Posted by Zellie on January 21, 2004, at 20:59:40
In reply to Re: Nightmares » becka, posted by sasha71 on January 21, 2004, at 20:10:19
I feel as though I could "ditto" your posting. I, too, will be on an antidepressant the rest of my life....gratefully. After having lived for 42 years with major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and ADHD, I find that the depression has been the most debilitating. To now be on Effexor and find myself for the first time in my life feeling that the horrible, heavy ball-and-chain has been finally taken away, is beyond words to describe. I am so grateful.
I agree that the medication alone, is not the answer. Yet the other strategies without the medication were not sufficient to remove the ball-and-chain either. It is, indeed, the combination of medication, talk therapy, support group sessions, close friendships and a deep relationship with God that work all together to make the difference for me.
Incidentally, I have been a very committed Christian for 15 years, striving with all my heart and soul to love and to live for God. I am deeply protective of my relationship with God, and find great peace in it. Yet, even in all my deep love for God, there has always been the ball-and-chain weight of depression that has followed me. God has been there with me through it all, but he has not miraculously corrected the chemical imbalance in my body that causes the depression...the medication has corrected that. Yes, God is with me even as I take my medication.
I share this to say that, people who say that those who are depressed are just lazy, or they are just selfish, or they just need God in their life, or they just need to get over it, or they just need to get grateful for the good things they have in their life...they have no idea what they are talking about. I have always been an extremely grateful person for all that I have. But the gratitude didn't remove the ball-and-chain, because it's not circumstantial depression that I suffer from, but rather, a chemical imbalance in my brain.
The ball-and-chain are finally gone (well, a few days a month I still feel it somewhat, but that's unbelievably more bearable than previously having to deal with the weight 365 days a year, all my life).
I am now on Wellbutrin, too (100mg) in addition to the Effexor XR (150mg), in hopes of further reducing symptoms of my ADHD and reducing some of the sexual side-effects of the Effexor. I plan on asking my pdoc when I next see him, whether we could up the Wellbutrin a little, and down the Effexor a little, in hopes of further curtailing the problem of the delayed or even non-existent climax that the Effexor has caused. We'll see...
I'd rather, however, put up with whatever I can and must in the way of side-effects, than to ever return to the horrible depression that I am finally free of now.
Kindest regards,
Zellie
> I talked to my dr. about some of these issues and basically his response was: every person is
> different and responds differently to medications. If these things I am reading, upsets me, then quit
> reading. Otherwise, take it as "possibilities" and be prepared, learn more, and make intelligent choices.
>
> I've been on 225mg Effexor XR for almost 2 years. As long as I stay on it, don't forget a dose, and all that, it's great.
>
> It gets me to my level playing field where I can get out of bed and function.
>
> The nightmares and other side effects seem to become a problem when I forget to take my meds - which makes sense if you think about it.
>
> I don't have any plans in the foreseeable future to come off Effexor. So I may end up being a guinea pig for those missing long-term studies. That's
> fine with me. Because for now, it works. I accept that I will be on medication for my depression probably for the rest of my life along with therapy and
> lots of support from friends and family. That's the combination that works for me. I take one away, and the rest can't seem to make up the difference.
>
> I see lots of people who start taking AD with the attitude of "it's only temporary". And for them, it might be. But unfortunately, about the time it's beginning to
> really make a difference for them, they decide they don't need it anymore. And then they cry about the withdrawal effects. Imagine withdrawing from insulin. Or blood
> pressure medication. Or glaucoma meds. When a medicine is doing its job, your body needs it and when you tell it to do without - there are going to be
> repercussions. Especially cold-turkey.
>
> Anyway, just some thoughts.
>
>
poster:Zellie
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040118/msgs/303948.html