Antidepressants - Experiences.. good or bad?

This is a very serious topic and should be treated as such.

If anyone on here feels they are 'really down/dark' for longer than a few days with no associated reason or has any other reason to believe they or anyone else they know may be depressed, suicidal or anything similar, it is extremely important they see a Physchiatrist and a Psychologist/Therapist...good ones that have been recommended! These are the only people that have been specifically trainined in diagnosis and if medication is required (Physchiatrist) and ongoing therapy (Psychologist - aka someone to chat to help work stuff out).

These people are not scary. They are there to help, and can change your life. They can save your life, or the life or someone you care about!!!

There are two main aspects to depression (some have one or the other or both) ...generally speaking ; chemical and circumstatial. The first is a chemical imbalance in your brain which needs to be treated in some way... I would argue medication, but others on this site have mentioned exercise, Omega 3 fish oil etc. The second is Circumstatial. ie Depression following the death of a loved one. This will be treated with Therapy (obviously some wounds never heal). In genearal most depression is treated using all methods... is exercise, natural methods, medication and ongoing therapy.

A GP can be a good place to start for a chat or referrels, however I would be very very skeptical to get a diagnosis of depression, or be treated with medication from your local GP as they are NOT SPECIALISTS in mental treament and this is exactly how depression gets over diagnosed and medication gets over prescribed! In my experience... GPs basically say everyone is depressed and will just hand out medication like Candy... very very dangerous!!!!! It will make things worse if you dont need it!! But some GPs are better than others. You be the judge.

My hope to everyone is that people keep the lines of communication open, as the more we talk about this stuff... the more we can help others.

If all these appointments take too long or are too expensive.. all countries/states should have free hotlines you can call for information

I hope this helps a litle :flowerforyou:

I took generic WellButrin for about 1 1/2 years. Life seemed to hard for too long. I kept wondering what the point of it all was. This had been for several years. I'm not a person who goes for pills. I wait out the headache before I take the Tylenol, that type of thing. I figured I could get out of it with exercise and healthier foods, but I couldn't muster any energy to take the tiniest step. I went to the doctor for my annual (my first time seeing her) and she asked how I was doing.....I fell apart right there in the office. I took the prescription. I felt great for a few weeks and then the paranoia set in. I thought people didn't like me. A crazy person moved into my head and whispered anxious, insecure things in my ear. I quit taking them. Fell into the hole. Restarted them with a small dose of Celexa to temper the crazy. That worked well for over a year. I stopped taking all of it a few months ago. I wanted to give the healthy life a try and didn't feel I could judge the impact while I was medicated. So far so good.

The moral of my story is that sometimes, if you don't have the strength to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, the meds can give you some breathing room to get your head together. They do numb you a little bit. Makes the bad feelings easier to take, but makes the good feelings a little dull. It isn't for everyone and it isn't without potential pitfalls. Some people have to go through several different pills to get to the right one. Some people have really bad experiences with the pills and some people can't get off of them. it's nuts. Try other routes if you can. Step up your exercise for the endorphins, make sure your nutrition is up to par and find a good counselor. Having an objective soul to speak to can do wonders to smooth out the stresses of life.

Good luck to you, whichever you choose to do.

I take Prozac, if I did not take Prozac I would have succumbed to despair years ago. I began on it when I was in college and got control of my life. I came off it after graduating and did fairly well until a few years later when I once again fell off the deep end. I know that I, myself, cannot be without my meds. For the sanity of others and for myself, I will not be quitting them any time soon. That said, different strokes for different folks. Some people genuinely don't need meds. Some people need time. Some people need therapy. Some people need time, meds and therapy.

Don't let yourself get to a point of complete despair like I did the second time around though.

This is a very personal choice that depends on a great number of factors. For me a significant family history of depression in addition to a rough upbringing and a hectic adult life all culminated and resulted in clinical depression which seems to constantly hover in the background.

Do what you feel is right for you. Just know that antidepressants aren't a cure all. I still have really bad days, eventually my body has adjusted and I've had to up my dose, I have some side effects from the meds...but for me, these things are preferable than life without meds or the risk of trying new meds that might have worse side effects.

If you're wondering I take Sandoz brand (Brand makes a HUGE difference for me) generic Prozac, 30mg a day. My biggest side effect to date is the development of motion sickness in addition to occasional headaches, although I had headaches before I started so attributing this to meds is questionable.

I'd be happy to answer any questions if you want to PM me

Why not try some methods of letting off steam and releasing stress and reducing tension before meds? However, if you are in dire straits DEFINITELY talk to a psychiatrist or your GP asap.