So I see depression threads pop up from time to time. If you see my screen name you can probably put together I have my own battles with such. Anyways, new crap going on. Blah. No point to this thread, just venting. I was on Paxil for 17 years, I was also a functioning alcoholic for 10 of those 17 (Last 10 of 17). I quit drinking in March of 2016. Around July of 2016, Paxil stopped working. Until Feb 2017, the tried upping the dosage but I was in pretty rough mental shape, also moving into a home with my at the time future wife, more stresses weren't helping. Effexor started in 2017 Feb. ANYONE EVER TOLD TO TAKE EFFEXOR, DO NOT! What a terrible drug. Essentially, for two years. I have not felt like "me". Even my wife notices differences. So, s I type this, I've been in therapy now for 2 months, and also saw a psychiatrist about my meds. He thinks the drinking masked a lot of stuff and when I went sober, it was too much to handle. So his suggestion is to try to get me back on Paxil. This is scary because I'm remembering the last few months on it and wondering how half the dosage of what I was taking back then, is going to help now. But he's the expert. So this week, I have been taking half the amount of Effexor and a small amount of Paxil. A slow switch that will take a month. This is day 4. So far, so good. Finding myself already feeling better and handling things better, but maybe just placebo effect knowing I'm taking this stuff for a change. Long story short. Dont hide your issues. Through drinking, drugs, simple denial, however. Talk to a friend, a family member, a therapist - something. I didn't realize at the time what I was doing, but hindsight and 20/20 ... So, next month I will celebrate 3 years clean of alcohol. Currently in therapy and trying to get back on the right track with better meds. I was diagnosed with 3 things, GAD (general anxiety disorder) Addictive personality disorder (one is good, ten is better), and Atypical depression (especially the heavy laden arms symptom, worst feeling I can't describe very well). Thanks for letting me rant.
I know exactly where you're coming from. I started having panic attacks and social anxiety in my early 20's. Took Paxil for many years and it really did work but eventually I was getting some really bad side effects. For the last five years I've been on Prozac and Valium which I only take on an as needed basis. However I do still drink mainly to cope with family issues since my father died in 2015, but that's a whole other story.
Great post more people need to talk about mental illness and get rid of the stigma associated with varying degrees of mental illness. I know this post is not exactly on topic but i will put in my two cents. I live in Canada so the link below can help fellow Canadians Help end the stigma around mental illness. It’s easier than you think! https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/ways-to-help
I had panic attacks in my mid-to-late twenties and the weird thing is life was great!...I had a good job new car/ great health yet something would trigger me and make me think something bad was going to happen...I soon found that a cold beer was a quick fix/ never did like taking pills of any kind... Good weed help's sometimes too...
I heard in one of the Boogie2988 videos on youtube that he has been on a DNA test for antidepressants, which help him find the exact douse and what exact type of antidepressants he needs to feel better, I'm not sure in which video it was though. It's probably related to this article https://www.statnews.com/2018/09/28/genetic-test-antidepressants/
Yeah same here. I was 23, making good money, nice apartment, and good health. Then one day out of nowhere my heart felt like it was gonna bust outta my chest.
exactly!....weird-ass stuff I tell ya!....it did go away and I have no clue why it showed up? I can relate to the unexplainable mind crap!.....weird stuff. it's almost like a fear of something that's never going to happen?....Grrrrrr
hey if you don't mind me asking, how old are you now?....I think we can fix this stuff by communication on a daily basis.... I have grown a grain of sativa bud that will mellow you out better than any pharmaceutical company ever thought of..... I call it airbud.... for real though... happy is happy... and sad is sad...worried about something is worried about something!.......my special weed will free you from all those worries! Puff Puff Smoke....save a lot of money on pharmaceutical crap pills! PS: I hope you all realize I'm joking!....my weed ain't that good
Never used alcohol. But I do take Duloxetine for my sweet sweet depression. Used venlafaxine before. This is better no side-effects and lower dosage for same effect.
41 for two weeks now I may try weed someday, never tried it actually. I'm sure it helps someone, but I'm not sure what fiancee would say
Instead of weed, take CBD oil as it has the actual health benefits of cannabioids with no ill effects from THC. Unless you just wanna get baked in which case knock yourself out if that's what you fancy. I've done my rounds with a few different anti-depressants and I must say since I started taking CBD oil I've been feeling a lot better and it got rid of my sciatica too which was actually the main reason I started taking CBD. The only real issue with CBD is that it can take a while to figure out your dosage and its generally recommended you work your way up on the dosage which takes weeks. The effect isn't also that pronounced like with head meds which can put people with severe issues off. I still take a beta blocker if I expect to be dealing with some of my triggers but that's it really. As for side effects, all the head meds I had caused me issues in the sack. My sex drive would be as strong as ever or even stronger and my Old Chap would stand at attention with no issues but if me and the missus we're at it and I was getting to the good part, the Old Chap would basically go "nah, you know what, I can't be bothered with this! Lets watch Looney Tunes instead!". Needless to say I try and steer clear of the meds as much as I can.
If you need medication, you need medication. Watch the self medicating though, booze is a tough one to kick when it eventually catches up to you. Not preaching but just saying my piece.
Good to see a rational discussion of mental health something that is needed so badly. We really need to get rid of the stigma surrounding the issue and open honest discussion is one of the ways to do it. Kudos.
My brother was also on Paxil and a heavy drinker. He quit both. Paxil is a difficult med to quit cold turkey. He had to slowly reduce the dosage over time, ie, a 10mg tab gets reduced to about 1mg over a 6 mo period or longer. He used a pill cutter to help him break it apart into tiny portions over time. Hope things work out for you.
Look into magnesium supplements. It helps alot with anxiety. **** diet also got rid of any mental health issues I had and I also lost 5.5 stone. It really works for mental health.
I've been on a few different meds for "mental health issues".... I won't provide the exact diagnosis because it varied by shrink, nor the meds, aside from Lexapro. As stated in a thread I created back in 2015, I spent a week in a psych facility. The shrink there decided I suffered from "severe depression" and put me on 10mg Lexapro.... I found CBD was more effective and less harmful than any of the psych meds I was put on. I suffer from social anxiety disorder, depression, and joint/musculoskeletal pain. CBD has, thus far, been effective for all of my issues on it's own. It also helps me with stress reduction and insomnia. I use 250mg CBD vape juice....unfortunately my previous source is no longer available so I have to find a new one. I stopped taking the Lexapro and started using CBD vape juice due to intense nightmares (commonly referred to as "night terrors") and lack of impulse control.