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#21
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[OT] Maybe things are looking up
"Yowie" wrote in message ... wrote in message ... They're worse on the DH front, but at least it looks like I've recovered one of my "lost" friendships. He came over last night and we talked for four or five hours, even stuff from years ago (we've known each other half my life). Worked through a lot, got very honest about a lot, and it looks like we are very solidly dear friends once again. He is going to help me through some of this divorce stuff, too, whatever he can, whenever he can. I am so grateful. Friends make all the difference, and to almost have lost one had me so depressed I just about gave up on life. And so today I follow in Yowie's footsteps, and begin to take antidepressants. I hope they will help me through this time, give me more energy, and help my outlook. I really, really hate going this route, but when your pulmonologist's intern thinks you should be on antidepressants, I guess it's way past time to give it a try. There is *nothing* wrong with taking anti-depessants. The best side effect for me was being able to sleep. I am a light sleeper at the best of times, and when I'm worrie dor upset, my mind will go over and over whatever it is that sbugging me and I don't sleep. The anti-depressants gave me my slep back, and that in itself made thigns alot better. What they did for me is simply stop that "overwhelmed and helpless" feeling - allowed m to keep functioning without going seriously nuts (and I needed to keep functioning for Cary's sake if nothing else). I'm no longer taking them now, because life has settled down, and I'm getting more sleep. But I have *no idea* what I would have done for those 6 months when I was takign them. I'd call them lifesavers in more ways than one. You're going through so much turmoil right now, I'd be surprised if *anyone* could cope wihout anti-depressants. They don't turn you into a zombie, rather, they just take the edge off the stress and worry so you can through the rough patch. You may not need them forever, but my goodness do they help when you do. Don't feel ashamed, that would be like being ashamed of a your cast on a broken leg or -as someone else put it - taking insulin for diabetes. The certainly can't rectify the problems hat Real LIfe has thrown at you, but what hey can give you is the emotional stability to deal with those problems appropriately rahter than them becoming all-consuming. Just to try to put "anti-psychotic" medications in perspective. I take Paxil. I've taken some sort of anti-depressant off and on for decades. At first I took them to deal with a few deep depressions. And always quit when the gloom lifted. Then I learned that I didn't get migraines when I took them. I consider prevention of migraine a major advantage. Hardly consider wanting to avoid migraine an issue of sanity. A couple of years later, the medical community caught up and decreed that they sometimes work to thwart migraines. As time went on, I developed Rheumatic Arthritis. After a few years, I was unable to tolerate anti-inflammatory medication. And I've never been able to tolerate narcotic pain killers. They make me hyper and keep me awake for days on end. But anti-depressants have also been shown to provide pain management. Back again to my good friend Paxil at a somewhat higher dose. In addition to relieving depression, it keeps me from getting migraines and also serves as a pain management device. Trust me, what it is doing is physical, not "just" psychological. Jo |
#22
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[OT] Maybe things are looking up
Dan M wrote:
On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 13:17:40 -0500, CatNipped wrote: I really don't know why people resist taking anti-depressants when they need them. It should be viewed the same as a diebetic taking insulin - there's something your body needs to function properly and you shouldn't hesitate to take it. There is (or should be) no stigma in needing to adjust the chemistry of your body when it is out of whack. I'll second that! Taking anti-depressants isn't a sign of weakness. It's just another medication to fix chemical imbalances. And I know that when I went off antidepressants for a year or so I REALLY felt it. When your brain isn't getting the right balance of norepinephrine or serotonin or whatever other chemicals are involved, you can sure feel it. I am so frustrated. My mom is in Germany right now, visiting her sisters for a month. Her older sister, Inge, seems to be suffering from depression quite badly. My mom first told me about this about 6 months ago, when she found out from talking to Inge on the phone. At that point I wrote to my mom and told her to tell Inge to get to a doctor and get on anti-depressants. My mom wrote back a huffy email saying that that is certainly not necessary and all Inge needs is to get out there and get more exercise (my mom's answer to everything). I wrote a few more emails but they all got ignored and so I stopped. Now I got an email a few days ago from my mom saying that she was only able to stay with Inge for a few days and then had to move onto her other sister's place, because staying with Inge was so stressful because of how depressed she is. I wrote another, very long and detailed email all about depression and what it really is and how medication would help and it wouldn't necessarily be for life, etc. I told my mom that it's been going on long enough and if Inge doesn't commit suicide soon, then even if she continues to live, her life won't feel much worth living. Get her to a doctor! My email got completely ignored :-( I don't know if this is just their stubborn German-ness or what but I'm getting really mad about this. It's not like I can even just contact Inge myself, I have no details on her phone, email or address and I'm sure my mom won't give it to me because she knows what I would talk to her about and she wouldn't want to get in trouble for telling me Inges personal problems. Grrrr! -- Britta Purring is an automatic safety valve device for dealing with happiness overflow. Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album |
#24
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[OT] Maybe things are looking up
I don't even know where my iron is - or even if I still have one! If it doesn't come out of he dryer in a wearable state, it simply doesn't get worn. I have an iron, and an ironing board! I use them to press fabric and seams when I sew. That's usually the last time they get touched by an iron. Jane - owned and operated by Princess Rita |
#25
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[OT] Maybe things are looking up
The light at the end of the tunnel is warm sunshine. Rumors not
withstanding. Hang in there, do your best, and leave to the diety of your choice to do everything else. -- Christopher A. Young You can't shout down a troll. You have to starve them. .. wrote in message ... They're worse on the DH front, but at least it looks like I've recovered one of my "lost" friendships. He came over last night and we talked for four or five hours, even stuff from years ago (we've known each other half my life). Worked through a lot, got very honest about a lot, and it looks like we are very solidly dear friends once again. He is going to help me through some of this divorce stuff, too, whatever he can, whenever he can. I am so grateful. Friends make all the difference, and to almost have lost one had me so depressed I just about gave up on life. And so today I follow in Yowie's footsteps, and begin to take antidepressants. I hope they will help me through this time, give me more energy, and help my outlook. I really, really hate going this route, but when your pulmonologist's intern thinks you should be on antidepressants, I guess it's way past time to give it a try. Wish me luck! Ginger-lyn Home Pages: http://www.moonsummer.com http://www.angelfire.com/folk/glsummer (homepage & cats) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....mmer/index.htm (genealogy) http://www.movieanimals.bravehost.com/ (The Violence Against Animals in Movies Website) |
#26
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[OT] Maybe things are looking up
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#27
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[OT] Maybe things are looking up
On 15 Jun 2006 23:54:01 GMT, wrote:
Yowie wrote: There is *nothing* wrong with taking anti-depessants. I wonder if Ginger-Lyn was hesitant about anti-depressants not because of stigma, but because they're not an especially holistic way to treat depression? Maybe it's not about shame, but about the fact that she'll be putting very strong chemicals into her system. I think that's something to think about pretty seriously. A very large number of people take SSRI anti-depressants, myself included. I'm really glad I do, because I am far more stable with them than without them. But sometimes I wonder what the long-term effects will be. Over the past few years, my memory has really declined, and it used to be *excellent*. It could be due to menopause, but maybe it's the A/Ds. Am I giving myself brain damage?? Joyce Joyce, you're pretty close. There's a number of reasons I was hesitant, from feeling that, as a culture, the US tends to overmedicate (which is not to say that many meds are lifesavers for many people, including antidepressants), to knowing that my own body tends to be sensitive to chemicals. I am already on six meds for my asthma/emphysema/COPD, anxiety, allergies, and acid reflux, so adding a seventh is serious for me. I would love to not be on *any* meds, but I have resigned myself to the fact that, at the very least, I will always need my inhalers. I hope I will not always need the others. I wish I knew the answer to your questions, Joyce, but I don't. I have no idea what the long-term effects might be, either. I can tell you one thing, though -- it is very common in perimenopause/menopause to have memory lapses, and from what I hear, it does improve eventually. At least I *hope* so (since I have the same problem!). Ginger-lyn couldn't post yesterday because the Zoloft makes me really dizzy. Today is better, so I guess my body is getting used to it. Home Pages: http://www.moonsummer.com http://www.angelfire.com/folk/glsummer (homepage & cats) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....mmer/index.htm (genealogy) http://www.movieanimals.bravehost.com/ (The Violence Against Animals in Movies Website) |
#28
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[OT] Maybe things are looking up
wrote:
There's a number of reasons I was hesitant, from feeling that, as a culture, the US tends to overmedicate (which is not to say that many meds are lifesavers for many people, including antidepressants), to knowing that my own body tends to be sensitive to chemicals. I am already on six meds for my asthma/emphysema/COPD, anxiety, allergies, and acid reflux, so adding a seventh is serious for me. I would love to not be on *any* meds, but I have resigned myself to the fact that, at the very least, I will always need my inhalers. I hope I will not always need the others. I know exactly how you feel. ATM, besides two kinds of insulin, I take six other medicines every day. I hate it every time the doctor prescribes me another one, and unlike you, I know I'll have to take them the rest of my life. Lots of hugs and purrs, Ginger-lyn. I hope the meds do help and don't cause any bad reactions. -- Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki |
#29
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Maybe things are looking up
But sometimes I wonder what the long-term
effects will be. Over the past few years, my memory has really declined, and it used to be *excellent*. It could be due to menopause, but maybe it's the A/Ds. Am I giving myself brain damage?? Joyce, I believe it. Pre-2004, I had a photographic memory. I still do, but now there's a big hole in it. If I pick an item up off the shelf at the store and walk right away to the checkout, by the time I get there, I will have forgotten the price. Usually I can guess the numbers but they are all mixed around (like 4.29 vs 2.49, or $32 instead of $23.) To get to my classes at school, I had to write the numbers down inside my textbook. If I forgot the textbook I couldn't find the classroom--even if someone told me the number, I couldn't remember it long enough to find the room. I don't know if it was the Effexor, the depression, or the surrounding neuro damage (like whatever happened that made my left hand go numb for eight months) but I am not what I used to be, and I'm only 28. --Fil |
#30
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Maybe things are looking up
"Enfilade" wrote in message
oups.com... But sometimes I wonder what the long-term effects will be. Over the past few years, my memory has really declined, and it used to be *excellent*. It could be due to menopause, but maybe it's the A/Ds. Am I giving myself brain damage?? Joyce, I believe it. Pre-2004, I had a photographic memory. I still do, but now there's a big hole in it. If I pick an item up off the shelf at the store and walk right away to the checkout, by the time I get there, I will have forgotten the price. Usually I can guess the numbers but they are all mixed around (like 4.29 vs 2.49, or $32 instead of $23.) To get to my classes at school, I had to write the numbers down inside my textbook. If I forgot the textbook I couldn't find the classroom--even if someone told me the number, I couldn't remember it long enough to find the room. I don't know if it was the Effexor, the depression, or the surrounding neuro damage (like whatever happened that made my left hand go numb for eight months) but I am not what I used to be, and I'm only 28. The Effexor did the same thing to me and to my daughter. That is one drug that I *would* like to see them take off the market. They are prescribing it for too many things, not just depression (they gave it to me for my Fibromyalgia!) - and not only are the side effects dangerous, but the withdrawals are killer! -- Hugs, CatNipped See all my masters at: http://www.PossiblePlaces.com/CatNipped/ --Fil |
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