Has taking antidepressants really helped you or made you worse off. Doesn't seem normal to me. Read add on
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I have been on antidepressants for about 12 years now. Right now I take two different ones at the same time.
Before Antidepressants I was so severely depressed that I actually became sucidal and my mom honestly thought I was going to have to be committed temporarily. Before the meds I felt so alone and so miserable; so lost. I couldn't see my way out of this deep dark tunnel of pain that I was in. I had a lot to be depressed over but in all honesty it's a chemical imbalance that causes my depression. I finally called for help one day because I just couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't leave this world by way of suicide because of my two daughters.
Today, at 40 yrs old I am on two different meds for depression. I take Elavil at night - it helps me sleep and helps manage the depression as well as pain (I have Fibromyagia and Lupus - so there's always pain). I also take Lexapro in the morning - it also helps the depression as well as the pain.
Because my depression is a true chemical imbalance antidepressants work well for me. There were a few side affects when I started the meds, but I don't notice them at all now. I will most likely have to take them for the remainder of my life since there isn't any way to rewire my brian to adjust the chemical imbalance. I would much rather have to take these meds than to feel so horribly lost, and hurt as much as I was before.
And as far as antidepressants "hurting" people. My thoughts on this are that those individuals either 1)were so far gone in their depression already that they were going to harm themselves anyways and thus the meds are not to blame, or 2)they were put on the wrong meds for their type of depression to begin with.
Depends on what they're for. Think about this for an example - consider the drug ventolin (the asthma puffer). If you had the flu, you might feel a bit better, but still get sicker. If you had pneumonia, the improvement would be marginal, but the side effects would outweigh the benefits, and you may die from the stress on your body. If you were totally normal, you'd notice your breathing being oddly different, and that the side effects were horrendous. If you had asthma, your breathing would return to normal, you'd feel fantastic, it would probably have saved your life, and the benefit from them is so great you wouldn't even notice the side effects.
Same deal with antidepressants. If you've got the kind of condition that they work best with (i.e. a biological depression with particular characteristics), they'll be a lifesaver. If you've got a similar condition, you'll have some benefit, but also reckon they're not crash hot. If you have an unrelated condition, then no good.
Depression's tough because there are lots of different conditions out there that look like the kind of depression that antidepressants were designed for. Generally speaking doctors make a best possible guess as to what may make a difference. The best approach is to be informed about the risks and make a choice. Antidepressants have saved lives, and they have also cost lives. The difference is based on how informed people are, as the more they are aware the more they know what to expect, and when to consult their doctor about an intolerable side effect or when to tough it out because its side effect is expected and its known to subside after a few days.
Good luck, hope you get better.
they have helped me and my brother alot we both adults study have shown they can be bad in children i've exp withdrawal coming off them and they upset my stomach lexapro less then zoloft my brother says zoloft not upset his stomach . What i am trying to say if u are really depressed specailly for long time without reasonable cause then take them. If somone close to u dies u fel dad thats normal u don't ned pills if years later u can't move on or if the dpression is so bad u cant function then they are useful cause they do help
what i've ben told they do is raise ur seratonin levels they also control wild mood swings hope this helps feel better
Read pages 1, and 2, on depression treatments, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris... and find a new doctor.
I have been taking Lexapro for several years now. I had mild depression since my late teens. When I started having serious panic attacks my doctor gave me the Lexapro. I have never felt better in my life! All drugs react to different people in different ways and you might have to try several to find the one that helps you most.
Its up to you where you go with this but if you give them a try you might possibly find a new and better life. I know I did and I had the same feelings about antidepressants as you do but the time did come when my condition escalated to a place I no longer could function without this help.
Hope this helps.
I have been off and on antidepressants for over 15 years. It is often difficult to get the right fit as there are many to choose from. It's important to let your doctor know of any symptoms or side effects you are having. This helps them to narrow down the choices and yes, if you get on the right one it can be literally life saving.
I started taking anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers when I was 13. I hate them. When the professionals say watch out for suicidal tendencies, they mean it! 6 months after starting them I attempted suicide 2 times. I feel better since I quit, but I have repercussions of the meds such as memory loss. I know I still suffer from bipolar disorder, but by cognitive therapy I know i have it under controll. Good Luck.
I have tried so many of them to find the one that works best for me. Some of them did nothing and one did make me worse. So it is finding the one that is right for you that will make a difference. Yes, there are side effects, so again, find the one that works best for you. It might take some trial and error. It is worth it if you need it. Go to a psychiatrist not just your regular doctor. They are much better at helping you will this. That is what they are for.
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn Ph.D. has an excellent book out for Depression and Anxiety which is called: "The Mindful Way through Depression". The Book also comes with a 50 min. CD. It teaches all the techniques and skills needed to alleviate depression and anxiety in order to have a calm peaceful mind and to be happy. Anyone suffering from mild - moderate - to severe depression and/or anxiety would greatly benefit from this excellent Book/CD by
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD.
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