Is It Possible To Succeed Without Medication?

[missing_the _sunshine]

Am currently struggling both physically and mentally at the moment and have just come home from my first stay in hospital. My Psych is worried that things are getting out of control, and that I need to start some in depth trauma work before she would ideally like to do it. Is worried I won't cope with it.

My Psych, Psychiatrist and doctor have been at me for a while to take some meds "to take the edge off", I have refused due to the addictive nature of the meds. Every single person in my family was addicted to drugs and I am scared that if I start taking these meds then I will be too.

Is it possible to get through it without taking meds? They make me really nervous and I am scared. I don't want to be like them.

My team is really concerned and I don't want to end up in hospital again. I know that if we start this work that things will probably go downhill fast before they start to go uphill.

 

[intothelight]

Hi Missing_the_sunshine,

Really to take or not to take medication is a very personal decision. You need to weight the advise of your medical team against your own fears based upon family history.

The only thing I can suggest, is write down the pros and cons. Address your concerns openly with your mental health team and have a very serious discussion about the drug options, their additive qualities and side effects.

Another consideration is the length of time the drugs are planning to be used. Is this a short term measure to make therapy more effective? If so, how does that factor into your recovery plan?

I wish you the best in the tough decision making process.
Debbie

 

[Pearl Black Eyes]

I hope to God or Buddah er whatever that it is possible to get through without meds. I went off my last medication a little over a year ago and endured the blackest suffering from prolonged withdrawal. It lasted almost an entire year. After that I will never touch another psych med again. This doesn't happen to everyone, but it does indeed happen and it made my PTSD much worse.

Please do your research before agreeing to any drugs and if you do start, don't go cold turkey.

I do believe it is possible to make it through without the help of psych drugs. Energy therapies like EFT have really proved beneficial for me. Acupuncture helps too and it definitely helps to have supportive people in your life, including your therapist.

I too wish you the best in whatever you choose.

 

[missing_the _sunshine]

Another consideration is the length of time the drugs are planning to be used. Is this a short term measure to make therapy more effective? If so, how does that factor into your recovery plan?

Thank you ITL for your response and advice. I am finding it an incredible difficult decision at the moment but not sure how much longer I have got to make it. I am getting the idea that my Psychologist will not start the trauma work at the moment because of the state I am in. The Psychiatrist that she wants me to see has a 6 month waiting list, but she rang him and I now have an appointment in 3 weeks. I am currently finding it difficult to eat, which has recently put me in hospital and I don't want to end up there again. My T believes I need to start in depth trauma work in order to sort out my eating but it looks like she is not convinced I am in the best place to deal with that at the moment and is pushing me to take something to take the edge off.

I am just really scared to go down the medication road but not sure how much longer I can put it off.

 

[Froggie]

Taking medication under the guidance of a doctor and psychiatrist is less risky when you sit down all together and discuss the pros and cons. ITL's suggestion is great. There is the possibility of negociating for a temporary medic support just to give your body a chance. There is a special way for severage also. Another thing you sould take into consideration, while you were living in hell at home you did not become a drug / consommation addict of what ever source. Your will is STRONG.

I know that one day I will be able to stop my celexa but that I will be lifelong on abilify. This medication compensates for what got broken in my brain from the PTSD. And believe me, that is what gave me back a certain quality in my life that eliminated a suicidal tendancy.

With knowledge on the medication and a good professional system that supports you, I'm certain that you will find a solution. And don't forget, you have a very STRONG WILLPOWER.

 

[Anna]

It really depends on your diagnoses and if you need to take meds. If you have depression, psychosis or extreme anxiety you may need to take them. You should really listen to the advice of a professional.

I do not take meds (apart from alchohol hrhr)
I used to take valerian root to ease the anxiety and it helped. My friend had to take medication and she will have to for the rest of her life because her drug abuse caused her to become psychotic and she now has a chemical imbalance in her brain. My brother also has to take medication for the rest of his life because of clinical depression. If he does not take it he can become suicidal. It is like a chemical imbalance that needs to be balanced. No different to treating diabetes with insulin.

Only a professional can advise you. You should speak with the psychiatrist.

 

[Nighthawk]

Anna,
The term like insulin for a diabetic has been said to me more than once. I really don't think it is that simple. I agree with ITL on a personal choice.

Have you tried or looked into alternative therapy or medication. I for one have chosen to go the all natural way. I have failed at this before but am staying strong on my beliefs. I hope you find the solution that works for you as we are all different. We all have different reactions and side effects to medications. We also have different belief systems. You need to do what is right for you.

I have given med a chance and I assume at some point I might give them a chance again.

Good luck

NH

 

[Kaii]

I took Celexa, didn't find that it helped so the doctor increased it. It still didn't help, so I was taken off it and was put on Effexor. It wasn't working that great after a few months, so they increased it. It's been several months and I just saw my psychiatrist and he increased it again and said this was the last time and then we will try something else.

I feel that medication has "taken the edge off" my depression and anxiety for me but has by no means been my saviour. I still experience significant depression and anxiety, so much that I have rarely left the house in more than a year.

I have also been prescribed Clonazepam and Ativan but have never taken any of it because I had a family member who was addicted to and abused Ativan for years. It's that picture in my head of my family member spazzed out on Ativan that makes me not take any because I am worried that the same thing will happen to me.

 

[Hashi]

Obviously, I can't advise on what you should do. That has to be your decision based on the advice of your medical team and your own understanding and concerns.

I just wanted to offer the view that if you decide not to take meds - as I have done - you might need to think about other things which can support you. This would be both for your medical team, to reassure them, and for you.

In my case I try to get through with things like meditation and guided imagery. I also do things like journalling and art, and am currently working to increase my distress tolerance, coping and grounding skills.

Again, I can't say whether you should or shouldn't take meds, but I wonder if you've thought about what the alternative is for you. Do you have ways to support yourself without them, or are you willing to work on this? I can imagine working on trauma without meds, because I'm doing it, but I can't imagine working on it without anything at all.

I hope that whatever approach you decide will help you.

 

[Mina]

Simple answer - yes, it's possible. I haven't taken meds, and am primarily in recovery. However, the need for meds is highly specific to the person, their PTSD, and the severity thereof. Others have given great advice and input above...hopefully you will be able to weigh the various factors and make the decision that is best for you :)

 

[freefloat]

What's the addiction profile of the medication look like? Is it the same class as the family history? It's hard as no one wants to be addicted to anything. Medically dependent for therapeutic reasons doesn't meet most definitions of addiction. Some have more potential as over use has a certain appeal. Even the abstinent based narcotics anonymous doesn't see addiction when a person takes APPROPRIATE meds as prescribed.

 

[missing_the _sunshine]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions and advice.

I think that I am at the point that I am going to have to go with the advice of the team who have helped me so far. We have not spoken about specific meds but will be doing that at a meeting in about 3 weeks. I really wish I was strong enough to do this myself, but not sure that I have done a very good job of that so far.

The family history addictions is with pretty much anything they can get their hands on pain meds, sleep meds as well as the usual cocaine, heroin etc. I was relly nervous about it and then a doctor told me that there are some genetic elements to addictive behavious so I ran for the hills and became really scared.

Thank you all once again.