Depression [Aware Helpline 1890 303 302] (4 Viewers)

[psyzzle wazzle]

I decided not to get anti depressants cos i don't want it going on my medical record, don't want it affecting future jobs etc. Fortunately my friend who lives abroad sent me some kind of valium pills, think they're called stesolid. I'm whacked out my brainz on em right now, much preferable to how i was feeling earlier. Does anyone know how much valium you would have to take to od? They came without destructions. I love diy meds.

 

[pete]

i'm no expert, but that sounds like an incredibly bad idea.

 

[angkorwat]

You should seek the help of a trained professional. Self-medicating with Valium (or whatever it is) will only make things worse as it's highly potent, addictive and only a short-term solution to a deeper problem. Once you run out your body will freak out and the situation will be worse than before.

 

[psyzzle wazzle]

it's highly potent, addictive and only a short-term solution to a deeper problem. Once you run out your body will freak out and the situation will be worse than before.

i think this can apply to lots of things in life, drugs and otherwise so i'm willing to take a chance. i only use it in times of deepest despair when knocking myself out seems like the safest option; its not too regular, thank fuck. i think there's plenty of other life 'crutches' people use that are deemed socially acceptable but can be potentially as dangerous. i still haven't found out how much is too much though so i must get on that. thanks for the concern.

 

[washingcattle]

i think this can apply to lots of things in life, drugs and otherwise so i'm willing to take a chance. i only use it in times of deepest despair when knocking myself out seems like the safest option; its not too regular, thank fuck. i think there's plenty of other life 'crutches' people use that are deemed socially acceptable but can be potentially as dangerous. i still haven't found out how much is too much though so i must get on that. thanks for the concern.

I would very strongly recommend you speak to a professional counsellor instead

http://www.dublincounselingcenter.org/

If you are experiencing

times of deepest despair when knocking myself out seems like the safest option

Then there are much deeper issues that you need to address and coping methods and support you need that you will never get from any drug.

Self medicating is possibly the single most harmful thing you can possibly do.

 

[angkorwat]

i think this can apply to lots of things in life, drugs and otherwise so i'm willing to take a chance. i only use it in times of deepest despair when knocking myself out seems like the safest option; its not too regular, thank fuck. i think there's plenty of other life 'crutches' people use that are deemed socially acceptable but can be potentially as dangerous. i still haven't found out how much is too much though so i must get on that. thanks for the concern.

I wasn't really referring to other drugs though, this kind of drug in particular (benzodiazepines) can fuck you up proper. Alcohol and smoking joints can be bad enough, but they don't measure up to the effects of Valium (or whatever variant you're taking) when you're talking about self-medicating. You'll end up confused, feeling much worse - and the eventual withdrawal will be hell.

It's not necessarily a good thing that you're taking this drug instead of getting pissed or stoned, benzos fuck you up royally if you take them without knowing exactly what you're doing, which is why I recommended seeing a G.P. at least. A good doctor would recommend you a drug like Xanax which is slower release and is much kinder on the brain. Better still if he/she combines it with psychotherapy or counselling of some sort. I don't mean to sound alarmist but when you're using words like "deepest despair" and "knocking myself out", things are pretty bad and you need some help getting out of the pattern.

At the very least try to read up on the internet about the drug you're taking so that you know what you can and cannot do with it.

 

[daydream_nation]

hmm, i work in a psychiatry service and just want to clear up about the xanax vs valium issue. theyre both benzodiazepines, valium is available in slow release form also. the difference in dosage/potency between the 2 drugs is huge, with .5mg of xanax being equivalent to 10mg of valium (which will most likely render you unable to speak and knock you out). most gps are reluctant to prescribe xanax, even for an isolated episode of panic/anxiety because it is highly addictive. we all experience things differently and certain things may work better for certain people but in my experience thatd be the medical stance on it in the main.

psyzzle wazzle: itd be great if you could visit your gp, or find a gp you feel comfortable with as a first port of call on this one. you could bring a friend if thatd help. its also useful to ask the gp how comfortable they are in treating these kinds of difficulties. many gps would say theyre not so comfortable with this and a referral to a specialist service could be more appropriate. this would mean seeing a psychiatrist at least, regarding the medication side of things, and potentially another member of the service such as a psychologist or someone else for theraputic work. private theraputic work could also be explored as an option. i hear what youre saying about not wanting this to be on your medical record but thats confidential information. having a period of time where you needed support for depression or anxiety etc can be a transitory thing, and that transitory aspect of it would be reflected in your medical record. i dont know if itd be something thatd be mentioned if having a medical for a job or what have you but its something employers cannot (or are not supposed to) discriminate against. i think going to your gp would be a really good first step anyway, the thought of it might be scary as hell, and most people would put it off for a good while but if you have a good gp it could be a first step to addressing it. often knowing youre taking steps to addressing the problem at all can be a help. best of luck.

 

[cycling]

aware.ie

 

[blairwitch]

The Mater hospital are doing a program that deals specifically with social anxiety/depression. It is a very common problem and one which people are reluctant to talk about because of stigma etc. here is the link (below), however it is very popular and their is quite a waiting list. This only emphasize how common a problem it is. I personally think the drink culture which is so prevalent in our society is a major issue as regards depression. That's my opinion anyway.

www.socialanxietyireland.com/

 

[shower another shower]

for some of us, drink keeps us going.

 

[nooleen]

 

[Scientician 0.8]

That's depressing.

 

[Scientician 0.8]

Speaking of depressing: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703632304575451414209658940.html

 

[Lili Marlene]

Good god.

oh well

 

[theblackdog]

Hi all,

I've had a history of moderate to severe depression/anxiety on and off for the last ten years.

When its at its worst I try to sleep for as long as possible...(14 hours a night for nights in a row) simply because I cannot deal with my thoughts, I don't see the point in being awake cause nothing is fulfilling, music doesn't matter, friends don't exist, all creativity is zapped and the outside world can just fade away ... I wake up after 14 hours, eat breakfast and an hour later try to fall alseep again.

A few years ago I was put on anti depressants when I reached a tipping point and 2 months later stopped taking them suddenly (you're supposed to ween yourself off gradually) and that fucked up my head real bad. Not a fan of those at all, but if they suit you, go for it.

I can honestly say that a more holistic approach is the only thing that worked for me. Takes a lot more effort than popping a pill, but its yours life, you have to take control. All it is is a choice.

A few years back I went for 6 or 7 sessions of counselling (cognitive behavioural therapy) and that did so much good. Unless you have a really close friend who is willing to listen to an hour of you talking grim stuff non stop and does not judge you in the slightest, then I'd highly recommend counselling. Dont get me wrong, I value my mates highly but theres only so much I want to put them through. So you get a chance to externalise those negative thoughts that keep swirling around your head, its great. And it works too, just be hearing yourself out loud (CBT therapy doesnt offer answers, they just listen and ask questions) you begin to look at things differently, nomatter how fucked up they are. (Years ago my trust in a mate was abused in a sexual manner, CBT helped me look at it differently)

Then I started to jog regularly, just 20 mins jog 2 or 3 times a week, nothing too drastic. This is essential to help combat depression, whilst certain people will always be prone to depression, a seratonin boost from exercise will prevent it happening as often. The I did yoga too, just 10 mins after the jog. Healthy body = Healthy mind, cliched, but its so true. Try to eat as healthy as I can, natural, unprocessed foods, plenty of veg, lots of water no soft drinks/fatty/sugary etc. Give up sessioning if you do, your not really giving your head a chance to function and get through stuff if its processing yokes and booze. The ups of weekend and downs of midweeks contribute to an even more fucked up head. There ARE other things to do besides get thrashed, you just have to be open to them and find a good mate who'll hang out with ya too. All these factors influence how your brain works, though I reckon they have more of an impact on some people than others.

Finally the biggest change came from meditation. It requires a LOT of patience and effort, but it WILL change your thought patterns. Its not some daft hippy shit, its scientifically proved with brain scans. It changed my life so much, I still get depressed, but when things are good they are better than ever. You have to be devoted. I know of people who have had serious addictions that overcame them through a long period of meditative practice. Its not for everyone though!

I empathise with anyone going through a dark patch, but I do think you DO have a choice, nomatter how shit things are you can try make them better, to do nothing is a choice too, try not get bogged down feeling helpless and essentially find someone to that will listen without judgement....

 

[Anarcho Munk]

Right. So have any Thumpeders out there ever been on Valdoxan before, and if so how did you find it?

It's been sitting on my shelf for the past two weeks, but i'm too paranoid/stubborn/scared to start taking it.


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

 

[shower another shower]

for some of us, drink keeps us going.

Well, the drink and drugz worked for 25 years(by worked, I mean I'm still here). Gave up the booze about 20 weeks ago with a couple of setbacks between then and now. Since then, it's been ups and downs, uncovering and trying to deal with a lot of problems that have been there for an awful long time. Had a major crash two weeks ago after several weeks of hypomania. Went to my GP last Friday. He prescribed Lexapro and I'm now waiting on a referral for a psychiatrist. Have been trying to educate myself on depression as I've been suffering for about 30 years without ant professional help. Best I can figure is I'm rapid cycling manic depressive :/ but I'm waiting on a proper diagnosis before letting myself run with it. Going to my GP was a first step for trying to get better, so I suppose thats something.
Question is this...I worried about hitting another manic episode while on the SSRI's. Is this going to cause me any problems? From what I understand, they're great for treating depression, but can be a little like crack during a manic episode. Anyone have any experience of this?
Thanks.

Also a youtube that I found pretty interesting on the meat and potatoes of depression.

a biochemical disorder with a genetic component where early experience, influences where somebody can't appreciate sunsets.

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[jonah]

I wonder if anyone can help with this - Unfortunately being unemployed and waiting for social welfare (already depressing), I can't afford to go to a GP, nor can I afford whatever perscription he would inevitably write, yet its gotten to the point where I really, really need to see someone about anxiety/depression/some manic issues. I'm a bit at a loss for what to do, honestly, any ideas, or does anyone know if there are any other routes available FOC?

 

[washingcattle]

I wonder if anyone can help with this - Unfortunately being unemployed and waiting for social welfare (already depressing), I can't afford to go to a GP, nor can I afford whatever perscription he would inevitably write, yet its gotten to the point where I really, really need to see someone about anxiety/depression/some manic issues. I'm a bit at a loss for what to do, honestly, any ideas, or does anyone know if there are any other routes available FOC?

Apart from http://www.aware.ie and
http://www.dublincounselingcenter.org/

As a firm believer that the drugs usually do not work I would say see your local councilling service first and have a chat about your circumstances and and your options. There's usually one related to local schools and charities, community services and churches as typically councillors deal with berevement support drug addiction etc.


Free of charge Psychiatrists may decide to prescribe you something prematurely without really understanding the whole issue, because you probably don't understand it either. This is not surprising as any free service is usually overwhelmed and understaffed.

 

[Jill Hives]

Double post.