[ECHOES]

I recently returned to taking Prozac after going off it for 10 years. I survived during that time, and added psychodynamic psychotherapy and it's invaluable, but I could not get to where I was when I was on meds. I am doing much better, from a combination of the meds + therapy, and I'm really thankful.

Yet... I feel like a failure because I had to add the meds to get to the level of improvement I wanted and now have. I wanted to do this without meds because I believe that healing through therapy is permanent and lifelong.

I hesitated to go back on the Prozac, but I was curious about how it might go. That it has been positive is great, and I'll stay with it. For now .

I worried that being on an AD would interfere with my therapy, but I am finding that it isn't interfering at all. I think it's helping. So... win/win, right? Except that, still, I do feel like I 'cheated' or something. I am sure this is around my issues of not wanting to acknowledge that I need help and my anxieties around asking for help (at work, in life, etc).

I will keep gaining insights and enjoy feeling better. I just can't stop resenting that little pill..........

[sewerrats]

That little pill is doing what you tried and carnt do yourself making you feel better. If you had blood pressure and had to take a pill for life you would no give it a second thought. Put it out you head and enjoy the feeling better.

[max23]

Yeah,enjoy that you're better! Many of us don't see such a day..

[sunrise]

ECHOES, I understand. I feel much the same about my own adventures on and off medications. I am glad you are doing well on the Prozac.

[roads]

I take a Lysine supplement because my body doesn't produce enough to keep me from getting fever blisters around my mouth. I see no difference in that and the Cymbalta & Topamax I take to compensate for other chemicals missing from by body chemistry.

[onionknight]

I think it is natural to have that hang-up. Only you can decide how you would like to feel and do what it takes to get there. Think of the pill as another tool.

[splitimage]

I think what you're feeling is pretty common and normal. I know I'm loads better on meds than not, but I resent needing them and sometimes wonder what I'd be like off them. But I think of them as a tool that help the other things I do, like therapy, work better.

splitimage

[shamon86]

ECHOES I understand what your saying. One thing my therapist and I have talked about is the fact that I can't say no and that I don't like asking for help. I think that I should be able to face anything and deal with anything that "normal people" deal with. But my therapist helped me to realize that this rule of being able to handle everything that comes my way was something that I created. No one is holding me to that rule but myself. Besides what is normal now a days anyway? Remember the medicine in your case may only be a bandaid, to make you feel better NOW. the therapy will help you feel better in the long run.

I don't mean to offend anyone please know that I say this only to prove a point-After talking with my therapist I told her the reaction my dad had to the fact that I was on medication (which as you probably guessed wasn't a good one). On top of that I felt like I should have been strong enough to deal with this on my own, without help. Her response to this was: "Well that's crazy. You just don't tell a schizophrenic to pull themselves together!" Her point with this is that some things you may need a little help on, medicine or otherwise, and that's okay! I'm glad that you are feeling better now and I hope you continue to feel that way!