Depression/anti-depressants

[lonesome_soul]

I have been debating with myself which part of the forum I should post this in. So forgive me if I have put this post here erroneously or if there is a better place for it. I've had this on my mind for a while and I just thought I would try and get some opinions here.

Does anyone here have any experience with taking depression medications? If so, how did you go about approaching this? Which medications did you take and did you find them effective? I don't have any experience with this, and it's honestly something I have been leery of for many years. Just the idea of having to take medications just to feel good about yourself, and the risk of dependency on them is frightening to me. But I am at a point where I am realizing that my depression is really at the root of so many of the problems in my life (including PA) that I just want to do whatever it's going to take to get over this hump and get to a better place.

I realize the roots and causes of most of my issues and my depression, most of them stemming from childhood experiences. I talk about it til I am blue in the face and I meditate and reflect, but I still always end up falling back into those old negative thought patterns that have weighed me down for years. Then I seek old-remedies to cure myself, namely food and P/MB. So needless to say, I am opening myself up to the possibility that there may be some other answers out there for me.

I really want to get back into therapy. I've been talking about it forever, but I need to make 2009 the year that I get back on track with recovery from all my problems. I'd like to consider the possibility of bringing up the notion of anti-depressants with whomever my new shrink ends up being. I guess I'm just looking to see if anyone here has any ideas or anecdotes they can share to this end, maybe arm me with some facts or at least something to think about.

Thanks in advance.

[Charly22]

I think an antidepressant can be a good tool in your recovery. Here's why...stopping porn addiction will slam you down hard. We've all heard and read about the reactions in the brain, the dopamine rush that comes each and every time you dive into the porn. This is the core of the "addiction", you keep going back for that dopamine rush. Eliminating porn from your life leaves you with nothing to replace that dopamine rush. This is why so many find exercise a great tool as well. It releases those chemicals that you are used to getting each time you reached for porn. I think an antidepressant can help with this, and help you develop new routines, and help you "get over the hump". Sure the doctors will tell you that there are many medicines that are non-addicting, and you can see it as a temporary tool to get past the depression and have a better outlook and get routines in place for the future. I see it as a good thing.

My husband fell into a terrible trap of depression when he took measures to eliminate porn from his life. He was left empty. Cause thats what porn does, leaves you empty. He finally broke down and went to the doctor, saying he can't do this alone, and asked for help. Lexapro is the choice of his doctor. I must say, it's made quite a difference in his ability to find the positive in life. And made it a bit easier for him to deal with the demons that need to be dealt with. Made it not so overwhelming for him. And he is doing better than he ever has with this issue. No side effects for him that make him not want to take it, he is happy with the results.

Just see it as a tool, not the magic cure, but a tool, to help you along, just like this website is a tool, you've got yourself a big ol empty toolbox called recovery, fill it with good tools!

[lonesome_soul]

Thank you, Charly. The way I see it, my PA is less of a disease in and of itself as it a symptom of a disease. And the disease is depression. That's the way I feel about it, because depression is something that has plagued me for years. So yes, in spite of my previous reservations about getting on meds, I am looking for any "tool" that will help me along towards a better life at this point.

So when you say that he 'went to the Doctor' do you mean that he went to a therapist or psychiatrist, or did he just go to his primary care physician? I was having a discussion with someone about this the other day, and it was unclear to me where I should begin with something like this. I think I would benefit from going back into therapy anyways, but I don't want to waste time either; if taking a drug like Lexapro is going to help me out, then I would rather find out about it sooner rather than later.

Thanks for the advice!

[Searching4peace]

I think that seeing a qualified mental health professional first is the way to go...my reasoning behind this. If your depression is being caused by something like Bi-polar disorder, manic depression, or some acute personality disorder...then anti depressants can actually make your depression worse and cause you to crash in many ways. If you are the type of personality that swings from one extreme to the other, then a mood stabalizer is what you'd need. Then adult ADD can cause depression because of the inability or over ability to focus or complete the tasks at hand, so anti depresants alone wouldn't do much without meds to help your mental focus and clarity. I having been round the mental health rollarcoaster with many friends and family, from bipolar to paranoid skitsophrenics, only a mental health professional can accuratly diagnose your issues with extensive testing...be warry of any doctor that is willing to write you a script with only a ten min visit. For instance to accuratly diagnose bipolar, it's about 3 hours of cognative testing and medical history.

Just my take and I hope it helps you decide what is best, but remember CBT "cognitave behavioral therapy" is one of the only proven ways of overcoming your issues from your child hood because it makes you face them...medicating alone will only prolong the issue and make it more likely to flare back up...It's been a few months since I read the thread on here...but one of the guys has a great thread on therapy...and darnit the location of it evades me. I'll get back to ya with that.

Peace and love,
Crys

[Newman]

LS,

I consulted a psychologist with training in pharmacology. I did this primarily for help in getting rid of my use of porn. Testing revealed several things including chronic, long term depression. The psych recommended a trial of prozac under the supervision of a medical doctor. I was hesitant, at first, because I didn't like the idea of having to take medicine to feel better about things, either. But, I gave it a try and it has made a world of difference. It has allowed me some "breathing room" to deal with my compulsions. I hope that I will reach a point where I won't have to take it anymore. But given the improvement in my outlook and my life in general, I'll take it (low dose) for the rest of my life if necessary. Good luck.

[lonesome_soul]

I just want to say thanks to all of you who have responded to this thread thus far. I really have to say, if nothing else its just nice to feel like I am not alone in this! It's so easy to feel like I am the only one who is going through this anguish and that I am all alone in the world.... so if nothing else, thank you for providing a sense of perspective.

I know that I definitely need to see a professional of some kind. I'm just not exactly sure where to start. I talked to my regular doctor a while back and let him know that I was going through some stress and needed help (although I didn't at the time use the word depression, nor did I really indicate exactly how bad I was feeling.) He recommended a therapist for me, who I went and visited once last spring. As I have expressed before, I wasn't too keen on this individual at the time. For whatever reason, something about him just rubbed me the wrong way. I think I just felt uncomfortable sharing, and listening to what he had to say. He didn't say anything "wrong" I don't know, the more I think about it the more I think it was just my way of sabotaging my own recovery.... maybe I need to give that guy another chance.

Because I tell you, I am starting to feel a little desperate. I feel like if I don't do something soon I am just going to loose it and maybe do something I might regret. Like I said, I just feel so lost and alone sometimes. Like I just don't have anyplace to turn for answers.

[Newman]

LS,
Instead of allowing your desperation to lead you into doing something you'll regret, why don't you use it to lead you into doing something that will help you. Many of us reached a point of desperation where we could have given up. But that robs you of the enjoyment that can be yours by addressing and overcoming your problems. I'm not trying to minimize your problems. But if they are serious enough to cause this sort of anguish, don't feel badly about seeking out help. Try another therapist or a specialist in another field. Plenty of people on this site have had to do the same thing and are better off for having done so. I encourage you to keep trying. Good luck.

[2bfree]

Does anyone here have any experience with taking depression medications? If so, how did you go about approaching this? Which medications did you take and did you find them effective?

Hi LS, I am currently taking depression medication, fluoxetine or commonly referred to as Prozac.

My internet search for this medication also reveals that it is one of those drugs prescribed to help sex addicts.

Personally I find it effective in keeping my moods neutral and peaceful to some extent. Maybe 10 to 20 per cent, I think. It also somehow makes me think less about sx.

Do note medications such as this is not a cure all or an instant cure. What really matters is, you have cultivate and maintain resolutely, consistently the right intention and motivation to wean yourself off from P/MB.

I realize the roots and causes of most of my issues and my depression, most of them stemming from childhood experiences. I talk about it til I am blue in the face and I meditate and reflect, but I still always end up falling back into those old negative thought patterns that have weighed me down for years. Then I seek old-remedies to cure myself, namely food and P/MB. So needless to say, I am opening myself up to the possibility that there may be some other answers out there for me.

Hey, LS, this is what I'm experiencing too. Most of my issues stem from growing up years experiences. I falll back into old negative thought patterns every now and then. You are not alone. I'm really glad to hear you are willing to open up yourself to various possibilities to finding the answers you need.

I really want to get back into therapy. I've been talking about it forever, but I need to make 2009 the year that I get back on track with recovery from all my problems. I'd like to consider the possibility of bringing up the notion of anti-depressants with whomever my new shrink ends up being. I guess I'm just looking to see if anyone here has any ideas or anecdotes they can share to this end, maybe arm me with some facts or at least something to think about.

Yes, please do consider discussing all possible options with your new shrink should you get back into therapy. You have the right realisation and motivation, and don't look down this, this is a big positive step for you at this stage.

One suggestion is that maybe there are certain things which you find it easier to say when you first write down on paper. One can be at a loss of words, forgetful or maybe a tad uncomfortable with describing certain details. You can show what you have written on that piece of paper to your doctor, and both of you can work on from there.

May 2009 be a good year for you to start on the things you need to help yourself. May you find the right people to understand and help you through your needs and concerns.

Take care and do update us on how you are doing. :)

[Dewvis]

I was put on anti-depressants, they were good in that they turned down the volume of my internal monologue, my head became a much quieter place.

They made orgasms very difficult to achieve, so I would take over-the-counter stimulants to counter that side effect.

[justsomerandomdude]

I was suffering from PA (without knowing it) and lethargy/depression and was put on SSRI, but the effect was not at all what I expected, in fact it turned my life to hell.. read my intro post in the welcome forum if you want the details.

In my opinion drugs should only be a last resort when you have tried already to commit suicide or something similar and nothing to take lightly.

In any case, good luck and all the best! Keep looking until you find something that works for you!