Is It Possible To Succeed Without Medication?

[MysticTraveler]

I took benzos for a short time and it took me almost 3 years of withdrawal to recover. Then years later took very short term antidepressant and it took me 19 months to recover. When I get stressed some of the old drug withdrawal symptoms come back and they are hideous - worse than my anxiety or PTSD

I will never touch another psyche drug

 

[Lina]

All depends on the drug and you, I say. I've tried for years, and have found patterns for myself. If things are not particularly stressful (I tend towards "situational depression and anxiety"), I have been traumatized or triggered, I don't need medication. If I am particularly stressed due to things that are beyond my control, triggered, or have been re-traumatized as I have been in the past, I absolutely need treatment. If I'm doing particularly difficult trauma work, I need them.

I say, if you're having symptoms that are interfering with your life, take them. As others have said, it is a personal choice though, and you are the one who has to live with your decisions. I have fought tooth and nail to avoid medications of any sort for this, but I will go from sub-clinical depression to major depression in about two weeks. Knowing this, when a particularly stressful or triggering event occurs and I develop any symptoms, I mark my calender for 1.5 weeks out. If I'm not beginning to return to my baseline a few days before this "marked date", I call my doctor and make an appointment. I hate taking medication, but I hate suffering more. I reserve Xanax for when the true anxiety attacks hit. When they had me taking it at regular intervals, I would feel something wrong, but wouldn't be able to tell what. I think it's about striking that "happy-medium" and that's an annoying place to find. (I tried my best on this post, but grammar isn't my strong-suit, sorry.)

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I realize this thread is old, but Seroquel is an antipsychotic developed initially for schizophrenics and bipolars experiencing psychosis. It is a heavy duty med and since you haven't been on ANY meds before, I question the need for a med that commonly causes side effects such as drastic weight gain and even diabetes.

I am not trying to scare you. If you are doing well on this med now, then good for you. I suppose my reply is more for anyone else who may read this in the future. Slow is good when starting on meds. You don't go for the big guns until you've tried safer medications. (I am not anti-med, rather believe in safe, effective use of medications without over medicating).

 

[missing_the _sunshine]

I have just recently seen a new specialist who is looking at changing a great deal about my meds. She wants to increase my Zoloft to at least 400mg, my Seroquel XR (slow release version) to at least 300mg and introduce a Beta Blocker??? She said that I will be rattling with the amount of meds I will be taking.

I am not really sure what to think of things...I feel weird about needing so many meds to be somewhere near a 'normal' person. I am also worried about the financial costs of the meds. Because I am not Psychotic the Seroquel XR are not covered on the PBS so are very $$$$$.

I am going to speak to my Psych and Doctor about things and see what they think. I want to ask them whether I am going to need to be on these meds forever or is it a short term thing. Meds really do concern me and I just need to make sure that I am careful about them.

 

[Inspired 2 B Free]

Wow...MTS, you have been through quite a lot dealing with so many providers.

I have been in treatment for several years, and didn't want to take meds either. There are family addiction issues as well as for me. I also had a 'thing' about feeling weak if I used meds. I chose to not take anything and it has been hard, but I have managed to continue improving.

I know so many people who use meds in replacement of recovery and they are stuck stuck stuck. It irritates me when they complain about how 1. therapy just doesn't help, 2. it's their lot in life to be this way, 3. poor poor me The victim mentality drives me crazy.

Taking meds while you are working through your stuff is possible -I also know people who have done this. Ithink that is what the meds were originally intended for. Temporary help while you are in crisis mode to help get through things.

You are wise to be cautious and careful.

 

[simpletruth]

I went on ssri while still being traumatized. It reduced my anxiety and also my empathy. I wasn't afraid when I should have been and had hallucinations and walked around like a zombie. It really affected me. Also couldn't do math and my vision got blurry. The docs response was to up the dose which seemed crazy to me so I stopped. Tried other antidepressant and xanax. Bottom line is the drugs delayed myhealing and I believe actually made me a lot worse. I think I might have gotten through to a better place without them. Even after all that and her telling me to get off them the first time my therapist would still say that they help everyone.. shes wrong and so was my doc. Trust yourself first

The focus for me should have been to help me be and feel safe. Drugs are an illusion of that. Having people you can trust who trust you would help. I'm concerned that she is pushing you into deep work when you are so vulnerable. Is this a trauma specialist? Take sometime to feel safe and supported and trust your gutabout the meds. There's actually lots in the recent literature pointing to caution and lack of efficacy for them

 

[Deleted member 1860]

MTS, any updates? I re-read this thread and am still worried! Partially because you seem to have been thrown on so many meds at once (a big red flag, as many doctors only change/add one thing at a time, otherwise you don't know what med is helping/hurting in what way), and partially because you're on so many meds this early into your treatment (again, it takes time to see what med is doing what, and to stabilize once on a particular med). Of course, I'm not a doctor, rather a patient who has been on dozens and dozens of meds over the course of my life.

 

[missing_the _sunshine]

Still playing around with the meds- they are making me quite sick, dizzy, vomiting, hair falling out and bleeding when going to the toilet.

Struggling at the moment - so just aiming to get through the days.

 

[mamachick]

I am considering getting off anti depressant meds. I am currently looking for a good in pt treatment center for ptsd. Willing to do 30-90 days, whatever it takes. I think that during an in pt stay would be best time to get off drugs, but am uncertain. I am tired of being dependant and fear if I dont get off, I never will. Will let you know.

 

[p-no]

Is it possible to get through it without taking meds? They make me really nervous and I am scared.

My team is really concerned and I don't want to end up in hospital again.

Hi MTS,

I have been doing this without meds but once for 37 years with an exception of about 6 weeks. I got traumatized first as a baby/toddler and over and over later-on so this PTSD-thing is my "normal". I also use something when I get on a plane. That's it. So, I'd say, yes, you can do it, generally speaking. But I'd take the concerns of others seriously.

I am sorry you're having such a rough time and hope you'll be doing better soon!

p-no

 

[LC23]

I avoid pharma meds myself and have sought out relief in dozens of other ways, from tai chi and martial arts to making art, meditating, therapy, and exercise. I hear too many negatory side effects about SSRIs and to some extent MAOIs, and think they are vastly overprescribed.

However. If someone is at a point where they need something. Anything. To get to where they can get through the day or night. If they are at a point where they can't function and can't find any other way. If temptations for self-harm are looming. Then by all means they (the OP or anyone else) should seriously consider at least getting on the meds long enough to stabilize. There are a very few people I know who fall or have fallen into that category, and the antidepressants helped them hang in there long enough to see the light at the end of the tunnel and have a shot at getting there. They can serve a purpose.

If you're not yet at that point - one other suggestion. If your work situation, morals, and finances allow it, and you have access, consider smoking, vaporizing, or eating cannabis as an alternative for day to day management. Especially if you live somewhere that there is a semi-legal or decriminalized market (like 14 or so states in the US, Portugal, etc.) In my experience and after having read up on the subject extensively, I've come to the conclusion cannabis is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to humankind, and poses far fewer health risks than the antidepressants or pretty much any form of pharma solution coping that PTSD suffers might avail themselves of. Safer than anything in your medicine cabinet, or at the bar. There's no withdrawal or toxicity to worry about, although done to excess it can be habit forming like anything.

I've been able to keep entirely off of SSRIs and the like over many years of dealing with my PTSD (I have never once taken one), and I credit cannabis (at least in part) with helping me do that. It helps calm down the irrational reactions, helps me get a bit of emotional distance from whatever's got a hold of me. Not so much that I'm cut off from my emotions, just enough that I can look at things more dispassionately and without having a strong reaction, so I can take a deep breath and continue on with my day.

If you get drug tested regularly or are job hunting in a field where they do that, then that's a no-go. And if you live somewhere that it's entirely illegal, then proceed very carefully and cautiously, cause jail sucks, especially for trauma survivors.

I prefer a nice relaxing indica.

 

[rws]

Simple answer - yes, it's possible.

Hi Mina, Could you share what worked for you? I'm having lots of problems after being on Citalopram for only 2 months. Fought taking any drugs but was nearly forced..... Any help would be greatly appreciated! Blessings, wellness to you and thanks!