A warning to all who feel Depression: Prozac isn't that good.
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I hope you get better soon, Jack and Calumon. That must have been crushing for you. I hope you've some good friends and family around you to help you through things.
My thoughts on anti-depressants are, often a placibo is as good as the real thing. The human mind can fix itself sometimes and often just talking about things helps. That's not to say it always happens like that and for the school of thought that sees many mental illness as a chemical inbalance you do need the right medication plus therepy to improve things.
It all depends on cercumstance.
My thoughts on anti-depressants are, often a placibo is as good as the real thing. The human mind can fix itself sometimes and often just talking about things helps. That's not to say it always happens like that and for the school of thought that sees many mental illness as a chemical inbalance you do need the right medication plus therepy to improve things.
It all depends on cercumstance.
Yeah I have to say antidepressants aren't fun, they mess with your head and can affect your memory and your personality whilst your taking them. However in a case of major depression i think not taking them would be irresponsible, depression can kill.Girl With One Eye said:
Personally I'd send it to her dad. Not in a "hurr hurr, dat be funneh!" way, but if she'd do that then surely she should see some ramifications.
Perhaps you should stop using prozac then, if it's that bad. I've always thought that therapy was a better option than drugs (I had therapy back in the day).
And can I just ask where Calumon is? I'm sure an adorable, imaginary (or not?) Digimon would cheerme you up. I hope you get through it ok.
Perhaps you should stop using prozac then, if it's that bad. I've always thought that therapy was a better option than drugs (I had therapy back in the day).
And can I just ask where Calumon is? I'm sure an adorable, imaginary (or not?) Digimon would cheer
Good thing I don't take depression medication.
They never really helped me anyway. I'm supposed to spend years looking for the right kind just for me? Yeah, I'm not that patient.
They never really helped me anyway. I'm supposed to spend years looking for the right kind just for me? Yeah, I'm not that patient.
If anyone's seen Charlie Brown, then I guess I don't need to say anything here, 'cos my thoughts are covered.
Your ex was extremely bitchy and hit very low, I don't think any drug would prevent you from being very upset. It's normal.
If it helps, you can exact a righteous revenge, as people said. You can send it to her parents or to some peer group of hers (school/uni/whatever). For bonus credit, you can first spread the rumor that there's a sex tape of her around. Then when people start asking about it, you release it to the world, to great expectations. Bring the popcorn and watch as her reputation goes to the toilet.
If it helps, you can exact a righteous revenge, as people said. You can send it to her parents or to some peer group of hers (school/uni/whatever). For bonus credit, you can first spread the rumor that there's a sex tape of her around. Then when people start asking about it, you release it to the world, to great expectations. Bring the popcorn and watch as her reputation goes to the toilet.
First, yeah, you don't know a thing about depression. Try to inform yourself before saying such things.Johnnyallstar said:
Second, even without considering biological components and everything, this doesn't make any sense. At all. You can probably find someone whose life is pretty shitty, even more than the poor, starved, sick Africans. So because someone suffered so much at some point in time, all human suffering is therefore invalid?
So yeah, try this. When something bad happens to you, you CAN'T feel bad. Because there are always people in the world who have it worse. Be always happy like a machine.
I'm on Prozac now to help with my Bi-Polar. It helps to regulate my mood, but when I get down it's a lot worse than normal. I gave up on the pills for a bit, but my mood swings got worse, so I'm on le happy pills again...
When I do get depressed I try to be around people to stop myself from doing anything stupid.
When I do get depressed I try to be around people to stop myself from doing anything stupid.
Well, the effectiveness of a pill varies greatly from person to person (I know) depending on there unique brain chemistry. Talk to your doctor, tell them that it's not working right for you and see if they could switch you to something else. Try to look after yourself and remember, someone right now it thinking about you...
Well, to all those who hate me for saying that, I assure you I do feel bad from time to time, but I try to remember to keep everything in context. And I do understand that depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance within the synapses.
Oh, and I do suffer from chemical imbalances cause by a genetic defect. I suffer from ADHD and something called Irlen syndrome, which is a form of photo-sensitivity. But I make a conscious effort to ignore the fact that every time I open my eyes it hurts. That every time I'm in fluorescent lights the pain of a headache doesn't knock my edge off. I don't have to be in a bad mood all the time, though I am constantly fighting fatigue and migraines.
I know what I am talking about. And sometimes mind over matter works, but most people don't have the force of mind to at least overcome problems by the power of self discipline.
Oh, and I do suffer from chemical imbalances cause by a genetic defect. I suffer from ADHD and something called Irlen syndrome, which is a form of photo-sensitivity. But I make a conscious effort to ignore the fact that every time I open my eyes it hurts. That every time I'm in fluorescent lights the pain of a headache doesn't knock my edge off. I don't have to be in a bad mood all the time, though I am constantly fighting fatigue and migraines.
I know what I am talking about. And sometimes mind over matter works, but most people don't have the force of mind to at least overcome problems by the power of self discipline.
I understand that the main "benefit" of fluoxetine is that it dulls emotional response, so that people suffering from depression can try to work from a more neutral state of mind, rather than being stuck under a persistently low mood. Which is really nice for sufferers who have suicidal tendencies, because the "emotional responses" that are now dulled include, helpfully enough, the fear of death. It's this kind of stuff, as well as the often unpredictable effects mind-altering drugs can have on different people, that makes medicating a depressed patient a risky prospect. Especially when it's already such a complex condition to treat. The idea that throwing antidepressants around like confetti is a bad idea seems to be seeping through the medical community - at least, I'm told that doctors tend to be a little better about this stuff than they used to be.
Also you're forgetting that, more often than not, depression isn't something that's caused by people having a bad week. It's a chemical imbalance in the brain that can be triggered by a bad week, but the reason that a person is depressed has more to do with a fault in the brain's ability to get back to normal. Telling someone afflicted with depression that "their problems aren't that bad, get it in perspective" is as useful and helpful as telling a paraplegic "your legs are right there, just stand up and get on with it". You're completely missing the point, and you're making the person feel bad for no reason. You should probably stop doing that.
Also, just because you also have it tough, it does not justify what you're saying, nor does it give you some kind of special insight into what depression is. Don't delude yourself into thinking that life experience can overcome basic factual inaccuracy. People with depression aren't just preoccupied with their own issues because they don't have enough perspective; depression itself is what makes it so difficult to see past the hardship in life. It is a symptom of the goddamn condition. The process of getting a depressed individual to do what you're saying is called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and it's one of the most common tools used to treat depression today. It is a long process that requires a great deal of effort over a prolonged period of time, because the objective is to change the way someone sees the world. Don't act like it's something that a depressed person can just decide to do, one day, and be fixed forever.
First off: there has not been one instance, in all of human history, that that strategy you just used there has been anything other than bullshit. It does not work. It is a flimsy, hollow piece of nonsense that has just enough of a passing resemblance to good sense that it can be used to demoralise people who disagree with you, despite the fact that it contains no intellectual merit of any kind. It can only be used to make people feel bad about themselves. It is as intelligent as fulfilling Godwin's Law, and as persuasive as sticking your fingers in your ears and shouting until the other person walks away.Johnnyallstar said:
Let's break it down: you're basically saying that because there are bad things happening to other people, to be severely troubled by whatever problems the average first-world countryman might face is to be petty and lacking in perspective. I'm even assuming that you're not a complete idiot, and by "all those suffering from depression" you meant "all the depression-sufferers who don't have a nice clean reason to be depressed that I can understand". Even when we cut out the obvious exceptions, you're still telling people that "your problems don't rate highly enough on my sliding scale of life-fucked-upedness, so you don't get to be depressed". This kind of thinking is excessively apathetic. "I don't care about your problems, so you shouldn't either"? Are you kidding?
Secondly, there's the meaninglessness of the comparison. It's exactly the same line used when self-righteous airheads get angry about people not finishing meals: "there are starving people in Africa who would work for a year to get the kind of food you're rejecting, you should be grateful you have access to regular meals, sit down and finish your damn potatoes." What do starving people care when you stop eating food you've already bought? Will someone suffering from malnutrition feel better if I eat until I'm physically uncomfortable?
It's exactly the same nonsense fallacy you just used - yeah, there are people who have worse lives. What's your goddamn point? Are you going to tell me I'm not allowed to feel bad because there happen to exist people who have it worse? What, am I hogging all the sadness? Should I leave some depression aside for people who need it more? There's no link here, nothing to compare, no cause-to-effect progression with one end tied to people with shitty lives and the other end attached to people who's lives you've arbitrarily decided aren't shitty enough. The sole purpose of this little speech you've got going is to try and guilt people into changing their actions. I repeat: the topic of the day is depression, and you're trying guilt tactics. Bravo.
Secondly, there's the meaninglessness of the comparison. It's exactly the same line used when self-righteous airheads get angry about people not finishing meals: "there are starving people in Africa who would work for a year to get the kind of food you're rejecting, you should be grateful you have access to regular meals, sit down and finish your damn potatoes." What do starving people care when you stop eating food you've already bought? Will someone suffering from malnutrition feel better if I eat until I'm physically uncomfortable?
It's exactly the same nonsense fallacy you just used - yeah, there are people who have worse lives. What's your goddamn point? Are you going to tell me I'm not allowed to feel bad because there happen to exist people who have it worse? What, am I hogging all the sadness? Should I leave some depression aside for people who need it more? There's no link here, nothing to compare, no cause-to-effect progression with one end tied to people with shitty lives and the other end attached to people who's lives you've arbitrarily decided aren't shitty enough. The sole purpose of this little speech you've got going is to try and guilt people into changing their actions. I repeat: the topic of the day is depression, and you're trying guilt tactics. Bravo.
Also you're forgetting that, more often than not, depression isn't something that's caused by people having a bad week. It's a chemical imbalance in the brain that can be triggered by a bad week, but the reason that a person is depressed has more to do with a fault in the brain's ability to get back to normal. Telling someone afflicted with depression that "their problems aren't that bad, get it in perspective" is as useful and helpful as telling a paraplegic "your legs are right there, just stand up and get on with it". You're completely missing the point, and you're making the person feel bad for no reason. You should probably stop doing that.
Also, just because you also have it tough, it does not justify what you're saying, nor does it give you some kind of special insight into what depression is. Don't delude yourself into thinking that life experience can overcome basic factual inaccuracy. People with depression aren't just preoccupied with their own issues because they don't have enough perspective; depression itself is what makes it so difficult to see past the hardship in life. It is a symptom of the goddamn condition. The process of getting a depressed individual to do what you're saying is called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and it's one of the most common tools used to treat depression today. It is a long process that requires a great deal of effort over a prolonged period of time, because the objective is to change the way someone sees the world. Don't act like it's something that a depressed person can just decide to do, one day, and be fixed forever.
I'm sorry to hear she did such a thing to you, and about how you're feeling.
That girl is a terrible person. Nobody deserves that kind of treatment, and you certainly deserve better. That was a shitty way to end things between the two of you, but it should help remind you that she wasn't good enough for you.
A good night's sleep (or at least some sleep) always helps, so I hope you're feeling better by now. If you're still feeling like shit, I'm sure talking to someone would help, if you're comfortable. Depression isn't something you have to go through alone.
I was prescribed Cipralex several years ago when I was last depressed. It completely numbed me out, and I hated it. Eventually I realized I would rather work through my depression than feel that way, and stopped taking it. Since then I've decided to avoid anti-depressants, I don't like the way I feel (or lack thereof) when I'm on them.
That girl is a terrible person. Nobody deserves that kind of treatment, and you certainly deserve better. That was a shitty way to end things between the two of you, but it should help remind you that she wasn't good enough for you.
A good night's sleep (or at least some sleep) always helps, so I hope you're feeling better by now. If you're still feeling like shit, I'm sure talking to someone would help, if you're comfortable. Depression isn't something you have to go through alone.
I was prescribed Cipralex several years ago when I was last depressed. It completely numbed me out, and I hated it. Eventually I realized I would rather work through my depression than feel that way, and stopped taking it. Since then I've decided to avoid anti-depressants, I don't like the way I feel (or lack thereof) when I'm on them.
That was an awful thing she did to you.Jack and Calumon said:
When I was on prozac a few months ago I felt exactly the same as you did, not only did I feel like absolutely nothing for about 6 weeks, everything I did made me feel even worse. I don't want to go into too much detail because it was pretty hard for me and I was only on Prozac for nearly 2 months. I ended up getting steadily worse and more isolated and it culminated in me trying to kill myself. After that I was taken off Prozac and felt miles better within a week. Before I tried to kill myself though I had many thoughts of it and then one night, one of them got through to me. Not to try and preach advice or anything, but I'd hate for you to do the same thing as me. Isn't there anyway you could come off the drugs?
A: Your ex-girlfriend is a fucking psycho if she's going to put you through that shit. Her current boyfriend is probably in for just about as bad down the road. Consider yourself lucky you didn't end up marrying her.
B: I was considering medication for depression. I still kind of am, but so far proper diet, daily exercise, and (most of all) a regular schedule of adequate sleep (8+ hours) is doing wonders for me. If you can get yourself to try it for a few days you should start seeing improvements quickly.
The diet is the Zone diet by Dr. Barry Sears, BTW. I'm not following it to the letter (or the number, because it involves a lot of calorie counting), but basically balance your protein and carbohydrate intake and stick to good fats (olive oil, nuts, fish, etc.).
B: I was considering medication for depression. I still kind of am, but so far proper diet, daily exercise, and (most of all) a regular schedule of adequate sleep (8+ hours) is doing wonders for me. If you can get yourself to try it for a few days you should start seeing improvements quickly.
The diet is the Zone diet by Dr. Barry Sears, BTW. I'm not following it to the letter (or the number, because it involves a lot of calorie counting), but basically balance your protein and carbohydrate intake and stick to good fats (olive oil, nuts, fish, etc.).
That is possibly the most ignorant thing I've ever heard regarding mental illnesses. Granted, some people claim depression when they just have a low mood but there are those who suffer from Depression from a mental chemical inbalance. There is no way for them to help it and hearing someone tell them that their problems are not as bad as other people's would seriously effect the depressed person in question. You think they don't know that some of their problems aren't that big a deal to others? Most of them probably do and that knowledge fuels depression making it a lot worse all by itself, and that is without the outside influence of someone telling them that. That I was taking up others time with silly problems was my greatest fear when my depression got really bad and those are the kind of thoughts that had a big part in my trying to commit suicide, it didn't help that one of my friends told me that exact same thing you just said in your post. Please, choose your words very carefully and research depression. It isn't just sadness and a lot of the time it effects people who may not even have that bad a life but effects them becuase of their brain chemistry.Johnnyallstar said:
Yeah... everyone who's said 'send to tape to her parents'? I'm 100% in agreement with.
Hope you feel better soon. I know that doesn't help much more than 'But the starving kids in Africa!' move that SOME pricks pull, but I lack knowledge and experience with depression, and have only well-wishes to give you.
Good luck though. And I don' mean that sarcastic-like.
After all, what would we do without or Jack and Calumon brightenin' up our days here?
Hope you feel better soon. I know that doesn't help much more than 'But the starving kids in Africa!' move that SOME pricks pull, but I lack knowledge and experience with depression, and have only well-wishes to give you.
Good luck though. And I don' mean that sarcastic-like.
After all, what would we do without or Jack and Calumon brightenin' up our days here?
Before I go into an sort of contribution of my own on this topic, I'd just like to thank you. You put into words what a person such as me might only have been capable of expressing through violence, unintelligible rambling, and fervent physical attacks focused on another person's facial region.Break said:
OT: It's been determined that I experience a "moderate" (seriously, what does that mean?) level of depression, and that's on my good days. I've been thinking about seeking counseling, and perhaps, if need be, pharmaceutical treatment. However, I've been wondering if I should even attract attention to it at all. I haven't been officially diagnosed with anything yet, and feel that there is still the possibility that I am experiencing either normal mood swings, or that I am experiencing not quite so deep-seated as depression. I've looked into what I believe to be called the Beck Depression Inventory exam, and, though not a tool used for diagnosis, it has it's merits. I plan on determining an average for roughly 4 months, and have currently completed 3 months of my data collection. So far, things are not looking good. I go from "moderate" depression on days that I actually fell are decent in comparison to the majority of my days, which can be classified as "severe", though not "extreme". I'm wondering, do you think there is any weight to my concerns about whether or not I have depression? Or should I wait it out and see if my condition improves, perhaps determining that this is not a medical issue?
EDIT: Oh, and send the tape to her parents. Clearly she wants people to see it, so you might as well just accommodate her. But seriously, if people weren't so damned sadistic in their interactions with each other, I probably wouldn't even have an issue with whatever the hell it is that's wrong with me in the first place.
THat sucks about your gf and that was a horrible thing of her to do, i think i would be more raging angry than depressed but i hope you see your way through it and keep your cool. SHe is certainly not worth getting depressed over if she is going to do something that fd up to anyone.
my experience with prozac just felt like my brain was in syrup everything seemed to flow so slow in my head, Made me feel like was stoned without the pleasant buzz effect and even fubard my actual brain more than toking.
I stopped taking the junk soon after the effects kicked in, and got it out of my system asap. tossed the bottle away. got a book on meditation and yoga and crap like that started doing meditation and chakara meditations and stuff, which helped me more than the drugs or any of the therapy and crap i tried. and was a hell of a lot cheaper to boot.
my experience with prozac just felt like my brain was in syrup everything seemed to flow so slow in my head, Made me feel like was stoned without the pleasant buzz effect and even fubard my actual brain more than toking.
I stopped taking the junk soon after the effects kicked in, and got it out of my system asap. tossed the bottle away. got a book on meditation and yoga and crap like that started doing meditation and chakara meditations and stuff, which helped me more than the drugs or any of the therapy and crap i tried. and was a hell of a lot cheaper to boot.