Now im on anti anxiety and anti depressants help never take it before! - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Off Topic

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Now im on anti anxiety and anti depressants help never take it before!

siniestra

After so many years trying to fight on depression ...(keeps come and go) for the first time ...i gone way to far (medicine) my primary doctor prescribed me both of them cause my life is raining over wet ...im so afraid of being separated of my family! just because imigration (my hub might get deported) ...im am a US citizen but he is not...so we are fighting so he can stay (im legaly married and have a kid) plus my medical issues weren't enough from possibilities of cancer, gallbladder stones(being on a strict diet),less than to year ago moto vehicle accident ...fighting with my case, extreme pain...going on procedures geez so doc gave me a referal to a psycologist U_U and anti axiety and anti depressants... have u ever been in antidepressants...what to expect? Did it help? how was your behavior? thanx in advance!

Off Topic

14 replies

Latest reply was from lyn*

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I think it's important to pair antidepressants with some type of therapy and analysis. I have been on antidepressants before for a short period of time (I have major depressive disorder, and I have had multiple times where I have been on antidepressants for under 6 months).

It depends on the type of depression you have (mine is more situational than biological, but there is some biological component) as to the response of antidepressants. I gained weight, and felt that they helped me sleep better and that improved my mood. I don't know enough details about your case, but I'm going to imagine that your current stressors are not helping the picture - I don't think antidepressants alone will help you ... maybe talk to your doc about it?

Regardless, the textbook answer is antidepressants can take 6 weeks or more to be effective.

siniestra

she told me that i will not see the results in a month :[ for me this depression is going bad ...lost weight, hardly eat...not apetite at all ...hardly sleep... ...i will go to therapy too ...and the panick attacks aren't helping either with the rapid papiltations and i feel like warm blood spikes from head to toe like rush and hardly sleep ..i worry a lot and sometimes i don't even know about what...so hopefully will help

Krista

Veteran

Many years ago I went through a time where I needed to be on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication as well. I really really really did not want to be on medication, but I changed my mind when I realized that the medication was helping me develop coping strategies that I could use when I came OFF of the medication. For example, if you are constantly in a spiral of panic attacks, all of the coping suggestions you receive and attempt will be very difficult to implement if you never get out of the spiral of panic. It might be helpful to see the medication as something that could give your brain a break so that you can start exercising, journalling, deep breathing and eating right - all natural strategies that help improve anxiety and depression. Then, when you are off of the medication, you can continue to do those things so that you are maintaining balance in your life.
It's not an easy road, but success is possible. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is living proof, but I am one example!

Aziraphale

Veteran

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate. I hope the immigration issues get sorted out quickly.

As for antidepressants, yes, they can work. But each case is different. They put me on Prozac once when I was nineteen and hadn't eaten much of anything for a year and they thought I might be depressed (duh, d'ya think?) and it accomplished nothing at all. Turns out that serotonin deficiency wasn't my problem. But two months after the birth of my second child, I abruptly lost the ability to fall asleep, and by four months postpartum I was a gibbering, weeping wreck. THAT time, antidepressants worked wonders, and I'm eternally grateful. But they tried a few different ones before they got the right one. The one that worked had "causes drowsiness" as its main side effect, and since in my case it was sleeplessness that led to the depression, you can see why it was effective.

So by all means give antidepressants a try, but be aware that you need to be on them for at least two weeks to determine if they are effective, and also, you might need to try several different ones until you get one that works for you. So the whole process may take a few months.

Anonymous

Siniestra,

First, I am really sorry to hear about your health struggles. I know how it is to go thru a rough patch that seems never ending. Things do improve, when one has the determination, the courage and the stamina to keep on trying. Do not give up.

I did struggle with mental illness so I know what it is that you are going thru, not fun!

As far as antidepressants/ anti anxiety meds, I was at a point where they were recommended to me by my therapist, whom is a Psychologist, but he urged me to see a Psychiatrist (not my general MD) for a prescription.

When I went to see him, he basically disagreed with the therapist, just because - and please forgive me for the emphasis to come, - I HAD A SIDE EFFECT FROM A MEDICINE I TOOK., that is quite unique. Therefore, he was of the opinion that putting more drugs on my system was a much risky move that trying to control my anxiety thru other means, therapy, counseling, coping techniques etc.

However, I am a firm supporter of using medicines like these ones, for a short term, and under the strict supervision of a Psychologist / Psychiatrist and as part of a comprehensive plan that includes therapy.

I guess what I would like to convey is that before you take any further steps, make yourself aware of the potential side effects and things to look for. Also, as others have emphasized, this is just a short term solution designed to put you at ease, so you can embark on a more long term therapy, which is usually counseling.

Psychiatrists cannot prescribe, who recommended the medicine?

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I've never taken anti-depressants but I just wanted to chime in to say I'm sorry you are going through a rough patch. From all I've researched on my own health over the years it seems that sometimes depression/anxiety can be related to other illnesses.

I hope you had a complete blood work done with a full thyroid, andrenal and iron panel. Low iron and low iron stores in particular can cause anxiety and panic attacks. Thyroid troubles can cause the same thing, and much more. Doctors seem quick to prescribe anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications but slow to get complete and thorough blood tests done.

For me it took about 10 years to get my thyroid problem diagnosed (my original MD wanted me to take anti-anxiety meds and never even tested for thyroid issues) and then years later my endocrinologist neglected to test my iron stores and when finally I was clinically anemic again (I had been in the past as well but STILL no ferritin test was done!) he did and found I had almost no iron stores left (ferritin).

Anyway - I guess what I'm saying is that when people are healthy, they can handle some extreme stress - so you want to be sure you are healthy in a physical way.

Please consider going to another doctor if you have not had complete blood testing done first to rule out physical causes.

Didn't you have a baby not so long ago? I've read that this can really deplete your body of vital nutrients. What if you are very low on iron and/or B12, etc.?

Aziraphale

Veteran

Zap, psychiatrists *can* prescribe medicine, I'm sure of it. They are medical doctors. Psychologists and counselors cannot.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Sometimes it can take a while to get the right medication and for it to take effect, but when they start working they can be a lifesaver. Don't give up on them -- they really do help.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I was given Celexa for anxiety and it made me gittery and amped up. Stopped it 2 days later. Figured I would just talk myself down when I felt the anxiousness coming on. I have used Buspar, which some say doesn't work at all, so maybe it's a placebo effect. I should add that my situation is racing heart (sinus tachycardia) and they only suspect it's an anxiety thing, it could also be my adrenal glands over compensating when my blood sugar drops a bit (hypoglycemia). Anyway, I found both beta blockers(Metoprolol) and the Buspar much easier to take than the Celexa.

deb

Veteran

I have had severe bological depression since I was a child. i did not get help for it until I was in my late 30's when I weightd 84 pounds. Antidepressents saved my life along with talk therapy. I was limited to what type of antidepressent I could take due to my seizure disorder but have been on Effexor fpr 15 years. I have gone off of it but cycled back into depression again so the docs and I have come to the conclusion that I will most likely be on the them rest of my life. At first this really upset me but eventually realized that it is no different than the seizure meds I take. They keep me alive. I did not have any side effects to speak of. I wish you the best of luck and hope everything eventually settles down for you.

siniestra

thanx u all for sharing ! i feel sometimes we in a physical world don't talk with ppl about our problems ...because we want to protect our selfs...if i say im going to therapy some ppl just flinch and ask why with curiousity or bit skeptical.. make u feel u are cray cray haha ...

Nicole D

Veteran

You are not crazy! And you are brave to talk about your mental health. You would probably be very surprised to find out how many people have struggled with depression and anxiety or other mental health issues. When we speak out , we help to remove the negative image that people have about mental and emotional health. Go you! and I hope you find the right mix of medication/talk therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy to help you feel more like yourself gain.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I totally agree with Nicole - we all have 'something' going on at some point in our lives, and you're right - we don't always talk about this stuff, and as a result - when it's our turn to be battling stress, anxiety or what have you - we feel funny because we think that we're the only one. As you can see, that's not the case - we all have our rough patches.

Meanwhile, I just wanted to say that I like what Krista said a lot - she's 100% in right in saying that medication can help give you a chance to develop and learn the coping strategies you need to deal with anxiety and stress in the longer term.

Hang in there! You're not the only one and it will be ok.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I am training to be a shrinky-dink and we can prescribe because we are MD's.

Psychologists cannot.