Anti-depressant medication?

[Beat14]

Hello, I am curious to if anyone on the forum has been on anti-depression meds, I have thought about going to a doctor to get some, I don't really know the precedure.

The reason I ask Is I want to know about your experience with them, was it worth it? Did you find you started to act like another person? (I'm not sure that's how I want to ask that question, but I can't think how to otherwise).

I guess my real fear of using them is that I might prefer who I am whilst on the medication and use it as a crutch, like painkillers in a way, they don't solve the problem just numb the feeling instead of cure.

Although I would prefer a more indepth version of "were they worth using", that is basically what my question boils down to. Thanks.

 

[Sandernista]

This is relevant to my interests.

I'd like to add another question: Did they help with depression related motivation issues?

 

[Sandernista]

Sorry I couldn't offer much.

 

[robert01]

Depending on the problem anti-depressants aren't a cure and will never cure the problem, just make it less noticeable.

Depressions isn't a 'curable' condition. It is a state of mind, either short term of long term. Anti-depressants help shorten the length of time that you are depressed, or if it is a condition like bipolar, help stabilize the person.

Do they make you a whole different person? No, you will still like, dislike, love, and hate the exact same things as before. Your views won't change. Will you 'feel' less and become numb, not really. Your overall feelings may change from "Hey I wanna not be alive" to "Hey maybe dying isn't on my agenda right now". They are designed to make the depressions less severe, and to help you get through it. Consider them a light in the darkness so to speak.

Did they help with depression related motivation issues?

For me no, I have a small list of problems, and my motivational issues lie in other problems. Like anxiety.

 

[Beat14]

Sorry I couldn't offer much.

Don't worry about about it

-snip-

Thank you for your input, good to know I won't be emotionally dead or anything like that. My view on anti-depressants* was that they would alter your mind and thought process a bit more, happy to hear they won't be that mind altering.

*anti-depressant medication would have made a better title by miles, oops.

 

[Sandernista]

Depending on the problem anti-depressants aren't a cure and will never cure the problem, just make it less noticeable.

Depressions isn't a 'curable' condition. It is a state of mind, either short term of long term. Anti-depressants help shorten the length of time that you are depressed, or if it is a condition like bipolar, help stabilize the person.

Do they make you a whole different person? No, you will still like, dislike, love, and hate the exact same things as before. Your views won't change. Will you 'feel' less and become numb, not really. Your overall feelings may change from "Hey I wanna not be alive" to "Hey maybe dying isn't on my agenda right now". They are designed to make the depressions less severe, and to help you get through it. Consider them a light in the darkness so to speak.

Did they help with depression related motivation issues?

For me no, I have a small list of problems, and my motivational issues lie in other problems. Like anxiety.

Thanks.

I'm considering talking to my doctor about them.

 

[Svenparty]

In some cases though they can aggrivate the thought process, my friend had some and she swore on the bottle it said : MAY CAUSE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. There is also side effects. I need an anti depressant myself but worry about a lot of these risks.

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

When you first go on them, you'll be started off on something low-dose such as Lexam. your moods will change depending on how severe your depression is, the dose levels etc. I started off on Lexam 10mg then to 20mg before I started getting better. Just all depends on the person.

YOUR BEST COURSE OF ACTION: Take to your Doctor/GP about it, as they will make the recommendation if you need them or not. They will never put you on med/heavy doses unless its severe, so you'll start off on small if they recommend it for 'x' weeks to see how you go. If they do, Keep a diary and record your moods each day as it can help future treatments weather its dosage or Psychology.

ALSO: Some can cause you to get worse, It's not rare but it's possible sometimes certain doses/types can cause worse effects. On that note, ALL medication have a side effect, from mood swings, to (unfortunately for me at the time) total destruction of your sexual libido.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

Hello, I am curious to if anyone on the forum has been on anti-depression meds, I have thought about going to a doctor to get some, I don't really know the precedure.

In the US all I needed to do was go see my normal doctor. As long as I'm not trying to kill myself or someone else he can prescribe them.

The reason I ask Is I want to know about your experience with them, was it worth it? Did you find you started to act like another person?.

It changed me, but in a good way. I used to be angry for no reason. It could be a perfectly good day and then I'd get depressed and pissy. All it did was make a good day a good day instead of a good day a crappy day. It doesn't make you happy, it just stops making you sad for no reason. Something to do with correcting a chemical imbalance in your brain. Serotonin is in simplest of terms is your brains "happy". Well if your brain destroys too much of it you can get depressed. Most anti-depressants slow down this rate of destruction, to give your brain a chance to use serotonin.

I guess my real fear of using them is that I might prefer who I am whilst on the medication and use it as a crutch, like painkillers in a way, they don't solve the problem just numb the feeling instead of cure.

My exact point, I stayed away from them for years because I didn't want to be in lala land while my life crumbles around me. If I messed up I wanted to know it and fix it. Let me tell you anti-depressants do not, I repeat DO NOT make you no longer give a shit or even stop you from feeling sad if something catastrophic happens. It just keeps you from getting sad for no reason. There are other, stronger medications, such as Xanax. That puts you in a stupor, but you can tell your doctor you don't want those and you'll be fine.

I regret not getting them in school. I think my socially life would of been much more... social. I would never force someone to take medication, but take it from someone who thought of the exact same reasons you are now. You are wrong.

 

[Beat14]

-snip-

Wouldn't have expected a side effect of: May cause suicidal thoughts, irony or what. After reading some of the things said I think I will go to my GP/Doctor and see what he/she says about me getting some, as I think it is worth trying. I am speaking for myself of course, however maybe you should try get some advice from a doctor/gp. Thanks for the reply.

-snip-

Sounds worth a shot for me, as starting on a low dose reassures me on my ability to judge the changes. I do intend to seek out my GP, and thanks for suggesting keeping a log of my moods, I wouldn't have thought to do so (whilst on the drug).

Unlucky on he loss of libido, it would happen at a bad time wouldn't it. Grim.
Thanks!

-snip-

Thanks, it's great to hear about your insight of how the drug changed and helped you. As although I obviously have reasons for my depression, the onset of a depressed mood can appear to come out of no where at random! Thanks.

[On a side note, I'm not to be fussed to only be seeking treatment now, undoubtly I would have been benifitted socially and otherwise if I got them earlier. However the depression does give me some drive at times (might sound odd) but when I reflect on myself I know I want to change, and so I try. Can't say it's all a pretty picture of self-motivation, but it has certainly changed me the last few years]

 

[Digitaldreamer7]

Depending on the problem anti-depressants aren't a cure and will never cure the problem, just make it less noticeable.

Depressions isn't a 'curable' condition. It is a state of mind, either short term of long term. Anti-depressants help shorten the length of time that you are depressed, or if it is a condition like bipolar, help stabilize the person.

Do they make you a whole different person? No, you will still like, dislike, love, and hate the exact same things as before. Your views won't change. Will you 'feel' less and become numb, not really. Your overall feelings may change from "Hey I wanna not be alive" to "Hey maybe dying isn't on my agenda right now". They are designed to make the depressions less severe, and to help you get through it. Consider them a light in the darkness so to speak.

Did they help with depression related motivation issues?

For me no, I have a small list of problems, and my motivational issues lie in other problems. Like anxiety.

To expand on this, depression meds actually treat a chemical imbalance. They wont help you if it's psychological. I highly recommend therapy before you jump to meds. Meds are something good to be used in conjunction to therapy and, if they find that you have said chemical imbalance it will help long term, but, if you don't have the imbalance the side effects of said medication can make your depression worse even cause you to have suicidal ideologies. See a therapist for a few weeks and talk about what's going on, be honest and open to help and let them decide if you need meds, not your physician. Best of luck to you.

 

[Beat14]

-snip-

Thanks, I appreciate that regardless if it was relevant to me.

 

[Phoenix Arrow]

Depressions isn't a 'curable' condition. It is a state of mind, either short term of long term. Anti-depressants help shorten the length of time that you are depressed, or if it is a condition like bipolar, help stabilize the person.

Interesting. I strongly disagree.

First of all, I don't think you worded that properly. If depression wasn't a curable condition, wouldn't everyone who's ever been depressed still be depressed. But I know what you meant, but depression is a condition like any other and can be cured.

BUT. It can't be cured like the flu or like a broken arm. Depression only goes away if you really put in the man hours. Anti-depressants can stabilise you mood and get you through work, but at the end of that day you still have those problems and you can't just avoid them. Trust me, I know. I've been to the very bottom of this particular ocean and I got out of it.

You have to look at your life as a whole. Look at your friends, your family, your work/school. Find exactly what's making you unhappy and fix it. If it's something you can work on then do that. If it's something else you've been dumped or something then try and build up the other aspects of your life. Spend more time with your friends and family, take up a hobby or something like that. Take control of whatever you can take control of. It can seem daunting at first, but you only to make little steps. All progress is progress after all.

If you need any advice about overcoming a particular problem, feel free to drop me a message. I'm happy to help.

 

[Vegosiux]

Disclaimer: The following is my personal experience, and in no way universal and/or a fact.

I have been on antidepressant meds in the past.

They pulled me out of a deep depressive ditch I saw no way out of myself and most likely helped me overcome a debilitating state of mind that kept me from functioning. They also destroyed my libido and endangered the relationship I was in then - no matter what people say, sex is important in a relationship. So it's a trade-off.

In the end...depression is serious, and scary. And if psychology doesn't help, meds are the only way out of it. Note; I am talking about clinical depression - a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes chaos. Feeling bad because you (you, as in, the reader) got dumped or fired, is not depression.

Still. Before going to antidepressant meds, you need to consult both your doctor and psychiatrist, get familiar with the meds' effects and side effects, and decide whether or not it's worth it. As I said. A side effect of most anti-depressants is decreased libido, so you should also talk it over with your spouse, if any. It's not a decision to be made lightly.

And in the end - the meds are not a cure, they're a crutch. It helps at first, but eventually, you need to learn to walk without it.

 

[Beat14]

-snip-

Thanks. I have been quite aware that the problems won't go away with medication and have done much self reflection, I'm very much an introvert anyway. But it is always good to be reminded progress is progress Just curious, how long did it take you rise from the depths of this ocean. I'm not going to sit here and use your answer as a goal or anything like that.

-snip-

Thanks to you too. I do intend to seek advice before jumping to medication, I'm the sort of person who puts off using drugs when ill unless I really can't bear it.

Depression sure does seem scary to me, my friend asked me how I was and I stupidly said I have a lot on my mind right now. It may be better to talk about it, but trying to think of a way of expressing my self without shocking a good friend is daunting to say the least.

 

[Beat14]

-snip-

Thank you. I have to admit I am curious about how long it took you to get out of the depths of this ocean? Don't worry I don't intend to use your answer as a goal of some sort.

-snip-

Thanks to you too. I agree on depression being scary, and on more than one level. When a good friend asked how I was I mentioned I had a lot on my mind, and said friend wants to know what, which I understand. However the thought of trying to express myself without shocking or troubling my friend is daunting, I will find out just what he thinks of my mind frame soon enough, but it's not something I look foward to many ways. As for my family I intend to hide the situation.

(the escapist ate my first post, so this is a rehashed version :/ hope it's just as good)

Oh woops, would appear my post got regurgitated back up. Sorry, I've kept both for the slight differences.

 

[Phoenix Arrow]

-snip-

Thank you. I have to admit I am curious about how long it took you to get out of the depths of this ocean? Don't worry I don't intend to use your answer as a goal of some sort.

You know it's funny. I was so upset and don't remember exactly what happened that turned it around. I can tell you the full story though because I'm feeling chatty.
What happened was my boyfriend, who remains to this day the only person I've ever loved, left me. But we had been together so long and we were such good friends before that we remained best friends after. I should explain at this time that we didn't break up because the lover went or we lost "the spark", but due to a number of complications that made it so we both needed to step back and think about things. But I didn't want to, so I went into denial about the whole affair. I was convinced we'd get back together before a point in time which kept going backwards. I didn't achknowledge I was upset until he told me he was seeing someone else when I went into complete meltdown. I tried to get attention and sympathy from everyone to the extent where I probably hurt people who cared about me just to make myself feel better.
In the end, my mum found out and she made me go to the doctors. Just by going there, she made me feel like I wasn't alone, that scores of people were going through similar things to me and that there was hope. I spent more time at college and made some friends, I started walking everywhere. It still killed me to think of my ex, but I had other things to focus on. They broke up eventually which was helpful. I guess it took me 2 months to really feel like life would go on.

Fast forward to a few years later and after what I guess was a casual relationship with him again, he's started seeing someone else and as of the other day, I'm right back there again. Except this time I'm not at college and I don't have a circle of people to fall back on. I also don't know the person they're dating which I did before. I don't know how they are with each other, if they're serious or anything really. All I know for sure is I'm bloody terrifyed that I'm going to end up alone at the end of this.

 

[Frezz]

It changed me, but in a good way. I used to be angry for no reason. It could be a perfectly good day and then I'd get depressed and pissy. All it did was make a good day a good day instead of a good day a crappy day. It doesn't make you happy, it just stops making you sad for no reason. Something to do with correcting a chemical imbalance in your brain.

This is pretty much my experience with antidepressants. They didn't keep me from feeling sad, or detach me from the surroundings. I personally didn't notice much at all until I realized that I'd somehow gone for months without having a complete teary breakdown. It didn't stop my emotions, it just kept me from spiraling so hard I couldn't see straight. The medication let me stop and look at my surroundings without them automatically running together into some monstrous amalgamation of my failures and insecurities.

But, regardless of what comes up in this thread, this is something that has to be dealt with differently by every person, so definitely follow through on any plans you have to talk to a psychiatrist, and not just a physician. An in-person, professional opinion on various methods of treatment (chemical or not) sounds like what you could use right now.

This is relevant to my interests.

I'd like to add another question: Did they help with depression related motivation issues?

This one's a little tougher. While antidepressants did pull me out of my particularly irrational (and unproductive) funks, they didn't do much beyond that. Being just so damn sad I couldn't do squat was one thing, but once I got things under control, I still had motivation issues, with both school and personal projects. I ended up on secondary medication to improve focus, but that did very little. I could focus just fine, just not on what was necessary.

Motivation is a very nuanced issue, and it's difficult to tackle. I never really got a handle on it in high school, but things got much better at college. I figured out that it wasn't necessarily the being AT COLLEGE part that suddenly "fixed" things, it was that I was suddenly surrounded on a near-constant basis by people with similar goals doing similar work. Just being around other people working made me want to work. It's a tough thing to balance, given that getting together with a bunch of friends can easily end up being a distraction rather than an aid, but once I found the right friends, I really settled into a groove, and eventually got to where I could channel that even when I was on my own. There are a lot of tips out there for self-motivation, but that's what ended up working for me.

 

[BiggDoggJake]

You'll need to talk to a doctor because your depression is either one of two things:

Mental
Or..
Physical/Chemical

If it is physical/chemical is more than likely has to do with an imbalance of hormones or your brain not firing correctly on some fronts. I'm not doctor, but I've been on anti-depressants all of my life and that's pretty much what I've gathered.

If it turns out to be mental, it could be stress in your life causing it. Anti-depressants help your body deal with the chemical imbalances that give you that "meh" feeling. However, these drugs would only help slightly if the depression is "All in your head."

I digress.

The one drug I found that worked absolute wonders for me was one by the name of Gabepentin/Neurontin. It's pretty powerful in the doses I was taking it (1200mg in the morning) and it always gave me such a great feeling of well-being and slight hyper-activity. It definitely beats feeling like garbage all the time and chilling in front of a comput-..Wait, I still do that one!

Talk to your doctor and see a therapist. Talk it out with the therapist for a few weeks and if he thinks this is a chemical thing, a drug regiment sounds beneficial. However, if its more a mental thing, there are lesser drugs that could certainly help you.

A word of warning: If you're ever suggested to get on Gabepentin, watch out for it. When you stop it, it's like coming down off of 2 weeks without cigarettes.

 

[WolfThomas]

Speaking as a final year medical student, go see a doctor. They will be able to answer your questions and managed necessary referrals.

In some cases though they can aggrivate the thought process, my friend had some and she swore on the bottle it said : MAY CAUSE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. There is also side effects. I need an anti depressant myself but worry about a lot of these risks.

That's usually only in the first couple of weeks. They take awhile before your levels of serotonin (and/or noradrenaline and dopamine) correct. Often in severely depressed people they may not want to live, but can't really be motivated to do anything (sometimes they have what's called psychomotor retardation, where they're so depressed everything they do is slowed down). When these levels are a bit erratic as the body reacts to the drugs, motivation and energy might be restored before the feelings of hopelessness resolves, so someone might be far more impulsive as to ending their life. It's something every patient is warned about and often anti-depressants are used alongside Cognitive Based Therapy (therapy revolving around thought challenging and behaviour change).

If it turns out to be mental, it could be stress in your life causing it. Anti-depressants help your body deal with the chemical imbalances that give you that "meh" feeling. However, these drugs would only help slightly if the depression is "All in your head."

The concepts of something being "all in your head" has always amused me, because that's basically what Psychiatry is the study of, the human mind, not the brain (that's a Neurologists domain). As soon as an organic cause can rightly be discovered it gets turfed to another field of medicine. Parkinson's disease used to be treated by Psychiatrist at one time.

So in essence all depressed mood be from chemical causes (major depression, bipolar affective) or social circumstances (adjustment disorder, abnormal grief reaction, etc), is still "all in your head". It's just ones amenable to pharmacological intervention.

Funnily enough ECT is the best form of treatment for depression, just it's a pretty major procedure and has unfortunately been stigmatized in popular culture.

There are other, stronger medications, such as Xanax. That puts you in a stupor, but you can tell your doctor you don't want those and you'll be fine.

And those strictly aren't anti-depressants, rather sedatives. Useful once or twice term for getting some relaxation or sleep, but really never should be used long term.