psychological addiction?

So I quit booze over 5yrs ago. Quit irregular pain med abuse over a yr ago...but I have this creeping feeling inside of me that I have a psychological addiction to my anti-depression meds. I take remeron and they do have a sedating effect...I look forward to my night time routine where I take them and know they will knock me out....my day I kinda of just sleep walk through perhaps partly because of the groggy feelings left over and perhaps because its the only thing that gives me comfort the thought of taking them at night...almost like the only method of self-care I know.....is it possible to be psychologically dependent to this degree where you loose interest in anything but taking a pill? Its the action of taking them that simulates me, gives me a reason to live???

I'd try to look at it from the other direction; if there's not much else in your life (yet) then it's possible to become "addicted" to just about anything that's comforting? I'm addicted to clean sheets and warm showers myself, LOL.

There isn't anything particularly good or bad; there's "habit" and sometimes, addiction because things get out of balance. If you're worried or bothered by your routine, experiment with varying it and/or talk to your doctor about using less of the med or tapering off some, etc.

BUt you dont ingest clean sheets :-( , they dont chemically effect your emotions...

Not all addictions are bad.

However, some ADs can be habit forming or addictive, so if you think that's the case, perhaps talking to your pdoc (or prescribing doctor) about switching to another AD might be a good idea? (Especially if you think you're "switching" addictions, which can happen).

Just my thoughts though, and I don't have a degree in anything.

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Perna said:
there's "habit" and sometimes, addiction because things get out of balance.

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I think anyone who has suffered from an addiction has a somewhat obsessiveness about them. Kinda have felt your same feeling with Xanax years ago. Took it to relive anxiety before I went to bed and OH HOW I LOOKED FORWARD TO IT. Never got per say addicted - most times I forgot to take it. But I ran for it when things got bad.

I think sometimes that part of the reason AA works for some alcoholics is because it replaces our obsession of drinking with an obsession of going to "meetings". I think "habit" and "addiction" can go hand in hand for sure. A "habit" that gets off balance can EASILY become addiction - I know - It's how I became an alcoholic! LOL

Hard to say. I think it is good that you are obviously aware that it may be a problem - a good thing. Maybe replace looking forward to that with looking forward to reading something you really like before bed, taking a hot shower before bed, a bath, whatever floats your boat

Just a thought and humble offering of suggestion.

Hope everything works out for you!

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StarPonysMama said:
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Perna said:
there's "habit" and sometimes, addiction because things get out of balance.

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I think anyone who has suffered from an addiction has a somewhat obsessiveness about them. Kinda have felt your same feeling with Xanax years ago. Took it to relive anxiety before I went to bed and OH HOW I LOOKED FORWARD TO IT. Never got per say addicted - most times I forgot to take it. But I ran for it when things got bad.

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I wonder if this is actually addiction, or dependance. What i mean is i think its possible to be dependant on things without being addicted. For example. My drug i take for anxiety is also xanax. I don't abuse it but I sure am glad when i need it and its there. I do enjoy when i take it because when I need it its either for sleep or to stop panic - and it makes me feel better. But I also understand that I NEED it at those times, and thats what makes me say the dependance/addiction difference. Im also like that with my effexor - if i even miss it by a couple hours, i get withdrawl.

Anti-depressants are usually given for long term use. Abruptly stopping can have very uncomfortable results. They are like withdrawal (pharm companies have a nicer name "discontinuation syndrome") hehehe. I won't stop my AD's for some time due to fear of residual depression and when I do I will taper off under supervision.

I took remeron for a while and never noticed the effects of it. However, I was given adavan as a prn and I took double or triple the dosage one time to see what it would feel like. So, I stopped taking them altogether because I knew I couldn't trust myself with them and I didn't want to be "using" them. I don't think Mouse is addicted because there are none of the negative consequences normally associated with addiction. If Mouse's drowsiness is hindering her, than I think that is the only valid reason for her to ask for a change in medication.

Thanks for the replys...I guess my AD's don't get me the sack nor make me crash the car...nor do my kids need to cover me up with a blanket because Ive passed out......

Mouse,
Back in the 1990s, my pscyhe, at my request, put me on 3 mg of clonazepam. This forced me to want to do nothing but sleep. At the time I worked at a hospital and took my lunch break sleeping in one of the empty rooms.
My sister, a nurse, noticed this and told me that it may be a good idea to cut back the clonazepam to about half a milligram every day and that's what I have been taking for more than 16 years.
There is a lot of talk about how anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications can be "addicting." Maybe so. I don't have an answer to that, but I do know that in moderation these medications can bring relief, a peace that also comes with a good therapist.

Thanks Jim.

I think you can trust your instincts which seem to tell you there's something not right.
Definatley, its in a different league to clean sheets.

Good luck with exploring this.

river

Hi Mouse,

I have been on 100 mg of Zoloft for the last 5.5 months. I think I am having some undesirable side effects, and so I have decided to get off of the drug. I am taking a chance with withdrawal by stopping the AD completely. Today is my first day, and so far, so good. The only negative withdrawal I may have had was that during my nap today I had very vivid, scary, uncomfortable dreams.

Tracy

Hi Tracy,
I think I quite soon am going into withdrawal myself, tho I havent yet made a formal committment. I've done it before and I know I need .... loads of human support, I'll be looking for support here too possibly, so if you're interested, we could support eachother, maybe a sort of withdrawal and committment thread!!

That sounds like a good idea. If you create the thread, let me know about it, and I will join it.

So far, I am doing well from my Zoloft withdrawal. I am so excited to be off of my AD. I think the only real withdrawal side effect I notice so far are vivid dreams.

I just had a horrible nightmare as a result of my Zoloft withdrawal, so I already created my new thread in the "Drug" forum under "Zoloft Withdrawal."