Topic Title: A Lifetime Choice?
| |  "A Lifetime Choice?"
, Thu 28 Apr 05:56
Hi everyone
I've been suffering from mild depression for about six months, although now I've identified the symptoms more closely, I feel like I've probably been a bit sadder than the average person for my whole life.
I'm in therapy, and it's helping, but I'm finding it hard to stay positive. Since Day 1, I wasn't keen to go on prescribed anti-depressants and I still stand by that - I've wanted to get better through therapy, and KNOW that I'm BETTER, not just because of a pill, but because I've worked through my problems.
One of the posts on this noticeboard said that St John's Wort doesn't solve the problem, it just masks the symptoms. I just worry that if I take it, and feel better, which I know that I probably will, I won't actually BE better. You know? I know I'm writing from a luxurious position, where NOT taking an anti-depressant is actually an option - ie. I can function despite my depression - but I would like to feel better.... I don't know, I'm just so torn.
Did anyone else have this battle? I don't want to have to take a pill for the rest of my life just to stay happy. It all feels so fake - like you're not really happy, you know? Am I making sense? I'm sorry if not... Any advice greatly appreciated. Many thanks...
Posts: 0 | | Registered: Thu 28 Apr 2005 5:51 |
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| | "Re(1):A Lifetime Choice?" , Sun 1 May 21:40
I wanted to let you know that I struggle with this a little too. The irrational part of me thinks it's a little phony to take meds or supplements and never deal with the source of the problem. Someone explained something to me one time which put things in perspective though. They said taking meds or supps to balance your brain chemicals is like leveling the playing field. It doesn't mean that all your problems will go away or that the world will magically be a happier place. Meds or Supps can just bring you back to a level in your brain where you are more equipped to deal with the problems that arise in your life, like a person who has NO problems with a chemical deficiencies. This person has a level playing field from which to work. Having a chemical imbalance is like trying to play soccer on a field with a bunch of ditches. You're still giving it your best but the ditches keep hindering you from performing as well as the person playing on a smooth soccer field. Once you're on a smooth field you just might outperform the other people. Who knew??? I hope this helps put it in perspective for you. Needing a little help is nothing to be ashamed about.
Posts: 23 | | Registered: Sat 2 Aug 2003 0:22 |
| | "Re(1):A Lifetime Choice?" , Fri 29 Apr 15:50
I think a problem that most people with depression or anxiety is that we think too much. Sometimes I'll think myself into a corner and have to pull myself out of it. Therapy is great, but why suffer more than you have to? If therapy alone isn't bringing you all the way out, why not take a little help? Believe me, I do the same as you and analyze things too much sometimes. I want to feel better... period.
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Fri 29 Apr 2005 15:36 |
| | "Re(1):A Lifetime Choice?" , Fri 29 Apr 07:48:
You are not happy because your brain isn't producing enough of a certain chemical. So you take something to help it make/distribute those chemicals better. What's so bad about that? At least it's cheap to take SJW.
[this message was edited by MrLovely on Fri 29 Apr 07:49]
Posts: 39 | | Registered: Tue 1 Feb 2005 18:0 |
| | "Re(1):A Lifetime Choice?" , Thu 28 Apr 09:51
Hi
I hate to use the word crutch, but I'm going to because for the life of me I can't think of another word...Personally speaking, I use SJW as a crutch. I look at it like if I broke my leg I would need something to help me along until My leg healed. My depression is situational, to much stress, to much bad things all happening at once in life. So I use the SJW to alleviate some of the symptoms while I work out the kinks.
I am down to 1 pill a day, and if things keep progressing along then I will drop it down to one every other day and so on.
So, I don't think you need to take it forever (again this is my personal opinion and it may depend on what type of depression you suffer from) but sometimes you need a little help while you heal.
I hope this makes sense. Sometimes I just ramble on and on and not much useful stuff comes out!!!
Posts: 32 | | Registered: Tue 15 Mar 2005 9:7 |
| | | "Re(2):A Lifetime Choice?" , Mon 9 May 20:14
I took Zoloft for 2 years, and for the 16 or so years before finding out that I had depression and social anxiety, I just thought that a.) people didn't like me, and b.) my life sucked compared to everyone else and that was it. The truth was people did like me, I just shut them out the first time anything negative had because due to social anxiety I would freak out and blow things out of proportion and never want to be around them again, and having depression helped fuel that response to people. Once I started taking Zoloft, I realized that the only reason I did that was because of the lack of serotonin or whatever, and there is absolutely NO POINT in going through life unhappy just because you dont want to take a pill. That's like making the conscious decision to be unhappy when you don't have to be. I'm trying other things now because of the side effects of prescribed medicine, but I think that if you get on some sort of medication, you will see the light in life, and then understand what everyoen has been trying to tell you.
Posts: 4 | | Registered: Fri 29 Apr 2005 17:47 |
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