Antidepressants?!
Question: In a couple days I am going to get prescribed antidepressants. I am scared because I have been reading that they can make you were than you really are. Plus my mom is totally against them, so I am so confused as for if I should get them. But I have really severe depression and anxiety. What do you think?
Answers: In a couple days I am going to get prescribed antidepressants. I am scared because I have been reading that they can make you were than you really are. Plus my mom is totally against them, so I am so confused as for if I should get them. But I have really severe depression and anxiety. What do you think?
I do not think there is anything wrong with being on antidepressants. They are used to balance out the neurotransmitters in your brain. The depression and anxiety is due to an imbalance of the neurotransmitters.
You may be able to get off of them once your body has stabilized.
Remember a few things about antidepressants:
- You will always experience the side effects first and then see the therapeutic effects a few weeks later (no you will not experience each and every side effect listed).
- Antidepresants need about 4 to 6 weeks minimum to see any therapeutic effects. It is not an instant 'cause and effect' reaction.
- The side effects will stablilize in a few weeks, it is worth battling if you suffer from severe depression and anxiety. They should go away completly once the medication is discontinued.
As far as your mom is concerned. She is being a parent and is worried for you. But, you need to decide whether you want to take the chance and feel better or suffer out of fear instilled in you by others.
A lot of people judge antidepressants based on what bad things they happen to hear about them. No one knows how it feels to be depressed until they experience it. It is not a fun feeling and to take their judgement on it when you are the one suffering is not something that I would do.
I would get on the medication and work my way to feeling better and getting off of it once the neurotransmitters in my brain stabilize.
Think about it and do what you think is right for you. You mom is not feeling your depression or anxiety, she can empathize but is not in your brain. Be smart in your decision. And remember what I mentioned about the side effects.
I hope you feel better and that I was able to help in some way. I have fought depression myself and I know what it is to be depressed.
It is just like any disease. If you had bronchitis you would take antibiotics to treat it. That antibiotic has side effects just like antidepressants. Don't fret. If you are depressed and need the help than you should treat it. If one medication does not work for you there are others out there.
I would suggest not to go for antidepressants they are not natural and temperory. Go for something which is permenant. The natural therapy is very good and it is permenant. I have followed few things which i have listed in my blog.Get the information right away http://trainyourmind.blogspot.com
Dont hesitate to go on them. Alot of people look down on mental illnesses such as depression and ask questions like "how can you be depressed? You have a good life, why cant you just be more happy?" Alot of people dont understand that depression isnt just being unhappy but a chemical imbalance in the brain. Antidepressants simply "balance" the chemicals in the brain.
Dont be ashamed of being on them, I was for 4 years, and am now off them and happy with life, sure i have ups and downs but I dont regret going on them for one minute!
'Love' never fails!
If you've told the doctor e xactlyhow you feel, I believe you
can trust his/her opinion...
Try the meds for at last 6 weeksto see if you feel better.
You'll be in my thoughts & prayers.
There are alternatives to medication. Consider the side effects as well. I can see in extreme cases where you might be really super depressed and full of anxieties, but do consider the following first: 1) 30 minues of aerobic exercise per day, 2) buying fish oil which increases the seratonin in your body and brain and lowers depression and anxiety, 3) meditation: lay calm on your bed in quiet and in the dark and clear your mind of all thoughts for 15 minutes. Note afterwards a complete change in your mood. Repeat as required.
Also, consider the fact that if you THINK you are depressed, you are. Consider telling yourself that it's simply a phase that you are now passing through and tomorrow you believe you will be all right. As you fall asleep, program your subconscious mind to expect a better day tomorrow. Oh, and drink plenty of water. Dehydrated cells do not function correctly and cause a buildup of toxins.
I am going to tell you my experience. I was scared of antidepressants too but I talked with my doctor and had my questions lined up for him.
I was on one that was great. It did not make me perky it just made me balanced. But after reviewing my file again my doctor had to take me off because it reacts horribly with my other condition.
They put me on prozac and truthfully it was the worst months . It was the first time I was hospitalized for attempted suicide. I was a big blob, cried more, no sex drive, feeling blank and it ruined my relationship. (note: this doesn't mean prozac doesnt work. I know people who use prozac and it has helped them)
I went back to my doctor finally one day and told her no more this isn't working something is wrong. So they prescribed me new meds and it worked fine.
Seriously, meds are not the enemy. Just like other medications for other illness there are side effects. I hope you are in therapy also because just as therapy can only do so much it goes the same for meds. It is shown that using meds and therapy together helps the most.
All meds generally need 6 weeks to take effect. Sometimes they do work faster for some people.
My advise is to write down how you currently feel, rate you level of depression suicide and all of that on a scale. I say this because if your meds do make you feel worse at least you can catch it before it gets to suicidal. Though you are scared and you mom is against it I think it is best that you both go into this with a clear head on antidepressants. Don't be for or against it just see what it does. This makes it easier to notice real changes also. No real expectations.
Remember not all antidepressants are the same and there are different groups of them so one that doesn't work can be replaced with one that works better.
Just make sure to be as active as possible in your journey. The time when prozac took over I could have gone off of it earlier but because i was just doing what the doctor said I figured he knows what he is talking about and I just followed. You have to have the guts to say when you think things arent right. And if necessary get a second opinion. Those times i did is when i made the most progress with my meds and my mental health.
heres the thing i am thinking you are under 18 just remember if you start to feel even a little worse let some one no that is very important it took me a lot of diif one to find the right combination
Please save yourself and DO NOT TAKE ANY DRUGS. You can go to the site CCHR and read up on them yourself. (www.cchr.org). I am SOOO glad you wrote in to ask about them. Anti-depressants most often cause the person to become more suicidal and violent. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE.
Now, for why you were prescribed these anti-depressants, I believe there is a section on the CCHR website that addresses this and helps you find out what you can do to become - well - un-depressed. If you can't find anything on the website then call them. They really want to help people like you.