What do you think about going to the psychiatrist and taking medicine?

[September5th]

I've been in therapy for about two years, before I even get "sick". Last year I went to a psychiatrist and used medical marijuana for a brief period of time (it's legal here in Brazil). However, I'm not even kidding, my life started to improve a lot the day I bought the medicine. It had nothing to do with it, it was pure coincidence. That day, I met an old friend who would later become my girlfriend. This led me to go out more, meet other friends, work more, be at peace... I just didn't feel the need to keep taking the medicine.
Now that I'm in total shit, I've been thinking about going to a psychiatrist again. My fear is that he prescribes something that will fuck with my body. I'm finally ok with my look and don't want to lose even that. What do you think? I'm very tired of waking up all day feeling bad and anxious, thinking about the past. I just want quality of life.

 

[Dizzylady80]

I think it's worth a shot, if you think medical marijuana would help again maybe you could express that it's helped in the past, since you've been on it and you know how it affects your body. Alternatively, you could go in and express your concerns about your body, and maybe they could help you navigate around that.

If you're not in therapy, maybe you could try that before going the medication route if that's something you're concerned about.

I know lots of people whose lives were immensely improved by medication, and some people who had the opposite experience. Psych meds personally didn't help me, but I think if you're suicidal then you don't have a whole lot to lose

 

[Marine]

What I think about psychiatry and psychiatric medications based on my own experience and research :

Psychiatry as Pseudoscience

It is customary to define psychiatry as a medical specialty concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illnesses. This is a worthless and misleading definition. Mental illness is …

antilogicalism.com

Just to cite a few.

Marijuana can help though, it's not a psychiatric drug, though I don't have personal experience with it. I don't think it can replace true healing that comes from connections, belonging, fulfillment, empowerment, safety etc. The fact that you feel bad again could be a signal that you need to do something else to heal. But I don't know if there is a withdrawal period, if you should stop it gradually or replace it with something like exercise, but it seems fairly harmless at least. Wish we had that here.

 

[hellispink]

I think some people might find it useful. As it can balance out some chemicals. However, it is a bussiness. Pharmaceutics would never tell a person ways to naturally improve those chemicals in natural ways (example of many: exercises, eating habits etc). They would not say it because on people taking it and buying them depends their billions. Most people I have seen, talk or heard testimony of, they deal with horrible side effects for the rest of their lives. It accept it can improve one part of one's life but it takes another one away. It makes the person not very functional as they sell it to be. Some people get addicted and spend 10+ years on those. The psychiatrist would not stop giving them because it is their job and most of them do not care personally on the consequences it can have. I think taking it short time could be useful only if we are aware and we are responsible about it and our convictions, but most importantly we cuestion everything. A lot of people do not cuestion anything and they just believe whatever it is told to them. We have different guides books in the internet in order to fill our knowledge about what is convenient.

 

[whatevs]

It has never done shit for me. Either the pills had no effect whatsoever or they made me feel like someone had been pounding on my back while I slept. I'm very sensitive to psych meds apparently.

 

[LittleJem]

Prozac is great for me. Without it terrible fatigue, can't get out of bed. Prozac helped from day one but kicked in maybe week five and got better. I say try meds the sooner the better. I know it's daunting but worth it.

 

[Shero]

For some it works wonders, for others it has little effect, or the side effects outweigh the marginally positive ones.
I have more issues with it, but it's still worth giving it a shot.

 

[Hirokami]

When it comes to meds, there is the risk of weight gain if you're concerned about the appearance of your body. Though, if you eat within moderation and can resist the cravings, that shouldn't be a concern. I've personally gained 30 pounds within a year, but then it's not like I really cared at the time.

Aside from that, psychiatric medicine greatly varies in effectiveness. It can be a very trial-and-error experience, especially if you don't have a history of family members with treated mental illnesses. If you have the patience for seeing what works for you, then I say go for it.

 

[Niko66]

I think it has to be done with caution, always double checking whatever you are told and looking into what you are taking as many psychs don't have either up to date education or the transparency to disclose many important things especially risks and side effects. Also to listen to your body and experience and not be a year on meds which are making everything worse just because the doc swears any time now or any dose now is going to work properly.

Meds don't work for everyone and the side effects and addiction can be so much more of a problem than you are rarely ever told, some people can have lasting effects and end up worse off than before. So some skepticism is more than wise.

 

[6ftunder]

Psychiatry may not be an exact science and mental illnesses may not be diagnosable through the same tests as many physical health issues, e.g. blood test or scan.
This however does not mean that we should not seek support if we experience a mental health issue. Medication can and does help millions of people. Cognitive therapy is the same.

The issue comes when depression is caused by an 'external' factor such as financial problems. No amount of medication will solve it directly and I strongly believe that there should be more practical support too.

 

[flowersforalgernon:]

I can only talk from experience as antidepressants affect everyone differently. For me, they've caused a lot of issues with my concentration and even my ability to do basic tasks. However, this is quite rare and your doctor should run you through the side effects before prescribing them.

 

[onlyanimalsaregood]

As everyone has said, it depends from person to person. For me, it helped me a lot from day one and I haven't had any side effects to this day. Without the medication I would not have been able to become functional again. So in my opinion it is worth a try. If after a while it doesn't work out or you don't do well you stop take them.

 

[noaccount]

No one should have to talk to a psychiatrist in order to get drugs.
People know themselves better than these shithead bullies will ever know us, and can make their own decisions about drug use, shrink-free.

 

[Sittichmutter]

If you had a positive experiência with your psychiatrist, why not keep going?
After my son CTBed, antidepressants kept me functional. I would not be able to work and take care of my family without medication. Cannabis is great too. I use It sometimes, when days are very stressful. I also did a lot of psycotherapy. It helped me Fine.
I Hope you find great health professionals that really help you.

 

[Lost.]

Psych drugs are RUSSIAN ROULETE. Lot of people ended up on this forum thankfull to antidepressants side effects or aftermaths and i know a lot of people who killed themseves because of antidepressants aftermaths from online comumities of support for people damaged by antidepressants. Antidepressants are neurotoxic and they numb brain. They numb emotions, sexuality, they cause cognitive impairment, etc. All of that can persist after quiting of antidepressants. Just google "pssd" aka post ssri sexual dysfunction - caution: all antideantidepressants can cause this state, not only ssri and snri antidepressants. This state often include cognitive impairment and emotional numbness. Btw antidepressants can induce bipolar disorder, chemical depression with suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts (they are often include in mass shotings in USA), protracted withdrawal syndorome... #beaware #fuckbigpharma #bigpharmakills #holocaust

 

[todestrieb]

I've been in therapy for about two years, before I even get "sick". Last year I went to a psychiatrist and used medical marijuana for a brief period of time (it's legal here in Brazil). However, I'm not even kidding, my life started to improve a lot the day I bought the medicine. It had nothing to do with it, it was pure coincidence. That day, I met an old friend who would later become my girlfriend. This led me to go out more, meet other friends, work more, be at peace... I just didn't feel the need to keep taking the medicine.
Now that I'm in total shit, I've been thinking about going to a psychiatrist again. My fear is that he prescribes something that will fuck with my body. I'm finally ok with my look and don't want to lose even that. What do you think? I'm very tired of waking up all day feeling bad and anxious, thinking about the past. I just want quality of life.

It took me a long time to find my medication combination, but honestly it's saved my life. I often don't want it to, and the intrusive thoughts are still there, but at one point after I lost my dad I woke up every day wanting to ctb. The depression was so visceral and debilitating. I'd go to work and cry on the phone talking to customers. I'd look my boss in the eye and tell her I wanted to die. The pain was unreal. Once I found the medication the clouds parted and I was able to make better choices.