SSRI Withdrawal

[coffeejo]

Good point - I think in an ideal world it would be CBT in conjunction with meds but unfortunately this isn't always the case. I find it interesting the extremities in views between psychologists and psychiatrists (very generally).

Do you mean CBT with meds or therapy with meds?

CBT is different to many other therapies in that it deals with current behaviour/thinking and not the reasons behind the depression etc etc etc. It's ONE method. It's not the only one. It's not the best.

Nobody can say that one approach (with or without meds) is better than another because everyone's experiences, needs and responses to therapy (and therapists) are different.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

My understanding is that depression is divided into different causes...

Re active ( a reaction to an event/trauma/loss/life change for example)

Clinical (some kind of inherited tendancy/in your genes)

Substance related ( alcohol/drug abuse)

CBT looks at the thought processes. I believe some people are prone to depression due purely to their thought process, in which case they may respond to CBT. Others may have experienced an event which changed the way they think about things, CBT will help to a degree but it won't make the issue go away in itself. However it may provide the sufferer clarity of thought to be able to make changes to the underlying problem themselves. Some underlying events can never be changed (berievement ) so CBT will only help how we deal with it in our heads.

CBT is just one tool to be used where appropriate. I don't think it's the be all and end all 'cure' and again it's often used and a blanket 'default' therapy option. Person centred is however the most common form of counselling I think. I suspect psychodynamic schools are less common, perhaps because they are more expensive and time consuming?

I came to a conclusion after many years that the answer does not lay with others, or with treatment (chemical or otherwise) the real answers lay inside oneself. Having said that to reach that conclusion one may have to go through this med/thearapy rollercoaster and reach that conclusion ones self.

 

[chernij]

Do you mean CBT with meds or therapy with meds?

CBT is different to many other therapies in that it deals with current behaviour/thinking and not the reasons behind the depression etc etc etc. It's ONE method. It's not the only one. It's not the best.

Nobody can say that one approach (with or without meds) is better than another because everyone's experiences, needs and responses to therapy (and therapists) are different.

I meant therapy, apologies for not clearing it up.

 

[coffeejo]

I meant therapy, apologies for not clearing it up.

 

[Hip Priest]

Been feeling awful the last few days, culminating in an anxiety attack this morning at work. I've been allowed to go home early, and I'm pondering whether to go back my original dose of medication. Having not experienced any serious anxiety problems for a couple of years, this has really taken the wind out of my sails, but I'd feel like a failure going back on the drugs. Thoughts?

 

[coffeejo]

I don't think it's a failure to be on meds. In all honesty, as I think I've said before, if you had any other medical condition that required medication, would you view it as a failure? Or a a tool to enable you to live your life? Do you beat yourself up if you have to take paracetomol? Personally, of all the consequences of poor mental health, I find swallowing a tablet every night to be the least of my concerns.

OT, I had a really weird dream last night where my primary care trust were forcing me to come off meds and using me as a guinea pig for some experiment. Not sure I want to go to my appointments this week.

 

[PK99]

My understanding is that depression is divided into different causes...

Re active ( a reaction to an event/trauma/loss/life change for example)

Clinical (some kind of inherited tendancy/in your genes)

Substance related ( alcohol/drug abuse)

lf.

I think your understanding is incorrect:

Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods.
Clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for a longer period of time.

The key point making the depression clinical, is the interference with everyday life over extended periods

Further, CBT comes from the idea that it is not events that result in mood disorders, but how we think about events: Thoughts drive Emotions not the other way round.
CBT addresses the problem by addressing the underlying thinking errors

Have a look here>>> http://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/cognitive-distortions-cbt.htm

 

[Hip Priest]

I don't think it's a failure to be on meds. In all honesty, as I think I've said before, if you had any other medical condition that required medication, would you view it as a failure? Or a a tool to enable you to live your life? Do you beat yourself up if you have to take paracetomol? Personally, of all the consequences of poor mental health, I find swallowing a tablet every night to be the least of my concerns.

You're absolutely right of course. I guess it's just my disappointment manifesting itself as feelings of failure. I thought I'd overcome these problems, and now it's clear that I haven't.

 

[coffeejo]

You're absolutely right of course. I guess it's just my disappointment manifesting itself as feelings of failure. I thought I'd overcome these problems, and now it's clear that I haven't.

Nah, mental health isn't a failing. It's not a sign of weakness. You're not less of a person because of it. And it's not a problem to be fixed, but a condition to be managed. So get out there, hold your head up and be proud of the fact that you've got the courage to deal with it head on.

 

[Hip Priest]

Thanks for your support Jo.

I'm off to bed with a book. I'm sure I'll feel a bit better after a rest! Got a 20 mile TT tomorrow, so I need it....

 

[shouldbeinbed]

coffeejo. I stand and applaud your contributions to this thread.

Hip Priest, it is a long slow climb from the depths, even when you are off the meds you still have a long way to go. You will have setbacks and bad days but all that does is prove you are a human being, not in any way at all a failure. Hang in there, just keep putting one foot in front of the other & you'll get there

 

[Martyn H]

You're absolutely right of course. I guess it's just my disappointment manifesting itself as feelings of failure. I thought I'd overcome these problems, and now it's clear that I haven't.

Recognizing how to deal with MH issues is a huge positive. Knowing that meds may be required to manage the condition for the very long term is so much better that beating yourself up as a failure. I had been off meds for about three years, but recently found myself struggling again. Being able to recognise what was happening to me has helped, and before things got really bad, I spoke with my GP and am now on a course of Sertraline for the forseeable future. This time I have caught myself in time and am still able to work and go out on the bike etc.

Wishing you luck with your TT tomorrow

 

[The Brewer]

Citalopram is a truly horrid drug. Gp's should be ashamed of themselves for prescribing it when they know full well of the horrendous side effects it can have and withdrawel issues . It's dished out like smarties and those who have not taken the wretched stuff can never know how it feels to lose your 'self' to this s***...yet how many GPs have ever taken this poison?

shoot just been prescribed this today and just swallowed my first tablet

 

[Andrew_P]

s*** just been prescribed this today and just swallowed my first tablet

I wouldn't be overly concerned, most of these sort of drugs will have some withdrawal side effects, but if you manage your way off of them they can be kept to the minimum.

For me this drug was a life saver and helped me get through a tough time and come out the other side sane and in good health. I decided to come off of them myself and just did a a gradual reduction over the amount of tablets in my last prescription. For me the benefits far outweighed the negatives, I hope it will be the same for you too.

 

[PK99]

s*** just been prescribed this today and just swallowed my first tablet

As I said earlier in the thread, do not be scared off someting based on comments from some random bloke on the internet who had a bad experience. All they have succeeded in doing is heightening your anxiety

I, and a goodly number i have spoken to, have had a very positive experience of Citalopram.