Posted by Greg A. on May 16, 2003, at 14:25:53
In reply to intuition is telling me to quit meds, posted by bookgurl99 on May 16, 2003, at 1:25:19
I have been on psych drugs for over 10 years now. I have been ill for a lot longer but refused to recognize it or seek treatment. (big mistake) I have stopped the meds a couple of times for significant periods and like mair, I tend to quit or want to when I am low or just feel the meds are not helping.
The concern that a medication that worked previously will not work or not work as well after re-starting it is a valid one. It happens to a lot of people. And also a med that stops working is unlikely to ever have the same positive effect if tried again in the future.
I quit and tried a naturopath one time. I went for 6 months and by the end of it I was a wreck. Deeply depressed and so anxious I could barely function. Starting again on I can’t recall which med relieved this in a month or so.
Then I had to go off meds when I had ECT. This would have been okay if the ECT had helped but it didn’t and what followed was the worst depression of my life. It has taken me almost 8 months to get out of it.
I exercise regularly when I feel well and try to keep at it when I don’t feel so well. It helps some but more so when the meds are stabilizing me. I try to eat well and avoid alcohol. I try to deal with stress better than I used to. It all helps – but for me I can’t do it without meds.
The theory is that the earlier mental illness is diagnosed and treated and the fewer relapses you have, the greater the chance of ‘complete’ recovery. For me, that puts me on the ‘lifer’ end of the scale.
Try no meds. You sound very positive in your outlook, but monitor it carefully and don’t fool yourself into thinking things are okay if they are not. Get your pdoc to help monitor things if you can. I had minimal side effects from stopping, but this is not true for all people. This can be very confusing as side effects of stopping and returning illness can all mingle together.Good luck,
Greg A.
poster:Greg A.
thread:226994
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030506/msgs/227075.html