Depression

Famm_sl said:

I'll tell you what it brings. Take this prescription, takedruuuuggggssss, its a great idea, I promise. Come back to talk to me again next month for more expensive meaningless self improvement advice from someone who barely knows you. But make sure to start taking the drugs by then or I'll shame you for not trying hard enough.

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Damn Tarrant, if only you could have seen this coming!

Cardio. Strengthen your body and your mind will follow. Go hiking, something. Buy some snowshoes and/or XC skis for this winter, I bet you have some killer places for that up there. Do things. Push your heart and lungs and muscles.

Angelwatch_sl said:

Except that there is no physical dependency (or tolerance) which is a primary component of addiction.

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Angelwatch_sl said:

It's an interesting article but I don't think it goes into enough depth. Their premise is that when you stop taking antidepressants you can suffer really nasty side effects. This is true but it's also easy to avoid. The trick is to not go off of them cold turkey.

I was on Zoloft for about 8 months. I was finally starting to feel better and decided that I didn't need to take it any longer. So I went off of the Zoloft cold turkey. Big mistake. I would have really bad headaches, dry mouth and something that is, affectionately, referred to as "brain zaps." When I went on Effexor, I was on it for about a year. When I was ready to come off of it, I lowered my dosage by a certain amount for several days and then lowered it a bit more. I finally got down to a 25mg dosage (or something very small), for a couple of days and then stopped taking even that low dosage. No side effects or problems.

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Oh of course. There's no physical dependency. Just don't dare stop taking it without weaning yourself off or you will have very unpleasantphysical side effectsincluding zapping in your brain.

Haha, they even used to call it "withdrawl" before moving to something more reassuringly benevolent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI_discontinuation_syndrome_sl said:

As described in the History section above, SSRI withdrawal syndrome began to be called SSRI discontinuation syndrome following a symposium in 1996; since then, the terms have been used interchangeably. SSRIs are not addictive in the conventional medical use of the word (i.e. animals given free access to the drug do not actively seek it out and do not seek to increase the dose), but discontinuing their use can produce both somatic and psychological symptoms.[16]


Critics argue that the pharmaceutical industry has a vested interest in creating a distinction between addiction to recreational or illegal drugs and dependence on antidepressants. Arguments against the use of the term "withdrawal" are primarily predicated on not frightening patients or alienating potential customers who may or may not need the medication.[17] According to the consensus definition by the American Academy of Pain Medicine, withdrawal is a symptom of "Physical Dependence," not of "Addiction" and as such the word "withdrawal" is appropriate to the symptoms caused by ceasing an SSRI.

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Can you tell me what exactly is imbalanced in your brain? Did they somehow test which neurotransmitters were too abundant or lacking, and in what amounts? And in exactly what part of the brain? And if so can you describe how they knew what medication and dosage was going to pinpoint that specific imbalance you have and not cause any other more general effects?

He obviously doesn't understand what addiction is and what causes it.

Famm_sl said:

Oh of course. There's no physical dependency. Just don't dare stop taking it without weaning yourself off or you will have very unpleasantphysical side effectsincluding zapping in your brain.

Haha, they even used to call it "withdrawl" before moving to something more reassuringly benevolent.



Can you tell me what exactly is imbalanced in your brain? Did they somehow test which neurotransmitters were too abundant or lacking, and in what amounts? And in exactly what part of the brain? And if so can you describe how they knew what medication and dosage was going to pinpoint that specific imbalance you have and not cause any other more general effects?

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$$$, most people can't afford tests. Cheaper to just crapshoot it and get lucky. They've made a good diagnostic manual called the DSM and they treat off that. That is their google. Just like google, not everything will fit the cookie cutter forms theyve laid out. Some diagnostics are simply a question and answer and if you fit 6 of the 9 issues you're fit for a diagnosis on the spot. Nuts, isn't it? Any rational informed person should be skeptical. I was and have been of the medical industry my entire life. I only listen to results, and I will continue to do what gets me those results.

From my light, marginal, principally disinterested skimmings, this sounds more like bereavement/anticipatory grief than a major depressive disorder.

Tarrant_sl said:

I already work out and am active with hiking.

In terms of snow shoeing, it gets to cold here to enjoy anything outside in the dead of winter that doesn't revolved around ice fishing in a heated ice house. I've no interest in being outside in -40 wind chills.

Talking to someone DOES help in a way, it gets a lot of pent up stuff out in the air and that helps, just the overall depression is still going. Slowly coming to terms with my dads fight of his illness and my not being able to be there to help him through it is slowly coming around and I find that is helping a bit. There are some new developments elsewhere though that I'm having issues handling and those are bogging me down.

I guess if not for the new things I would be better, I'm still firm in my belief that I just gotta weather what is going on right now and in the long term things will clear up. I've never had issues with this until June/July of this year in my life, I'm not convinced that I'm suddenly chemically imbalanced for the rest of my life.

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I'ma keep saying go to support groups until I'm blue in the face. Imagine sitting in a room with people like you dealing with the same shit where you can talk about it. Most IRL friends will be like, man dont bring me down with this shit! Theres also going to be a bunch of people not like you, with different insights and perspectives that will help. Many different frames of minds dealing with the same issues. You will learn a lot if nothing else.

If you've seen seinfeld, when George opens up to Jerry, and it scares Jerry back to normal. The group is also good for putting some perspective on your problems.

Binkles_sl said:

From my light, marginal, principally disinterested skimmings, this sounds more like bereavement/anticipatory grief than a major depressive disorder.

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I agree. Being upset about your father sounds normal and I don't understand why depression is on the table.

The only reason I bring it up is that there are therapists that specialize in bereavement that may,or may not, be more appropriate or helpful than a generic therapist. If you can meaningfully engage in therapy, it's all about finding someone that you can establish a therapeutic relationship. Unfortunately, this can be a rather trial and error process.

Yes, I linked a pop psych magazine. No, I don't think it's a definitive resource on anything.

I finished my Marine Corps contract about a year ago. Since then, I have been battling some powerful depression. Mind you, I have NEVER been depressed, ever, in my life, until I was out of the Corps. I got my prop 215 card right after, and have been smoking since. Well, right now I have to be clean/sober for an upcoming piss test for my EMT course, and the depression is back in full force.

I noticed if I ever here Amazing Grace, or Taps...I lose control and break down in tears. If there is a funeral on TV, I'll break down. Hell, I was watching Lethal Weapon 3 (the scene where they are at the kids funeral that Riggs killed), I lost it then too. I don't feel alarmed, because i never would, but I do have frequent thoughts on suicide. God damn I cannot wait til I do this piss test so I can smoke myself retarded and not worry about this bullshit. As far as coping, I dont know really. I train Dutch Kickboxing almost every day.

When I'm training, I'm in heaven. But once I'm back home, thoughts sometimes surface. I refuse to get on any sort of prescription drugs. Just need that herb in my system.

Did you see combat? Could you have PTSD?

You know how in lifting they say if it hurts, dont do that. Same applies here. If being alone at home hurts, minimize it. Being moved by art is completely natural though.

Famm_sl said:

Did you see combat? Could you have PTSD?

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It's not combat oriented or PTSD, per say. I just remember too many funerals, buddies who have fallen, seeing the friends and family breakdown, such a sacrifice for absolutely nothing. Ignorance must be bliss.

Thank god football is back on.

Trollface_sl said:

I am not a doctor but famm could be right.

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Sounds like this thread in a nut shell.

Tuco_sl said:

I also recommend cooking if you're depressed.

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Ann Arbor Brewing Company works for me. Misc food and beeeeerz.

But seriously, no seriously I feel great when I leave there. Lots of nice titz abound too, yo. If only it were more often...

Izo_sl said:

Sounds like this thread in a nut shell.

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Cardio!

Famm_sl said:

Cardio!

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I hear neurological degradation and lacking coping skills can be cured by standing on one leg while making chicken sounds. Go go gadget, Nobel Prize in Medicine!