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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:18
I see so many people fighting an internal battle against their needs for meds. Some people are actually doing well on meds yet beat themselves up for taking meds. Society tells us it is wrong to be on meds. You are weak for needing psych meds. If I mention diabetics or hypothyroid people on meds I get all these reasons why being on psych meds are different.
I have decided not to fight this battle any more. I am doing well on my combo and I am happy. At 60 + I don't want to fight this battle any more. I have had a long time to evaluate all the pros and cons and I need meds. I understand the sides of meds. But I have genetic issues and this is a biological problem for me. I love those pills that take me out of my misery.
Please no need for the anti med people to respond.
I want to make this a pro med thread. All the people who accept their conditions as being biological and are grateful that there are happy pills please respond.
Posted by gman22 on June 14, 2010, at 17:21:47
In reply to Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:48
Props to Bulldog!!
The illness is bad enough. We don't need to feel bad about treating it.
Posted by atypical on June 14, 2010, at 17:42:03
In reply to Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:48
While I accept my condition as being both biological and psychological, I'm not stopping my medications any time soon! Sometimes I think meds are the only things that have really significantly improved my condition, despite all the years of therapy.
Atypical
Posted by chujoe on June 14, 2010, at 18:45:01
In reply to Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:18
Hey, Bulldog, I'm with you on this, though as I said in a post earlier today I think it's important that we work with our meds rather than expecting them to fix all our problems for us. (I'm not saying, of course, that that is what you are doing!) Meds open the door, but we still have to walk through it.
Posted by jade k on June 14, 2010, at 18:56:23
In reply to Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:18
Yeah,
I agree. Mine hit me in the head like a wrecking ball. Has to be biological. I like the idea of doing my part, too, but what a struggle compared to when your meds are working, at least to some extent.
~jade
Posted by hyperfocus on June 14, 2010, at 20:13:14
In reply to Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:18
I have zero problems with being on meds for the rest of my life. As long as they are not damaging my body in any way then I got no problem with them. I've read too many heartbreaking stories here and elsewhere of people who were taken off their meds, believing themselves to be better, and relapsed. And then finding that the same med no longer works. I'm never going to take that chance. Any bit of life without depression is invaluable to me.
I didn't always used to be this way - I was very recalcitrant about taking meds initially. People without mental illness can never understand what it's like. They think happy pills are really pills to make you happy, like alcohol or weed, or to sedate you.
My meds don't make me feel happy. They allow me to move forward from a nest of bad experiences that my mind for one reason or another has become hyperfocused on. They allow my body to return to a nominal functioning state and not be jacked up all the time constantly anticipating disaster. Just as you said diabetics and people with thyroid problems need their meds - it's no different with me.
Posted by violette on June 14, 2010, at 21:31:36
In reply to Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:18
I accept whatever works to solve the problem(s).
Medications can solve symptoms temporarily, perhaps sometimes permanently, or they could worsen problems/cause new ones that might be worse than the old ones....
I also believe that no one should feel that taking medications equates to some sort of weakness....though this isn't exclusive to the mental health field - just read some of the posts at the NY Times health blog complaining about people consuming health care due to lifestyle choices (e.g., diabetes type II). Even though some points may be true, some of it is very hateful and overall, that type of thinking is destructive to society.
I also believe in patient education and feel strongly that patients should have a range of treatment choices rather than being directed to specific treatments deemed acceptable/adequate by our social constructs. I think it's important to preserve that right, remaining aware of conflicts of interest to ensure treatments provided are what's best for each particular patient, rather than what is best for certain groups or dogma.
Posted by Phillipa on June 14, 2010, at 22:38:56
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness » bulldog2, posted by violette on June 14, 2010, at 21:31:36
I see society truly accepting an example seeing surgeon two of his nurses on ad's. One on lexapro and the OR nurse on forget which one. When I told the surgeon felt bad mentally after surgery he went back to the OR nurse and got her doc's name wrote it down for me and his location. He said supposed to be good. Now if a surgeon knows his nurses are on ad's isn't that society accepting? And the nurses didn't hesitate to name their meds to me. I find that greatly encouraging. Phillipa
Posted by bulldog2 on June 15, 2010, at 8:38:32
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by Phillipa on June 14, 2010, at 22:38:56
Yes I do agree that you should do blood work a couple times a year to make sure that the meds are not damaging your body.
Also work with the meds. These are not recreational drugs. They are there to take the pain away of anixety, panic attacks, depression or whatever you suffer from. Now that you are not consumed with the mental pain you can move forward in your life.
I guess my point was don't feel guilty about psychotropic drugs!! You may need them temporarily or possibly the rest of your life.
If you are doing well on your meds and are happy get out of babble. You have an army of those with their hands full of anti med literature. They will destroy your brain, your family etc. Do the labs a couple times a year and don't spend your time reading up on these meds. God knows where some of these studies came from.
Posted by rculater on June 15, 2010, at 16:49:20
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 15, 2010, at 8:38:32
I am very pleased for you . Well done
I wish I could accept and not fight it.
I've been fighting for years wondering if the meds made me this way or I need meds to stop me feeling this way.
Its a viscous circle, a daily grind, constantly telling myself I don't need them, getting close to starting (or even starting) and stopping too early.All the best.
Posted by bulldog2 on June 15, 2010, at 17:56:32
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by rculater on June 15, 2010, at 16:49:20
> I am very pleased for you . Well done
> I wish I could accept and not fight it.
> I've been fighting for years wondering if the meds made me this way or I need meds to stop me feeling this way.
> Its a viscous circle, a daily grind, constantly telling myself I don't need them, getting close to starting (or even starting) and stopping too early.
>
> All the best.Just do your best to take guilt out of the equation.
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 15, 2010, at 19:12:15
In reply to Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:18
> I want to make this a pro med thread. All the people who accept their conditions as being biological and are grateful that there are happy pills please respond.
What a nice idea for a thread, thanks!
Bob
Posted by mellow on June 16, 2010, at 4:08:19
In reply to Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:18
I've started to feel a lot better once i accepted my meds. But first i had to accept my condition. I went on for so many year trying to act like nothing was wrong. When i finally got in therapy and started taking my illness seriously i improved very fast.
I started to take my meds very seriously and started working on diet, exercise and vitamins as well. I know that the source of my condition is very biological but i also know there are psychological issues too. My doc feels that we will be able to reduce my doses and in turn reduce any possible side effects or poor outcomes from long term use of these drugs, but i know in my heart that i will always take a good mood stabilizer and a handful of vitamins every morning.
No doubt about it!
Posted by SLS on June 16, 2010, at 6:11:58
In reply to Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:18
> I want to make this a pro med thread. All the people who accept their conditions as being biological and are grateful that there are happy pills please respond.
I accepted my illness fairly early. I was an ultra-rapid cycler with a period of 11 days. It was absolute and undeviating. I read a book called "Moodswing" by Ronald Fieve. His descriptions and examples of people who had the illness left little doubt in my mind that I had a biological mental illness. My only hurdle to complete acceptance of drug treatment lied in my desire to be able to treat the illness psychologically. I was willing to do whatever psychotherapeutic work necessary. I wanted the way that I thought and felt to be within my control. I did not want to be tethered to a drug in order to live a happy and functional life.
I was first diagnosed and treated by a research team at Columbia Presbyterian / New York Psychiatric Institute. It did not take me long to realize just how seriously ill I was and how sure the doctors were in their characterization of my illness as being a true medical condition. The first drug I took was imipramine. If there was any doubt in my mind that my condition was biological, it vanished when I began to respond to that drug. It was as if a whole new world of technicolor appeared before my eyes. I later went on to respond to a combination of medication and achieved remission for the better part of a year. It was truly a wonderful gift. Unfortunately, my doctor mismanaged my treatment by discontinuing drug therapy. Within two months, I relapsed and was left unresponsive to further treatment with those same drugs. Still, I appreciate that these drugs are indeed true miracles for which I am very grateful. Unfortunately, they don't work for everyone. However, it is still early in their development. They were first discovered just 50 years ago. Considering that man first started working with tools over 100,000 years ago, biological psychiatry is still in its infancy.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2010, at 12:35:34
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by SLS on June 16, 2010, at 6:11:58
Scott if they diagnosed you rapid cycling why did the doc discontinue the meds. I don't understand why they would what a shame. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on June 16, 2010, at 14:05:35
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness » SLS, posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2010, at 12:35:34
> Scott if they diagnosed you rapid cycling why did the doc discontinue the meds. I don't understand why they would what a shame. Phillipa
I stopped cycling the first time they gave me lithium. The result was that I got stuck in an unrelenting depression. The doctor who got me well the first time withdrew antidepressant treatment when I became manic. When I relapsed into depression two months later, he decided not to treat me with the drugs that originally got me well. Instead, he tried Prozac, which had just been approved. The story becomes more complex, but the result is that I never responded to that same treatment again.
- Scott
Posted by jade k on June 16, 2010, at 16:52:19
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by SLS on June 16, 2010, at 6:11:58
> biological psychiatry is still in its infancy.
>
>
> - ScottLet's hope it grows up fast...
~Jade (hi Scott :)
Posted by jade k on June 16, 2010, at 18:37:15
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by jade k on June 16, 2010, at 16:52:19
Posted by polarbear206 on June 16, 2010, at 19:01:41
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by Phillipa on June 14, 2010, at 22:38:56
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy. Life is good. :)
Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2010, at 20:14:15
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness » Phillipa, posted by SLS on June 16, 2010, at 14:05:35
Scott sounds familiair so many with same story. Phillipa
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 17, 2010, at 1:23:26
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness » SLS, posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2010, at 20:14:15
> sounds familiair so many with same story.
Please keep this thread "pro med".
Please don't take this personally, this doesn't mean I don't like you or think you're a bad person, and I'm sorry if this hurts you.
More information about posting policies is in the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#enforce
Follow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by glydin 2010 on June 17, 2010, at 22:48:22
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness » Phillipa, posted by Dr. Bob on June 17, 2010, at 1:23:26
> > sounds familiair so many with same story.
>
> Please keep this thread "pro med".
>WOW....
Posted by Glydin 2010 on June 18, 2010, at 0:01:37
In reply to Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness, posted by bulldog2 on June 14, 2010, at 16:32:18
Zero guilt... Zero shame... Very accepting of my "IS" as in: "It is what it is". Proudly doing well for years now, while being and because of being chemically intervened.
I believe in treatment & management and not cures, so I'm a lifer.
Posted by bulldog2 on June 19, 2010, at 17:37:00
In reply to Re: Acceptance Of Meds Gives Me Happiness » bulldog2, posted by Glydin 2010 on June 18, 2010, at 0:01:37
> Zero guilt... Zero shame... Very accepting of my "IS" as in: "It is what it is". Proudly doing well for years now, while being and because of being chemically intervened.
>
> I believe in treatment & management and not cures, so I'm a lifer.I could not have said it better. I'm over 60 and have been on various paths for many years. I did the not legal route of drugs for many years because I was self medicating. I did the diet, exercise, vitamin, minerals, drug free route for many years and I still experienced anxiety, social phobia, and some bouts of depression. So that did not really help me out. I was still miserable but drug free. I guess I get a star for being drug free.so I guess this is what I will do...After 40 years of different trials I need to make a decision and this is it...now I just need to find the ideal cocktail
> I believe in treatment & management and not cures, so I'm a lifer.
This is the end of the thread.
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