Has anyone here ever taken an anti-depressant?

[RedState]

Just because all the crap i've been going through lately I went to see a shrink. I did this on the advice of a co-worker who said "You look like hell, not been yourself, and you've lost 20 lbs in 3 weeks...something is going on...and go see someone".
Told her, yeah, having a rough time.
She recommended this dr. and I went. Told him everything.
Anyway, got scribed an anti-d and just wondering if anyone has taken one and if they help you get over the hump.

[Chip]

Antidepressants can be really helpful to people in need, but they also tend to be grossly overprescribed.

If I am remembering correctly, you have a history of cocaine use, and ar in the process of getting clean from that. If that's correct, then it's very likely, depending on how long you've been clean, that the depression is at least in part due to your body learning to function without the drugs, and based on the people I've talked to and worked with, it can be several months or more, depending on the severity of the addiction, if other drugs were also involved, and other factors.

So in your case, antidepressants can definitely be helpful. However, I'd also suggest looking into some sort of regular, strenuous exercise. This will help your body compensate and readjust itself more quickly. You may also want to get the book "The Diet Cure" which was written by a physician who has worked extensively with addicts and found that the post-addiction issues that are often most problematic (anxiety, depression) can often be helped dramatically by the use of certain amino acids.

The thing I always worry about with recovering addicts is replacing one addiction with another. While SSRI antidepressants are not physically addictive in that people generally do not develop tolerance to them, they can become psychologically addictive. If used cautiously, with the help of a physician who understands the full picture, they can be helpful in enabling you to get "over the hump" but a lot of people I know who have been on them don't like the way they feel on them; the most common description I get is feeling "hollow."

I'd also suggest, if resources are available and you aren't already seeing one, seeking out a good therapist with experience in addiction issues; a large percentage of addictions have underlying issues (low self esteem, self-hate, anxiety, depression, etc) which, if not adequately addressed, will almost always result in either relapse, or a transfer of the addiction to something else (another drug, food, alcohol, excessive exercise, etc.)

[RedState]

Originally Posted by Chip

Antidepressants can be really helpful to people in need, but they also tend to be grossly overprescribed.

If I am remembering correctly, you have a history of cocaine use, and ar in the process of getting clean from that. If that's correct, then it's very likely, depending on how long you've been clean, that the depression is at least in part due to your body learning to function without the drugs, and based on the people I've talked to and worked with, it can be several months or more, depending on the severity of the addiction, if other drugs were also involved, and other factors.

So in your case, antidepressants can definitely be helpful. However, I'd also suggest looking into some sort of regular, strenuous exercise. This will help your body compensate and readjust itself more quickly. You may also want to get the book "The Diet Cure" which was written by a physician who has worked extensively with addicts and found that the post-addiction issues that are often most problematic (anxiety, depression) can often be helped dramatically by the use of certain amino acids.

The thing I always worry about with recovering addicts is replacing one addiction with another. While SSRI antidepressants are not physically addictive in that people generally do not develop tolerance to them, they can become psychologically addictive. If used cautiously, with the help of a physician who understands the full picture, they can be helpful in enabling you to get "over the hump" but a lot of people I know who have been on them don't like the way they feel on them; the most common description I get is feeling "hollow."

I'd also suggest, if resources are available and you aren't already seeing one, seeking out a good therapist with experience in addiction issues; a large percentage of addictions have underlying issues (low self esteem, self-hate, anxiety, depression, etc) which, if not adequately addressed, will almost always result in either relapse, or a transfer of the addiction to something else (another drug, food, alcohol, excessive exercise, etc.)

Thanks Chip for your reply.
Just a couple of clarifications though...I would say the only thing that I have ever been addicted to was cigs...haven't smoked in 4 years and that was hell kicking that habit.
Sure I did coke in college...I'd say about twice a month. Never considered myself an addict because I was not a regular user and never craved it, and well never bought it. Just did it if someone else had it.
That did change when I completely fell apart and looked for anything for an escape. Used coke everyday for 3 complete weeks...that, on top on the booze was simply more than my body could take. It wasn't from an addiction standpoint, but to cope.
God...I still miss and crave cigs...now THAT'S an addiction!
The thing that I was most disappointed in was that I am one these diet/workout freaks. Eating like 8 times a day, properly portioned meals, etc and hit the gym atleast 4 times a week. Today was the first time I have been in a gym in 4 weeks...and it felt good getting back into my routine.
Thanks again for the response. I'm certainly not expecting this to be a miracle drug, but some of the folks I have talked to say that it does help. I can tell you this though, I don't want have to depend on a anti-d the rest of my life to be happy.

[Zumbro]

Antidepressants certainly can help, and you shouldn't be afraid of them. Be careful though, because if your depression isn't biological then you may not need them, but if it is, you will likely be on them the rest of your life. It's nobody's fault, just biology.

If you aren't, you need to continue to see your counselor/psychiatrist regularly. Unless your depression is biological, they'll try to get you off the drugs (and if they aren't, find a new one). Drugs are not supposed to be a permanent solution in most cases, so if you treat them like a pill dispenser they might cut you off (and if they don't, then they're not a good doctor). Simply talking things out with someone can be an amazing help. Getting back in your healthy routine should be good for you too.

Good luck!

[Chip]

Originally Posted by bamaboy

Thanks Chip for your reply.
Just a couple of clarifications though...I would say the only thing that I have ever been addicted to was cigs...haven't smoked in 4 years and that was hell kicking that habit.
Sure I did coke in college...I'd say about twice a month. Never considered myself an addict because I was not a regular user and never craved it, and well never bought it. Just did it if someone else had it.
That did change when I completely fell apart and looked for anything for an escape. Used coke everyday for 3 complete weeks...that, on top on the booze was simply more than my body could take. It wasn't from an addiction standpoint, but to cope.
God...I still miss and crave cigs...now THAT'S an addiction!

ok, sorry i misinterpreted your earlier post. I assumed the overdose and hospital visit was related to an addiction rather than to a binge. However, I'd still be willing to guess that 3 weeks is long enough to really screw up your dopamine and serotonin systems, resulting in a pretty prolonged depression, and perhaps that's a large part of what you're dealing with here.

From my limited knowledge of the pharmacology behind addiction treatment, my impression is that when SSRIs are used to overcome drug-induced depression, they are not as effective as when they are used for more common forms of depression. That doesn't mean the antidepressant won't help, only that, if my information is correct, it may not help as much as it would in a different circumstance.

I would still suggest checking out "the diet cure" as the suggestions in it might help both with the depression and, if there was something underlying that caused you to "fall apart" as you put it, it could be beneficial in helping balance things out emotionally.

[fragomatrick]

I think, from my personal experience, medication does not help you .... you just need to stop over thinking ... that is what helped me .. the medicine made me bald and fat ! it took me a year to get things better for myself......nobody can help you but yourself.... i say go to a psychiatrist only if you have had an urge to do the worst like killing yourself or hurting someone else..... it doesn't pay off.... mine made me go against my family ....!!!! bitch ! i am still apologizing to them because of her! so..stay put ..chill out ! and B R E T A H E! I SPELLED IT WRONG -breathe !

i never been on anti-depressants but i know that i would never want to take them. from what im told all they do is cover things for a while. at some point you have to deal with issues. of course not ever experiencing what they do i cant really be sure. however i will trust my familys judgement on that.

[Goliath]

I think you could use anti depressants based on your description.

I've used them myself but I soon realized they weren't helping me. I wasn't really depressed but my doctor thought so but in the end coming out of the closet was the thing that had bothered me.

However I have a brother who was using amphetamines and smoking weed at the same time. He was pretty addicted and when he "chrashed" (I'm not gonna describe that horrible experience) he got heavily depressed. His doctors prescribed him Cipralex (an SSRI) and it really helped him to get out of that big hole of depression. Today he is happy, normal and very fun to be around.

Btw. he also used to smoke cigarettes but now he just chews on nicotine gums. You should maybe consider that if the craving is too much for you to handle.

[satchel]

I've heard some Xanex horror stories, but I've also heard some Xanex-Saved-Me-From-Shitting-Myself stories.

When used in moderation weed, at least, won't later be declared secretly poison like some ADHD drugs have been. Moderation, of course, is key. Whatever that means.

And I am completely serious when I say the best anti-deppressent I know is dark chocolate. Like, the real stuff. 65, 75 percent and up. Single origin and organic, fair-trade if you can manage. Magical.