Mental Health

[amwao1]

Hey guys,

So I'm not really sure how much this forum deals with mental health because I've seen a lot of physical health stuff but not a lot of mental health stuff, but I wanted to give it a try anyway.

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety four years ago, although I've probably had it for a lot longer if I'm being honest. Mental health issues are rarely easy to explain and I wasn't sure if this is against the rules or not but I've been documenting my issues with my mental health on a blog that I'd like to share. I want to share it firstly because one of my mental health problems is that I don't get self-gratification, all of my self-esteem and worthwhile comes from the feedback of others and so having people check it out makes me feel good. Secondly I want to see if anybody has any advice for any of the problems on there (there's a whole variety of things). Thirdly I don't want anybody to feel as alone as I do sometimes, it's sort of my way of being honest with myself and with other people.

So, if I'm doing anything against the rules please just kindly let me know and either you or I can remove the link (and I might have to start posting regularly on here because my mental health is getting really bad).

https://theworldofjoshuajace.wordpress.com/

 

[crimsonpaine]

Well hopefully he are getting treatment. You need to focus on yourself and finding what you need to be where you need to be, to be healthy. You need to learn to appreciate you for you and not how you may stack up against other people.

 

[mikey3000]

I have suffered from depression, anxiety, PTSD and chronic adjustment disorder for a number of years now, and I am on Escitalopram. The problem is, as I experience a number of the side effects, a major one being loss of libido and sexual dysfunction, I'm trying to wean myself off of it, but then my anxiety kicks into high gear. I hate it and being on meds in general but I don't know what else to do. I've just switched doctors so I'm waiting a little before I bombard him with my problems. I hope he is understanding.

 

[Peloso]

I'm on the mild end of the schizophrenia spectrum (undifferentiated). Like you, I was upset with the sexual side effects of my meds. In addition to sexual problems, they also made avolition worse, which I found to be very troubling and depressing. Since my symptoms are mild and often transient, my doctor and I found a lower dose of antipsychotics (which have very similar side effects to SSRI's) along with a low dose benzodiazepine helps without the unwanted side effects.

Maybe ask your doc about lowering your Escitalopram dosage and adding a LOW dose of benzos, which have much milder sexual side effects. Some people experience no sexual side effects from them.

Be aware that benzodiazepines are addictive and can cause other problems. Not for long-term use.

 

[Croft85]

I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety
I do tak meds for it. The help some but not great. I would love to get help but with no car, no job, no insurance I cant, last year I even had a break down. I ch myself into hospital but they were no help all they did was make us watch movies.

 

[novo174]

I went to a therapist in college and was given Paxil for a year for anxiety. I stopped the meds and going to therapy and just decided to live my life without it for about a decade.
I started going back to therapy last May because I felt a lot of my issues weren't getting better. The therapist prescribed me Mirtazapine for depression but it made me too happy and not like myself at all. I also kept eating constantly. I quit it after two months.
The therapist changed my prescription to Lexapro. He also diagnosed me with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and OCD. The Lexapro felt okay. I still felt somewhat like myself but there were side effects. I quit it after three months in December. I haven't told my therapist yet. I just wanted a break from the meds. I'll probably start trying Lexapro again next month.

 

[KaraBulut]

...The therapist changed my prescription to Lexapro. He also diagnosed me with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and OCD. The Lexapro felt okay. I still felt somewhat like myself but there were side effects. I quit it after three months in December. I haven't told my therapist yet. I just wanted a break from the meds. I'll probably start trying Lexapro again next month.

If you feel like you aren't getting any benefits from your anti-depressant or you're finding the side effect intolerable, tell your therapist.

It's not a good idea to take yourself off of these drugs (SSRI). Abrupt withdrawal of the medications can cause some really unpleasant side effects and you're better off working with your therapist to wean off slowly instead of stopping them on your own.

Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome

 

[novo174]

Thanks KaraBulut. I'll tell him about it on my next appointment.

 

[Mantie]

Hey guys,

So I'm not really sure how much this forum deals with mental health because I've seen a lot of physical health stuff but not a lot of mental health stuff, but I wanted to give it a try anyway.

https://theworldofjoshuajace.wordpress.com/

I read this post and several posts on your blog, and after couple of days thinking I decided to reply, will be a long post and I am sorry for that.

I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and social phobia three years ago.

I guess it was building inside me for years untreated (other than by food) - since bullying and coming out in elementary (7th grade) I ended up alone, without friends and went through phases of eating through my bad days, weeks, months and when I saw a chance of a good experience, I went for sports and doing something good for myself and going for it. Seeing it is not going anywhere good or expected (thanks to my clumsiness, stupidity and obesity) I went back to the bad days and self blame. This went on the same way till work.
Then came work, corporate ladder and stress. Still being alone and being a nice and naive person (how else could anyone like me, right?), thanks to a sex-friend got into a foursome and ended up with hiv. By the time I already learnt to take all the hits without any affects, so I just went on with my life. Not dealing with anything as usual. I started to get regular stomach aches and intestinal issues.
I ended up woking up one day and not being able to get out of bed. I took a sick day, after a couple of hours of sleep and deciding, I took a shower, but went back straight to bed and slept till morning next day - weekend. This went on till sunday and on monday, i went straight to a psychiatrist (really loud headphones and sun glasses helped). He got me straight to meds and we started talking regularly. Then I went to psychotherapy. Before I got the chance to get better, I got diagnosed with another life long desease - ulcerative colitis, that were the intestines protesting, cause probably by my untreated self-hate.

It took me almost 7 months to get back to normal and I still take just small steps in life. First thing was getting a cat. I am not a morning person, so dogs were out of question. Gym was the other, just occupying mind and getting it out of thinking the bad stuff all the time. Now, two years after thanks to my flatmate I found a new flat, I am employed for over a year and still going on slowly. I still blame myself for any single hick-up, I still have break downs when I end up crying and not being able to exist, but learning to be able to live with those and managing it as I learnt I will wake up in a great mood the next day after the breakdown.

- an activity helps, which I still struggle with as the only hobby I ended up after years are food and TV.
- a pet helps, as you have someone occupying your time all the time.
- a good job helps, which I found exactly in a field I wanted.

I see myself in your posts as I only need a small trigger (hot post on instagram or bad day at work) which still sends me straight down the spiral of self blame and self hate for all the episodes in my life and not a single success story. I also still have no self esteem, which makes it hard to go out and date.

Also I was blamed and even thought myself about doing it all just for the attention - that at least the doctors were interested (even though they had to as you know, taking care of a patient).

I just wanted to share this story, hope that it tells you that you are not alone in all this.