[MPD-AvPD-BPD]

Over the years I've been prescribed different drugs, to 'Assist' my emotional swings.. Those that i can remember include (Lorian, Purata, Normison, Ritalin(as a child))

However, most of the time, because of the wanted effects of these med's i cant properly function at my job... I have found that to slow the emotional swinging the meds actually slow down your ability to think.. I'm a software developer, and while on meds, have found that it's extreamly difficult to concentrate, and follow the complex integration within the software I'm working on. I'd much rather sit at my desk and vegetate, Playing games and surfing the net...

However, If I stop the meds, I find that My thought patterns are very different and i can work at a much higher Level, Solving problems (often before the other developers even see them) almost instantly (at least in my head)....

For a long time i've tried lifestyle Management as a 'Treatment' and have found it works, at least until someone else throws in a spanner. I'm lucky in that my wife does not expect to be constantly romanced, and taken out to restaurants, clubs, cinema, etc. We live a quite, relaxed, stay at home life, and I'm constantly monitoring my Anger issue's, and Give away ticks..

Of course monitoring them, does not guarantee that i can avoid the Panic Attacks, or the sudden outbursts of rage, and much like the Teutul's at OCC (American Choppers), I've had to Fix / Replace many a door..

Of course most of the times that the Doc prescribed these drugs, they've been to treat one of the symptoms(Depression) and not the cause, Mostly because I've never really shared those details before.. The Last time I was on a course of Lorian, I actually almost lost my job because of lack of progress.

However I've found that if i start with some symptom's, the best thing for me to do is to remove my self from the current situation (normally an Argument/Disagreement between the wife and someone else), Go for a walk/ Drive, Turn up the music, and try to catch the emotions before they run away.. this is normally sufficient to curb the Anxiety, however with each 'Situation' it get harder and harder to control.. Until eventually I have a serious blow out (however i'm down to ~ 2 a year now)..

We'll be moving soon, to a better neighborhood, with a bigger property, and lower crime rate, which i hope will also help in reducing my overall anxiety.. And there will be plenty for me to do, to calm and relax me...

[~JD~]

Interesting story, and I'm glad to hear that you've figured out what works best for you.

Might I ask what you are looking for by posting this? I feel like you had a reason or a question, but I can't find it :P

If you posted this just to tell us your story, that's awesome too ^_^

[MPD-AvPD-BPD]

Sorry

I forgot to put the Questions down...

Has anyone found that managing their lifestyle has better results than full on medication, Especially when it come to work??

and do you sometimes feel like the meds make it difficult to do your job??

[~JD~]

Originally Posted by MPD-AvPD-BPD

Has anyone found that managing their lifestyle has better results than full on medication, Especially when it come to work??

For me, no. When it comes to dealing with mental issues I always need the initial kick that meds give me. Then I can start working on my issues internally. Coping skills and other mental tools are great, but on their own they aren't the most effective way of handling mental issues.

Originally Posted by MPD-AvPD-BPD

and do you sometimes feel like the meds make it difficult to do your job??

Many meds can definitely have negative effects on work, school, etc.
The majority of people on high doses of antipsychotics drone out to the point
of uselessness and sleep the majority of the day, but it'll help their symptoms.
There's always a trade off, it's just up to you to figure out whether its worth it or not.
Most of the drugs in my signature had a pretty ****** good-to-bad ratio of effects, so I continuously changed meds.

Also, what meds are you referencing in your original post?

[onionknight]

Has anyone found that managing their lifestyle has better results than full on medication, Especially when it come to work??

I have found that living and troubleshooting problems as they crop up has had the best long-term result. I went through school this way and came out a better person; there were periods of different degrees of anxiety and depression, but I got through because I guess I felt I had to, and I left myself space and time to regroup if I got to overwhelmed.

It's legitimate to consider what works best for your life. I tend to believe we can learn how to better manage our lives and our emotions...but it isn't easy, and there will be setbacks.

[MPD-AvPD-BPD]

Originally Posted by ~JD~

For me, no. When it comes to dealing with mental issues I always need the initial kick that meds give me. Then I can start working on my issues internally. Coping skills and other mental tools are great, but on their own they aren't the most effective way of handling mental issues.

But at what dossage ??? do you cut back the dosage recommended or are they slower acting types??

Originally Posted by ~JD~

Many meds can definitely have negative effects on work, school, etc.
The majority of people on high doses of antipsychotics drone out to the point
of uselessness and sleep the majority of the day, but it'll help their symptoms.
There's always a trade off, it's just up to you to figure out whether its worth it or not.

Most of the time they not worth it for me.. My job requires me to think and problem solve almost daily, and if i'm 'droned out', i get nothing done for weeks...

Originally Posted by ~JD~

Also, what meds are you referencing in your original post?

Most of them are what I remember been on or am still currently on,
Lorian - Antidep : Been on them on and off for ~5 years, But after 2 or 3 days on them I'm zoned out for a week or so, realy dont give a S! about work.. (prescribed by GP)

Purata - Tranq : Again on and off for 10 - 15 years, However sometimes they work so slow i took 4 tabs one after the other, so i could relax and get over my anxiety at the time. The wife freeked and had me marching up and down to make sure I don't fall asleep, and this kept my anxiety up ... (prescribed by GP)

Normison - Sedative : Only recently been on these (for ~ the last year), So far it's been OK. only problem is i find my self waking up almost exactly 4 hours after going to sleep, when using these.. (prescribed by GP)

These i remember because for them, i still got the packaging with tabs in laying around. I've been on several other heavier meds years back (in 97), but beat me dead with a stick and i still cant tell you what they were.. How ever they were prescribed by a psychiatrist.. The Sedative would knock me out cold in 15 min, My flatmates attested to this, and often had to 'Put me to bed' if i passed out on the couch.. The Tranq zoned me so far out, i'd often do 20 or 30 Km's extra on the freeway, before i realized i'd passed my offramp, then rockup at work over an hour late, and truly not give a S! about it..

[~JD~]

What exactly are the issues you're having? Like if you had a psychiatrist appointment,
what symptoms/issues would you be sure to tell them about?

[MPD-AvPD-BPD]

Severe Anxiety, over just about anything, expecially when i have to make the decision ie: Jeans or smarts, Jersy or jacket...

Inability to sleep: I'm piss tired, lay in bed for 3 to 4 hours before I fall asleep but wake up every 2 hours or so..

Total Lack of motivation for anything.... I feel like a potato sitting on the shelf just vegetating away...

I have a custom vehicle i'm working on, It's been almost a month since i last touched it, and i'm busy with the paint, so it need be done before the rust gets hold of it...

At Work I'm barly doing enough, some days i get 0 work done, just assing around on the net.. the last month i've probably done about 1 days worth of actual Coding...

I dont want any company, I'm in a F off and leave me alone mode.... And please just DO NOT PHONE ME, because i hate the phone ...

generally i'm so depressed, Most of the family is ignoring me, cause i'm totally turned off in any conversation..

I need to find me another T, but the Anxiety of going to find one, sitting in the waiting area.. OMG ... I cant handle that right now....

[~JD~]

Are you currently seeing a psychiatrist? I'd take seeing a pdoc over a T any day.

The sad truth is that the right meds will always be more effective than weekly or biweekly therapy sessions.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by ~JD~

The sad truth is that the right meds will always be more effective than weekly or biweekly therapy sessions.

It may be sad, but it certainly ain't a truth. Always? Hardly.

Many issues medication will only supress... medication will not teach you about interpersonal relationships, about coping with life's hurdles, will not help you set realistic and personalized goals...

The issues OP mentions... Anxiety? Exposure is the best. Medication alone will not do anything for it (and you are possibly setting yourself for addiction route). Lack of motivation? Eh, if there was a motivation in pill, deliver three wagons to my address, please. Sleep is the only thing where medication maybe the best number one choice (although there's always sleep hygiene... because most people have horrible sleep routines without even realizing it).

[~JD~]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

It may be sad, but it certainly ain't a truth. Always? Hardly.

Many issues medication will only supress... medication will not teach you about interpersonal relationships, about coping with life's hurdles, will not help you set realistic and personalized goals...

The issues OP mentions... Anxiety? Exposure is the best. Medication alone will not do anything for it (and you are possibly setting yourself for addiction route). Lack of motivation? Eh, if there was a motivation in pill, deliver three wagons to my address, please. Sleep is the only thing where medication maybe the best number one choice (although there's always sleep hygiene... because most people have horrible sleep routines without even realizing it).

I didn't ask if you agreed, it's a simple fact that medication is the fastest and easiest route to achieving a fix for the issues that OP states.

There's plenty of other routes, but none are as simple or as fast. Whether you
agree with saying it's the best doesn't effect the fact that it is the most
efficient and widely effective fix.

[rockgal]

Originally Posted by MPD-AvPD-BPD

But at what dossage ??? do you cut back the dosage recommended or are they slower acting types??
Most of the time they not worth it for me.. My job requires me to think and problem solve almost daily, and if i'm 'droned out', i get nothing done for weeks...

Most of them are what I remember been on or am still currently on,
Lorian - Antidep : Been on them on and off for ~5 years, But after 2 or 3 days on them I'm zoned out for a week or so, realy dont give a S! about work.. (prescribed by GP)

Purata - Tranq : Again on and off for 10 - 15 years, However sometimes they work so slow i took 4 tabs one after the other, so i could relax and get over my anxiety at the time. The wife freeked and had me marching up and down to make sure I don't fall asleep, and this kept my anxiety up ... (prescribed by GP)

Normison - Sedative : Only recently been on these (for ~ the last year), So far it's been OK. only problem is i find my self waking up almost exactly 4 hours after going to sleep, when using these.. (prescribed by GP)

These i remember because for them, i still got the packaging with tabs in laying around. I've been on several other heavier meds years back (in 97), but beat me dead with a stick and i still cant tell you what they were.. How ever they were prescribed by a psychiatrist.. The Sedative would knock me out cold in 15 min, My flatmates attested to this, and often had to 'Put me to bed' if i passed out on the couch.. The Tranq zoned me so far out, i'd often do 20 or 30 Km's extra on the freeway, before i realized i'd passed my offramp, then rockup at work over an hour late, and truly not give a S! about it..

You ask about medication vs. lifestyle management. It's really not an either-or issue. It can be both. From your descriptions, it sounds like you have some strategies for lifestyle management but that you are still fighting a pretty hard battle. Replacing doors...not such a good quality of life. You deserve better.

The right meds at the right doses, along with counseling and continuing lifestyle management may make things easier in general. Note that I said the right meds and right doses. Some meds at doses that are too high can definitely zone one out - and if that is the case, you need a psychiatrist who will work with you on the goal of symptom relief without being a zombie.

My job definitely requires my brain to be turned on, and I sympathize - medications that cause cognitive impairment or apathy are a definite "no" for me. It sounds like you need something faster-acting for anxiety so that you don't feel compelled to take more than you need to help your immediate symptoms. For sleep, a small dose of an atypical antipsychotic now and then works amazingly well if it gets rough and I just cannot sleep. And there are things to help with depression that don't make one totally apathetic. There are options.

Also, with any drug, finding the lowest dose that works for you is a good goal. My doctor knows to try me on a quarter of the lowest recommended dose for an adult and go either up or down from there since I respond to very low doses (some folks are the opposite and need unusually high doses). The pill splitter is my friend. Some doctors do not think in terms of being super flexible about dosing and just go with the "typical" adult recommended doses. It's all about patience, and experimentation. And you REALLY need to be working with a psychiatrist, not a GP. A GP will probably not have the facility with the meds to really help you finesse things. There may be side effects with anything (although I have known people who had zero side effects to their antidepressants), but you shouldn't have to compromise THAT much. Good luck to you.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by ~JD~

I didn't ask if you agreed, it's a simple fact that medication is the fastest and easiest route to achieving a fix for the issues that OP states.

There's plenty of other routes, but none are as simple or as fast. Whether you
agree with saying it's the best doesn't effect the fact that it is the most
efficient and widely effective fix.

there's another fact that quick fixes are not the best in long term.

And sorry, I dared to disagree, but that's what the purpose of forum is, to get wide range of opinions. What you are presenting is not even "fact" for many. It wasn't fact for the OP, it's fact for those for whom "quick fix" doesn't work (often because it's not either quick nor fix). Meds are not simple route always either.

Yes, for some meds can bring some or even great relief. That does not make it universal "truth" or "fact". Notice, I hardly ever use these words.

[MPD-AvPD-BPD]

Okay so now there's some harsh discussion about it..

Meds are almost always a quick fix, most of them treating only symptoms and not the cause... And depending on the dosage, they can Zone you out...

Life Man, takes it's toll too.. You work on avoiding, Easing the cause, however there is no real treatment for the symptoms.. If you happen to hit bottom, you could be just as Zoned out as with the meds...

and personally been so sensitive to my environment, I get knocked around so easily, and i find it difficult to open up to anyone, Especially my wife... In recent years, the knocks have been happening more and more (Mostly because we've been living in an apartment on my mothers property !!!!!!!) I've recently made an offer on a property about 30 Km's away. of course the last month has been HELL, waiting for the banks, and everyone else to go over my financial history,etc. And i'm still waiting for info if the Bond has been approved.... Of course, nothing has been said to 'Mother', just in case this falls through like it has before... This is one confrontation i just can stand to think about...

I'm hoping that putting the Wife in her own Home, will calm her down. And having a place of my own where i can do as i please, I'm hoping it will help me keep calm...