Probably the main reason folks who prefer to "toughen the f..ck up princess" rather than give themselves over to medical intervention, when confronted with anxiety and depression, has been the blunt nature of the tools available to the profession in the past.
I have just been through a debilitating encounter with anxiety and depression. The precipitating incident was having my home burn down and coming close to losing my life in a bush fire. Here is one of the first dangers. To justify the trigger by way of it's severity is a mistake. The idea of characterising one's self as a casualty of an extreme event, just makes one more a slave to the perception of others and the continuing justification and prolonging of your own battle.
The path to healing is to leave the battle behind.
Mostly I was terrified of taking antidepressants. I saw so many people over my life go lala/nuts on old technology medication.
My blood pressure was 180 and every time I sneezed I expected to see my aorta exiting my eyeballs in an explosion of pink mist. Something had to be done.
I was prescribed a modern antidepressant which did absolutely nothing but remove the sense that a sword was hanging over my head. My life was no longer jagged. I wasn't stoned or euphoric or shanghied in any way. I just felt normal again.
I wont go on and on. My message here is that modern pharmaceutical interventions are so much better than even a decade ago. There is no need to suffer in silence. The cure is no longer worse than the affliction.
Regards
Mark
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And I somehow rather fancy that I'd like to change with Clancy ..
G'day Mark welcome back. I take my little happy pill every morning. Sure works for me. Still have my ups and downs but recover much more quickly now. I hid my problem with depression from friends and family for a long time. Now I find it better to talk to them about it. At some time in the future my Doctor wants to start weaning me off it. I will see what then. Thank you for your PM,s and as I said welcome back.
Cheers. Jack.
-- Edited by ballast2 on Tuesday 26th of January 2016 04:18:13 PM
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Jack Cherie and the memory of the four legged kids.
Realising that I needed help, and accepting that fact, is/was the first and most important step. The newer generations of anxiety and depression medication are very effective. It took several trials with different meds until we (my shrink and I) found one that suited me. I found it very difficult until I let go and had faith in my medicos.
Mark - Muzzlehutch - was wondering what happened to you - glad to see you back, and on track.
How frightening to lose your house, and almost your life, in a fire - it is a devastating event.
Also glad to see you saw the light, and did the best thing you could - most of us go through bad times that tend to send us off kilter, we try and be strong, and yes the old days of anti depressants etc., did cause you to feel a bit like a zombie, I remember my face was sore from smiling so much.
But I now take one small pill a day, that keeps me pretty well sane and on track - thank goodness, no side effects, just feel "normal"!!
Hope to see you back on the forum, posting your good stuff. Take care.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Aussie Paul. You are so right. That is the biggest hurdle. To trust the psychiatric profession. Back in the day all they had were very nasty addictive drugs that sent you ga ga. I saw it happen to some in my circle of acquaintance. They wound up so stoned they were saved from imminent disaster but wound up Just like Alice.
I was so miserable and desperate I was expecting to veg out like that but thought I had nothing to lose.
When I started to take the medication I was just so happy that my blood pressure and feelings of incipient horror just went away but I didnt have my rationality snatched away from me. It just worked. Did what it said on the tin.
My message is. Anxiety and Depression are very amenable to treatment. Dont be ashamed to seek help. You will be amazed at how easy life becomes once you take the treatment seriously.
Kindest Regards.
Mark
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And I somehow rather fancy that I'd like to change with Clancy ..
G'day Mark, yep there are a few "deppies" on this forum. I went through life thinking I was pretty immune to such things, then it hit me like a bomb. I have had a meltdown even on this forum when my meds we're not good enough. Now I'm on the higher dose and everything is smooth (touch wood).
As said before, the biggest thing is knowing what it is, what the signposts are to an attack and what to do about it.
Take care and hug yourself a few times each day.
PHIL C
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with me an offered support. Anxiety and Depression is quite hard to understand because the affliction is the symptom. One can be so anxious that the ability to make sound decisions is whisked away from one. The fact that one is incapable of sound decision ,making then become terrifying. Mole Hill > Mountain. It is great that there is a way out. A competant GP should give you acess to the right antidepressants and hook you up with a Psychologist who will make sure you arent confusing your feelings of anxiety with events in your life. My blood pressure was 180 - like this is where your heart just explodes. Now it is back to normal ..
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And I somehow rather fancy that I'd like to change with Clancy ..
My advice is to avoid psychiatrists. They will interview you and ask you irrelevant questions such as whether your father raped your arse. They will then label you as anxious, psychotic, delusional, depressed, bipolar, paranoid, etc, and prescribe a suite of medications which they will experiment with over time. They really don't want to spend much time with you. They're only interested in easy fixes. They have the attitude that they are the experts whereas in fact the real expert is you. They will tell you what's wrong with you, not vice versa.
A psychologist, OTOH, is not as "qualified" as a psychiatrist. He is not able to prescribe medications. This means that he is forced to do some real work. He will actually talk to you and listen to your problems. He will then suggest strategies and possible solutions. He will help you to think about your problems in a different way. He will hook you up with support groups. Simply being able to talk to someone who understands your problems is therapeutic in itself. Resorting to medications as a primary solution is like subjecting yourself to a lobotomy.
BTW, I find it incredible that electroconvulsive "therapy" (ECT) is still used on involuntary patients. I am not a victim of this outrageous quackery, but I have spoken to one person who was subjected to a course of ECT. It's like Chelmsford revisited.
-- Edited by dorian on Tuesday 9th of February 2016 07:50:11 AM
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"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."
I totally agree with every word Dorian, I lost my son because of those money grabbing, heartless barstards, drugged up to hi heaven and then discarded. I would never advise anyone to get treatment from a psychiatrist.
I totally agree with every word Dorian, I lost my son because of those money grabbing, heartless barstards, drugged up to hi heaven and then discarded. I would never advise anyone to get treatment from a psychiatrist.
Hi iana,
When I had my first issue with D and A I had no choice but to be with a shrink twice a week. I found some of the stuff he said was helpful but the meds were all wrong, I think I got his favorite and not the one I needed.
I visited my GP when the black dog bit me again and he suggested Pristiq 100mg. I have to admit my life is a whole lot better now. This may not be for all but perhaps people should mention them to the GP.
I agree that shrinks are sometime in lar lar land.
Good mental health all
Phil
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
