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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kizzie on August 7, 2006, at 5:35:27
Dear all
I have really got myself ina state.
My history is anxiety based PPD followed by 5 years trying to get off SSRI's (paxil).This led to severe debilitating depression and panic disoder. Then switched to clomipramine. Got better but when I came off (very slowly) I replapsed very quickly.The thing is that the problems I have now are so much worse than my original symptoms. I am worried that I'll never get off medication and im scared that it is detroying my brain. I am currently taking 75mg clomipramine.
There is so much negative stuff on the internet and in UK newspapers about psychiatric medications.
I know lots of you here are taking things so I just wondered if someone could give the opposite view. IE. That these drugs do actually help some people. That they arent responsible for every single thing that is wrong in society today.
I hope this note makes sense.
xxx
Posted by SLS on August 7, 2006, at 6:04:04
In reply to Terrified of taking meds ...any advice /support, posted by kizzie on August 7, 2006, at 5:35:27
If these medications are helping you and not hurting you, what difference should it make to you what the current pop culture opinion of their worth is?
These drugs have already proven to you their effectiveness and how critical they are to your quality of life. Now, all that is left is for them to be demonstrated as being safe for long-term use. Do you have any doubts of this? If so, what are they?
- Scott
Posted by Glydin on August 7, 2006, at 7:11:34
In reply to Terrified of taking meds ...any advice /support, posted by kizzie on August 7, 2006, at 5:35:27
There was a time in my life I wanted and sought out negative info so I could justify my intense desire to not be on meds. My reasons were deep seated and my own but the outside influences served me well in building my case. Gradually, I came to the realization: I have a problem that IS treatable with meds and other plans - not curable, but treatable. It was a BIG paradyme switch for me but one which led me to an acceptance that has brought a great quality of life.
Yes, meds have helped me beyond expectations. I also realized I have a finate number of days on this earth and I have choices - for me, I can be miserable and ill or take steps not to be....
I do understand your concerns and your fears. Finding and dwelling on the negative is something we tend to be wired with and most disorders we have it as pattern that is easy continue. But, please try and consider things could be or might be different if you think about treatment as an adjunct to living a good quality of life.
Posted by kizzie on August 7, 2006, at 8:20:11
In reply to Re: Terrified of taking meds ...any advice /support » kizzie, posted by Glydin on August 7, 2006, at 7:11:34
Thankyou so mych both of you for your thoughtful replies.
I suppose my concerns are that meds are having some kind of long term negative effect on my personality. And every day I seem to read another horror story about someone who has acted out of character because of them. (Im a journalist so I see lots of these stories at work.)
I think that you are both right and that I need to start accepting the situation Im in.
Thanks again for replying.
xxx
Posted by SLS on August 7, 2006, at 8:31:10
In reply to Re: Terrified of taking meds ...any advice /support » kizzie, posted by Glydin on August 7, 2006, at 7:11:34
> There was a time in my life I wanted and sought out negative info so I could justify my intense desire to not be on meds.
I remember how angry I was when I was first accurately diagnosed as having an affective disorder. I didn't want to have a biological disorder of the brain. I wanted to have a psychological disorder so that it would be under my control to rectify it.
> Gradually, I came to the realization: I have a problem that IS treatable with meds and other plans - not curable, but treatable.
I came to my realization much more quickly. I was an ultra-rapid cycler at the time. Once it was pointed out to me that the regular and dramatic fluctuations in my mood were due to the cyclic fluctuations in my biology, the truth became very evident and unavoidable. This was reinforced when the first medication I tried produced a dramatic improvement in my depression. Although this improvement lasted less than a month, it demonstrated both the biological nature of the disorder and its treatability.
Although I despised having to be tethered to a medication to funtion, let alone to be happy, I knew that it was necessary. How I would love to be tethered now. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a treatment that works consistently.
If you are depressed right now, your judgment is affected, and I doubt you are processing this issue the same way you would be if you were not depressed and filled with anxiety. You will undoubtedly see more of and magnify the negative aspects and perhaps filter out and minimize the positive aspects. It may not be a balanced view.
- Scott
Posted by Glydin on August 7, 2006, at 8:31:31
In reply to Re: Terrified of taking meds ...any advice /support, posted by kizzie on August 7, 2006, at 8:20:11
Good Luck to you. I found acceptance can be one of the most powerful tools we can have that makes us pro-active - it seems strange, but I found it got me unstuck from doing nothing to help myself.
Again, best to you and your quest, I hope you find success.
Posted by SLS on August 7, 2006, at 8:54:30
In reply to Re: Terrified of taking meds ...any advice /support, posted by kizzie on August 7, 2006, at 8:20:11
> I suppose my concerns are that meds are having some kind of long term negative effect on my personality.
That's a legitimate concern. I think you can consider it to be a potential side effect as you would any other. It is not a necessary component to how these drugs work. If one drug affects you negatively, you can try another.
Is there a specific change that you have already experienced that you are troubled by?
- Scott
Posted by kizzie on August 7, 2006, at 10:13:14
In reply to Re: Terrified of taking meds ...any advice /suppor » kizzie, posted by SLS on August 7, 2006, at 8:54:30
Hi Scott - thanks for the reply. My fears are for 2 reasons really:
1/ the truly horrific withdrawal I had coming off paxil (no matter how slowly I did it)2/ The violent ocd images Ive had as side effects of paxil and clomipramine. (I never had these before starting meds at the age of 30.)
But of course I dont know whether these horrible thoughts would have developed anyway even if I hadnt started medication.xxx
Posted by Phillipa on August 7, 2006, at 12:33:40
In reply to Re: Terrified of taking meds ...any advice /support » kizzie, posted by Glydin on August 7, 2006, at 7:11:34
Glydin I needed that myself today. Thanks!!!Love Phillipa
Posted by Glydin on August 7, 2006, at 12:47:03
In reply to Re: Terrified of taking meds ...any advice /support » Glydin, posted by Phillipa on August 7, 2006, at 12:33:40
I have come here at times and found exactly what I needed to hear. I like that maybe sometimes I return what I've received.
Hang tough, I know you can....
Posted by TJO on August 12, 2006, at 16:53:33
In reply to Terrified of taking meds ...any advice /support, posted by kizzie on August 7, 2006, at 5:35:27
> Dear all
> I have really got myself ina state.
> My history is anxiety based PPD followed by 5 years trying to get off SSRI's (paxil).This led to severe debilitating depression and panic disoder. Then switched to clomipramine. Got better but when I came off (very slowly) I replapsed very quickly.
>
> The thing is that the problems I have now are so much worse than my original symptoms. I am worried that I'll never get off medication and im scared that it is detroying my brain. I am currently taking 75mg clomipramine.
>
> There is so much negative stuff on the internet and in UK newspapers about psychiatric medications.
>
> I know lots of you here are taking things so I just wondered if someone could give the opposite view. IE. That these drugs do actually help some people. That they arent responsible for every single thing that is wrong in society today.
>
> I hope this note makes sense.
>
> xxxHi,
I wasnt too fond of paxil either, but have managed to find myself a reasonably satisfactory basic combination of meds. The releif from the symptoms I had is such that I feel they are worth taking. Maybe clomipramine isnt the right drug and you would find more releif with somthing else.
For me it is just worth it not to have to fight suicidal thoughts all the time....the meds contribute positively to my life. I wasn't in contol before....the illness was...maybe looking at it that way will help?hope this helps :-)
Tammy
This is the end of the thread.
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