[TishaBuv]

For people who medicate to cope with emotions, has it helped?

[AzulOscuro]

I can’t deny my brain took advantages of some of the chemical substances I provide it with.
It seems that other things such as extreme sports also work but I’m pretty much afraid of them.

[divine1966]

Do you mean medicate as prescribed meds? I don’t but my husband is on meds for severe OCD (he has anxiety disorder and tourettes too but his OCD is driving it all), yes medication takes an edge off. Not completely stops but makes it livable. He’d not be able to maintain a career without meds. So yes it helps.

Or you meant self medicate like alcohol or pot etc?

[AzulOscuro]

This is the word, @Divine“ liveable”
I share this

[Prycejosh1987]

I think medication can dim the lights on emotion but it generally doesnt do much. If someopne has anxiety or depression it can level the playing field emotionally. At the end of the day its upto us to control our emotions, i have dealt with mental health myself. When i stop taking the tablets i am actually more upbeat.

[TishaBuv]

Originally Posted by divine1966

Do you mean medicate as prescribed meds? I don’t but my husband is on meds for severe OCD (he has anxiety disorder and tourettes too but his OCD is driving it all), yes medication takes an edge off. Not completely stops but makes it livable. He’d not be able to maintain a career without meds. So yes it helps.

Or you meant self medicate like alcohol or pot etc?

I meant prescribed meds. Since taking the meds I am on, I bounce back from the emotional meltdowns more quickly. But they are not helping me to not react in the first place. My reaction is to certain triggers that I can’t get cooperation with the person who (is the one who mostly) pushes those same few buttons.

I never drank alcohol except a small amount only socially. I know it’s also a depressant, so naturally it wouldn’t help with depression. Honestly, the psychiatrist suggested it to relax me!

Medical marijuana may actually be helpful, maybe as much as the meds. There is a liquid tincture that isn’t bad for you like smoking. Interesting break throughs in this.

[TishaBuv]

Originally Posted by Prycejosh1987

I think medication can dim the lights on emotion but it generally doesnt do much. If someopne has anxiety or depression it can level the playing field emotionally. At the end of the day its upto us to control our emotions, i have dealt with mental health myself. When i stop taking the tablets i am actually more upbeat.

I wish the meds were dimming or leveling the emotions at the time they blow up into a full-on anxiety meltdown. That’s the result I want. I agree with you, it’s up to us to control our emotions. I try, but the triggers are so intense, it’s impossible to control sometimes. I don’t feel like the meds are bringing me down or lifting me up, only helping me bounce back sooner.

[TunedOut]

Originally Posted by TishaBuv

For people who medicate to cope with emotions, has it helped?

When an incident happened in my family (one and a half years ago?) and I couldn't stop crying about it, my psychiatrist suggested that I take Sertraline (brand name Zoloft; I only take 25 mg a day--a children's dose, when I was crying, I took 50 mg a day for a while) and it did help me stop crying/numb my emotions. I take it after eating breakfast and have consistently found that when my H asks, "Did I take my medicine?"--when I look in my pill planner, I find I forgot. I only notice a difference myself if I forget two days in a row. When I stop taking it, I feel less detached and feel both good and bad emotions a little more strongly. I take a lot of meds but this one numbs my emotions the most. I keep the dose low because I know antidepressants aren't that good for us long term but I still take a low dose because it seems to help me be less impulsive/make better decisions.

[TishaBuv]

Originally Posted by TunedOut

When an incident happened in my family (one and a half years ago?) and I couldn't stop crying about it, my psychiatrist suggested that I take Sertraline (brand name Zoloft; I only take 25 mg a day--a children's dose, when I was crying, I took 50 mg a day for a while) and it did help me stop crying/numb my emotions. I take it after eating breakfast and have consistently found that when my H asks, "Did I take my medicine?"--when I look in my pill planner, I find I forgot. I only notice a difference myself if I forget two days in a row. When I stop taking it, I feel less detached and feel both good and bad emotions a little more strongly. I take a lot of meds but this one numbs my emotions the most. I keep the dose low because I know antidepressants aren't that good for us long term but I still take a low dose because it seems to help me be less impulsive/make better decisions.

I’m glad it works for you. I tried many AD’s, including Zoloft at one point. I didn’t get good results and tended to throw out my h.

[MickeyCheeky]

i can't say it has Helped me much but then Again i only took REALLY small doses. Do Your doctr And/Or therapist know that the meds aren't really working? Perhaps that may be SomeThing worth discussing. i am So Sorry things are being hard for You. Please do not give up. SEnding Many Safe, Warm Hugs to BOTH You, @TishaBuv, Your Family, Your FriEnds And ALL Of Your Loved Ones! Keep fighting And keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

[divine1966]

Sometimes I wonder if some of the depressions and anxieties people describe on PC are related to their current situations and circumstances rather than clinical disorders.

My husband has safety OCD that triggers Tourette’s, it doesn’t matter where he is and if the situation is real or not, he might feel unsafe and then certain compulsions kick in. It’s truly clinical and has nothing to do with what’s really going on around him. It’s not triggered by anything specific around him.

When I read on here that people have to take anti anxiety or anti depressant meds and then they describe difficult circumstances around them, it makes me wonder if leaving the situation would be a better remedy than meds.

I once was in a relationship with alcoholic who kept relapsing, I was constantly anxious and on and off depressed or angry. And I don’t have disorders. But relationship was making me unwell. I never felt this way neither before nor after and never want to feel like this again. But it wasn’t a disorder or illness. It was a rather typical reaction to insane environment. As soon as I left I was back to normal fast

I wonder if you get rid of triggers, you won’t need medication if what you experience is triggered by people you are in contact with

[TishaBuv]

Originally Posted by divine1966

Sometimes I wonder if some of the depressions and anxieties people describe on PC are related to their current situations and circumstances rather than clinical disorders.

My husband has safety OCD that triggers Tourette’s, it doesn’t matter where he is and if the situation is real or not, he might feel unsafe and then certain compulsions kick in. It’s truly clinical and has nothing to do with what’s really going on around him. It’s not triggered by anything specific around him.

When I read on here that people have to take anti anxiety or anti depressant meds and then they describe difficult circumstances around them, it makes me wonder if leaving the situation would be a better remedy than meds.

I once was in a relationship with alcoholic who kept relapsing, I was constantly anxious and on and off depressed or angry. And I don’t have disorders. But relationship was making me unwell. I never felt this way neither before nor after and never want to feel like this again. But it wasn’t a disorder or illness. It was a rather typical reaction to insane environment. As soon as I left I was back to normal fast

I wonder if you get rid of triggers, you won’t need medication if what you experience is triggered by people you are in contact with

^YES! A typical reaction, though it appears as an emotional dysregulation, to an INSANE environment!!!

I see that, too, on here, how some people have a non specific source of their triggers and it is definitely a biological issue. Then there are others who are in a stressful relationship situation (like me). I know my doing the same thing and expecting different results is the very definition of...

[divine1966]

I just personally don’t think that reaction to stressful environment should be medicated. Of course stressful situations can’t always be avoided, like living in a war zone or caring for ill family members. But if your husband causes you so much stress that you have to go on meds or consider substances, I don’t know if it’s worth it. imho

[*Beth*]

I have bipolar disorder. Without meds my life would be out of control in many ways. The environment has a certain amount of influence upon my moods and emotions. The thing is, I'm so extremely hyper-sensitive to internal and external stimuli that whatever is going on in my environment is fuel for the fire. I can be in a "perfect" environment and still have intense reactions, and episodes.


It like this...if someone has epilepsy, regardless of the environment seizures will happen if the person is unmedicated. Meds are far from perfect, but for people with a mental illness they are a blessing.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I have bipolar disorder. Without meds my life would be out of control in many ways. The environment has a certain amount of influence upon my moods and emotions. The thing is, I'm so extremely hyper-sensitive to internal and external stimuli that whatever is going on in my environment is fuel for the fire. I can be in a "perfect" environment and still have intense reactions, and episodes.

It like this...if someone has epilepsy, regardless of the environment seizures will happen if the person is unmedicated. Meds are far from perfect, but for people with a mental illness they are a blessing.

Oh absolutely. So very true Beth.

That’s why I brought up example of someone with severe OCD. There would be nothing going on and he’d be scared to leave the house. And tourettes would be so off the charts that he’d not manage work tasks. When he finally decided it’s time to go on meds and when they found proper meds, he functions very well. Disorder is still there but the edge is off and he is happy and successful.

But that’s where the difference lies between illness/disorder and stress/environment induced response.

Too many times meds are prescribed in absence of true clinical diagnosis.

I know women in abusive relationships go on anti depressants or worse: take highly addictive Xanax several times a day to deal with abuse. It greatly saddens me. I am in support for medications when dealing disorder/illness (physical or mental) but not in support of it dealing with life challenges that could be possibly avoided

[TunedOut]

Originally Posted by divine1966

But that’s where the difference lies between illness/disorder and stress/environment induced response.

Too many times meds are prescribed in absence of true clinical diagnosis.

Even if the disorder is from the environment, if a person waits too long to get help, they can end up needing medication due to complex PTSD. When I first went to a psychologist (about 8 years ago), I was extremely suicidal. I was prescribed Bupropion and Xanax (much more than I take now--he said I could take it every 4 hours if necessary and I was given four doses a day! Plus, I had no idea how addictive it was) and my suicidal thoughts stopped. I do wish I hadn't been prescribed the Xanax and another antidepressant might have worked better (the Bupropion made me more hyper and I was able to sleep much less on it--I needed the Xanax to come down from the Bupropion!). Also, I sometimes wonder if the meds change our brain chemistry to the point that we now need them permanently. When I stopped the Bupropion (I had lost my medical insurance) in 2015, it was one of many things that led to my attempt that put me in the hospital that year.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by TunedOut

Even if the disorder is from the environment, if a person waits too long to get help, they can end up needing medication due to complex PTSD. When I first went to a psychologist (about 8 years ago), I was extremely suicidal. I was prescribed Bupropion and Xanax (much more than I take now--he said I could take it every 4 hours if necessary and I was given four doses a day! Plus, I had no idea how addictive it was) and my suicidal thoughts stopped. I do wish I hadn't been prescribed the Xanax and another antidepressant might have worked better (the Bupropion made me more hyper and I was able to sleep much less on it--I needed the Xanax to come down from the Bupropion!). Also, I sometimes wonder if the meds change our brain chemistry to the point that we now need them permanently. When I stopped the Bupropion (I had lost my medical insurance) in 2015, it was one of many things that led to my attempt that put me in the hospital that year.

Well true PTSD is a true diagnosis (provided it’s not self diagnosed which is common) could certainly warrant medication. I mainly meant when people are taking meds and they don’t have a diagnosis! Just a bad situation. Perhaps if they left that situation they’d feel well enough to never needing meds! Of course not everyone could leave. Combat soldiers cannot etc

Yes eventually your body and mind do need meds or you are too sick if you don’t take them. You can wean yourself off (with doctors supervision and if warranted) but yes your body depends on it. It does alter your chemistry

[TishaBuv]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I have bipolar disorder. Without meds my life would be out of control in many ways. The environment has a certain amount of influence upon my moods and emotions. The thing is, I'm so extremely hyper-sensitive to internal and external stimuli that whatever is going on in my environment is fuel for the fire. I can be in a "perfect" environment and still have intense reactions, and episodes.


It like this...if someone has epilepsy, regardless of the environment seizures will happen if the person is unmedicated. Meds are far from perfect, but for people with a mental illness they are a blessing.

The thing is, I'm so extremely hyper-sensitive to internal and external stimuli that whatever is going on in my environment is fuel for the fire.——

^ Yes, this is the essence of the dilemma. There are really only a few people who are the button pressers for me. They are extremely difficult people in how they press my buttons. But I am so sensitive to it that I can’t handle it. They are ‘toxic’ but the way I handle it is toxic too. It looks like a disorder as I am exhibiting some traits.

Is it the underlying traits that is the cause which needs medication to diffuse, or is it the extremely annoying treatment from those few people that cause a traits reaction from anger, frustration, hurt?

For example: One psychiatrist said to me, “You probably never would have been happy with anybody!” That got me spinning and it still grinds me...What if she’s right???

The meds do seem to be helping a bit, but not as much to solve this problem of how my emotions cope with the button pressing few people.

I never had big issues across the board with many people or things. I am an underachiever and will get out of doing things I don’t want to. But when I want to, I excel.

Also, breaking up with boyfriends wasn’t too hard for me. This marriage spans half my life and we are tied it countless ways. Plus, we do love each other.

[TishaBuv]

Originally Posted by TunedOut

Even if the disorder is from the environment, if a person waits too long to get help, they can end up needing medication due to complex PTSD. When I first went to a psychologist (about 8 years ago), I was extremely suicidal. I was prescribed Bupropion and Xanax (much more than I take now--he said I could take it every 4 hours if necessary and I was given four doses a day! Plus, I had no idea how addictive it was) and my suicidal thoughts stopped. I do wish I hadn't been prescribed the Xanax and another antidepressant might have worked better (the Bupropion made me more hyper and I was able to sleep much less on it--I needed the Xanax to come down from the Bupropion!). Also, I sometimes wonder if the meds change our brain chemistry to the point that we now need them permanently. When I stopped the Bupropion (I had lost my medical insurance) in 2015, it was one of many things that led to my attempt that put me in the hospital that year.

OMG, I think your going off those meds definitely pushed you to what happened! When I would go off the AD’s, I’d also have reactions that looking back I attribute to going off them.

[sarahsweets]

Originally Posted by Prycejosh1987

I think medication can dim the lights on emotion but it generally doesnt do much. If someopne has anxiety or depression it can level the playing field emotionally. At the end of the day its upto us to control our emotions, i have dealt with mental health myself. When i stop taking the tablets i am actually more upbeat.

No offense but I call Bulls*** on this. Meds do a lot. They saved my life in fact. They dont dim the lights on emotions, they help keep the emotions from completely taking over a person so they cant function, Yes it is up to us in the basic sense but depression, bipolar and other diagnosable conditions are not controlled (for the most part ) as mind over matter. its great that you dont need meds. I forget the actual stats but I believe it was like 75% of people with a mental illness need them. You sound very judgey.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by Prycejosh1987

I think medication can dim the lights on emotion but it generally doesnt do much. If someopne has anxiety or depression it can level the playing field emotionally. At the end of the day its upto us to control our emotions, i have dealt with mental health myself. When i stop taking the tablets i am actually more upbeat.

So are you saying that a person with schizophrenia (for example) should just control their emotions instead of taking medication?

Do you advice people with physical illness just control their illness by their will power too? Should we have no surgeries and never take antibiotics and just control it all on our own?

[TunedOut]

Originally Posted by divine1966

Well true PTSD is a true diagnosis (provided it’s not self diagnosed which is common) could certainly warrant medication. I mainly meant when people are taking meds and they don’t have a diagnosis! Just a bad situation. Perhaps if they left that situation they’d feel well enough to never needing meds! Of course not everyone could leave. Combat soldiers cannot etc

Yes eventually your body and mind do need meds or you are too sick if you don’t take them. You can wean yourself off (with doctors supervision and if warranted) but yes your body depends on it. It does alter your chemistry

Sometimes a mental illness can cause true PTSD. I never got a true diagnosis for PTSD but for one or two years after my attempt,

Possible trigger:

I flashed back to the smells, sounds, and sensations I felt during and after my attempt (I was airlifted to the nearest trauma hospital). It would happen out of the blue and while I was driving or walking. The flashbacks were also triggered by books, TV, or things I saw posted here. It made my adrenaline rush, my heart race and effected my breathing. Also, the thoughts and feelings would distract me from whatever I was currently doing so it was quite dangerous to have while I was driving. I no longer have any flashbacks but while this was happening, IMO, I was having PTSD.

[FluffyDinosaur]

It would really depend on what's causing the emotions, so this can't be answered in a general way. Statements like "I have dealt with mental health myself" are dangerous. Just because you've dealt with one type of mental health issue doesn't mean that your experience generalizes to everyone else. For some people, going off meds can be truly disastrous. "Controlling your own emotions" is most definitely not always possible.

The distinction between environmental factors and "true" illness is not always that clear, because as some have described before me, people with clinical disorders such as bipolar are often much more sensitive to stress and other triggers than "normal" people. Even if an outside factor seems to be the trigger of a depression, for example, that doesn't mean there's not an underlying clinical condition that warrants treatment with medication.

[TunedOut]

Originally Posted by FluffyDinosaur

It would really depend on what's causing the emotions, so this can't be answered in a general way. Statements like "I have dealt with mental health myself" are dangerous. Just because you've dealt with one type of mental health issue doesn't mean that your experience generalizes to everyone else. For some people, going off meds can be truly disastrous. "Controlling your own emotions" is most definitely not always possible.

The distinction between environmental factors and "true" illness is not always that clear, because as some have described before me, people with clinical disorders such as bipolar are often much more sensitive to stress and other triggers than "normal" people. Even if an outside factor seems to be the trigger of a depression, for example, that doesn't mean there's not an underlying clinical condition that warrants treatment with medication.

I totally agree with all you said in this posting. I am not sure that making a correct diagnosis (especially with how little time many psychiatrists spend talking to patients before making a diagnosis) is always that clear cut in every case. My first therapist said that she used the diagnoses of anxiety or depression for the purpose of filing insurance claims because they were less stigmatizing and are common but, many times she felt like she was not sure about everything going on with her patients. I appreciated that she did not feel like she knew all the answers and did not automatically "pigeon-hole" patients into certain categories early on in the therapy relationship.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by TunedOut

I totally agree with all you said in this posting. I am not sure that making a correct diagnosis (especially with how little time many psychiatrists spend talking to patients before making a diagnosis) is always that clear cut in every case. My first therapist said that she used the diagnoses of anxiety or depression for the purpose of filing insurance claims because they were less stigmatizing and are common but, many times she felt like she was not sure about everything going on with her patients. I appreciated that she did not feel like she knew all the answers and did not automatically "pigeon-hole" patients into certain categories early on in the therapy relationship.

Well it’s important to acknowledge that therapists cannot diagnose (beyond doing it for insurance purposes).

It’s true that it’s wrong to pigeon hole people and it’s much better to treat people holistically as the whole person. But when it comes to medication if people are prescribed meds especially highly addictive ones in the absence of clinical diagnosis or because they think they have something and doctor complies, it’s extremely dangerous route to take.

I agree it’s not all clear cut but it’s dangerous taking meds in absence of diagnosis. Like if my stomach hurts it might be because I eat crappy food so it’s important to actually diagnose what’s the issue here. Maybe I won’t even need meds if I stop eating crap. I’d expect to have some resemblance of diagnosis before piling on meds, most people with physical illness wouldn’t pile on meds because they have pain in the right side etc they’d want to know what is going on first.. Yet many people feel differently about mental illness or assumed or suspected mental illness.

Becoming dependent on meds is necessary for many but it’s not as clear cut for everyone who takes meds.