Feeling down...as usual.
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 35,155
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
24 Aug 2012, 11:47 am
I am not going to risk experiencing what I experienced on prozac by trying every SSRI before I decide SSRI's aren't for me. They all have the same basic function, to increase seretonin in the brain and based on what happened with the prozac I am thinking maybe pumping more serotonin into my brain doesn't actually fix anything or make me feel better. I am sure there are some differences between various SSRI's but I am not willing to take those drugs.
Also CNS depressants do not reduce serotonin....so its not as though anti-depressants and CNS depressants are opposite drugs.
Here is some information regarding benzos and depression:
http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/ ... mono71-5-7
http://web4health.info/en/answers/bio-b ... ffects.htm
Alright I shall look at that, though I think it should be kept in mind not everyone experiences the same side effects from benzos, just as not everyone would experiance the same effects from prozac considering it helps some people and made me feel worse.
Medical marijuana is currently not approved as a treatment for depression (outside of terminal illness), and there is no evidence that it treats anxiety. The dose must be accurate for it to work as an antidepressant, so smoking it is not really an option. A low dose is good, a high dose makes depression worse and may trigger psychosis in susceptible individuals. It works in a similar way to SSRIs when given at the right dosage.
And a caution about marijuana as a treatment:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,304996,00.html
http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view ... nID=000226
http://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/ ... treatment/
http://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/ ... c-attacks/
I unsure that it hasn't been approved for depression but I would have to look into it more and if it hasn't I guess I'd go with not being able to eat much which you can get it for and is another issue I have or maybe PTSD but I am not sure that mmj is approved for that either yet I know there is evidence it can help with PTSD though probably by calming the symptoms. I'd have to disagree there is no evidence it can treat anxiety as I have read of such evidence and have seen it in documentaries. Also if it does get approved for depression in my state then yes smoking it would be an option. Also its not as though I am new to marijuana use, so far its the only drug I know of that actually helps my symptoms the main problem with it is if there isn't any available or if I am somewhere it would be inappropriate to break it out and smoke it. I can look at those links but I already know it is said that cannabis can increase depression and contribute to psychosis in 'some' individuals thus far it would seem I am not one of those individuals.
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Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 35,155
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
24 Aug 2012, 11:52 am
Anyways I really don't want this to turn into a marijuana debate...I have found it effective for reducing my symptoms, and I know that it is only 'temporary' relief and not a cure I'm not going to try and convince everyone but that is my personal experiance with it. If i have to go without it for a period I'd probably be willing to take a break from it if I can get help from people willing to respect that I am not interested in taking SSRIs and that would prescribe me something more effective for the anxiety....but yeah I imagine i have to try and be a little flexible if I want to apply for SSI but I have to draw the line somewhere. I am not willing to be treated as an invalid with no say in my treatment and no option of refusing treatment if I so choose.
But yeah I am still unsure of if i should just try and find work or go for the SSI, and its very frustrating since I have pressure from people to freaking figure it out and I'm no closer to deciding then I was when I dropped out of college.
_________________
Metal never dies. \m/
24 Aug 2012, 12:15 pm
But yeah I am still unsure of if i should just try and find work or go for the SSI, and its very frustrating since I have pressure from people to freaking figure it out and I'm no closer to deciding then I was when I dropped out of college.
Just to give you a tip, you're more likely to receive disability if they see that you're trying to improve your mental health by going to counselling or groups...stuff life that. They want to see that you're willing to work on your mental health.
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 35,155
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
24 Aug 2012, 12:53 pm
But yeah I am still unsure of if i should just try and find work or go for the SSI, and its very frustrating since I have pressure from people to freaking figure it out and I'm no closer to deciding then I was when I dropped out of college.
Just to give you a tip, you're more likely to receive disability if they see that you're trying to improve your mental health by going to counselling or groups...stuff life that. They want to see that you're willing to work on your mental health.
That is why I just said I'd probably have to be flexible.....that was supposed to indicate I should be open minded to treatment options and such if that will help with the SSI, though I am of the understanding the main thing is you have to prove you're 'disability' prevents you from working to get on SSI not that its based on how much therapy your getting for instance but rather how disabled you are.
I have an appointment with a psychologist this next month to try and figure out how to get proper diagnoses and such but there is not much I can do until then.....other then apply for work if I decide to try and do that instead.
Anyways this thread in general is kind of bringing me down, so I guess I should take a break.....uhh I just hate feeling lost and then as much as I know others cannot tell me what way is best for me I still end up dissapointed when no one can tell me what I should do. I don't know its weird its like if I ask advice I end up getting into this mindset that their idea has to be right and if I don't like things about it or it seems too difficult I get all flustered about how it wont work for me.......when really its more like I ask advice people can only really say what they think based on their own experiance and so its just suggestions not 'this is the way it no questioning allowed' and 'this is what you should do and if you can't you fail.' I wish I could just gather up all the pros and cons and make a freaking decision but I get too stuck on all the possible cons based on my own worries and other people input and end up thinking its useless.
For instance I could decide to get on SSI.....then someone could say 'well you do realise you might not get on it if(Insert any random reason).' and that might throw me back into 'crap I have no idea what to do should I apply for SSI still or try and find work or what?' so yeah I guess I even lack confidence when it comes to being sure of what I want to do.
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Metal never dies. \m/
Mmuffinn
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: 4 Oct 2011
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Posts: 181
Location: Ontario, Canada
24 Aug 2012, 2:08 pm
The overall tone of the websites was actually pretty neutral. If pot helped your depression, and you smoke pot, then your depression would be under control. Pot is not scientifically proven to improve depression, neither are benzos, but you would like to pursue those treatments. Cognitive behavioural therapy, other forms of counselling, antidepressants, and atypical antipsychotics have been scientifically proven to be helpful in depression, but you are unwilling to try any of those treatments because you've "tried it before and it didn't work." The pot isn't working either, but it provides you with a pleasant feeling and offers a secondary gain. The antidepressants might work, as they improve 96% of cases of depression and put 80% of cases into remission, but you don't want to try any of that even when suggested by a doctor. If you were using any drugs or alcohol during your trial of prozac, the interaction may have been responsible for your negative response. Another antidepressant at a low dose would be unlikely to cause problems in excess of the symptoms you are currently dealing with. Therapy can be beneficial to anybody at any time, and just because it didn't "help" before, doesn't mean it won't now. It requires a lot of work and dedication to make therapy work for you and success may take years. The years are passing anyway, so why not use some of your time to try to help yourself?
Anyhow, as a person who has experienced this in the past, it seems as though you are almost unwilling to try any solution that might actually help you recover. You may be experiencing a secondary gain from your depression and anxiety that you aren't even aware of. This may be keeping you stuck. Ask yourself what most reasonable people would do to try to recover from depression. Are you doing these things and giving them a fair shot? Are you avoiding unpleasant or difficult responsibilities because of your depression? What are the positives of remaining depressed? What are the negatives of getting better? Are you afraid of getting better? Try to be honest with yourself. I don't think you're intentionally trying to stay depressed or trying to manipulate anyone, I think you might be stuck and not realize it.
Here's a link I found about secondary gain that explains it pretty well: http://www.aliceboyes.com/secondary-gain/
I really do hope you can find a solution to your emotional suffering, you definitely experience more than your share.
_________________
Diagnosed with aspergers January 17, 2012. Diagnosed with depression in 1998. I just started a blog: http://depressiveaspiegirl.blogspot.com
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 35,155
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
24 Aug 2012, 3:48 pm
Benzos are for anxiety, so of course they are not really a treatment for depression.....and its my anxiety and PTSD that is more of a problem for me than the depression. Also there is evidence cannabis could be used to treat depression, I've read about it and watched about it on documentaries.
Also I do not think the fact my depression and other issues are not under control indicates cannabis cannot help...it does reduce the symptoms but currently my life is kind of chaotic and I don't have much money so my use ends up being rather irregular and I have quite a bit of stress right now not to mention random things I am not prepared for can come up. So yeah there are quite a few factors affecting my mental health so it would be insane to expect all my issues to be under control via cannabis use.......it would be insane to expect any drug to do that.
Cognitive behavioural therapy, other forms of counselling, antidepressants, and atypical antipsychotics have been scientifically proven to be helpful in depression, but you are unwilling to try any of those treatments because you've "tried it before and it didn't work." The pot isn't working either, but it provides you with a pleasant feeling and offers a secondary gain. The antidepressants might work, as they improve 96% of cases of depression and put 80% of cases into remission, but you don't want to try any of that even when suggested by a doctor. If you were using any drugs or alcohol during your trial of prozac, the interaction may have been responsible for your negative response. Another antidepressant at a low dose would be unlikely to cause problems in excess of the symptoms you are currently dealing with. Therapy can be beneficial to anybody at any time, and just because it didn't "help" before, doesn't mean it won't now. It requires a lot of work and dedication to make therapy work for you and success may take years. The years are passing anyway, so why not use some of your time to try to help yourself?
I guess I am not entirely convinced conventional western psychology is really going to 'help' me. Also what would the success be determined by? their scale of what a normal member of society should look like....or If I feel I've gotten where I want to be? I mean I guess what I am getting at is success on their terms might not be success for me. I will have to consider your point other drug interactions could have contributed to the bad experiance on prozac but even so it was traumatizing enough to not want to try again, not to mention I cannot garantee I'd go without any alcohol or cannabis while on it so if those drugs to have a bad reaction with it....well uhh as i said chances are I'd have a repeat. I did tell the doctor of my use of those drugs though before he gave me the prozac and he did not really say it would interact.
Also CBT didn't help numerous times....no matter how much dedication I put into it, even when I was a kid and still somewhat hopeful about life and really thought if I only work at the therapy and such things would improve some.
Anyhow, as a person who has experienced this in the past, it seems as though you are almost unwilling to try any solution that might actually help you recover. You may be experiencing a secondary gain from your depression and anxiety that you aren't even aware of. This may be keeping you stuck. Ask yourself what most reasonable people would do to try to recover from depression. Are you doing these things and giving them a fair shot? Are you avoiding unpleasant or difficult responsibilities because of your depression? What are the positives of remaining depressed? What are the negatives of getting better? Are you afraid of getting better? Try to be honest with yourself. I don't think you're intentionally trying to stay depressed or trying to manipulate anyone, I think you might be stuck and not realize it.
Here's a link I found about secondary gain that explains it pretty well: http://www.aliceboyes.com/secondary-gain/
I really do hope you can find a solution to your emotional suffering, you definitely experience more than your share.
Hmm I don't really know........also though depression to me only seems to be one small part of the bigger picture, I mean the anxiety and ptsd almost seem much worse and there are certainly things going on in my life that do not help matters.
But then there is also the issue of this society...I mean how am I not supposed to be depressed and anxious living in it? Becoming well adjusted to it would not be success or recovery to me it would be more along the lines of destruction of my being. I mean maybe its just that I see too much.........maybe its a choice 'madness or happiness' in which case I may very well choose madness sorry if that doesn't make much sense. But its the best way to describe it for the time being.
_________________
Metal never dies. \m/
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