Will I always need antidepressants?!


Question: Will I always need antidepressants!?
I have General Anxiety Disorder and show slight tendencies toward OCD!. I have been taking antidepressants for about 5 years!. Recently I have been experiencing very serious side effects to include confusion, disrupted sleep, forgetfulness, vertigo and headaches!. I am currently taking Celexa!. I have taken Lexapro, Welbutrin, Effexor, and Prozac!. Each with varying side effects!. Effexor worked the best with the least amount of side effects except hypertension!.

My life has gotten much better and there are considerably fewer stressors!. I would like to ditch the medication entirely, but I have found little information concerning whether or not antidepressants should be taken indefinitely!. Is there such a thing as being cured!?Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
Why did you give up the Effexor!? You can take medication for high blood pressure along with it!. I suffer from depression and anxiety, I have since I was kid (I am 61) I have been taking Effexor and Xanax for 5 years, and I expect to be on some sort of medication for the rest of my life You can go into remission and experience a normal like without meds for a time, but relapses are inevitable, I'm afraid!. The main trouble with anti-depressants is that they can just stop working all of a sudden, or, like you, start to produce bizarre side effects!. You definitely need another change in medication!.

If you are going to give up meds entirely, do so under your doctor's supervision!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Stay with them as long as your doctor says!. However, in my own honest opinion, I have been taking meds for about as long or so and head battles finding the right ones so I can understand your thoughts!. I have been told, however, by my dr I will have to take mine forever because otherwise I will be really bad off and maybe unable to recover mentally and socially from the behavior/thoughts when off of them!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

It's like having diabetes my friend, I've been taking pills for about ten years!. I tried to stop but I rescinded!. Look at it from the positive side, it could be worst!. There's a new drug, called Pristiq, works well for me, but if you are short of cash, Paxil is pretty cool and cheap!. Good luck, you're not alone!Www@Answer-Health@Com

i have anxiety and a little bit of ocd too!. i am understanding what you are saying!. not everyone needs meds forever!. sometimes you do sometimes you dont!. i know that is not an answer, but talk with your dr about going off and see what he thinks he knows you and your past!. maybe just a med for anxiety as needed will help!. good luck Www@Answer-Health@Com

Do random acts of kindness to get your mind off what you are going through it helps a lot!!!Www@Answer-Health@Com

thanks,now I'm depressedWww@Answer-Health@Com

it sounds like if you were to get off of these you would be right back where you started fromWww@Answer-Health@Com

you should take them as long as your doctor says
Www@Answer-Health@Com

With antidepressants (read: anxiolytics) you are only treating the symptoms, (inadequately, and with risks, and side effects) not addressing the cause, and a multidimensional approach, including therapy (for a while; say; 6 months) works well with many, including myself!. See anxiety treatments, at ezy build (below) in section 6; see page N first (full version of this)!. OCD is addressed in section 7!. Set yourself a specific time period for worrying about anything, (say; around three quarters of an hour, possibly when you get home, or after your evening meal, but not too close to bedtime) after which, resolve firmly to refuse to even entertain the thought of worrying again on that day: realise and accept that to do otherwise would be counterproductive to your mental health, and enjoyment of life!.

You will have had your "worry time" for the day, and can just write down any more thoughts that come to mind, and say to yourself: "Well, I'll just have to worry about that tomorrow, won't I!?"!. It is important to deal with a negative internal monologue (self talk), or mental process, such as disturbing thoughts, or images, by the process of (a): recognising it, and (b): challenging it immediately!.

When you notice something negative, such as: "I'm never going to get over this!" or: "Why am I always so pathetic/useless/such a loser!?" or even: "I can't do this/will never get over this!", or a disturbing image, recognise that this is part of the mindset which will hold you back from progress!. Having identified and labelled it, visualise a large red "STOP!" sign, and/or possibly a stern faced person wagging an index finger at you in a negative manner, then say to yourself as forcefully as you can, even aloud in a big voice, if alone: "I know this tactic: GO AWAY FOR A WHILE !!!"

You may want to use either: "ruse", "ploy", "game", or "trick", instead of "tactic"!. In the case of an image, visualise a large "STOP" sign, or your preferred version!. Some people go so far as to keep a wide rubber band in their pocket, then put it around their wrist, when they catch themselves backsliding, stretch and release it, as a method of reprogramming their mind sooner, but I don't regard it as being strictly necessary!. Remember to remove it, afterwards, if you use this method!.

Practice one of the relaxation methods in sections 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed!. Alternatively, give the EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you!. There is also a version for use in public places, (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you massage/lightly tap your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind)!. Section 53, and pages 2, 2!.q and 2!.o at http://www!.ezy-build!.net!.nz/~shaneris also refer: "Even though I sometimes suffer from anxiety, I deeply and completely accept myself!." Neurofeedback treatment for anxiety is increasingly becoming available!. Herbal remedies, such as valerian, (which is not recommended for use if depression is also present) passionflower, or St!.John's wort, are often effective, but the idea is (as with anxiolytic medication) to use them like water wings, or training wheels on a bicycle, providing initial support, and giving time for other treatments, such as therapy, and relaxation techniques, to take effect!.

A variant of EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, which has been used successfully for those people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, insomnia, and anxiety, is shown in section 42, on page i, at ezy-build!. I have found that the 2 - 3 minutes spent using the EMDR markedly reduces distractions to the relaxation process, and is repaid many times over!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





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