Thanks for sharing......

When I was put on my anti depressants, I believe my dr had little option because of the state I was in, by I also had great follow up too, I was referred to a psychologist and then onto a domestic violence workshop programme

I did however wake up one morning and decide I was no longer taking any pills I didn't want to be dependent on them. I just stopped taking them, NOT recommended to anyone but it worked for me and I have not missed them since

The dr always told me I had a reactive depression because of the abuse situation I was in, so once I was on my feet, I stopped taking them but I definitely don't regret taking them. I wouldn't be here otherwise and I accept that as a FACT !!!

xxx

thanks for sharing your story it is great to know you have found something that works for you, finding something that works can be so difficult.... however i would tread causciously when it comes to inadvertiantly recomending not trusting the medical profession particularly in relation to how your readers (who might be going through the time consuming process of finding the right diagnosis and medication) would view this article. here is some information from Health Insite (an Australian government initiave) on the incoclusive effects of St Johns Wort in patients suffering from mild to major depression and depresive disorders. so sorry if i have offended in any way, my goal is only to give your readers sufficient information to make an informed choice when it comes to their mental health... please feel free to minti mail me privatly if you wish to dicuss this post any further. ::)'s from becca.

thanks for sharing.

it took my docs 5 years to realise i was bipolar and had BPD.

i always ask for more now.

Thanks for sharing your experience and I'm sorry you had such a horrible time with the medications they gave you.  You're right that too often we resort to medication when other therapies are needed - my dr insists that they go hand in hand.  That said there are times when anti-depressants are needed and can make a life and death difference to someone's ability to cope with life.  Even in those cases though, the full effects and options should always be given to someone before they agree to take something, so they know what to expect.

Sadly there are Doctors who will hand out anti depressants without looking at the whole picture and the aftermath, can be worse than the depression. The older forms of drugs could be highly addictive, and some of the modern one's can have terrible side effects, for some people.

Good to hear you had the strength to get off them yourself, but sad that your Docs did not look to supporting you through the real emotional issues, before handing out drugs.

Thankfully the practice we attend, has a step by step process in place which is followed before a Doc will resort to giving drugs. Then they have to account to their fellow partners for why they chose to prescribe the anti depressants. I was on anti-depressants following both births, but therapy and emotional support were the first options, then a combined programme of drugs and cognitive therapy. The coming off the drugs was done over a six month period, so that there would be no risk of withdrwal.

So sorry you were treated so shabily. However, well done for getting yourself back on track and taking back control.

Thankyou for sharing. Luv Winnie.x