rbdeery: 2011-01-06

says:

Hey Marsh,,,suffered from serious depression for  years....i can tell you this...therei Nothing to be embarassed about or ashamed of by seeking help...ie counseling....the answer lies often in just openly discusiing our fears, anxieties and what is bothering us..there is a saying ..we r as sick as our Secrets....and there is definitely a place for medication as long as it is not used as a crutch....have been taking Wellbutin and Lexapro for years...have not had a serious or prolonged bout with depression for years....gotta be Proactive not reactive.just decide thaat ur not going to put up with it any longer....One question   r u a drinker ? that can be a major contributor to depression...trying to drink away our emotional pain...it doesn't work and only makes things worse...feel free to call me if u need to talk...@ 828-989-7771...  Bruce D...preertified Addiction Counselor...hang in there...this too shall pass...

Jayne241: 2011-01-02

says:

Kudos for your New Year's Resolution to give up MJ!  You can do this!

onthepath: 2011-01-01

says:

Hey marsh,

Theres a great website where you can get tons of opinions about anxiety/depression and what's worked or hasn't worked for people. And they have a section on addiction/recovery.

www.anxietyzone.com

marsh: 2011-01-01

says:

I just want to say thank you to the people that have taken time to read my question and to offer their input. I have always felt that if you ask 20 people the same question, you will hopefully find some info that makes sense and/or spurs you on to take action and/or continur your own research. BTW..New Years Resolution...give up marijuana starting now!

onthepath: 2011-01-01

says:

Hi Marsh,

Heres my two cents. I have taken an anti-depressant for a while and it helped me. I had a period where I could not sleep, after working nights for over ten years my sleep was out of whack, and I was having anxiety and eventually depression. The antidepressant got me back to where I was able to sleep and get my body back on track. I was able to come off them with little problems, some people have a hell of a time, but I was prepared and had strategies in place to deal with it, exercising and just walking for hours helped me. I agree it will not address the root cause but can help you get to a place in your life where you can make changes. You need a doctor that will be looking at the whole picture, not just give you the drugs and send you off. While I was on the medication I was seeing my doctor frequently and she was making sure I was putting changes in that would eventually allow me to come off the drugs and getting other professional help. You need to address the root cause with changes like exercising, changing your diet, sleep habits, dealing with stress, dealing with anxiety with a therapist, in your case coming off the marijuana, which I'm sure causes other imbalances, and you will need help dealing with that I'm sure. You may need to try a couple different anti-depressants until you find one that fits your chemistry. It is a delicate balance that you need for your brain chemistry and so many things can affect it without you realizing it. For example the pill depletes your B vitamins and that in turn can affect your serotonin levels and in turn that can cause other problems. Theres a good book by Eric Braverman, called the edge effect that looks at the major brain chemicals and how we can affect them. If you really feel you need the anti-depressants to function in your life then don't be afraid to take them for a while. It's just one tool to help you get where you want to be in life, but realize it won't be a quick fix and you will need to make other changes to your life.

Good luck and I wish you all the best dealing with your anxiety.

Jayne241: 2011-01-01

says:

I also suffer from depression and anxiety.  Although I agree with some of what Debi says, I respectfully disagree with the implication that medicines are just to make money for the pharmaceutical companies.

There absolutely are studies that show the medicines do help.  Depending on what you define as the "root cause", they either help treat the "root cause" (if it is a chemical imbalance) or they help you feel better enough that you can help fix the "root cause" (if it is some circumstance in your life, like a bad relationship or job situation).

Like Coach Steele says, the medicine won't fix your life situation, but if you are too depressed to take action to improve your life, the medicine can help you get to a point where you *can* take that action.

The problem is when people think the medicine is some magic pill that will solve all their problems for them, and they don't have to take action.  If you want your life to be better, you DO have to take action.  But if you are too depressed to take action, medicine can help you.  Or if anxiety is taking control of your life, or anxiety or fear or depression is paralyzing you, then medicine can free you from those negative thoughts so that you can take control.

If you have a genuine chemical imbalance, then why would you deny yourself medicine to treat it?  Brain chemicals define how we think, and that affects EVERYTHING in our life and even how we interpret everything.

If you were a diabetic, you wouldn't hesitate to take insulin.  A chemical imbalance in the brain is the same type of problem.

Also, if you have taken marijuana for years, then you have already been taking mind-altering drugs, just not ones that are good for you in the long run.  (Please know that I am not morally against it, and have many friends and...well... you know.)  But long term it is not good for you.

So why would you hesitate from taking something that has been researched and documented and proven at least safer and more effective than self-medication?

Also, be sure to do it under the care and advise of a medical professional.

Good luck!

debiz3440: 2010-12-30

says:

Hi Marsh - I too have anxiety and depression. I have been on medication for the past 20 years off and on. Right now I am reading The Mindfulness & Acceptance work book for Depression (Kirk D. Strosahl /Patricia Robinson) and The mindfulness & Acceptance work book for Anxiety (john P. Forsyth / Georg H. Eifert).

They summize that Drug companies have marketed these drugs to make money, and the doctors buy into it because they have a shortage of time and would rather treat with medication. They and My psychologist say there is not ONE study done to support the use of the drugs to help the root cause. They do mask symptoms but they do not nor do they have proof to suggest they fix anything.And lets face it the drugs do something to your brain as it is adding a chemical.

I have taken many different kinds of Anti depressants and always feel better and stop my medications (incorrectly ) but now I have made it so I cannot stop as the ratio for return of depression is increased75 % and the options for treatment drugs has decreased.

I did many a drug in my day - my day lasting from age 12 - 30, I have been drug (illegal) free for 21 years now. Marijuana does make you paranoid, it also makes it so you are not really motivated to step up to new challenges. One day at a time my friend. I think you should look for a psychologist that does brain training or bio feed back.try and notice the times you get anxious and become aware of the trigger. Just notice that it is a thought, just like a thought that makes you laugh, thoughts pass through us and come and go. They do not last ..so let the anxious thought pass. You are not your thoughts.

Just my two cents for what it is worth. We are all here to help one another. Good Luck and all the best in 2011 - Debi