Anti depressants

Lala

Lala

Well-known member
I give out regular shite on mental health subjects but it’s all reverberated crap from what I’ve been told .
Has anyone else been on them long term ?
20 years for me bar the odd non compliance period of no more than a year.

I’m wondering if they stop me from being the real me and I’m living this fake life that stops me being the real me, warts and all, a fun bobby regardless of any situation.

They don‘t stop me stressing but maybe stop full blown panic attacks but maybe I wouldn’t even have panic attacks now and maybe it’s better to be the real me anyway.

Ffs I feel like I’m just a legitimate druggie and have been for 20 years.

Anyone else come off them after 20
years ?

Don’t ask me to consult my GP, he doesn’t have a clue what I’m on and would just nod along with whatever I suggested. I am a number, we all are.
 
I’m laughing at the GP bit… They throw you some sweets and forget about you if they’re anything like mine…I think a fairly basic computer program could replace most GP’s and do a far better job tbh.

I was on citalopram from my mid 20’s for maybe 10 - 15 years. Mainly for severe Anxiety.. It was bad enough to be disabling for a while to the point that I struggled tp leave the house, couldn’t work etc… A combination of too much stress in my life from various things in a short space of time and I snapped.

I’ve not been on anything now for over a decade, but I still get occasional ‘very mild’ anxiety and have suffered moderate depression from time to time (Vit D & B, and lots of outdoor exercise seem to help keep my mood perked up👍)

If they’re working for you and you feel happy and balanced, then I’d stick with it.
 
If they are working for you now stay on them. Think back to your non compliance period and compare your feelings then to now and the reason why you went back to taking medication.Very risky to stop medication voluntarily. I know people that have done this and have ended up very unwell and had to be sectioned.
 
I've suffered with it for years
Eventually had enough of the NHS and paid for private care
Been diagnosed with complex PTSD due to childhood trauma
And currently undergoing EMDR treatment which isn't pill based
This could of been sorted years ago but giving pills out is the cheaper and easier option
As a country and society we are years behind in attitude and care for mental health
 
A bit hit and miss perhaps, but some pharmacists can be very helpful, obviously for advice only.
Maybe see if anyone can recommend a good one?
Might give you some ammunition for when you are ready to approach the GP surgery?
 
Never been on any anti depressant but work in the field
Suppose you have to do basic cost/benefit analysis
Yes people say they can make you feel numb but what about crippling anxiety hopelessness and pitch black depression ?
After 20 years you could ask gp to refer for psychiatric review of medication ( current wait in Blackpool for non urgent referral is about 6 months +) or pay private ( £200-£500 approx for seeing a nhs psychiatrist on day off or evening)

More and more evidence that combination with talking therapy ,CBT if your willing to work at it is recommended by NICE .Self referral, waiting time about 6 months

I also think exercise ,good diet,cut down booze ( it's a depressant) and structure to your day can yield real results - seeing your pals( not to talk about problems necessarily)and fresh air is important - join walking club or if you don't like company get a dog or bike

One last thing is this - the single biggest reason for relapse of depression,anxiety,psychosis or bipolar is non compliance with medication - factamundo
 
Never touched them. Not on any pills, fortunately. My Dad swears by cod liver oil, and there’s arthritis in family, so turmeric might help avoid that down the line.

Re the anti depressants- I’d say if they seem to work, don’t change a thing. 👍
 
Not had any problems myself, but it surprised me when I found out how many people are actually taking this medication. If I were a doctor I would try to wean people off them gradually without them knowing, having replaced them with a placebo, closely monitoring them of course (which is why it won't actually happen)
 
Sooty59 said:
Not had any problems myself, but it surprised me when I found out how many people are actually taking this medication. If I were a doctor I would try to wean people off them gradually without them knowing, having replaced them with a placebo, closely monitoring them of course (which is why it won't actually happen)
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Very risky strategy outside of proper clinical trial - consequences could be catastrophic in some cases

Would we say the same of statins, medication for high blood pressure kidney disease etc - replace pharmaceuticals with chalk

Lots of bullshit about mental health and there are malingerers- think bad backs 40 years ago - but these are real illnesses and mist suffers would exchange a broken leg with a mental breakdown
There is a lot of BS about mental health in social media etc but best to treat like most illnesses ,that with right care and treatment, people recover
Anyway getting ready for the game
 
Been on Citalopram for over 17 years.

No side effects. I've talked to my GP occasionally and he says if you're ok with them, then carry on.

Also on medication for diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma.

No side effects from any of them. I have regular check ups. They seem to be working well.

Because of my blood pressure I've been told to stay off this board, and away from Bloomfield Road, but what would be the fun in that?
 
Sooty59 said:
Not had any problems myself, but it surprised me when I found out how many people are actually taking this medication. If I were a doctor I would try to wean people off them gradually without them knowing, having replaced them with a placebo, closely monitoring them of course (which is why it won't actually happen)
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That would be a pretty irresponsible and dangerous thing to do really.

There will be underlying reasons why more people are suffering with MH issues. It’s definitely not a case of just being ‘in their head’ for want of a better phrase.
 
These have been given out like sweets in the past. Many millions of the population were and perhaps (are still) on them.

I once went for a meal with my wife and various other couples. The topic came up and of tbe 12 sat around the table about 6 or 7 openly confessed they were on antidepressants. I was shocked and amazed. They were all professionals and parents and functioning members of society yet in need of antidepressants. It was as if they needed them to cope with busy lives and the general pressure of having a busy life and trying to be ‘successful’.

I’m not at all convinced they would have been the right thing for the folk sat around that table. But we had a culture of wanting an instant fix for everything. We wanted our antibiotics or our other prescription drugs and we weren’t at all happy with the gp if we didn’t get them.

GPs seemingly gave them out willy nilly and perhaps were incentivised to do so as they worked hand in glove (and maybe backhanders in glove) with the pharmaceutical industry. GP practices are run as businesses and aim to make profits by the way.

Undoubtedly though, these are vital drugs for many and will have saved lives, and helped lives get back on track. I’m all for that.

But for me they should be more carefully controlled and restricted. There’s other ways to help folk who are feeling down or stressed.
They should be for the clinically depressed only and not those who are going through a bad patch and are wanting a pick me up.

With regards to long term use, I’m sure there’s some mental health conditions which necessitate this. But with regards to those who has gone on them due to depression say caused by a bereavement, there should be a clear route map off them within a relatively short period of time. If there’s a relapse then yeah they may need a further course.

But I suspect there’s lots of folk who are on repeat prescriptions without having had any real review to consider whether they’re still needed and whether the side effects actually outweigh any remaining benefits.

There’s a place for these drugs. There’s also a place for long term use. But too many are on them, and too many are on them longer term.

Each case has to be looked at on individual merits so if it were me I’d be requesting a review from the GP. 👍
 
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This is definitely a case of don’t rock the boat. Don’t change what works for you.
I do agree that some Doctor’s were very quick to prescribe them in the past, maybe unnecessarily in some cases.
Lots of people seem to need them to function on a day-to-day basis and on a more even keel.
Just be aware of any long term side affects and report to your Doctor if anything additional crops up, but all drugs have side affects - that’s why they come with a handy (main) list, although there might be additional ones per individual. 👍
 
I'm not on any medication but like those above who refer to GP's, I've no confidence in them and to back this up:
The GP's here and before that in Blackpool, have had my wife on strong painkillers (neck problem) for years and she's now addicted to them. They do the annual mandatory review over the phone (this years is next week & it's now rests with the pharmacist) but never see her in person.
I had my 3 yearly medical review with the practice nurse recently & my cholesterol levels are very good. However, she said that the computer calculation puts me at a 12% risk of having a stroke / heart attack in the next 10 years and that I should consider going on statins asap. When I asked why in view of my good test results, she had no answer, but advised I consider it .... no thanks!
Maybe you could follow the advice of Bispham Tang, or if you can afford the cost, go private (as Far Up North Tangerine has done) for a thorough review.
 
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ALWAYS triple check anything your GP tells you to do or take, in fact expand that to any medical professional.

Don't come off the pills cold turkey Lala, seek professional advice on anything else but as above, get as much as possible.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
That would be a pretty irresponsible and dangerous thing to do really.

There will be underlying reasons why more people are suffering with MH issues. It’s definitely not a case of just being ‘in their head’ for want of a better phrase.
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Probably a bad idea on my behalf & you can’t generalise. Each patient will be different. Just keep taking the pills I guess.
 
Bisphamtang said:
Very risky strategy outside of proper clinical trial - consequences could be catastrophic in some cases

Would we say the same of statins, medication for high blood pressure kidney disease etc - replace pharmaceuticals with chalk

Lots of bullshit about mental health and there are malingerers- think bad backs 40 years ago - but these are real illnesses and mist suffers would exchange a broken leg with a mental breakdown
There is a lot of BS about mental health in social media etc but best to treat like most illnesses ,that with right care and treatment, people recover
Anyway getting ready for the game
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Yep I’m wrong 🤲
 
My only advice is to ignore the opinions of anyone who is not a medical expert or does not have first hand knowledge of taking anti-depressants. It took me years to finally take anti-depressants and they changed my life for the better. What made me delay and live at times in misery was I had been convinced by people and society at large that 'everyone takes them' and they throw them out like sweets. I improved my diet, tried CBD oil, tried meditating, time off work, better sleep, and nothing worked like pills. I fear the casual nature of people throwing around comments such as 'most people don't need them doctors just throw them around' is very lazy and actually deters people from taking them, like me. They don't work for everyone, but please talk to your doctor and don't listen to people who have no actual knowledge on the matter.
 
There’s a difference between discussing something medical as laypeople, and giving medical advice. It’s the former that most have done on this thread, which is good to see.

You don’t need to be an medical expert to have knowledge of a medical topic. The over-proliferation of antidepressants in the UK has been widely reported on.

Just as the over use of antibiotics has. You don’t need to be a doctor or have been on antibiotics to know they too have been given out far too freely in the past.

Some doctors are better than others but there’s been a cultural over reliance on drugs including antibiotics, antidepressants and long term use of painkillers. These have each caused problems for society and it’s right they face careful scrutiny and we learn lessons.

Given the wide use of such drugs it’s probably safe to say that there’s seemingly little barrier to acquiring them, whether that be by stigma or otherwise.
They have been given out like sweets. They have been given out far too freely. The BMJ has acknowledged this.
 
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Lala, I’m not qualified to give you as an individual case any advice one way of the other as no one on here is in truth BUT what I can say is Look after yourself. I note you typed your OP at 1.38am so that indicates to me that you are “fretting“ one way or another at a terrible time of the day to be “thinking about things” …..try to relax and get the sleep you need 👍. Go Easy
 
Malced said:
There’s a difference between discussing something medical as laypeople, and giving medical advice. It’s the former that most have done on this thread, which is good to see.

You don’t need to be an medical expert to have knowledge of a medical topic. The over-proliferation of antidepressants in the UK has been widely reported on.

Just as the over use of antibiotics has. You don’t need to be a doctor or have been on antibiotics to know they too have been given out far too freely in the past.

Some doctors are better than others but there’s been a cultural over reliance on drugs including antibiotics, antidepressants and long term use of painkillers. These have each caused problems for society and it’s right they face careful scrutiny and we learn lessons.

Given the wide use of such drugs it’s probably safe to say that there’s seemingly little barrier to acquiring them, whether that be by stigma or otherwise.
They have been given out like sweets. They have been given out far too freely. The BMJ has acknowledged this.
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You are right at “overall” level mate but that fact probably doesn’t inform an individual case as it were
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I’m laughing at the GP bit… They throw you some sweets and forget about you if they’re anything like mine…I think a fairly basic computer program could replace most GP’s and do a far better job tbh.

I was on citalopram from my mid 20’s for maybe 10 - 15 years. Mainly for severe Anxiety.. It was bad enough to be disabling for a while to the point that I struggled tp leave the house, couldn’t work etc… A combination of too much stress in my life from various things in a short space of time and I snapped.

I’ve not been on anything now for over a decade, but I still get occasional ‘very mild’ anxiety and have suffered moderate depression from time to time (Vit D & B, and lots of outdoor exercise seem to help keep my mood perked up👍)

If they’re working for you and you feel happy and balanced, then I’d stick with it.
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This is similar to me. I was on them for the same length of time. I take the same vitamins and I find magnesium also helps. I also take CBD when I get palpitations and that seems to help. I find exercise is the best medicine for me personally as I seem to get really depressed if I don't go to the gym for a few days or don't at least go on long walks with my dogs. I came off my Meds a few years ago and the main reason was I were paranoid about what they was doing to my health long term. I also seemed to feel tired all the time. I'm up and down and still have anxiety attacks quite a lot but not sure if I feel any worse without. Its a difficult one to judge
 
Just out of interest (and only If anyone wants to share and has identified the cause ) what causes your anxiety or depression?

In my case (stress/anxiety) ….it was 99% work related. A High sales performance culture where I were only as good as my overall Area team’s performance (that was my belief anyway) and it caused me to never be able to switch off so I couldn’t enjoy anything in the rest of my (very blessed) life at all…it was an ever present anxiety and was mentally crippling, very very traumatic whilst having to put on a confident, self assured “act” all the time. And btw this went in for years and years and vast majority of people wouldn’t have had a clue and would have been very surprised if they’d known. I was a right mess…but performed

Went to Docs, they prescribed citalopram but I didn’t take em…..just didn’t want to go down that route. I just bumbled on unhappily but very very luckily due to certain reasons the culture of the company changed and it played into my hands and the work related stress therefore went away and it transformed my life tbh……..Pills couldn’t have helped me personally, I was just lucky
 
Bloodtangerine said:
You are right at “overall” level mate but that fact probably doesn’t inform an individual case as it were
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Totally agree mate. That’s why on my original post I said each case has to be judged individually on its merits. I wouldn’t ever get involved and try to suggest a specific person shouldn’t be on them. That’s between them and their medical practitioner. 👍
 
BruceBFC said:
This is similar to me. I was on them for the same length of time. I take the same vitamins and I find magnesium also helps. I also take CBD when I get palpitations and that seems to help. I find exercise is the best medicine for me personally as I seem to get really depressed if I don't go to the gym for a few days or don't at least go on long walks with my dogs. I came off my Meds a few years ago and the main reason was I were paranoid about what they was doing to my health long term. I also seemed to feel tired all the time. I'm up and down and still have anxiety attacks quite a lot but not sure if I feel any worse without. Its a difficult one to judge
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That’s a very interesting and informative post. Some GPs have been prescribing exercise for those with mild mental health issues.
The natural endorphins etc are proven to help mental health.
Antidepressants aren’t very effective with milder depression. But given the volumes administered it seems they’ve been used for that far too often.
 
Bloodtangerine said:
Just out of interest (and only If anyone wants to share and has identified the cause ) what causes your anxiety or depression?

In my case (stress/anxiety) ….it was 99% work related. A High sales performance culture where I were only as good as my overall Area team’s performance (that was my belief anyway) and it caused me to never be able to switch off so I couldn’t enjoy anything in the rest of my (very blessed) life at all…it was an ever present anxiety and was mentally crippling, very very traumatic whilst having to put on a confident, self assured “act” all the time. And btw this went in for years and years and vast majority of people wouldn’t have had a clue and would have been very surprised if they’d known. I was a right mess…but performed

Went to Docs, they prescribed citalopram but I didn’t take em…..just didn’t want to go down that route. I just bumbled on unhappily but very very luckily due to certain reasons the culture of the company changed and it played into my hands and the work related stress therefore went away and it transformed my life tbh……..Pills couldn’t have helped me personally, I was just lucky
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I want to say corners and other set piece situations, but what you say about work performance really resonates with me.
Whoever thought constantly setting more ridiculous and more unachievable targets and setting one team up against another in some ludicrous, incomparable competition against each other was good for a workforce or an organisation wants stringing up.
I have spent much of my working life operating under those conditions and it is unhealthy.
You can’t really do a good, all round and holistic job being fair to everyone (customers, clients, workmates, bosses and also yourself) when it is like that. It is always skewed IMO.
Haven’t been on anti depressants, probably needed counselling at least sometimes, but have continually self medicated with beer and stronger though mainly just at weekends. Monday morning is cross over time and not pleasant!
 
glasshalffull said:
I want to say corners and other set piece situations, but what you say about work performance really resonates with me.
Whoever thought constantly setting more ridiculous and more unachievable targets and setting one team up against another in some ludicrous, incomparable competition against each other was good for a workforce or an organisation wants stringing up.
I have spent much of my working life operating under those conditions and it is unhealthy.
You can’t really do a good, all round and holistic job being fair to everyone (customers, clients, workmates, bosses and also yourself) when it is like that. It is always skewed IMO.
Haven’t been on anti depressants, probably needed counselling at least sometimes, but have continually self medicated with beer and stronger though mainly just at weekends. Monday morning is cross over time and not pleasant!
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That is eloquently summed up mate..perfectly described. Are you still in that situation?
 
Bloodtangerine said:
That is eloquently summed up mate..perfectly described. Are you still in that situation?
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Mercifully not. Was able to pack in a while back, but I miss not working so will probably look for something a bit more out of the firing line fairly soon.
Still in touch with quite a few ex-colleagues though, who are brilliant people and things haven’t been getting easier for them.
How about you?
 
585 = never give up said:
I'm not on any medication but like those above who refer to GP's, I've no confidence in them and to back this up:
The GP's here and before that in Blackpool, have had my wife on strong painkillers (neck problem) for years and she's now addicted to them. They do the annual mandatory review over the phone (this years is next week & it's now rests with the pharmacist) but never see her in person.
I had my 3 yearly medical review with the practice nurse recently & my cholesterol levels are very good. However, she said that the computer calculation puts me at a 12% risk of having a stroke / heart attack in the next 10 years and that I should consider going on statins asap. When I asked why in view of my good test results, she had no answer, but advised I consider it .... no thanks!
Maybe you could follow the advice of Bispham Tang, or if you can afford the cost, go private (as Far Up North Tangerine has done) for a thorough review.
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Has your wife ever seen an osteopath? I can recommend a superb lady that’s extremely knowledgeable if she wanted an opinion. She worked wonders for me with a nursing related back injury..
 
TotallyTangerine said:
Has your wife ever seen an osteopath? I can recommend a superb lady that’s extremely knowledgeable if she wanted an opinion. She worked wonders for me with a nursing related back injury..
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Many thanks for your support TT. We live in Warrington and our daughter has given us details of her good osteopath. The problem is, my wife is convinced that only tablets work and refuses any other recommendations - but we're still working on it!
 
585 = never give up said:
Many thanks for your support TT. We live in Warrington and our daughter has given us details of her good osteopath. The problem is, my wife is convinced that only tablets work and refuses any other recommendations - but we're still working on it!
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Oh, I hope she agrees to see her/him. Neck pain can radiate up into the head or down into the back and cause all kind of problems.. keep trying!!
 
@Lala -

a) I hope you are ok

b) you are absolutely you - you are a very distinctive voice on here and one that has an honestly and truthfulness to it...

c) what you are saying about not being yourself, I sometimes wonder the opposite of myself - i.e. I have had times when I really should have been on medication I think and I've resisted - whilst I've managed to pull myself through to a better place each time, I've wondered if I could have caused less shit for myself and others if I'd been less stubborn about not taking medication. I also go through periods where I don't think I feel like 'me' and I blame things like work and suchlike. There's a lot of things in the world that stop us feeling 'authentic' (and I really like both blood and glasshalffull's posts about that) and I sometimes have let other shite get in the way and I should, perhaps, have just accepted the medication as helping my mind of seeing fake shit for what it is. Perhaps.

Ultimately, I definitely don't know but I wanted to say something cos you are a proper diamond on here and always give help
 
td53 said:
@Lala -

a) I hope you are ok

b) you are absolutely you - you are a very distinctive voice on here and one that has an honestly and truthfulness to it...

c) what you are saying about not being yourself, I sometimes wonder the opposite of myself - i.e. I have had times when I really should have been on medication I think and I've resisted - whilst I've managed to pull myself through to a better place each time, I've wondered if I could have caused less shit for myself and others if I'd been less stubborn about not taking medication. I also go through periods where I don't think I feel like 'me' and I blame things like work and suchlike. There's a lot of things in the world that stop us feeling 'authentic' (and I really like both blood and glasshalffull's posts about that) and I sometimes have let other shite get in the way and I should, perhaps, have just accepted the medication as helping my mind of seeing fake shit for what it is. Perhaps.

Ultimately, I definitely don't know but I wanted to say something cos you are a proper diamond on here and always give help
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Oh thank you TD, that’s really kind of you.
As are all the thoughtful responses.

I’m staying on them. When asked above about what has happened when I’ve been off them it’s not been good. It can be for a while, but it can take one ‘incident’ to floor me and then it gets ugly and damn right unpleasant and hard to get back up again. And there always seems to be one incident around the corner that you can’t predict doesn’t there.
That authenticity question is still there, like who am I really without the meds but I guess it’s best to accept that who I am on the meds is enough, I don’t really need to know what lurks around underneath if they are doing the job 👍

Its coming up to the anniversary of my best pal taking her life last year and I think this whole time of year is reminding me of that, and the run up to it.
Anyway, I’ve decided to distract for the next couple of weeks, keep busy in positive ways and push myself, but not too hard.
I know I have a brilliant life, I just need to not overthink at times and let things be.

Thanks everyone 🥰 appreciated, and enjoy your weekend ❤️
 
My good wife has been taking medication for a few years now and without my support, banging on doors and phoning people she would not be where she is today back at home.
It's a lonely road to be on,.as the social services system is not fit for purpose as you know Lala it's very poor indeed
The only good thing about mental illness it doesn't discriminate against rich or poor there's no quick fix.
Lala myself and many others on this board always read your posts and replies because they are constructive, entertaining and written from the heart. Take care we all love you.
 
glasshalffull said:
Mercifully not. Was able to pack in a while back, but I miss not working so will probably look for something a bit more out of the firing line fairly soon.
Still in touch with quite a few ex-colleagues though, who are brilliant people and things haven’t been getting easier for them.
How about you?
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I finished 6 years ago but tbh the stress had dropped off considerably a couple of years before that. It was horrible at the time
 
Bloodtangerine said:
Just out of interest (and only If anyone wants to share and has identified the cause ) what causes your anxiety or depression?

In my case (stress/anxiety) ….it was 99% work related. A High sales performance culture where I were only as good as my overall Area team’s performance (that was my belief anyway) and it caused me to never be able to switch off so I couldn’t enjoy anything in the rest of my (very blessed) life at all…it was an ever present anxiety and was mentally crippling, very very traumatic whilst having to put on a confident, self assured “act” all the time. And btw this went in for years and years and vast majority of people wouldn’t have had a clue and would have been very surprised if they’d known. I was a right mess…but performed

Went to Docs, they prescribed citalopram but I didn’t take em…..just didn’t want to go down that route. I just bumbled on unhappily but very very luckily due to certain reasons the culture of the company changed and it played into my hands and the work related stress therefore went away and it transformed my life tbh……..Pills couldn’t have helped me personally, I was just lucky
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Great post, Blood. In the same work related situation, I decided to get out, and ran our own business fur a few years. Lots of stress, but under our control.

Lala, you have seemed pretty sorted on here for a while, you seem to have a better work life balance, and the kids home seems OK. The current you seems pretty cool, what would you want to change? Or is it just the late night what ifs we all get?
 
Tangerinemoss said:
Great post, Blood. In the same work related situation, I decided to get out, and ran our own business fur a few years. Lots of stress, but under our control.

Lala, you have seemed pretty sorted on here for a while, you seem to have a better work life balance, and the kids home seems OK. The current you seems pretty cool, what would you want to change? Or is it just the late night what ifs we all get?
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Thats a really good question Mossy and there isn’t anything I would like to change in my life so that’s obviously a good sign 👍
I think I will always just think a little bit of me is cheating life by being on the meds and that makes me feel a bit weak whereas I like to be strong, And it makes me wonder if I am not who I should be because I take them , if that makes sense.

Anyway, been out for a coffee with the fam today, Apart from work I‘ve probably not been socialising enough so will up the aunty there too 👍 I will be totally fine. 🥰

Thanks Mossy 😊
 
Lala said:
Thats a really good question Mossy and there isn’t anything I would like to change in my life so that’s obviously a good sign 👍
I think I will always just think a little bit of me is cheating life by being on the meds and that makes me feel a bit weak whereas I like to be strong, And it makes me wonder if I am not who I should be because I take them , if that makes sense.

Anyway, been out for a coffee with the fam today, Apart from work I‘ve probably not been socialising enough so will up the aunty there too 👍 I will be totally fine. 🥰

Thanks Mossy 😊
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I know it's a cliched sort of phrase LALA, but you wouldn't walk around with a broken leg, just to prove to yourself and whoever else that you were 'strong' (whatever that means), you'd get it put in plaster... If you had a dodgy ticker you might need a pace maker ... Would it be 'stronger' to just not bother ?

We're all in the same boat one way or another.... strength / weakness has nothing to do with it!
 
Lala said:
Thats a really good question Mossy and there isn’t anything I would like to change in my life so that’s obviously a good sign 👍
I think I will always just think a little bit of me is cheating life by being on the meds and that makes me feel a bit weak whereas I like to be strong, And it makes me wonder if I am not who I should be because I take them , if that makes sense.

Anyway, been out for a coffee with the fam today, Apart from work I‘ve probably not been socialising enough so will up the aunty there too 👍 I will be totally fine. 🥰

Thanks Mossy 😊
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Would you be cheating if you had a broken leg and had a cast on to heal it?….of course not
 
Lala said:
Thats a really good question Mossy and there isn’t anything I would like to change in my life so that’s obviously a good sign 👍
I think I will always just think a little bit of me is cheating life by being on the meds and that makes me feel a bit weak whereas I like to be strong, And it makes me wonder if I am not who I should be because I take them , if that makes sense.

Anyway, been out for a coffee with the fam today, Apart from work I‘ve probably not been socialising enough so will up the aunty there too 👍 I will be totally fine. 🥰

Thanks Mossy 😊
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You re welcome. Like you, we have lost a very close friend this year, makes us even more determined to enjoy the day, smell the flowers and exist in the moment. If the meds helps that for you, job done. Love Bifsters analogy ❤️
 
Bisphamtang said:
Never been on any anti depressant but work in the field
Suppose you have to do basic cost/benefit analysis
Yes people say they can make you feel numb but what about crippling anxiety hopelessness and pitch black depression ?
After 20 years you could ask gp to refer for psychiatric review of medication ( current wait in Blackpool for non urgent referral is about 6 months +) or pay private ( £200-£500 approx for seeing a nhs psychiatrist on day off or evening)

More and more evidence that combination with talking therapy ,CBT if your willing to work at it is recommended by NICE .Self referral, waiting time about 6 months

I also think exercise ,good diet,cut down booze ( it's a depressant) and structure to your day can yield real results - seeing your pals( not to talk about problems necessarily)and fresh air is important - join walking club or if you don't like company get a dog or bike

One last thing is this - the single biggest reason for relapse of depression,anxiety,psychosis or bipolar is non compliance with medication - factamun
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I too also have experience in this field. Could not have put this better than Bisphamtang who in my opinion is spot on. Very good advice.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I know it's a cliched sort of phrase LALA, but you wouldn't walk around with a broken leg, just to prove to yourself and whoever else that you were 'strong' (whatever that means), you'd get it put in plaster... If you had a dodgy ticker you might need a pace maker ... Would it be 'stronger' to just not bother ?

We're all in the same boat one way or another.... strength / weakness has nothing to do with it!
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Bloodtangerine said:
Would you be cheating if you had a broken leg and had a cast on to heal it?….of course not
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Ye, and that’s exactly what I would say to someone else, and I would mean it 👍

I just need to stop analysing it I think.
 
If they work keep on them, after 20 years its a big jump to stop, you seem in good order of late.
I suffer bouts of anxiety that can be very crippling, I've got better at signs it's creeping on me and can sort of cope. I've not resorted to medicine, the prospect scares me too much I was offered stuff by my GP and I ran a mile, although I attended a 6 week NHS course that was very good, its all about the inner chimp (amygdala). Exercise helps me, alcohol certainly doesn't (although I do drink and still too much) and a lack of sleep is very bad.
Like Blood I suffer when my workload is high, which over the last 2 years it has. I also moved house 4 months ago (after being in my last house 20 years) and I've found that stressful because it needs doing up, I've had to borrow money (was mortgage free) and consequently I've got a lot on, with that and work. For the first 2 months in the house I was stressed and didn't sleep well, always waking up with doubts and worries, thinking WTF have we done! I've also got a degenerative eye condition that's only going one way, I try to forget but it does worry me. My grandmother and mother's personality are worriers, which I guess is an old term for anxiety. Depression and/or anxiety tends to run in families. For me I've got to try and get things into perspective, which is really tough when I'm feeling anxious as I constantly pour over issues in my mind and go on a downward spiral deeper and deeper. My wife knows when I'm suffering and has started to understand better but she can be critical and openly says she cannot comprehend it. Anyway typing this has got it off my chest a bit. For some reason I always hate Sundays and often struggle to settle, last Sunday I was pacing around the house completely on edge, I decided to drink to feel temporarily better and felt a 100x worse Monday. Tonight I'm calm, not sure why. I'll finish my boring post, all the best Lala.
 
Shandypants said:
If they work keep on them, after 20 years its a big jump to stop, you seem in good order of late.
I suffer bouts of anxiety that can be very crippling, I've got better at signs it's creeping on me and can sort of cope. I've not resorted to medicine, the prospect scares me too much I was offered stuff by my GP and I ran a mile, although I attended a 6 week NHS course that was very good, its all about the inner chimp (amygdala). Exercise helps me, alcohol certainly doesn't (although I do drink and still too much) and a lack of sleep is very bad.
Like Blood I suffer when my workload is high, which over the last 2 years it has. I also moved house 4 months ago (after being in my last house 20 years) and I've found that stressful because it needs doing up, I've had to borrow money (was mortgage free) and consequently I've got a lot on, with that and work. For the first 2 months in the house I was stressed and didn't sleep well, always waking up with doubts and worries, thinking WTF have we done! I've also got a degenerative eye condition that's only going one way, I try to forget but it does worry me. My grandmother and mother's personality are worriers, which I guess is an old term for anxiety. Depression and/or anxiety tends to run in families. For me I've got to try and get things into perspective, which is really tough when I'm feeling anxious as I constantly pour over issues in my mind and go on a downward spiral deeper and deeper. My wife knows when I'm suffering and has started to understand better but she can be critical and openly says she cannot comprehend it. Anyway typing this has got it off my chest a bit. For some reason I always hate Sundays and often struggle to settle, last Sunday I was pacing around the house completely on edge, I decided to drink to feel temporarily better and felt a 100x worse Monday. Tonight I'm calm, not sure why. I'll finish my boring post, all the best Lala.
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I can relate to a lot of that. In some ways you are brave not taking the meds. The pacing stage is never a good one for me and I’m nowhere near that 👍
Shame your wife doesn’t understand it 😳

You have a lot on and yes perpective is so important.

I am good lately to be honest. I’ve had one stressful ish week where I lost a nights sleep doing an airport run and went straight into work the next day and my boiler broke which took 3 plumbers before I was told to get a new one and needed to scrape a lot of money together by tomorrow 😳🤣🤣

I should have stopped fighting the sleep on Friday and just had an early night, but I get like a child when I’m over tired and get more wired with the adrenalin.

Anyway, you take care too 👍
 
I like Lala….. not afraid to speak out, ask for help/advice and I wish her all the best going forward.
I think we’ve all had our battles with one thing or another throughout our lives (mine very similar to Bloods, and he gave me bucket loads of advice) and to speak out is courageous and takes balls.

I’d change your doctor Lala. All the very best and what ever decision you take, I’m sure you’d get all the help you require from your tangerine friends!

Take care, Rob
 
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