Is Anyone Choosing To Deal With Ptsd Without Meds?

[PhoenixO]

Withdrawal from citalopram was big problem for me. I am super sensitive to medication so low dose and still, problems. I hear you are managing well enough without using alternatives so certainly pause before adding anything. I well not go back on an ssri if I can help it... not worth remembering to take it. I manage with benzo PRN if severe panic attack. And will now go in every other direction before that again.

 

[Iamsensative]

I have been on all sorts of meds. I just came off rexulti as an add on for depression and anxiety. I am high functioning and have a very stressful job that I love. When I fell apart I couldn't work, I was self harming, disordered eating, panic attacks, nightmares, all I wanted to do was hide. I wanted to die. Cptsd took my life away and without meds and therapy I would not be here today. I tried lots of alternative treatments but nothing helped like the drugs. It took 20yrs to finally catch up, I don't remember alot of my childhood or my first marriage that was extremely abusive. I think people need to work with a good therapist and decide together if drugs are a good option. If I had seen some of these posts when I was 1st diagnosed. I worked in the Pharma industry for over 10 yrs and I do understand the negativity but for some people it's a lifesaver My personal experience, I wish I could have stayed on rexulti for the time my body pain and fatigue were gone. So I am still in therapy and trying to get better any way I can.

 

[The Albatross]

I chose to deal with PTSD without meds. Doesn't sound easier... but it has been.

 

[GenerousMoon]

Hi everyone,

I've got a packet of pills in front of me and I'm really not sure about taking them lon...

Yes, i agree with you to a certain point

I have tried two medications. Prozac, which was terrible couldnt do anything & definitely was not myself. Ending prozac after gainCurrently on wellbutrin which is a life savior. Wellbutrin helped my depression, concentration, anxiety, & sucidal thoughts. Buspar helped with rest of my anxiety symptoms. You just need to fo whats right for you. Everyone does not need medication. Now, i can start therapy with no problems. There is no way i could have told anyone about my past without having an anxiety atrack. Good luck

 

[Stryder0115]

I made the leap and started taking Venlafaxine 4 days ago. I was on my way to work yesterday morning and all of a sudden my brain turned off! I barely made it home. I haven't taken it today but still feel very out of it... Having a hard time concentrating and feel very disoriented. Not liking this at all!

 

[joeylittle]

Having a hard time concentrating and feel very disoriented. Not liking this at all!

I'm not saying that you should just live with it - you should call your doc. But it can make you foggy, while it's building up in your system. It's a slow builder, as well. Try and be consistent about the time of day you are taking it; you might notice the same 'wave' hit you at the same time today. If so, if you are taking it in the morning, talk to your doc about switching to evening. If evening, try taking it earlier. Once it's stabilized in your system, the fog goes away for most users.

You'll probably find lots of other experiential posts over in the medications forum - and don't hesitate to start a thread there, if you want support, or a place to debate whether you want to continue on it.

 

[EmmaOwl]

the world's most frequently used drug for numbing PTSD symptoms:
alcohol,
and that's probably closely followed by nicotine and dope.

Yeah in my case self-treatment, I spent almost a year taking a particularly dangerous.. how do I put it.. street drug, [forgive me - I know it's odd, but I can't say some words] and it did wonders for my depression - yeah right - except when I became physically addicted, had no money left, never left my apartment (except to buy, of course), ended up with a drugged up hanger-on type living at my place...more and more terrible effects. I couldn't work or go to school. I regularly had grand mal seizures, either from taking too much or going through some dangerous withdrawals.

(I'd like to add that, after about 10 months of this, my father figured out what was going on, and took decisive action - appeared at the front door of my building, refusing to budge till I came out. For which I'm incredibly grateful!)

Now, it's about 12 years down the line and it's pretty clear not an addict, psychologically or physically. I do take meds for PTSD and depression and bipolar Type II - but under the care of a psychiatrist.

Not one good thing about self medication with drugs and/or alcohol. Out of so much garbage in my life, taking one dose is what I regret the most. Sorry for the "After School Special" tone!

Yes there is stuff you can get that will bliss you out. But the outcome of this, the treatment, the coming off, all of it..guilt for lying to family and friends... My life was basically in ruins already, due to PTSD and depression, and this little (ha) detour has made the process of overcoming PTSD much more difficult for me.

*** Anarchy, I felt the need to put in a word - I know you were not suggesting anyone try this "method" but what you said grabbed me and I really felt the need to add this response to the larger discussion about meds and treatment. Thanks for reading.

 

[Iamsensative]

Self medicating is my biggest fear. I know that opoids pull me out of depression but I know how dangerous this is.

 

[Ann Barry]

When I was hospitalized a few years ago for a very serious suicide attempt, I went nose to nose with the...

Is it under sub-cata

Hi everyone,
Is it a channel blocker used for hypertension?

I've got a packet of pills in front of me and I'm really not sure about taking them lon...[/QUOTE
One pill [name?] to address BOTH Depression & Anxiety? Will you name it?
Like you, I'd rather not take meds, cuz of side effects, but end up on them anyway. Found Dr who allowed me to start with 1 RX cuz if a "cocktail of RXs" doesn't work, then it's complicated to find the 1 culprit. Your Acupuncture TX: how often, what relief? hom much? insurance coverage?

Honestly, the efficacy of medication varies from person to person. While one person may experie...

Have you yet tried EMDR? IF 'yes", PLZ describe your experience.

There are a number of threads here looking at the downside of meds, particularly SSRIs.

A number of th...

If one follows the money, then... Since they can't/won't say how and/or why psych meds work, I find all of it suspect. Past personal side effects too.

 

[Ann Barry]

I'm not taking meds and I refuse to. One of the side effects can be suicide. That's the last thing...

What do you do, how do you Tx w/o any RXs?

What I have found with meds is I am more "numb" with them. Too some this may be good-process trauma w...

What kind of therapy Tx are you receiving? Possible EMRD?

My experience with meds is that they might not make anything better for a week or two but they won't make i...

THANX for telling the before{[don't want to} & the current {pills help}. Think I'll be carefully selecting, monitoring each possible Rx absolutely needed.

 

[Ann Barry]

I was on psych meds from a very young age. I was started on them because I was misdiagnosed with a som...

Wrong DX = Wrong RX. Scary!

My therapist talks and reads a lot from it in my sessions.

. GLAD you are much improved

 

[Gs172003]

What do you do, how do you Tx w/o any RXs?

What kind of therapy Tx are you receiving? Possible EMRD...

Im not sure what TX means lol sorry