Wellbutrin

[Blondie]

My psychologist referred me to the Psychiatrist for meds. Like others here, I am conflicted but my PTSD is crazy out of control right now. I have been through too much this past several months and I can't control things like I usually can. My husband died in June and my Dad died last month. Losing my husband has been catastrophic for me. I lost my safety net..........my soft place to land. And now I am just adrift. So the Psychiatrist has prescribed Wellbutrin and Restoril. I am going to give it a try........but I really hate it. It feels like a loss of control for me. But, I am going to give it a try or I may not make it through this time.

 

[catjudo]

I'm going to say one of those things that falls under the category of easier said than done. I am horrible at being med compliant. I can start out with the best of intentions but inevitably end up stopping any medications. My psychiatrist recently told me that he realized that I feel like having to take medication is like giving up some control. He suggested that instead I look at it as the medication allowing me to be in a better place and have more control over my life.

Not saying that I've been able to actually adopt that thought process completely, but what he said did make sense.

 

[snugglepuss]

Would you tell someone with diabetes that they should not take their insulin? I struggled for years with the idea of taking meds, not taking meds. I think a big part of that too was with not being on the right medications, or the meds gave me wonky side effects.

My own family was quite critical of my use of meds, and that really added to my own personal struggle with being okay taking them. I was very aware of the stigma in regards to psychiatric meds, and having that come from family made my own personal internalized stigmas more heightened.

Being on meds that are helping me, in addition to using the coping skills I have learned over time, I am way better than I was 4 years ago, when I tried to kill myself. The medications allowed me to have better control over my emotions, which were nowhere near being in my control before them!! I kind of think of meds as a buffer. They provide a bit of space in your brain for you to be able to apply reason and logic, and get out from under that mountain of emotions and being overwhelmed.

I am really sorry that you are having to deal with the deaths of your dad and your husband. I imagine it is not the easiest thing in the world to go through. If you ever need an ear, feel free to message me.