[Guest]

So I am at a place in my DP/anxiety where I need to try something different. Not sure what, but whatever it is I am doing currently isn't working. The doc seems to think I am depressed. I would agree - can't see how anybody could do DP for very long without becoming depressed.
I have tried a variety of meds in the past. I'm pretty sure I haven't given any of them a chance, as I tend to stop due to what I perceive are side effects. They make me feel wierd, which is what I am trying to NOT feel.
Anyway, can anybody here honestly say that anti-depressant type medication has helped them in any way? Maybe not directly the DP, but have they helped with depression or anxiety? I have a feeling if I could get a handle on those two, the DP might lessen on it's own. She offered me this week's new med.....can't remember what it's called, but it is in capsule form so I said no. I want pills that I can cut into small pieces to start with, otherwise I'm sure I would stop after the first one. Figure if I ease into it I might be more likely to stay the course. So she suggested Zoloft. Tried that one before and it didn't scare me too much. Seems to me I stopped taking it because I thought it was interfering with my sleep. I'm not sleeping at all right now so I figure that won't be a problem.
ANYway........back to the question: can anybody honestly say anti-depressant medication has helped them?

 

[Guest]

So I am at a place in my DP/anxiety where I need to try something different. Not sure what, but whatever it is I am doing currently isn't working. The doc seems to think I am depressed. I would agree - can't see how anybody could do DP for very long without becoming depressed.
I have tried a variety of meds in the past. I'm pretty sure I haven't given any of them a chance, as I tend to stop due to what I perceive are side effects. They make me feel wierd, which is what I am trying to NOT feel.
Anyway, can anybody here honestly say that anti-depressant type medication has helped them in any way? Maybe not directly the DP, but have they helped with depression or anxiety? I have a feeling if I could get a handle on those two, the DP might lessen on it's own. She offered me this week's new med.....can't remember what it's called, but it is in capsule form so I said no. I want pills that I can cut into small pieces to start with, otherwise I'm sure I would stop after the first one. Figure if I ease into it I might be more likely to stay the course. So she suggested Zoloft. Tried that one before and it didn't scare me too much. Seems to me I stopped taking it because I thought it was interfering with my sleep. I'm not sleeping at all right now so I figure that won't be a problem.
ANYway........back to the question: can anybody honestly say anti-depressant medication has helped them?

 

[Guest]

Paxil definitely helped me to feel less moody and less anxious.

That said, I was still moody and extremely anxious.

I would have been much worse without it.

Taking it didn't fix anything.

Ambiguity supreme.

NO med is going to "work" if we are counteracting its benefits every waking minute. If we insist on self-monitoring and obsessing and holding ourselves in a tight shell of self-control, allowing only chosen shreds of authenticity to eek out of us a drop at a time....no chemical is going to be powerful enough to change that.

Take a med to: 1) feel calmer
or
2) feel less depressed/hopeless

But....as soon as you feel a bit calmer or less depressed, you need to work hard to feel calmer still, and you need to work very hard to feel even less depressed.

Most of us are looking for a med that we can swallow and then go right back to thinking exactly like we were thinking before we took it. Let the med do the changing on us, while we resume business as usual. It will not work. Ever.

The med is the "starter kit" not the solution.

Peace,
Janine

 

[Guest]

Paxil definitely helped me to feel less moody and less anxious.

That said, I was still moody and extremely anxious.

I would have been much worse without it.

Taking it didn't fix anything.

Ambiguity supreme.

NO med is going to "work" if we are counteracting its benefits every waking minute. If we insist on self-monitoring and obsessing and holding ourselves in a tight shell of self-control, allowing only chosen shreds of authenticity to eek out of us a drop at a time....no chemical is going to be powerful enough to change that.

Take a med to: 1) feel calmer
or
2) feel less depressed/hopeless

But....as soon as you feel a bit calmer or less depressed, you need to work hard to feel calmer still, and you need to work very hard to feel even less depressed.

Most of us are looking for a med that we can swallow and then go right back to thinking exactly like we were thinking before we took it. Let the med do the changing on us, while we resume business as usual. It will not work. Ever.

The med is the "starter kit" not the solution.

Peace,
Janine

 

[g-funk]

I agree with Janine. Meds take the edge off anxiety and depression. If you find the right one, you can kind of sit back for a while and just let your brain get itself together, so it gives you the strength to get on with what you have to do, and also tackle any underlying issues.
Personally, I am used to feeling weird, and what scares me about that is that I am doing it. When a drug does it, I'm not so scared because I can say 'oh thats just the effexor, must be doing something!' and because of this dismissal of symptoms, it doesn't bother me and therefore don't notice it.
Granted, it can make you feel artificial at times. For instance, I found that positive thoughts were just coming into my head. I was actually questioning them, my brain was trying to get on with it and it felt weird. And also when a negative thought comes in, I can start to go down that path and think oh no... but the anxiety doesn't come. And then I realise 5 minutes later that something distracted me. I have only been on it 4 weeks, and whilst I would love to give myself the credit for feeling better, its definitely a combination. I am using the time to try and rest my brain, get on with work and gently educate myself about all of this. My thought processes have become much clearer.
I honestly think give it a go. What have you got to lose? Try to accept feeling weird for a short time, because eventually you may find that it works and you'll be glad you stuck it out. You may have to try a few before you get one that suits you.
Good luck!

 

[g-funk]

I agree with Janine. Meds take the edge off anxiety and depression. If you find the right one, you can kind of sit back for a while and just let your brain get itself together, so it gives you the strength to get on with what you have to do, and also tackle any underlying issues.
Personally, I am used to feeling weird, and what scares me about that is that I am doing it. When a drug does it, I'm not so scared because I can say 'oh thats just the effexor, must be doing something!' and because of this dismissal of symptoms, it doesn't bother me and therefore don't notice it.
Granted, it can make you feel artificial at times. For instance, I found that positive thoughts were just coming into my head. I was actually questioning them, my brain was trying to get on with it and it felt weird. And also when a negative thought comes in, I can start to go down that path and think oh no... but the anxiety doesn't come. And then I realise 5 minutes later that something distracted me. I have only been on it 4 weeks, and whilst I would love to give myself the credit for feeling better, its definitely a combination. I am using the time to try and rest my brain, get on with work and gently educate myself about all of this. My thought processes have become much clearer.
I honestly think give it a go. What have you got to lose? Try to accept feeling weird for a short time, because eventually you may find that it works and you'll be glad you stuck it out. You may have to try a few before you get one that suits you.
Good luck!

 

[Guest]

Do they work? Simple answer: No

 

[Guest]

Do they work? Simple answer: No

 

[DutchMark]

Paxil works for me, so do they work: yes 8)

 

[DutchMark]

Paxil works for me, so do they work: yes 8)

 

[lone wolf]

For me antidepressant Remeron (mirtazapine) was a miracle med - it lifted me from severe depression that I had suffered for 12 years' time. Currently I'm still on Remeron 30 mg, and during these latest years I haven't experienced a trace of depression. However - Remeron hasn't had any effect on my DP/DR, but I don't care as I'm glad enough for its effect on my many years' hell of depression, which vanished after starting the medication. Before I had tried Fluoxetin Generics (fluoxetine) and Aurorix (moclobemide), which didn't work. So I'd say antidepressants are worth to try, although the first med you try may not be the one that will work for you - thus by 'experimenting' some of them you may find the right antidepressant for you. I wish you luck!

 

[lone wolf]

For me antidepressant Remeron (mirtazapine) was a miracle med - it lifted me from severe depression that I had suffered for 12 years' time. Currently I'm still on Remeron 30 mg, and during these latest years I haven't experienced a trace of depression. However - Remeron hasn't had any effect on my DP/DR, but I don't care as I'm glad enough for its effect on my many years' hell of depression, which vanished after starting the medication. Before I had tried Fluoxetin Generics (fluoxetine) and Aurorix (moclobemide), which didn't work. So I'd say antidepressants are worth to try, although the first med you try may not be the one that will work for you - thus by 'experimenting' some of them you may find the right antidepressant for you. I wish you luck!

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the responses

And Janine - of all the people in the whole wide world, I am the one who least thinks that a little pill can cure me. I understand I need to make major changes elsewhere........I only wish I knew how.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the responses

And Janine - of all the people in the whole wide world, I am the one who least thinks that a little pill can cure me. I understand I need to make major changes elsewhere........I only wish I knew how.

 

[Guest]

Hi Sc,

I am not cured, but Paxil somehow helps me with depression and little DP. It's been almost 2 months, but 2 weeks at 20 mg.

If it can give you some hope

Cyn xxx

 

[Guest]

Hi Sc,

I am not cured, but Paxil somehow helps me with depression and little DP. It's been almost 2 months, but 2 weeks at 20 mg.

If it can give you some hope

Cyn xxx

 

[jc]

they helped me during the initial ultra anxious time (start of dp) but now they dont do a thing,i only take them because the head shocks are too much to handle

 

[jc]

they helped me during the initial ultra anxious time (start of dp) but now they dont do a thing,i only take them because the head shocks are too much to handle

 

[bat]

i've been on zoloft exactly 1 month today (50mg a day) and yes it is seriously helping me. i had a horrific time getting onto it but depression, anxiety and dp are slowly edging away. in fact i took an assembly in work today which even at the best of times does my head in and i didnt have a panic attack. since you didnt have a hard time starting it before i'd give it a go. best of luck

 

[bat]

i've been on zoloft exactly 1 month today (50mg a day) and yes it is seriously helping me. i had a horrific time getting onto it but depression, anxiety and dp are slowly edging away. in fact i took an assembly in work today which even at the best of times does my head in and i didnt have a panic attack. since you didnt have a hard time starting it before i'd give it a go. best of luck