Meds?

[Dreamwolf]

I have ADHD/OD and I have taken Ritilin, did absolutely NOTHING to help me it simply was not strong enough. I was on Dexatrine, yes it was also a drug used to treat add, it however NEVER did any good either. That is when my doctor stumbled onto a study that said anti-depressants were becoming very successful in thier use with add kids, so he prescribed it and I took it for a week and a week only. I quickly changed into basically another person (i.e.) uncontrolable temper, mood swings that you would not believe and close to psychotic episodes and I was only 10 at the time had I been put on Wellbutrin as a teen I probably would have ended up killing myself to keep from killing anyone else. It is important to mention that I was not at that time depressed at all, though I did and still do have a pretty bad temper and Wellbutrin was very successful in treating ADD but not ADHD few know it but the two work very differently. My medicinal adventure was not over yet, however, I was put on one last medication called Adderall, that was my savior basically I did not turn into a mini-psychotic at all, for the most part I did not change at all as far as side-effects, but I was able to pay more attention to the teacher than the fly on the wall (which before was reversed) and I did not walk around in a coma-like state. I did stop taking the medicine eventually because, though I already knew it, my doctor was a moron, he wanted to try other drugs idiotic to me why fix what is not broke? So I stopped going something I regret now as I did not make the grades I could have in high school had I been able to concentrate properly. I still fight the ADHD, I use caffine to help combat the hyperactivity, as it puts me to sleep and I have yet figured out how to reign in my mind fully I am getting better at it. It is very infuriating to not be able to control your brain, a concept most people can not relate to at all, I would appreciate that people not tell me that it was all in my head because it was! In a way anyway, my particular form is genetic my father had it too, though he was never diagnosed, he is 47 and does not know how to read because of it, simply no one knew how to teach him. He was later thought to be Dislexic, but this is easily dismissed as I taught him how to read for a very short time, I think he was embarrassed to have his daughter teaching him, when I could read at 8 better than him, though it took a whole team to teach me how to read and math *eh!* I still cannot wrap my brain around that. Even in this post you can tell how my brain wanders and it has taken me about 15-20 minutes to write this (sad I know) but I simply cannot sustain my concentration for to long and end up thinking about what I need to do tommorrow instead of what I am trying to get across to you all. You can tell my sentences are almost run-ons and I know this however instead of spending another 20 minutes fixing it I will instead give you all a look at how my brain works (scary thought I know) when not consciencously and constantly corrected. My thought patterns are simply like no one elses therefore no one else can tell me Yes I do need medicine or No you do not. I decide that for myself, I may be going back on the Adderall as soon as I can get the $400 neccessary for another test to see if I indeed still have ADHD/OD as I hope I do not. I hope I simply need better study habits and grammar lessons. Good grief this turned out to be a long post! Oh before anyone replies know that I was first diagnosed by four different liscensed Doctors that specialized in ADD and ADHD.
Blessings!

 

[Hope]

One thing that hasn't been discussed is the tendency of psychiatric disorders to often be hereditary. Mental problems run in my family, from my mother's side. Her dad, my 'Grandpa', suffers from bipolar, and was once even put in a psychiatric ward. My mother suffered from depression for a while. I've been a life-long sufferer of depression. Also have had panic attacks, and still have anxiety problems. I have at least 2 other siblings who suffer from depression. So I can't help but think that these kinds of disorders arent exclusively caused by spiritual problems.

I think there are different types, and some people need meds, others don't. I try not to judge, because everyone's different, and I know what it's like to be depressed. That being said, however, I do think anti-depressants are being dispensed way more than they should. I worked for a while as a pharmacy technician, and saw firsthand the extent to which these meds are prescribed. One lady was on an anti-depressant because her dog died!! If we need 'happy pills' to cope with things like that, then we should be worried. I'm not lessening this woman's grief----I just think this kind of sadness does not merit the use of psychiatric drugs. When the drugs are truly needed, and when they truly work, that's when we can say, thank God for modern medicine.

 

[Melody]

And I say, Melody, KEEP AN OPEN MIND!

Right back at you, TT. I've kept an open mind that there are many types of depression with many types of cures. I'd say that's being open minded. You, however, do not believe that someone can have a chemical imbalance in the brain. I'd say, since there are *many* experts who would disagree with your position, that it is you who refuses to keep an open mind.

 

[Truthtraveler]

Right back at you, TT. I've kept an open mind that there are many types of depression with many types of cures. I'd say that's being open minded. You, however, do not believe that someone can have a chemical imbalance in the brain. I'd say, since there are *many* experts who would disagree with your position, that it is you who refuses to keep an open mind.

Hi Melody,

Yes, I’m all for practicing what I preach – and for keeping an open mind. So allow me to throw it back at you.

You state that I “do not believe that someone can have a chemical imbalance in the brain.”

A) I never said that.
B) I don’t believe it.

I do believe in chemical imbalances in the brain, and I openly state it in the link that I provided in my first post on this thread. I’ll post it again so you can see more clearly my point of view: Psych Meds Stunt Emotional Growth.

Paragraph two expresses my point of view on chemical imbalances clearly and simply.

In the meantime, I feel some of our posts back and forth have gotten somewhat combative. Yes, clearly we hold strongly opposing points of view, but I just want you to know that even though some of my writing has been “the most gentle” or “most loving,” I truly do respect you and wish to keep exploring these issues in the spirit of exploration and debate. And most importantly, I do appreciate what you write. I love debating with someone who strongly holds to their point of view and is not afraid to express it. (I would say you qualify!) You challenge me, and really cause me to think out my point of view piece by piece – and to truly question it. That is extremely valuable for me. Perhaps more so than you realize. So thank you. Hope to hear back.

-TT

 

[michel]

One thing that hasn't been discussed is the tendency of psychiatric disorders to often be hereditary. Mental problems run in my family, from my mother's side. Her dad, my 'Grandpa', suffers from bipolar, and was once even put in a psychiatric ward. My mother suffered from depression for a while. I've been a life-long sufferer of depression. Also have had panic attacks, and still have anxiety problems. I have at least 2 other siblings who suffer from depression. So I can't help but think that these kinds of disorders arent exclusively caused by spiritual problems.

I think there are different types, and some people need meds, others don't. I try not to judge, because everyone's different, and I know what it's like to be depressed. That being said, however, I do think anti-depressants are being dispensed way more than they should. I worked for a while as a pharmacy technician, and saw firsthand the extent to which these meds are prescribed. One lady was on an anti-depressant because her dog died!! If we need 'happy pills' to cope with things like that, then we should be worried. I'm not lessening this woman's grief----I just think this kind of sadness does not merit the use of psychiatric drugs. When the drugs are truly needed, and when they truly work, that's when we can say, thank God for modern medicine.

You make a valid point about the hereditary 'link'; my Grandmother on Mum's side was most certainly depressed; she was bulimic (although no one knew that that was a condition in her lifetime) - but I remember Mum telling me how her mun used to regurgitate food after a meal, to 'keep her figure'. The link then seems to have missed my mother (though she did suffer from depression - but I think that was more a side effect of Parkinson's; I have depression, and one of our sons who (poor chap) has taken my genetic character also suffers of and on; what is worse is that he smokes Marijuana- that worries me.

There are two main reasons for depression - a chemical imbalance, and also external 'events' - like your lady with the dog. I would not be so quick to pass judgement, because we all have different levels of depression 'tollerance' - perhaps hers was very low. My doctor told me that he often finds that patients who see him in the deprths of despair are made better with two or three month's worth of medication.

I wish that would work for me!

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

I am not quite sure why you felt the need to repeat the first paragraph.
There is one point I do want you to consider - and this is one which I KNOW to be true - I cannot quote you a source for you to verify what I am saying, but I am happy that I am telling you something accurate.

Suicides are rarely commited when the patient is very depressed - if that sounds strange, think on this : one sympton of really bad depression is the total inability to motivate oneself.

Apart from my own experiences, I have been trained in the subject - when I helped man suicide chat lines.

The real danger of a patient actually trying to kill himself is when the depression starts 'lifting' - so your conclusion that Prozac is making people commit suicide is totally flawed IN YOUR INTERPRETATION of it; the fault is on the part of supporters and carers/and or physicians - the patient is actually being helped by the drug, but that help, without support is dangerous. Please believe me, I do know what I am talking about.

I would agree with what you are saying, but I do not understand why this would cause my interpretation to be flawed. I understand that suicide is not the deepest part of depression, I understand why suicide would be attempted when depression was lifting, because they have decided that suicide is a viable solution to their problems. They decide that if it doesn't go the way they think it should, they can always just 'jump off the ride'.

I would also agree that sometimes medication is necessary TO AIDE IN HEALING. Like a cast holds a limb still while the bone heals, and crutches can be used to help heal a leg or foot. Meds can hold pain and depression, while the spirit heals (emotional, and spiritual). However, alot of people never take off their casts or throw away their crutches. And like an arm will wither and become useless if kept in a cast too long. Your spiritual, or emotional abilities can become worthless for themselves, leaving one dependant on the drugs. Just like when someone becomes dependant on nicotine because the brain stops making that which calms us naturally.

 

[Melody]

In the meantime, I feel some of our posts back and forth have gotten somewhat combative.

Not combative....passionate.

 

[michel]

I would agree with what you are saying, but I do not understand why this would cause my interpretation to be flawed. I understand that suicide is not the deepest part of depression, I understand why suicide would be attempted when depression was lifting, because they have decided that suicide is a viable solution to their problems. They decide that if it doesn't go the way they think it should, they can always just 'jump off the ride'.

I would also agree that sometimes medication is necessary TO AIDE IN HEALING. Like a cast holds a limb still while the bone heals, and crutches can be used to help heal a leg or foot. Meds can hold pain and depression, while the spirit heals (emotional, and spiritual). However, alot of people never take off their casts or throw away their crutches. And like an arm will wither and become useless if kept in a cast too long. Your spiritual, or emotional abilities can become worthless for themselves, leaving one dependant on the drugs. Just like when someone becomes dependant on nicotine because the brain stops making that which calms us naturally.

PART QUOTE]................"The list of suicides and the incidence of violent behavior by children taking antidepressant drugs continues to grow, and yet both the FDA and the manufacturers of these drugs continue to deny any link whatsoever. Realize there is absolutely no scientific evidence showing that these antidepressant drugs do anything at all to improve the mental state of children taking them. There is simply no evidence of this, despite all of the studies that have been paid for by drug companies in an effort to find some tiny shred of positive news they could take to the FDA as "proof" that these drugs were useful. If anything, the drug companies' own clinical trials have only proven that antidepressant drugs cause violent behavior and suicides, not that they improve the mental state of children taking them. "........................[PART QUOTE
The entire paragraph above says, basically That the number of suicides grows continually, but the drug manufacturers deny that it is due to the drug.
THIS IS TRUE - it is not the drugs that cause suicides - it is the fact that the medication IS WORKIG, but the patient is not being 'observed' as he improves - ie, he gets slightly better (Due to the medication), and in so doing, now has the energy to commit suicide.

As far as clinical trials are concerned, here in the UK, a drug that I NEED as a powerful painkiller is being withdrawn. I asked the doctor why and he said "I haven't a clue; as far as I am concerned, you and lots of other patients of mine find this to be the 'best' painkiller, but the government has done clinical trials - and for some unacountable reason, clinical trials like this always seem to come out with unexpected resuls; perhaps the reason being that the 'test cases' are not representative of the group who use the medication the most - which in turn invalidates the results"

 

[Stormygale]

Whether it interfers with my spiritualality or not....please, pass me a 'happy pill'.

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

Whether it interfers with my spiritualality or not....please, pass me a 'happy pill'.

I once worked in a restaurant where all sorts of pills were handed out like candy. The 'happiness' was only temporary, and the mood swings where almost intolerable. I watched one of my friends get so addicted to Loritabs, she would come to work and go straight to the phone, if she could not locate any Lori's, she would go home, or else she would be impossible to work with. My normally mild mannered friend became a monster without her pills.

I have had Soma, Loritabs, Xanex, Valium, Ridalin, Adderall, Oxycontin. I once took a Soma (heavy muscle relaxer), but worked a very heavy Sunday shift. I had put a chemical in my body that forced my body to relax, but still forced my muscles to work very hard. The next day, I was soooo sore, I could not get out of bed. My thoughts were, "I need some painkillers". That is when I realized how one gets hooked on pills. I did not want to be like that. This is when I realized, that while drinking and using drugs might make you feel better, it's only temporary. I liked them all to some degree, but my new saying was "it's all good, till the next day."

Michel, what meds are being pulled in the UK? There must be some explaination. Maybe I can help you find the explaination, and maybe an alternative.

 

[Nitai]

Hare Krishna,

I did not read the whole thread but still here are few comments.

The medicines can obviously not cure our soul but only the body. Still, to practice spiritual life we need to maintain a good, healthy condition of the body otherwise we cannot concentrate our mind on spiritual activities and meditation. Disease will always drag us down to think about our body rather than God.

So, for your health take your medicine if you need, and for your soul take the chanting of Hare Krishna or some other names of God.

Please chant Hare Krishna and be happy.
Nitai