Anyone else diagnosed with depression refuse to take meds? I was diagnosed with mild-severe depression at a pretty young age, and I tried a few medications. I hated all of them. But at this time in the school year it is difficult to trudge through this without help. I believe this has developed into full blown severe depression (as it usually does at this age) and I was wondering how many other people learn to live with it? Is it not smart to try to fight this?

4/25/2006 2:52:46 PM

depression is generally overdiagnosed and I believe that most people who are "depressed" are just going through a rough patch.

BUT, if you TRULY have a physiological condition causing the depression, then you really need to take whatever meds are prescribed to you. Nothing else is going to work.

4/25/2006 2:59:35 PM

I've tried for years to beat without meds, but honestly it's not a winning battle. I feel better on the meds, but keep in mind they do need to be adjusted every so often to stay effective.

4/25/2006 3:01:24 PM

i quit meds after about 4-5 years because of lack of effectiveness.

still had a lot of problems, and i've just learned to cope with it most of the time. every once and a while i'll get really miserable (for no real rason), but i just try to ignore it.

i should still be on medications, but i never found a doctor i had any faith in, so there was no point.

4/25/2006 3:02:55 PM

go to the university counseling center (upstairs at student health). you should definitely talk to them if you're feeling overwhelmed.

I do have to warn you that you're going to get a ton of moronic replies to this thread.

4/25/2006 3:03:03 PM

^ Generally the lounge isn't too deep in the moronic replies to serious questions, but you will get a few I guess.

Finding a doc you can trust and that will work with you to find the right medications is very important. Many will just say, "oh depression, I'll give you Xxxxx" and be done with it. You've got to find one that will work with you.

4/25/2006 3:08:58 PM

Quote :

"depression is generally overdiagnosed and I believe that most people who are "depressed" are just going through a rough patch. BUT, if you TRULY have a physiological condition causing the depression, then you really need to take whatever meds are prescribed to you. Nothing else is going to work."

pretty much. plus meds today really are better...

also, seriously consider giving yoga a try. the breathing and stretching exercises can help correct chemical imbalances.

[Edited on April 25, 2006 at 3:14 PM. Reason : ...]

4/25/2006 3:09:10 PM

I too have tried without meds and did not cope well. However, the anti-depressants of today are quite a bit different than they were even a few years ago (for the better), so it might be worth it to re-explore some of the newer medications. Sometimes combinations of them work really well too, for instance Lexapro plus Remeron has been the ticket for me, with virtually no adverse side effects.

4/25/2006 3:09:29 PM

i basically told myself that i'm gonna feel shitty in life until i graduate and make real people money

4/25/2006 3:13:23 PM

Quote :

"Nothing else is going to work."

Not true - therapy (cognitive-behavioral therapy, not Freudian crap) has the same effectiveness as drugs. Unfortunately, that effectiveness rate is 50% (and combining the two doesn't make success any more likely) so it's hit or miss.

4/25/2006 3:30:04 PM

Quote :

"depression is generally overdiagnosed and I believe that most people who are "depressed" are just going through a rough patch."

4/25/2006 4:58:18 PM

i'm getting depressed again, and the last 2 times i have tried to take drugs, it hasn't helped me and i've ended up quitting them. this time i am just going to try the talk stuff.

4/25/2006 6:27:13 PM

Make sure you are getting plenty of sunlight as this is the only way your body can produce Vitamin D which helps regulate mood and keep you positive.

Also, if you're looking for a natural herbal suppliment you can take Saint John's Wart and a Vitamin B-12 suppliment. It is good for overall mood.

A little bit of exercise will also have a very positive effect on the way you feel.

And lastly, a healthy diet is essential. Junk food like fast food and sweets will keep you from being able to stay in a steady positive frame of mind. Plenty of whole foods (fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains) will keep you more stable and positive.

I guarantee you that if you do these things consistently you can beat just about any type of depression. The key here is that YOU have to decide if you want to make yourself HAPPY or just make excuses.

4/25/2006 6:42:20 PM

Quote :

"i quit meds after about 4-5 years the moment I turned 18 because of lack of effectiveness. still had a lot of problems, and i've just learned to cope with it most of the time. every once and a while i'll get really miserable (for no real rason), but i just try to ignore it. i should still be on medications, but i never found a doctor i had any faith in, so there was no point."

+ side effects means I don't take meds.

I don't have straight depression - I've got bipolar. I cope, and I do a decent job of it. If things get REALLY bad (read: suicidal), I dip into my store of wellbutrin for a couple of weeks to get me out of that rut.

Between bad psychiatrists, ineffective meds, being a control freak, and side effects, I find it better to deal with things on my own. It's usually not a good idea to try and handle depression on your own. I spent 6 years in treatment when I was younger, so I'm a little more aware of my first warning signs, and know what actions I can do to try and stave off a depression, or make it less severe.

I'm 21. I've had 2 moderate depressions, a couple funks (not really depressive episodes, imo...just the same kind of thing non-bipolar people go through), and 1 VERY bad depression since I was 18.

4/25/2006 6:42:39 PM

I've managed to not blow my brains out for 4 years or so now through hard manual labor, virtual reclusiveness and total emotional apathy. I don't particularly recommend that approach, but I'm too much of a jew to pay for some doctor's mercedes.

Anyway, plenty of people feel like absolute shit every single day and yet still manage to have productive if not notable, worthwhile or comfortable lives. There's no reason you can't either if you make up your mind, with drugs or without.

4/25/2006 8:01:36 PM

If you believe in whatever treatment you go after (meds, holistic, hypnosis, etc.) then it will work.

4/25/2006 10:56:11 PM

Quote :

"Make sure you are getting plenty of sunlight as this is the only way your body can produce Vitamin D which helps regulate mood and keep you positive. Also, if you're looking for a natural herbal suppliment you can take Saint John's Wart and a Vitamin B-12 suppliment. It is good for overall mood. A little bit of exercise will also have a very positive effect on the way you feel. And lastly, a healthy diet is essential. Junk food like fast food and sweets will keep you from being able to stay in a steady positive frame of mind. Plenty of whole foods (fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains) will keep you more stable and positive. I guarantee you that if you do these things consistently you can beat just about any type of depression. The key here is that YOU have to decide if you want to make yourself HAPPY or just make excuses."

Hit it on the nose

4/25/2006 11:32:37 PM

^I'd like to add my own $0.05:

Regularly consuming lots of caffeine, alcohol, and/or sugars screws up your serotonin uptake (what meds like prozac correct). But changing your diet won't have an instant effect. It will take a while before you notice a change, if any.

4/26/2006 11:55:44 PM

i'm depressed right now

4/26/2006 11:59:19 PM

No billy, you're never going to beat it. It's part of you, you can't fight yourself and win, trust you, you should know. The pills are formulated to stimulate neurochemicals, Yah you might be fucked up, but you'll only realize that after you've taken the meds.

Untill then be like the Relic and eat brains for your daily dose/ yo.

4/27/2006 12:17:12 AM

noone stays depressed forever. its a cyclic thing. eventually you'll rise out of it, meds can just help speed up the process. if you take medicine and come out of it, chances are when you quit meds you'll become depressed again.

personally, i dont believe in medication in general. i think that they are easy to get attached to, its easy to become dependent on them, and some make you physically sick when you try to quit them. therapy is just as helpful as medicine and has longer lasting effects, as in, youre less likely to relapse after stopping.

if you still feel that you can fight it off, by all means do it. medicines will just help get rid of it faster, and in the end you might not have really dealt with the problem.

4/27/2006 12:43:36 PM

You can't completely discount the benefits of meds. For a lot of people, myself included, light doses of a drug or two are helpful in creating a quick recovery. This allows you to focus on learning new coping skills which will increase your self confidence. Hopefully, you end up becoming less relient on the meds. But even if you still need them, you're likely to be better off if your shrink is decent.

Just keep in mind that there's no instant fix. Its a gradual process.

4/27/2006 12:55:50 PM