Meds and Depression and various rantings

[RCCOLA]

I'm still new here and after sifting through posts, particularly those about depression & anxiety and coming off or going on medication, I feel tired albeit still positive. I've gone through so many different medications and gone off them and there is so much to know. Some, like Prozac, for instance, are not very addicting and you can come off it fairly easily. That being said, the consequence is that you will go back to feeling how you did before taking the medication. Other meds, however, are very difficult. Take Imipramine, for instance, if you're taking, say 150 mg, and you suddenly stop taking it(forget a dose, can't afford it, stop cold turkey, etc) you can get physically very ill and experience motion sickness and severe headaches, just missing one dose.

The above are just some of what I've experienced and everything in between. At one point about 15 years ago, I couldn't afford mediation and it was a terrible experience. I had so much anxiety and depression that my bones ached, literally, I felt like I was freezing, even if it was 85 degrees, with an overwhelming sense of complete dread. This wasn't the worst aspect of it, however. Feeling like this, I had a family to take care of with small children and pretty much no help. I forced my way through and took very good care of my family, somehow. When I look back, I have no idea how I found the strength to do so many uncomfortable things while feeling so terrible. Looking back I'm proud of how I managed everything but still shocked how I was able to get through those times. Even though I had people around me who, in the normal course of life, should have given me more support, any support, but didn't, I was able to make it through. I think my family would have offered help if they understood what depression & anxiety can do to people. But people reading this know that, it's just about impossible to get people to understand what it's like to be in deep depression and in alot of pain. So much pain and torment that I wish I could just share once, for 1 minute, so that someone else might know what it's like. That's why I never talk about this subject with others who don't know major depression and anxiety and why I came to this forum.

On a related note, some people might want to check out the Withdrawal Project: withdrawal.theinnercompass....

I'm so glad we have an advocate like this, even if not considering coming off some medication.

That's all for now, done with rant. Thanks,

[Hidden]

Are you on meds or quit them completely RCCOKA?

I really want to see how I feel off the meds.

I take lexapro 10mg been on them for over 10 years I wonder if they are still working, some days I doubt it.

[RCCOLA in reply to Hidden]

I'm on them, I have to be, unfortunately. However, not everyone does. Go to withdrawal.theinnercompass.... Unfortunately, sometimes when people are having a bad time, Drs will prescribe depression and anxiety meds. I think it's a big mistake unless that person has serious depression or anxiety. Few people will tell you this.

[Tryingtofixmylife]

I have dealt with anxiety and depression on my own mostly without true success over the past 20+ years. The only medication I ever tried was Valium and although it made me less anxious it made me more depressed. I have seen a lot of prescription drug abuse and side effects in my life and have been opposed to trying any. I am currently trying to find a natural regiment that will help me to cope with my issues. I guess I am not the only one that gets the strange chills when my anxiety feels out of control. Whats weird with mine is that I will suddenly start to feel cold for a couple days in a row when I am going through a high level of stress and then I eventually get physically ill with flu like symptoms for a couple days afterwards. I think what we are going through is our bodies trying in some way to deal with the stress which can weaken your immune system and in effect for whatever reason it makes us cold. I live in Florida and it has been in the 90s daily and its almost 80 in my house but all day indoors I am either covered up in a blanket or wear a heavy jacket otherwise I get cold enough to get goosebumps and shiver.

[RCCOLA in reply to Tryingtofixmylife]

I understand what your saying and I applaud your being very careful. As I stated before, unless you have serious depression or anxiety, you shouldn't take meds for it. Many times it's temporary but when you take meds, it becomes permanent because it's too hard to come off the meds. That being said, it sounds like you may benefit overall by medication. I know there are negatives like side effects. However, for me, the positives outweigh the negatives. I'm not sure how you would do it but you deserve to feel better.

[Daninicole22 in reply to Tryingtofixmylife]

I can completely relate to this. Only thing besides lexapro that I tried for 3 days And decided it was NOT FOR ME AT ALL, I’ve tried Clonazepam and Ativan when seen at an emergency room for my anxiety. I have always been able to deal with it on my own all this time up until the past 6 months ! Everything spiraled for me and it’s like I can’t even deal with anything now.

[RCCOLA in reply to Daninicole22]

I wish you could find something or someone to help you with anxiety. I'm sure you tried but you may want to try another Dr, perhaps one that has more insight into meds and anxiety. There may be something out there that would work really well. Some meds re so much different than others with completely different side effects. All meds have side effects but perhaps some might be tolerable. Regardless, at least know that there are people like me out there that genuinely really want to be there for you and that are thinking about you, no matter what, with no strings attached.