Hoe pervasive is mental illness in our society?

[Sol]

I began to take Paxil about three years ago. I had been fighting taking medication for awhile. I had been taking care of my mom who was very ill because of three spine surgeries. I began to feel, as Jacko mentioned, normal. Paxil helps with anxiety but not for depression. Supposedly a high dosage of Paxil helps depression well from personal experience it doesn't. Also, in my case, I have noticed that I have built a resistance to its effects so I need to take the highest dose for it to have any effects. Side effects from this medication for have been weight gain and that is about it. 2006 has been a year full of difficult events for me. I didn't want to take an anti-depressant because I want to go off of Paxil so I started to see a therapist. This has been the best thing I could ever do for myself. Just having someone to talk to and to offer some suggestions to me has worked wonders.
I, like some of you have mentioned, believe that there are a lot of people who suffer from depression, anxiety and other forms of mental illnesses. In our society it is stigmatized because we are so hung up on what other people think and how we look and behave. I see getting treatment the same as going to the dentist.

[Jacko]

Linda was on Effexor for about 2 years.....after some initial therapy and prior to finally "conceding" to taking the medication, she felt very "un-normal" with periods of low sleep or very light sleep and a feeling of anxiety for no good reason. She initially went on to a low dosage as she HATES the idea of taking any medication....this is usually NOT a good idea with depression medication....many, like Effexor, need to be at a certain strength before the benefits actually kick in correctly. Once she came to this understanding and moved up to the "correct" dosage the drug began to have its "hoped for" effects.

At any rate the Effexor worked by helping her to get good sleep and reducing the anxiety and depression. She, once again, felt "normal" and she looked and acted that way to me. Mind you, "normal" for Linda is NEVER passive or "compliant" in any way and I love her that way!

After about the two years, she made the decision, working with her doctor, to wean herself back off. Thankfully, she did not get the "electric zaps" that many complained about in withdrawal and has been off the medication now for about a year....so far, so good...only occasional problems at that special time of the month. I am proud of her....wish I had her willpower.

So I think that some folks need the medication for long term, some can get on and get off with careful supervision and some can get by without any medication at all....knowledge is power as in most decision making processes and empowerment is most important for depression problems........its the do-nothing/avoidance approach when there is a problem that is most dangerous IMHO....

[NorthMinnesota]

Originally Posted by Jacko

........its the do-nothing/avoidance approach when there is a problem that is most dangerous IMHO....

Exactly my thoughts, now!

[MWC]

Originally Posted by Jacko

.......its the do-nothing/avoidance approach when there is a problem that is most dangerous IMHO....

For this and so many other issues!

[emc]

It's interesting to read all the comments about Paxil. I took it for about a year five years ago and everyone's comments are right on. I loved it but getting off of it was a nightmare.
Jacko, those electric zaps (I called them bee stings) were unbelievable.
Rita, hot flashes were back in two days.
Anyway, my real problem now is ADD. That commercial where the tv station in the guys head keeps changing channels? That's me. Actually I have a Dr.'s appt in the morning to discuss it. Hope I can concentrate long enough to hear what he has to say.

[CaroleLB]

Originally Posted by emc

It's interesting to read all the comments about Paxil. I took it for about a year five years ago and everyone's comments are right on. I loved it but getting off of it was a nightmare.
Jacko, those electric zaps (I called them bee stings) were unbelievable.

aka "brain shivers" - they are awful and frightening.

[Tlyn]

Just a different take here . . . I've struggled on and off with insomnia nearly all of life - more so as I get older. I went on Nortryptilan (sp?) last year and while it helped a little with sleeping, I felt like I was constantly walking around in a dream - very out of touch and disconnected. I later learned that this drug is also precribed to those with depression. Since I was not clinically depressed, the drug was making me depressed. I stopped the drug, and luckily, the depression subsided within a matter of weeks. It did leave me with a profound respect for those who suffer from this illness.
Oh, and I'm going back to the doc in January to try something else for the insomnia.

[cpfstich]

I'm a cop...gotta be mentally ill!

[MWC]

Originally Posted by Tlyn

Oh, and I'm going back to the doc in January to try something else for the insomnia.

Try being assessed at an area sleep disorder clinic. They helped my hubby so much!

[emc]

So I went to the see the Doc this morning. ADD is genetic, blah, blah, blah, just give me some drugs. There are two, one is an amphentimine, one is not. Of course I want the amphentimine, of course he gives me a script for the other one. I have to go back in a month. Now, if I only knew where I put the prescription..........

[ryberg]

Well I was going to say something like, Gee, you may want to change that to "How pervasive is mental illness on this forum?" and put in a or something, you know, but you guys are being rather more calm and serious about the question, so I guess I won't do that.

Steve

[MWC]

Originally Posted by ryberg

Well I was going to say something like, Gee, you may want to change that to "How pervasive is mental illness on this forum?" and put in a or something, you know, but you guys are being rather more calm and serious about the question, so I guess I won't do that.

Steve

Sorry? to disappoint -- this was an offshoot of some idea-izing that took place on another serious thread.

Merry Christmas -- hope your clients for the holidays aren't mentally ill! (Or are at least good about their meds)

[Softy57]

This is HEAVY Martha, I think Jacko has a handle on it,"different strokes for different folks" & everyone needs to know themselves and their needs as much as possible. I had some serious depression during "the change" but muddled through somehow with journaling & the Lord to help me. My faith was the thing that sustained me through a divorce after 28 yrs. Prayer still gets me through a 15 yr. olds tantrums [& mine too]. I do think meds are warranted though, when daily life is affected, and other avenues of relief are not effective. We are deffinately an over-medicated nation,but I blame the Docs. and Pharma Co's. This is a good thread. Merry Christmas to you and Greg & the girls.

[MWC]

Originally Posted by Softy57

This is HEAVY Martha, I think Jacko has a handle on it,"different strokes for different folks" & everyone needs to know themselves and their needs as much as possible. I had some serious depression during "the change" but muddled through somehow with journaling & the Lord to help me. My faith was the thing that sustained me through a divorce after 28 yrs. Prayer still gets me through a 15 yr. olds tantrums [& mine too]. I do think meds are warranted though, when daily life is affected, and other avenues of relief are not effective. We are deffinately an over-medicated nation,but I blame the Docs. and Pharma Co's. This is a good thread. Merry Christmas to you and Greg & the girls.

Great to hear from you, Gail! And a Merry Christmas to you and Mike and the kids and grandkids.