[materialsrme]

After taking every drug possible, 2 hospitalizations, CBT, DBT, 20 rounds of ECT with no relieve, I am officially done with the mental health field. I'm just going to have to find something to live for.

[lotusflames]

arew you doing the coming off meds supervised?

[materialsrme]

yes, my doctor agrees with me

[lotusflames]

good luck!

[sundog]

I really want to wish you good luck too!!

[Laurie1041]

Originally Posted by materialsrme

After taking every drug possible, 2 hospitalizations, CBT, DBT, 20 rounds of ECT with no relieve, I am officially done with the mental health field. I'm just going to have to find something to live for.

Materialsrme,

I can totally relate. 6 hospitalizations later. . . Meds (except Lithium) have done nothing except to make my life miserable. ECT was an option that I declined. I found DBT to be very difficult to navigate - although I do think that CBT is effective if done correctly by a CBT certified T.

My current T (who is wonderful) is currently working with me to help me find what I am most passionate about (in other words to help me get a life). My T is the first person to have asked me to see my primary care and get labs done, including a Vitamin D level. As well as seeing my dentist, getting a mammogram, bone density test and a sleep study for sleep apnea (big snorer here).

As it turns out my Vitamin D is at the lowest of the low (affects mood and cognitive functioning). I also had my hormone levels done (I had a partial hysterectomy so it's anyone's guess when I would be menopausal). I argued with my GP about the hormone testing, knowing that women in perimenopause have wildly fluctuating hormone levels. My GP agreed with me and said that my FSH/LH levels would mean nothing UNLESS both my FSH/LH were highly elevated. I was astounded when my hormone levels both came back elevated and were classified as "post-menopausal". This explains the waking up at night, being too warm/too cold and mood changes. (Duh!) Estrogen transdermal patch on Monday! My thyroid level (I am hypothyroid and on levothyroxine) was perfect! (Anyone with depression should have a thyroid panel done.

The point here is that for the majority of mental health sufferers - pdocs do not look at the entire person or the status of their general health. So many other things, poor health, hormones, nutritional deficiencies, poor sleep due to a number of non-psych issues, can cause what looks like to be a psychiatric illness.

There are alternative therapies and treatments out there. One thing that has been studied and proven to be the most necessary thing is to have a good support system of friends and family.

I really like your statement (paraphrasing here) that you want to find a life worth living. I am working from a workbook by Mary Ellen Copeland called The Depression and Manic-Depressive Workbook (2nd ed.) Her new book is called WRAP or WRAP-Plus (Wellness Recovery Action Plan). Doing the exercises in the book has really helped me to find out that I do, in fact, have a very valuable life - but that it just needs direction, how-to, and goals.

I will go so far as saying that my repeated hospitalization, numerous med changes made me worse off than when I started. It kept me in a "sick-role" and I was just another "Bipolar" patient. Not anymore.

I wish you all the best and never give up searching for something that will work for you. Laurie

[SophiaG]

Hmm I really should try the vitamin D thing. I don't go outside much...

Or...I could actually go outside! Gasp! :P

[emptyshred]

I stopped presciption meds a few weeks ago and was very happy to think clearly again. Unfortunately, my husband thinks my moods have nothing to do with how annoying and unsupportive he is. I firmly believe there are natural ways to feel better, and we don't strong drugs to fix our "chemical imbalance." I live for my kids, so I am lucky I have something.

[materialsrme]

I just got back from the Mayo Clinic and they did $100000 in testing

[Wingless]

I did that three years ago. I have a very supportive doctor. He said to trust my gut. I knew that it would be too hard to do all at once, and i was on them bc I was sleeping constantly. The meds made me stay awake to make me deal with life, rather than sleeping to avoid it.

I was on anti-depressants for a long time, so I figured that it would be really hard to just go "cold turkey" so I weaned myself down. My doctor agreed to support me in whatever I decided to do. I was really happy to hear that. Now, I was on the lowest possible dose before doing the weaning process, so that might have made the difference.

When I was ready to quit, I started to take my meds ever 26 hrs. I stayed like that for about two-three weeks. I was fine, so I started to take it every 28. After three more week, I started at 30 hours. I had a hickup, so I stayed at 30 hrs for another week, then I reduced to 32 hrs. After another three weeks, I went down to 34 hrs. This took from about April to August. I had since gotten a job, and when it was time to go to 36 hrs, it was messing with my sleep bc it was meds that were to keep me awake, which meant that every day and a half, I was taking them at bed time. BAD IDEA!

How did I fix it? I started taking it every 48. My doc and I discussed this and he thought that I should get off all together or go back on daily, bc my moods were swinging slightly. I decided to get off all together. That was almost three years ago.

I hope that this helps you.

[stieg]

Screw professional help. It never did any progress in me. Life sucks but psychoanalysts suck even worse.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by stieg

Screw professional help. It never did any progress in me. Life sucks but psychoanalysts suck even worse.

life DOES suck, indeed.

But imho, most of current therapy will not help you find inner peace.

I say do what you got to do (and what is possible in your situation). Move, refocus career, get away from what the expectation and do what makes YOU happy... find aim in your life, be good, not for the sake of being viewed as a good person by others, but be good for YOU.

If you have the resources, look into the alternative resources. Find some good shaman, if the mainstream approach failed you.

I stopped presciption meds a few weeks ago and was very happy to think clearly again. Unfortunately, my husband thinks my moods have nothing to do with how annoying and unsupportive he is. I firmly believe there are natural ways to feel better, and we don't strong drugs to fix our "chemical imbalance." I live for my kids, so I am lucky I have something.

This is a sad anathema. Many will complain about their "loved ones" lacking insight and needed to be "treated" (=made submisive). Often families are core for the problem.

There are natural ways to get better. Herbs, excercise, good food, having aim in life, inner peace. That can save you.

[emmasaza12]

That gives me some hopes

[sewerrats]

if you come of the meds good luck to you , mabye try something from the heath shop, 5 htp , st, johns wort , not with any meds still in you . An plenty of omega fish oil tabs. You will be in for a bumpy ride ditching the meds , Me i wouldent , why?????????? wait afew weeks an you will see i have tried it.

[ECHOES]

After being on meds a long time, it was good to see what I was like without them.
I'm still off them and glad.
Psychoanalysts rock