originally prescribed a tad bit casually, in my own case, anyway. I'm miffed that I was constantly assured throughout my late teens and twenties that prozac was harmless and benign and perfectly safe to take for the rest of my life, etc., "as insurance". In retrospect, I wish I had been tapered off of it long before it pooped out. I wonder what would have happened. I'm particularly miffed that I was reassured many times by several doctors that it was perfectly fine to take klonopin for years--and now I've got a real problem with it, in that it's lost effectiveness, I crave it, and can't seem to cut it out for long. There have been times that I've even asked someone else to hold on to it for me due to my craving, and that is scary. I'm well into a taper plan right now...and it's going really good so far...but I'm still scared that it could turn right back around if something happens or if I give in and goof up. So now I've got these mood issues which are no longer terribley responsive to drugs, and I feel low on options. Not sure what to do- but I'm definately more interested in a healthy lifestyle and nutrition and so on than I used to be--not to mention Linkadage's neurogenesis list! Some of that stuff seems to really help, and I've developed a keen appreciation of how nuanced and delicate the brain is. (Though paradoxically, I am aware of the good news that that the brain can also be very resiliant and adaptable.) Definately, developing an aggressive excercise program has been particularly helpful to me for managing depression, anxiety, and to boost my energy levels and help with general fogginess; I also imagine I'm sweating away toxins (?). In any case, that habit is helping me to feel more empowered and less utterly helpless or victim-like. But the whole topic is confusing and frustrating.
> I've been on Provigil for daytime sleepiness, and not only did I have to up the dose to the maximum my doctor prescribed but it's not working as well as it used to.
>
> The worst part is that my baseline is now way worse than it was. If I skip a dose, I'm flat on my face snoring all day.
>
> The same seems to be true with antianxiety medication. It used to be that anxiety was a problem, but now it's debilitating without the medications. And that was even true when I weaned off them.
>
> I'm a great supporter of medications, but in some ways they scare me.
poster:laima
thread:675829
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060810/msgs/676658.html