That's not what I said, I was saying they haven't helped anyone I know. Paxil, Prozac, Lexapro, etc. I haven't seen any improvement from their use from any of my friends. These are people that don't deal with depression every day, but rather have almost like a roller coaster of effect where they will have good days / weeks, and then unexplicibly hit a bad patch of negative thoughts and feelings. Personally, I've never used antidepressents, but I've seen people I care about have a tough time with them, especially coming off Lexapro.

It's just my two cents from people who I know who have shared their experiences with me and who I've lent an ear and a shoulder to when they've needed it. People need to find what works for them.

I'm betting I'm either bipolar or at least borderline, just because every time I try to stop self medicating, things are worse than if I fuck around once a week or maybe a little more. As long as I create the correct cocktails, I can usually keep things in check, cocktails being a mix of booze and certain uppers. I seriously don't like the idea of shrinks and prescription drugs. How could these possibly be tested right on the right people?

A friend's father in law who is a prominent shrink for the state in criminal affairs though said if I were bipolar I'd probably being hanging cats in my closet and stuff, so not sure on this. Also don't know if bipolar people do this or something stranger without actually being scizho or manic or something which I think is worse.

Yes thanks donald rumsfeld

You're probably just self-medicating bipolar disorder.

I am, however, not a doctor. I'd suggest you talk to someone who doesn't spend too much time wanting to focus on your 'feelings' and wanting you to 'give the world a hug'; I'd also suggest against someone who wants to throw a pill at it and send you on your way.

I agree people need to find what works for them. If your friends haven't tried a therapist, I would suggest one. They are good about helping you when you hit that bad patch. Plus they give you great tools to use when you are feeling down. I personally don't think anyone should be given SSRI's unless they are having issues every day with anxiety, depression, panic, etc.

I have heard mixed reviews about Lexapro. Coming off of any of them can be rough. They are not easy to ween off of. The SSRI that people seem to tolerate better is Prozac. I wish your friends well. They will find something that helps them in time.

You may not be bipolar, but you could have a mood disorder. People with mood disorders tend to drink. If you don't like the thought of prescription drugs, you can still see a shrink to get diagnosed. They can't force you to take medication.

Bipolar people don't normally hang cats. A lot of times they hurt themselves.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

I think the shrink was speaking figuratively and I am paraphrasing him and I think he meant I would have cats HANGING in my closet and not realize they were there, but that sounds way out there to me. When I read about bipolar it sounded like people who had nuclear good days and nuclear bad days and no inbetween, but again I'm assuming here.

Sounds like a top notch professional if he gives those sort of examples on mental illnesses.

Not.

Plenty of great advice on this thread though. You should get help and start feeling better.

:thumbsup

everyone is crazy in some way. that's what makes life interesting.

the people who are convinced they are totally normal are the most crazy motherfuckers i know.

get over yourself. who cares. it's not all about you.

I lol'd

...

Actually he was probably reassuring the friend that if I were going to do anything like torture and kill him or rape his wife, I probably would have done it by now or need a good reason.

Then again I'd have no problem doing that shit to certain people and would really have a good time with it WINK, WINK. :winkwink:

WINK, WINK :winkwink:

They just rebranded Aspartame in Europe as AminoSweet because of the bad press.

One of my friends is like that. Everyone calls him Happy Dave Sad Dave and like your assumption he really doesn't seem to have any neutral days.

Can you cure Clinical Depression with Alcoholism?

Don't know about curing it with alcoholism I would have thought that's just replacing one problem with another problem.

Step 1: Read books on positive thinking...EVERY DAY.
Step 2: Practice gratitude
Step 3: Realize that nothing really matters. No matter what you do, or don't do, its not going to matter. There is no great accomplishment or no great failure that anyone will know about in a million years so don't stress yourself out over it.
Step 4: About nothing mattering. Of course your IMMEDIATE well being matters and the well being and interaction of those you love. So do what you feel you must do to satisfy that need...but do it without tension, stress or frustration. Remember, you are only ALIVE right now. You might be dead in 10 minutes and the life you have lived until now is gone, as is the person who lived those moments.
Step 5: Realize your feelings of depression are only in this moment. You have the ability to change THIS moment for yourself...and yourself only. You have went through many moments just reading this and could have altered your state by now.
Step 6: Realize anything that has happened in the past is past...let it go.
Step 7: When feeling down, take a walk and focus on gratitude. Be thankful for what makes you happy in this life because soon it, and you, will be gone.

Vitamin D is the one made by your skin from sunshine.

:2 cents: :2 cents: :2 cents:

I think people should ALWAYS establish a healthy diet and exercise routine BEFORE going on medication... but of course some people would rather take the "easy" way out and just down a pill (or 10) everyday. I know there are people that have been legitimately helped by these meds but I cannot believe the number of people taking them couldn't fix their issues in a natural way.

When I'm feeling shitty, exercise is the #1 way to perk up. Alcohol is my #2. Exercise + alcohol = Holy Grail of anti-depressants. :) Some people get depressed when they drink - those people you see sobbing at the bar - and then others get happy. I'm sure daily drinking (habitual) would lead to bad things... but I see nothing wrong with elevating a shit day with a few beers in the sun.

I find hard to believe how you don't know what causing depression.Depression usually means how things which you usually do no longer gives you pleasure,but in my experience depression is caused because something what you used to enjoy it is no longer available,but you are not aware of it or you took it for granted.Best way to fix it,is to remember what exactly you did before in your life,so you can repeat those moments which brings best satisfaction.

As a temp bandaid solution alcohol can be great, at least for some. But since it is in itself a depressant it's never going to be a long-term solution. If you've got a real clinical depression going on your best to get it diagnosed properly and get on the right balance of medication to fix it, as well as look at ajdusting your diet to top up anything lacking there.

But I hear you, nothing like one bourbon, one scotch, and one beer to pull your head out of your ass once in a while. :D

Yes, but only with certain types of alcohol. Mainly Vodka.

I went to a psych last year, and explained I would never take medicine to normalize my feelings. He agreed. I noticed he had a thick book on his desk and picked it up while he was out of the office. It was all about psych medicines. I noticed the name of the author.. He wrote the book! I was surprised that he agreed I didn't need medication, but he was a very nice calm indian guy, and I liked him, so I listened.

What stuck with me most of what he said was this. There are 5 things that are important to living a content life.

Sleep, food, family/friends, job/money, body/health.

If any of these things are very out of balance, you will be unhappy.

:thumbsup

NO, drinking makes depression worse dumbass.
im taking Celexa for my depression, Abilify for my bipolar and Trazodone to sleep.
I also have OCD and AS and PTSD.

try smoking a blast and call me in the morning :1orglaugh

Smoking pot is the worst for me... paranoia overload lol. I did it once in last 20 years a month or so ago. horrible. Prolly bad mixed with the pills.


Sabby:)

You have a lot of shit problems to find the sack to call someone else a dumbass! :1orglaugh:1orglaugh

pots bad too.
i ment smoke a blast (crack hit)

Anyway Im not an addictive person.. if anything.. I have trouble staying interested :(



Sabby:)