Posted by circusboy on October 14, 2006, at 19:32:20
In reply to Re: Rhodiola - start-up advice » circusboy, posted by Meri-Tuuli on October 13, 2006, at 14:30:03
> Sorry I haven't been ignoring you, I just didn't realise that you'd posted! I'm hopeless at leaving threads when they're not at the bottom of the list...I really need to check the email follow-ups box....
>No, no, no problems... I didn't think you didn't care. :) I knew I was risking being overlooked by posting to a relatively older thread, but I thought it would be redundant to start a new one...
> Yes, I did. I actually felt rather weird for two weeks or maybe even three, then suddenly I was sitting on the bus and was thinking how nice everything was looking. It does take time. And even then, it was something like one day up, three days down, then two days up, two days done..etc ..until then all the days were up...if you see what I'm saying...
>I think that's a good bit of what scared me away from Rhodiola (and I did stop taking it): it feels very much like a drug. Because, well, it is, right? Which isn't to say that I'm anti-drug: conventional antidepressants pulled me out of a few depressions, and I'm grateful for that. I just, over time, realized that the side effects -- the insidious psychological side-effects of the SSRIs (apathy, mild smugness, poor concentration); the dulling, creativity-squashing effects of the tricyclics -- were causing more problems in the long run than they were solving. And, of course, I still keep a bit methylphenidate around (which means I don't need to drink so much coffee:)).
Also, the Rhodiola-induced anxeity was starting to frighten me, even if it was mild. Prozac made me terribly anxious, and I only realized this in retrospect, after years on (mostly) and off of it. Another equally frightening effect of Rhodiola (probably connected to the anxiety) was also reminiscent of Prozac: I was starting to feel compelled once again to be creative. With words, mostly (natural for a former college English major). To me, this wasn't an entirely good thing. The Prozac-anxeity could make me verbally more clever, but it was otherwise crippling. Again, only in retrospect. It distorted my priorities.
This isn't to say that Rhodiola feels to me like Prozac. And it isn't to imply that I think I'm acting entirely rationally here. :) I would give Rhodiola another try before I'd go back to, say, an SSRI. But I'm trying to find something close to someone who is actually "me," even if that person isn't as creative and might even be boring. Rational or not (and I am willing to be convinced either way), I've decided that my non-herbal combination of supplements (and, err.. Ritalin) is going to bring out a more natural, stable, hopefully healthy affect.
> I live in Finland, and I love this time of year too! I fact, I've been to Boston/New England around the fall, and it is really special. Definately one of my most favourite times of year....
>
I grew up in Pennsylvania, but now I live about 50 miles south of Boston. There's a culture of fall and winter in New England (hot cider, maple syrup, etc.) that I appreciate. Also, in the past, autumn has always been a season of turning points for me (specifics? I only have the emotional residue left in my head). And my longest relationships have been with people born in late September and early October. Go figure.Anyway... thanks so much for the babblemail, and for your advice. If I start Rhodiola again (which somehow seems likely), I'll keep it very much in mind.
warm thoughts,
-cb
poster:circusboy
thread:690829
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20061013/msgs/694831.html