20 Years of Taking Antidepressants

[Iceberg]

I've been on antidepressant meds for 20 years now, is there anyone who has got off them after using for so long. I was told I would need to take them for the rest of my life.

[Lila_Lostland]

Hi. I'm a new here too... I been Antidepressant's for 22 years.. Dunno why so long? Never questioned why, Doctors just wrote new Prescriptions. Told my Doc, he said at lets half the amount, the fog started to lift, felt less depressed, much happier, angrier, sadder, started to cry even on TV ad's.. Felt at my feelings got a freedom, such a fantastic feeling to feel happy again. Now been totally without any for 7weeks. Starting to feel, at I'm loosing it, my long lost anger, frustrations are getting out of my hands, those are coming in such a Strong burst. Issues in my life what I haven't been able to deal with. Havent grown up to say, feeling at those issues are 22years unleart territories, dont know how to face them, how to deal them adult way. Hard to explain, feels like at I have lost a lot of life in last 22 years. Not feeling and not living fully, learning experiences at how to behave, how to act in certain situations......... 

[Lila_Lostland]

Even at I pressed at I like your Opinion,, I'm still not sure, at all can be blamed on a low self esteem.

It can be many things, Loss of something, like a personal value, not financial but mental, (like releasing at I was wrong) loosing a core value of ethos, basic inborn belief, it's kind of a thing like loosing mum or dad, and realising at all been a lie kind of a thing. Or loosing a close friend, mum or dad. Or loosing a limb, health, childhood trauma or any of those can be a shocking experience, any of those can tip the normal everyday balance..

[blondguy]

Hi Tony5

Its good that you have found something that works for you.

Lila Lostland has brought up some excellent points about depression being a complicated illness that can be triggered by many of life's major stress events and not just low self esteem.

If we were present during the world trade center attacks the chances of becoming a sufferer of depression would be highly likely. Our self esteem levels have little or no bearing whether or not we ended up with this awful illness.

The medication is an effective management tool for depression. The meds are never a fix all. They do provide us with a solid platform on which we can heal more effectively using frequent counseling to bring us some peace in our lives.

My kind thoughts

Paul

[Lila_Lostland]

Hi girlie.. Just a PEP talk'ing to myself.

Don't lose your hope, you come a long way already. Totally out of withdrawals, (crazy headspace looks like, at it's gone) Good on you girl.. You are likeable again.. Hihi hih hiii !!

Just a one step at a time.. Easy does it. No hurry with it... You got through it great..