Does Anyone Not Take Medication?

[CaptainR]

I am in line with what seems to be the agreement here, that it is a very personal thing, and what works well for one person can be totally wrong for someone else.

I was prescribed Effexor for maybe a year?? I was very reluctant, but agreed to try it because I was becoming increasingly dangerous to myself. It was a horrible year, and I quit cold turkey against all advice. Not recommended! I think I've posted about that experience, so I won't rehash it here.

Now although I know I should probably experiment with other meds to help with the symptoms my fear of them is too strong, and I won't do it again. That's my choice. I've taken to lying to my physician about my mental health just to avoid having to listen every time how I should try this medication or that medication. Before my therapist left, we finally agreed to disagree on the meds issue.

 

[melody]

I take lorezepam when I absolutely have to go somewhere (like a graduation or wedding) and I drink. Not to the point of being drunk, just enough to numb me. In the beginning I tried taking celexa, but I just couldn't handle the side effects, especially the sexual ones. And I have also tried sleeping pills, but when I'm having a really bad nightmare, I want to be able to wake up. And honestly, I have enough trouble trying to wake from a nightmare without taking anything.

 

[anthony]

People need to view both sides of the fence with medication and holistic approaches. This is an old discussion which has been discussed plenty on here over the years.

Medication has its uses... physicians seem to think it is the first line of defence nowadays, which is wrong. Medication does a lot of good, it does a lot of harm. Those who often believe that only a holistic approach is the right approach, often find themselves in places they wouldn't have been if open to medication at the right times in their healing.

Medication is a trial and error solution, it is a temporary solution for the most part. People should not be aiming to be on medication their entire life, though there are some that will be because their trauma has circumstances to which no amount of therapy can assist further.

I was on it for a few years and it helped in some parts, made me worse in others and near caused me to take my own life as a result due to it. I always have some valium in the drawer in-case I ever get really anxious suddenly from something not within my control... though otherwise I believe medication is a temporary solution for the majority.

People only need use commonsense with this. I find some holistic solutions viable, some others total crap. I find some medications viable, some total crap. Commonsense is always the key to any decision, and the most important aspect, is that you as an individual make the choice you feel is right for you and not what any other believes is right for you. It is not right or wrong to be anti-medication or anti-holistic, it is a choice. I personally believe a combination of both are a viable solution to provide often the better outcome for a majority of individuals. Choice is the end result though, and what each person best feels suits them.

Trauma therapy with CBT is the most important part of healing and managing PTSD though....

 

[Onefineday]

I am no longer on medication, but before I was diagnosed with PTSD I was. It took so long for me to be properly diagnosed, largely because depression runs in my family and my issues were always brushed off as just that. Nobody really bothered to delve into a proper reason, they just wanted a quick answer. I won't say I am anti-medication, but I do not agree with doctors giving medication to people as soon as they hear the words 'I am feeling depressed', and then then tell you 'take this and if it works you're depressed, if it doesn't, well you still could be depressed'.

I had been on medication since I was 11, and I have tried God only knows how many. When I was 19 my doctor put me on some new medication and told me it was in a different group of medications to all the ones he'd previously tried me on, then six weeks later I weighed 15 kilograms (over 30 pounds) more than I did six weeks earlier. My clothes literally did not fit me, people were making snide comments because I have always been extremely thin, even my mother said I should start doing some exercise because I look pregnant. Now being someone who has had self image issues since I was a kid and used to starve myself at school, this was pretty devistating for me.

Two and a half years later, although I've lost most of the weight, that drastic change really took it's toll. I am about to start crying about it now actually. This doctor ruined my body and has made my views of myself even worse, and you know what? When I said I wanted him to help me loose weight he said no because he thought I was too thin before, dispite the fact he had told me that if I gained any more weight I'd be over-weight.

So I have never taken medication since. Nor have I seen this doctor again. As I said I am not AGAINST medication, but I do not believe in it being a quick fix. My advice to anyone who goes to a doctor and is told straight away to take medication- look for more answers first. Drugs should not be used as a quick answer, and if you still feel something is wrong go to a therapist not a doctor. A doctor is looking for a quick answer, a therapist is looking for THE answer. It took me half my life to find out what was wrong with me, and it wasn't even a doctor who figured it out, it was my mother. And then I got REAL help and REAL answers, something no medication will fix.

 

[ghost]

Why don't you try one doc?

I have asked a few doctors who have tried to prescribe me medication, whether they or anyone in their families have ever taken anti-depressants - I've had some interesting responses. Some react as if I have affronted them. It's as if they are offended by the proposition that they would ever need psychiatric medication.

There's a real double standard when it comes to the medical fraternity. A real us and them attitude. They'll sit their and tell you how common depression is, and how there is nothing to be worried about with the 'new medication', but most of them have absolutely no personal experience with it.

 

[Tessa]

I do not take medication as I find it takes my strength away.

My daughter has been put on so much over the years and we have had to be 24hr carers. The doctors don't have to manage the situation 24hr like we do.They don't seem to help her. She sleeps all the time and sometimes she has changed so much we wonder where our beautiful daughter has gone.

Take care
Tessa

 

[damaged goods]

I'm not taking any PTSD specific meds - I am however taking 700 mg dilantin daily due to simple partial seizures caused by a brain tumor. Other than that, I take otc painkillers as required, the usual stuff. some recreation drug use, nothing hard though.

 

[ebell83]

To Medicate or Not to Medicate

Wonderwall,

I am currently not medicating. I used to belive that no medication was the best route. I was adament about it. I thought that my "punishment" for "causing" all the bad things was to deal with the emotional and physical pain that ensued. I suffered with migraines, cluster headaches, muscle cramps ,and spasms. As more bad things happened, and the physical effects intensified, I was nearly immobilized with it. The depression and mania fought constantly so that instead of weekly or monthly shifts, it only took days or hours to go from one extreme to the next.

Until I realized that I was using the pain to continue to hurt myself and punish myself, I wasn't able to medicate. I was scared that I would become dependent on pills, or abuse them.

I have, however been able to work out what I think is a pretty good schedule. I have a doctor that works with me to ease me into medications when I feel that I need them, and then reduces doses to ease me away from them. I know that I am not going to cope completely without pharmaceutical help, but my physiological needs change constantly. That's part of recognizing the physical effects of PTSD as a disease and not just a disorder. The responsibilty, however, is mine. The doctor isn't my babysitter. I need to communicate how I'm feeling and monitor my body and reactions regualrly.

I'm not so adamant about non medication anymore, but I do not blindly dose myself with whatever is available. I haven't had many years of medical theory to test this program, but I am a huge fan of "whatever works."

Liz

 

[lrs]

Here in the U.S., I think the field of psychiatry in general has regressed. There was a time M.D. Psychiatrists actually listened to patients, and practiced this thing called " therapy ". Now you walk into a psychiatrists office, he eyeballs you for a couple of minutes, announces you are bi-polar or whatever, and prescribes a drug or combination of drugs. Truly, it's not all this way, but I have experienced it first hand, with psychiatrists in private practice. A lot of patient's actually like it this way. To be fair, I have seen that when concerted efforts are made to diagnose, they can produce uncanny results. Drugs ARE used as the first line of treatment of major psychiatric diagnoses, and often for relatively minor, non lifethreatening diagnoses. One thing I hate seeing is that small children are often prescribed powerful cns stimulants, and atypical antipsychotics, because they do not behave well.

I was once on prescribed enough psychotropic drugs to sink a fair sized boat. I remember I broke my arm, around July 2000. At the E.R., I had to list all the medication I was on. At that time, my wife and I wrote them down, and counted them. I remember it was 13 drugs, most were some type of psychotropic drug. When my wife realized it was that many drugs, she broke down and cried, right in the E.R. I have not been on any psyche meds since around early 2005, best I remember. They certainly have their use, but I think in general, they are used way too much. If you are currently taking meds, for God's sake, do not stop taking these without talking to your Dr first.

 

[catjudo]

Here in the U.S., I think the field of psychiatry in general has regressed. There was a time M.D. Psychiatrists actually listened to patients, and practiced this thing called " therapy ".
Now you walk into a psychiatrists office, he eyeballs you for a couple of minutes, announces you are bi-polar or whatever, and prescribes a drug or combination of drugs.

This is so true. I am very fortunate to have an "old school" psychiatrist. I've seen the same psychiatrist for more than seven years (maybe more, I've lost count). He does his own therapy, not just med management. It allows him to see the big picture and understand things about his patients and their needs, thoughts, symptoms, etc that he would not see with a short 10-15 minute med management appointment. I'm terrible at accurately describing or explaining how I feel. If we only had a quick visit and he relied solely on my description he would miss so much. It is only after we've talked for a little while that things become more clear for both of us and he is able to more effectively treat me.

The downside is that insurance companies make it impossible for psychiatrists to practice this way. It's all about the bottom dollar and it is much cheaper to pay for a short psychiatrist visit and therapy from someone who is not an MD. Psychiatrists, such as mine, who choose to treat their patients the way they need instead of the way the insurance company dictates, do not accept insurance and patients have to pay for their services completely out-of-pocket. A very expensive situation.

Due to geography (I now live approx two hours from my psychiatrist but have continued to see him) and economics (recent divorce has resulted in change of financial circumstances) for the past couple of years I've tried seeing a local therapist and spreading my psychiatrist appointments so they are less frequent. The problem is I have yet to settle with one therapist who has really been the right fit for me.

 

[Nicky31]

I Choose Therapy Over Meds

Hi Wonderwall,

I, like you, am avoiding meds at all costs. I prefer to have a bit more control over a situation where I a,ready feel as though I have very little (if that makes sense). I know that this is a very personal choice and I respect the choice of others.

For me I have been lucky enough to work with a brilliant therapist who specialises in trauma and is a qualified EMDR therapist which is very different to normal talking therapy. If you haven't explored this option yet, then do have a look for EMDR therapy provision where you are or at least find a therapist that specialises in Trauma. It might not be the right thing for you, but it's a good alternative to meds, but obviously it requires a bit of hard work from you to confront stuff in a safe and supportive environment.

Look after yourself,
Nic

 

[GodSeeker]

Hello Wonderwall,
I want to expose my personal opinion:
Several years ago, I thought I had Social Phobia (Shyness) but later I discovered that It was PTSD. I dont know what difference is it make wether you call it PTSD or Social Phobia. So with this specific diagnosis I did EMDR therapy in conjunction with meds (SSRI for depression and 1 other med) for about a year and half. My social skills improved greatly, my depression, sadness, loneliness, shyness magiquely disappeared. I was a living optimistic and I was very happy, began to do martial arts and other social activities regularly...BUT some time later when I came accross difficult time (lack of mony for example) I began slowly to go back to the starting point of my trouble. I discovered that EMDR therapy did nothing real, the medication did the most of the job putting a screen of smog between myself and reality. What happened was that while on medication I apparently was happy but was because I did not worry about anything because what was happening around me did not reach me out completely.
Later I begin to read about everything related with health, nutrition, philosophical questions about man's happiness and suffering, etc...I learned that PTSD does not exist more than social Phobia, that all these labels are not real, that what was real was the suffering, the need of understanding, of protection and love. That is all.
Everyone experiences the same suffering, the sensation is the same but the manifestation of this suffering in everyday life varies fomr one individual to another because we have different occupations, gender, familiar situations, neighborhood, and personal experiences. These differences gave the different diagnosis as PTSD, Phobia, Bipolar, Depression, ADHD, and so on...
If someone tells me that I have PTSD or whatever name, I am able to look for that and learn about it, meet people with the same trouble, read books, experiences of others, investiagate, you can do a lot of work about it everywhere but in yourself, the hurting yourself...but if I am told that I am afraid of people or simply affraid without any object that I need protection, that there is some place where I could really be safe...this has no practical use for me and I have no target to point my finger on (the label) I could not accept that answer, it does not convence me because I dont know how to learn how to cope with fear. How can you investigate fear? How can you go inside yourself and let all your needs for protection, all your cryes and all your desire of help express themself, let it emerge from years or decades of dark emprisonment? That is the quesion
This is the hard way to look and I am on it. I did not take any med anymore (not even an aspirin) What I can say is that it is possible to live without them. Offcourse a person who is suffering and decide to go without med has to deal with a great amount of trouble. But it is a personal choice.
I try to have a healthy nutrition, and physical activity. This helps to prevent a los of complications.
So like you wonderwall I think that the only real thing behind all this issue is human begging for understanding, protecion and love, nothing more and nothing less.
GodSeeker