View on Antidpressants

Anxiety and Depression

In the late 90’s I was prescribed Prozac for depression, it did not work for me so I stopped taking, I went a week in a zombie state, never do something like that without talking with your Dr.

After the 2004 hurricane season I was angry all of the time, finally, I talked with my Doctor and he told me about Effexor for Anxiety. He explained to me Serotonin and how it works with the brain. He knew of my experience with Prozac and understood my fear completely. He started me slow and told me to call any time I felt like I was going to loose it or if I felt like it was making me worse. Medications work differently for everyone.

I did not want to take any meds because I thought I could deal with it on my own, after all, is it not a matter of ‘Attitude Adjustment’ and life is something you just have to learn to deal with (sarcastically said). My thinking at the time was that everyone else seems to be handling there lives with out drugs so why can’t I. After all, isn’t it part of life to have bad days.

Reluctantly I took the medicine; it took a while to fully work, at first I still felt angry inside but it wasn’t coming out verbally and then one day I noticed I was happy and I did not have the demon inside raging a war to get out. I started to feel the affect after 3-4 weeks.

Family and friends noticed it before I did. I always thought other people were the problem, not me. I just could not understand why they thought I was an angry, sad person. I have always seen myself as a happy up beat person.

After a few months, yes months, I realized I was not getting angry, frustrated or as irritable. I still do but everyone does from time to time and it is not extreme like it was. I started to see how others saw me. I tell people I have G.A.D. General Anxiety Disorder, and joking call it Glad, glad I am not crazy and that I take my happy pill daily, my Dr does not like that but hey, it helps me keep things in balance.

My father passed away early this year after a long battle with heart disease complicated by MRSA. I felt like I was loosing it again. My old way of thinking came back. I thought death is part of life and I just need to work through it, true but some people need help. I got to the point I would cry uncontrollably at work and that was not good. Thank God, I work with good people who understand.

My friend made me talk with my Doctor and he suggested Xanax, NO NO NO I thought, that is only for the weak. I was wrong, when I felt like I was loosing it I took one, it relaxed me, did not make me sleepy as people told me it would (Dude, I must have been really wired LOL) I only used it a couple of times for the first month or two after his death, it helped me survive and bring me back to the land of rational thought.

I have not used the Xanax in while and I hope I will not have to again, but I will if I need it. Thankfully, father’s day is on Sunday so I will be at home.

Do not hesitate to use the medications; they are there for a reason. People who say Christ is all you need are correct, All you need is Christ and his knowledge. As I said in my earlier Blog, God gave us knowledge and we are to use it. Christ came to heal disease; Depression and Anxiety are a disease. Do not be ashamed, more people have it but do not feel comfortable talking about it. I tell people, it bothers some of my friends and tell me to keep quiet. I want people to know that it is nothing to be ashamed of and if I can help others then I will.

I wish I could say I didn’t need meds but I do and I tell people they saved my life. Yes, some of America is over medicated but not all.

:applause: I admire you for taking the first step and realizing you need help, I had to have a brick hit me in the head

 

Shell,

as an RU counsellor let me tell you what we'd probably say to your situation. Anti-depressants can become addictive. However, there are times when they can also help us get a start on our way to recovery. Your pastor is right to be wary of these drugs........and remember that doctors often just prescribe a pill because it is a "quick-fix". So there's a bias on both sides. Look at the middle ground if you can. As Mishelly said, these drugs are not for just when you have a bad day like everybody else does sometimes....but are for severe cases. Have you tried eating right and exercise for the past year along with your pastoral counselling? There are times when this is not enough.

If you are still struggling with all these things it might be a good idea to research these sorts of drugs to see if some use can help you. I do believe you need to see anti-depressants as something which is a temporary aid to get you back into balance, and that eventually you will not need them anymore.

YOu may have gotten so used to being depressed that you don't know how to feel any different.......depression can be a sort of addiction in and of itself. Sometimes doctor's prescription can help shake you out of that.

 

Take them as prescribed on a daily basis. You may only need them for a short period of time, a year or so to get you over the hump.

The stress in our lives, and escalating changes in all sectors forces us to get all the help we can.

 

Depression and Anxiety

I have said a lot and I apologize for some ramblings, I just want you to know that you are not alone and others are going through the same fight.

All I want to say is that, yes, drugs are not for everyone. Some people do not need them, some do because it is a chemical imbalance. I admit I did not want to take any medicines, I researched and talked with different people. For me it was the right decision.

You do need to eat right and exercise, I wish I could have done it with the natural fight but how does the natural fight put the chemicals back into balance?

Please do some research and seek a second opinion from another Dr, knowledge is the best defense. Having a second opinion will also give some peace of mind on taking medicines, if that is what is needed. Please remember to be open and honest with your Dr, he/she is there to help. There are some great websites for information, I personally like the National Institute of Mental Health http://www.nimh.nih.gov and the Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/. There are many websites you can research, some Christian and some non Christian but most, not all, have some good information.

I will be keeping you in my prayers

 

Shell,
My Dr is a Christian. And I argued with him for a year before I finally decided to take them. I was an emotional mess and just couldn't get it together. I went to my Dr because I just wasn't thinking right and I thought there was something wrong with my brain! He suggested counseling, sleeping meds and/or antidepressants. Taking the meds has made a big difference for me.

Carolyn

 

If a Dr. you trust prescribes them, take them... God has given your Dr. the wisdom.

 

Find another Dr and get a 2nd opinion. You need to be comfortable and trust your Dr

 

Doctors are ok for physical ailments... but drugs are not what is needed for depression, no matter what man says.

If one has their mind on the things of Christ, Christ will give them a peace in the darkest trials of life.

 

Shell, a while back Alex Jones did an interview with Gwen Olsen and Robert Manciero. Gwen Olsen is a former pharmaceutical drug rep who has written a book called Confessions of an RX Drug Pusher. Robert Manciero is a film maker, his latest work is called Prescription:Suicide. I am trying to make it available on Google Video right now, I would recommend anyone who is thinking about going on antidepressants listen to this woman's testimony.

 

Anxiety and Depression

How I prayed for that to be true - if I knew of a true faith healer I would have sold everything to get to him/her

Fact is fact, chemical imbalance, read up on it

Before I could not focus, now I can - I thank God for the knowledge he gave man, and I use HIS guidance daily.

So in your mind, people who use drugs to correct chemicals imbalance are not one with God and should be ashamed.

Medicine and Counseling is the key, talking with family and friends are a must. AGAIN Medicine is NOT for everyone and all options must be reviewed

Shame on you - Do not even start with the 'These are the same scientists that believe in evolution'

I pray that you do not have high blood pressure, diabetes or any other disease that will need medications to HELP

Next time you have a headache, remember Tylenol, try to rely on Christ and see how long it takes.

That came out wrong, but I am not deleting it, ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, again I will reiterate, God gave us knowledge and we are to use it with guidance

Would you rather people remain in a great depression or be anxiety ridden?

 

Fact is the chemical imbalance hypothesis is unproven, but somehow the casual observer is given the impression that there is some hard science behind it.

http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392

 

Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 40 million American adults.1 These disorders fill people's lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event such as a business presentation or a first date, anxiety disorders are chronic, relentless, and can grow progressively worse if not treated.

Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. If you think you have an anxiety disorder, you should seek information and treatment.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/anxiety.cfm#anx1

 

Let me tell you about problems, MShelly...

I do have BP probs. My BP drops to the point I pass out. I was in a wheelchair several years ago. I am blind. Think I don't have problems?

I notice you quoted all but the scripture that I posted. Why is that? The Bible is more important in our lives than lithium or any other drug that messes with your mind.

God's Word says He will keep us in perfect peace if our minds are on Him, if we trust in Him.

Peter did not start sinking until he took his eyes and mind off of Christ. When Peter called on Christ to save him, Christ did not prescribe a doctor or drugs, Christ saved him.

Jesus is the One, He's the only One
Let Him have His way until the day is done
When He speaks you'll know
Dark clouds will have to go
Just because He loves you so.

 

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

I believe in the scriptures completely and I have kept my mind on His will. I believe, as I had said MANY time, that HE gave us knowledge.

I prayed, I asked for guidance because I did not want drugs, I believe that, for me, this was the way

I pray for you, just because one disagrees with another does not mean they wish bad to happen, I was only making a point. I disagree with my family many times and we say things in the moment, does not mean we want them to be true

I resent that because I take medicine I must not be one with Christ

For me, medicines help and brought me back to the person I was before, happy & upbeat.

I spread the word of Christ and I am not a hypocrite. Does this make me less of a Christian in your mind?

 

Mishelly,Dont get all worked up. I think you would find most people here would praise God along with you that you are better now.

 

1 Peter 1:6-7
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold thatperisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

The bible never promised that we were going to be happy and upbeat if we followed Christ. Sadness is not a disease, it is a symptom. But we live in a society that idolizes science and the quick fix. I have a long history of self-medication and I can attest to the fact that chemicals can make you happy.

 

This site displays 6 of the 9 signs of propaganda
and none of the 4 signs of a Scientific Journal.
Please disregard it.

-Ed, another Christian blessed by SSRIs

 

I appologize, hit a nerve

I ask myself all the time why I have to take drugs when others do not

I just do not want others to fear like I did and take too long to get the help they need, life is too short to be depressed all of the time

I do agree that America is over medicated and not everyone needs medicines, some just want a quick fix. That hurts those who truly do need help. I pray I will not have the need for Effexor but until that day, if it helps me to stay focussed on life then go for it.

Life is good and bad and ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST

I do not want to see the world with rose colored glasses, need the good with the bad, I just want the balance