Not for everyone i agree but for me a change for the better.

[secrets22]

Apart from heart medication which is essential that I must take,I took myself off all antidepressants, melatonin etc etc several months ago which i've been prescribed for many years.In my opinion they solve nothing in the long term,they can mess your head up and make us dependant on prescribed medication for a long time,and what are they doing to our insides.?

Maybe these medications help in the short term,but not for any length of time.!

Many GP's are eager to dish out medication to shut us up,but that is not the answer.

Of course we get times of distress,sadness and anxiety but medication does not give us what we need,and in my case my head is now much clearer than i can remember.

By removing the cloud of dependence on prescription medication i feel free.

[Hidden]

My view on medication for depression is that it's a plaster on a deep wound as it only treats the symptoms not the causes!

[secrets22 in reply to Hidden]

that is a wonderful description.x

[Shnookie]

With all due respect, medications work for me and have helped me function thru challenging times such as being the sole caregiver when my mother had stage 4pancreatic cancer.

[secrets22 in reply to Shnookie]

As i say we are all different and i was the sole carer for my husband for 7 long years and he had Vascular Dementia,plus i was running a business,and it was terrible,and i was on antidepressants at the time but not sure if they helped or not.?

[Arymretep in reply to Shnookie]

I agree Shnookie , they were a Godsend to me last year when I had a bit of a meltdown, at the time I would have tried anything, I’m down to the lowest dose now with no problems and hopefully will be off them soon, But I would never say never, we don’t know what’s around the corner, some try things like alchohol which are equally bad for us if not worse, some try therapy which they don’t find helpful either, it’s all trial and error , never say never 👍

[Shnookie in reply to Arymretep]

Totally agree with you

[Nad1971 in reply to Shnookie]

This is my first time posting on this site, so hopefully I’ll not make too many mistakes. I think it’s hard to know whether meds are the right thing for us, or alternative therapies. Only trial and error can show this although it can be very hard. I have been on antidepressants since 2000, following a nervous breakdown a few years earlier ( sorry, I know this phrase is no longer really used by professionals, but that’s how I would describe my feelings- like I was crumbling, disintegrating, falling down). I have tried so hard to help myself over the years with psychotherapy, acupuncture and even tried rTMS recently in the hope that I could wean myself off medication and feel healthier. Unfortunately, I could not and still use them (Originally Paroxetine and now Fluoxetine and Quetiapine and Melatonin for sleep). I am trying to supplement them with CBT now and yoga therapy. I have also applied to my psychiatrist to change them as I have been under a lot of stress in the last six months and felt like I was ‘braking down’ again. It is so very hard, but we have to do what we can. Any advice/support would be most welcome.

[Shnookie in reply to Nad1971]

I believe it can be positive to use a combination of things to balance one’s mental health. An example of this would be meds combined with CBT, journaling, exercise, hobbies U like, positive visualization, listening to music U like among other things

[Nad1971 in reply to Shnookie]

Thank you

[Shnookie in reply to Nad1971]

You R very welcome 🙏

[Starrlight]

I think of that what they are doing long term to the body and mind and they are so hard to get off of yet I am in an ok place because I reached out and tried them.

[Arymretep in reply to Starrlight]

That’s the thing , glad they are helping you, they helped me too 👍

[Kainan]

I agree with the points you make, especially the GP’s willingness to prescribe meds; that’s their job and they don’t know what will work either, so it’s almost like throwing darts in the dark hoping one will land. But meds do help with the biochemical side of things even in the short run. I know it’s help me. It’s like giving you a little push to get things going. In the long run though, it’s still up to you to get yourself in order. Habits are what matters going forward.

[Arymretep]

I did that with HRT I refused to take it and got through the menopause fine, it’s up to us what we decide to do with our bodies, I lost my Aunt at 60 and several friends with breast cancer, all were taking HRT. So decided I would never ever take it.

[Arymretep]

It’s all about trusting your Dr I suppose , the same as with antidepressants 👍

[Arymretep]

I think all this is due to Covid M, Not the Doctors, they are cutting down on everything, bloods etc. P had his appointment with kidney specialist cancelled twice, he’s got his appointment on Friday 🤞

[Arymretep]

A good tip is not to read the side effects or you’d never take any meds, even paracetamol have health warnings 😳. I take lanzopronol too only as needed, but they can cause osteoporosis so best not to take them long term.

[Arymretep]

Yes, I’ve been waiting to go to ENT for three years ever since I had my hearing aids, I had a letter last week asking if I still wanted an appointment 😳 I said no thanks as I’ve gone privately since and had digital hearing aids as couldn’t cope with the NHS ones.

[Arymretep]

Oh dear M. We”ll come back as Cats next time, and be thoroughly spoilt like Pixiebob 😘

[Blue_81]

Hello Twinklystar How did you cure your UC?

[Hidden]

Last year I had to wait 6 weeks for a blood test!

[Hidden]

Baby has been a great comfort to us as well!

[Hidden]

Yes a break from the demanding meows!

[Hidden]

I remember being frightened of taking Anticoagulant medication after I had blood clots in my lungs and the nurse on the ward had reassured me I would be fine and I was.

[Arymretep]

Some medications are essential in keeping us alive even though we may not like taking them

[Jennar]

Hello Twinklystar

I have the same problem I started to put in in applesauce or ice puddings.