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Post by seedfeeder on Sept 11, 2005 8:27:08 GMT
Just wanted to find out if anyone else out there had decided not to take antidepressants to treat PNI? I tried briefly near the outset of the depression, but I had an immediate, violent physical reaction to them (vomiting, shakes, anxiety levels off the scale, feelings of numbness). Although I went back to the GP and also asked to be referred to a psychiatrist, they could only offer other SSRI type drugs, and I was so terrified of the possible side effects that I couldn't bring myself to take them. I have been having regular sessions of psychoanalytic therapy since then, which has been enormously useful in identifying the causes of the feelings - but I haven't found anyone else who has chosen this route. I realise that this is because private therapy over a long period of time is expensive and many people will not have the opportunity to undertake it. But is there anyone else out there who has chosen to take the route of a "talking treatment" (counselling, therapy, group therapy, etc) only - without drugs? Would be very glad to hear from you. Regards, Seedfeeder
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Post by cheshire on Sept 11, 2005 11:29:03 GMT
Hi
I didn't take any ADs but I am having therapy (and got this on the NHS)
I must admit to having some 'emergency' medication in my cupboard (which I haven't used yet) - sleeping pills and diazepam.
Hopefulx
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Post by Veritee on Sept 11, 2005 18:49:38 GMT
I have not got much time at the moment - but I never took them !
I am recovered 11 years
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Post by francoise on Sept 11, 2005 18:54:08 GMT
hi i havent took any in a while , maybe a month now i suppose , i didnt get any thing coming off them and i dont feel much different to be honest , still the same isuues
take care
francoise xxxxxxxxxxx
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Post by seedfeeder on Sept 11, 2005 20:27:39 GMT
Hello Hopeful, Francoise, and Veritee. Thanks for your replies - it's heartening for me to hear that I'm not the only one going this route! I do realise that for many people antidepressants do help, or they may be the only possible option at the time, but as I say I did have a very bad experience with them and wanted to be reassured that other people had got through/are getting through without them. If anyone else out there has their experience to add to these replies, I'd love to hear from you. Regards, Seedfeeder
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Post by Veritee on Sept 11, 2005 20:46:24 GMT
Hi Seedfeeder
I did have therapy and as much support as I could though!
First I paid privately, for counselling . I did not get any treatment form the NHS because there seemed to be an opinion then that if I was not ill enough to take Anti Ds then I was not ill enough to need any treatment!
But I too had a very bad experience with medication at 15 17, which I may go into if it is appropriate - so it was not for me a question of not needing then - I just could not take them , at the time they would have had to actually force feed them to me as I simply could not take them -
But I was ill enough for them - I even had hallucinations and heard voices at one point and had terrible thoughts and even fantasies of hurting /killing my child, terribel guilt abotu this and panic attacks - which I have discussed in many of my posts over the years.
I often wished I could take them and I do think that for some they do short cut the illness and maybe keep you functioning so that you can take steps to help your recovery.
So I paid for therapy , even though I really could not afford it - I also got support form the APNI - and became a volunteer for them later , still am, because of the wonderful support they gave me.
and to wards the end of my illness I managed to get some psychotherapy form the health service which was brilliant .
We all do recover from PNI in time whatever we do , but I do think going without medication at least when your symptoms are really acute is a hard thing to do
But many of us on here went without or took them for a short time and stopped so we are here to support you if this is what you want to do and we can tell you how we got through or are getting through
All the best
Veritee
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Post by cheshire on Sept 11, 2005 21:04:20 GMT
Hi
I could not take ADs either I am not sure why though
Hx
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Post by yoyo on Sept 11, 2005 21:17:08 GMT
I took anti-d's for a few months (about 4 different types as doc couldn't get one that worked for me just made me wosrse - then kept upping th dosage) I decided after all this faffing that I'd take myself off them (wish some one had warned me of the withdrawal effects before I took them in the first place!) and have been off them for around 6 weeks now (ish) and am sure thye helped through the worst of it but didn't really help me too much. I'm sure others have had much more positive experiences than me with anti-d's maybe I just didn;t get the right one or the right dosage. I turned to chinese medicine and have found help that way.
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Post by bam02 on Sept 12, 2005 7:13:05 GMT
. I did take antid's-first Fluxoetine(Proxac) in 1994 after my son's birth and been on and off them mainly on since then. I took Seroxat (paroxetine) -with all its bad press-it was OK for meand I had it the longest. Later after Sarah now three-I tried Venaflaxin -supposed to help with anxiety and now Ciprolex.
With all these-only with talking and group work have I have improved at all. Anti'ds are often the only thing some people get and its not enough-but it helps if its the right one and the doctors help to get it right.
A-M
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Post by Veritee on Sept 12, 2005 7:51:21 GMT
Yes A- M exactly
I do wish I could have taken them
I do think they are the right road if you can - they get you through, cope with the symptoms and yes you do need a doctor that cares enough to work with you to get the right medication at the right dose.
and that people should try - and I am not being hypocritical saying this, or I do not mean to be - as 11yeas has gone by since this for me and I have learned and changed so much since then -
So even though I did not take them - I probably would if I had PNI or any other mental illness again and do I support my friends ( and I have at least two friends who are on SSRIs and anti psychotics at present) to take their medication all the way down the line.
But if someone can not do this - just as I could not at the time - then this forum will support you through PNI too. And understand where you are coming from.
I have tried all the way down the line with this forum not to create a divide between those who take anti Ds and other medication and those who do not.
This is because I have been to groups about abuse and later PNI where there was often a divide between those who took medication and those who did not.
I do not want this to happen here as we all share one thing - that we have or have suffered PNI
We all get through PNI the best way we can.... for some this involves taking Anti Ds and other medication
For others it does not
but we share more than we don't.
I could not take them partly as when I had PNI I was phobic about taking medication!!! - due to something that happened when I was young - so not being able to take medication was actually part of my PNI symptoms
I found then that because I could not/would not take them it was hard to find support,
But I am interested in what Anti Ds do for people and if not taking medication has any effects - ie as I believe means you have PNI for longer???
I think we should start a thread - or use this thread to discuss the ins and outs of medication - ie why we took it - why we did not
What medication did for us - or if we did not take it What we were scared of if we did not take it - or why we did not take it ..?
What did not taking it do - ie I personally would like to compare the average time people who took ADs and those who did not , suffered PNI? And I would like to find out the current attitudes in the health service toward those who do take it and those who don't.
ie if you do take medications - do your feel that this is all that is offered ( palmed off with an easy fix for them when you would have liked some therapy too)
If you did not take them - do you feel like I did that then you were not offered any alternatives under the NHS and had to seek private therapy --
......or is there now more understanding for those who for many reasons do not take medication?
I think this might help others in the future
but it could be controversial
What to people think - I could start another thread for this?
All the best
Veritee
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Post by bam02 on Sept 12, 2005 9:09:59 GMT
Oh dear. I just re-read my message and it sounds a bit abrupt. I didn't mean it too. To be honest-I have only ever been on meds from my G.P and I think I should have at least seen pyschiartrist once in all this time. As I am not convinced I feel the best I should be.
I think peole do get fobbed off with anti-d's certainly back in 1994 - I was - only years later have I had any other input.
I am sure it is a resource problem as waiting list for pyscoanalaysis are so long - I was told I would have to wait a year. I never did as in the meantime I got refered to a day hospital and got some CBT from a occupational therapist. But maybe the pyscologist would have been better - but I was taken off his list!!!
I think we all need talking therapy. As for antidepressants the jury is still out for me!Not so sure on that one and I take them.
A-M
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Post by cheshire on Sept 12, 2005 10:13:30 GMT
Hi
I too have been thinking about this thread again. I was 'diagnsoed' with PNI quite late - I didn't know what was wrong with me so I just dismissed it for a while as overtired/ not eating well/ stress etc. but then the symptoms became more acute and unbearable so I started visiting the GP. It was confusing because my husband was seriously ill before the birth so they thought it may be PNI or some sort of response to trauma. Anyway, they wanted me to try and get thru it without meds but I was told that meds can speed up the recovery and I could still have thm if I wanted. I am not against them I juts couldn't take them - it was to do with fear of what they would do to me (I think) . I'm in no way against meds and wished I had been able to take something I think..... I have friends who've been really helped by taking ADs.
Hopefulx
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Post by Veritee on Sept 12, 2005 10:23:10 GMT
Hi A-M
I don't think you were abrupt at all
we all get though PNI anyway we can and Medication can be included in our coping strategies - and for some not.
I personally feel that you should do whatever helps you - but I also want to ensure that whatever choose anyone takes - medication or not that they feel they can use this forum.
But I did not feel you were abrupt or not supportive - I just wrote about the train of thought this subject set off for me.
I would actually like to get some information about what taking medication or not taking medication does for those with PNI?
I would really like to get an idea if those that take it feel it helps and why and why those who do not take it don't and of course from these who have tried both - medication and no medication.
I am also interested to find if people take medication because this is all they are offered?
Or is it usual to be offered therapy alongside this - AM you seem to be saying you were not offered therapy or support only medication - is this right?
I do not think the answer is only medication or only therapy, perhaps a little of both if you feel you can do it.
But I do think a very simple treatment is being left off the list - just ordinary support, someone to talk t0, it is no good sending someone home with a load of tablets and also just sending someone to therapy when they go home to the same situation is not really it either
I feel that support/friendship/mentoring might be a way forward alongside medication and or therapy
what do others feel I t would be really useful for treatment of future sufferers to look at these issues
All the best
Veritee
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Post by bam02 on Sept 12, 2005 10:43:21 GMT
Originally I wasn't offered anything else yes, but it was 11 years ago. I still soemtimes have asked for different meds for anxiety and maybe a pysch referal, but my G.P says no-I am doing OK and the pyschs only mess up the drugs she says by interering. Sounds like she is not sure of them. But she could be right I am OK. Certainly getting by-but coping not too great. A-M
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Post by cheshire on Sept 12, 2005 12:36:59 GMT
Hi Veritee,
I think ''support/friendship/mentoring'' is very important too.
The problem with therapy is that it can leave you with all sorts of emotions and thoughts to deal with - it stirs up the mud! It can then be 7-14 days before you see the therapist again. So I agree that ongoing professional support or that provided by fellow sufferers and close friends is very important.
Being able to 'talk' or 'post' with other fellow sufferers really helps to diminish the fear about the illness and I think that this can then help us onto the road to recovery..
Hopefulx
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