Is it possible to treat my illness without meds?

I'm asking the above question because my husband is adamantly opposed to the use of ANY psychiatric medication AT ALL. I am 58 years of age. About 11 years ago I had what I call a "nervous breakdown" and apparently attempted suicide (I say "apparently" because I honestly do not remember if I did or not, although I do remember feeling hopeless and wanting to die). I spent over a month in a group home treatment center. Before I had the meltdown, I had been on Paxil and was being weaned off that and put on Prozac, so both those meds were in my system at the same time. They may have interacted badly. At the group home, they tried me on different meds to see what would work for me. (Depakote turned me into a zombie, Zyprexa made me gain 30 lbs in 3 weeks. Don't recall what others they gave me.) When I left and resumed therapy at our county mental health clinic, I was eventually put on a regimen of Wellbutrin, Effexor XL, and Seroquel. The Seroquel dosage was 500 mg a day, taken at night. I do not recall what the dosage was on the others. After remaining on this drug regimen for about 5 years, I missed several appointments and the counseling center refused to give me any more prescriptions unless I came in for another appointment, which because of scheduling problems I could not do. So I ended up not taking the medication because I ran out and was not able to get any more.

My husband over the years has been reading lots of books and articles and watching TV shows by people who support natural treatments for just about everything. He's especially keen on a Dr. Brownstein and a TV show called "Know the Cause" with Doug Kaufman. He is convinced that all doctors are shills for the pharmaceutical companies and will rant and rave that all they want is to make money and they don't care about people. His prescription for my depression is to take lots of glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids, don't eat starch and sugar, think good thoughts, have faith and trust God. Our finances are in terrible shape; our savings are all gone. We will have no retirement (except for Social Security). We only have part-time jobs (I posted about mine, I think). I'm approaching old age and he is already there. The reason I've been eating the "unhealthy" food is that I have to eat food that is soft and easy to chew. I have dentures and eating can be difficult. My husband wants me to eat the healthy food, which tends to be organic food that is more expensive. We have been getting some of our food from a food bank, but that might no longer be an option, as they generally don't have much of the so-called "health" food. And the supplements are also not cheap. Of course, I know the drugs aren't cheap either. (That Seroquel! Is the stuff made of gold?)

I'm not sure of my exact diagnosis. Years ago a psychologist diagnosed me as "schizoid personality". My diagnosis from the episode 11 years ago was bipolar disorder. And my husband, who is a certified special ed teacher and has observed special ed students, is convinced that neither of those diagnoses is correct and that I have Asperger's syndrome. (I do have many autism-like symptoms.) I also have severe depression and anxiety and have had what I think are panic attacks.

I guess I'm asking if it is indeed possible to treat my condition without the use of psych meds, as my husband is not willing to consider their use PERIOD. Or, is there perhaps some argument that would convince him that the use of medication really would be better (though how we would pay for it, I don't know).

Appreciate any comments and/or suggestions.

You don't sound in to great shape to go it alone without some sort of med, you seem not able to take your meds on time every day throwing you into all sorts of turmoil , you cannot afford the meds or the food your husband wants you to eat. If you have a history of not taking meds provided or missing appointments you will slip through the net.

I think the question is more is it best for you to attempt to treat your condition without medication. There are people who cope with mental illness without medication, so yes, it is possible. If you have a lot of other worries and stresses in your life, it might not be the best idea, though.

What is your reasoning for not wanting to take medication? If you don't like how they make you feel or think they have hurt more than helped or are worried about long-term side effects, it would make sense for your decision to reflect that, but if you feel better on medication, but someone else is pressuring you out of it, that isn't really a decision that reflects your best interests and chance for recovery.

Are you receiving any non-medication support for your illness and/or life struggles?

She cannot afford the meds is more what she is asking, and the husband his running her life his way. SHE runs out of meds then has periods where she dont continue taking them till the next bad episode . The shrinks will only help if you help yourself, if your constantly coming of your meds it may be better not to take any. Then if you get seriously bad blaim your husband for not helping , only to his directions he is not helping you at all

The main problem is that we can't afford the meds. Over half of our not very substantial income goes to the mortgage. We also have bills (gas, electric, etc.). I have now had several attacks of vertigo, and my husband is now convinced that I have to change my diet and live on steamed vegetables and fruit smoothies made with almond milk. He is convinced that my depression is caused by eating starchy food with gluten and drinking milk. Whenever I show symptoms of depression, he immediately plies me with capsules of flax seed oil or glucosamine. He is convinced that the psych meds made my condition WORSE. This morning I had an attack of vertigo, and he is convinced that the reason is because yesterday I ate at Waffle House and ate some pork sausage with my eggs.

Wow, dprsdgafyt. I'm not sure what to tell you. We are the same age. I have just recently tried prozac then switched to zoloft now back to prozac. We live on SS and VA disability. I have no insurance and myDrs. and meds really cost us too much. only see a PA, but it is still $50 and he wants to see me monthly. I skipped last month because I have other medical bills we are trying to settle.

My husband is opposite and doesn't want me to stop antidepressants. He takes Citalopram (Celexa). I was reclusive and agoraphobic for over 5 yrs. I came out of it when my father died then Hubby was diagnosed with vocak chord cancer then my brother died. So, I had alot to take care of. Then I had dangerously low sodium and had to go to the ER. Any way, it seems all this was like shock therapy for me.

Your husband sounds very knowledgeable. Maybe try his way. Buying and eating less might help with the costs. At you are ages it is very stressful having a high mortgage. Is their anything you can do about that.

Good Luck N Best Wishes

Just dropping by here, usually post elsewhere.

This whole thing sounds really overwhelming. I'm not hearing anywhere what you would prefer or what has helped you. Do you have thoughts about that?

I think there are many approaches to mental illness that have value and obviously different things work for different people. But when we ask a question and are only open to one kind of answer--well, that is all we hear. What I'm trying to say is that a real researcher is open to any and all outcomes. What your husband is doing is sitting in an echo chamber. He's looking for answers from people who agree with him, not asking "what are all the possible solutions to this problem and how much is each supported by good evidence?"

Why don't you sit down with one of your care providers and explain what's going on for you. All of it. The financial stress, the vertigo, the uncertainty about the right path with meds. Maybe in talking it over it will become clearer what is helpful to you.

As an aside: inexpensive non-organic healthy foods (think frozen peas, dried lentils, apples, potatoes, cabbage) are healthier than buying organic, running out of money and resorting to really low quality food.

JMHO. I have had major depressive disorder and anxiety. And for years I took any drugs my pdoc wanted me to. They really didn't help. I suffered and was continuously hospitalized for more than 20 years. On or off meds, nothing worked. When I moved across the country to live with my sister I had several problems adjusting. I ended up in the hospital and then I'm still going to a partial-hospitalization program. Along with my own outside therp. I also began seeing an Integrative Medical Doctor who advised a lot of things. Including testing me for several potential physical reasons for my mental illnesses. She also got me off carbs, sugars, including sugar substitutes and requested I eat as healthy as possible. Organic if possible. I think that therapy AND my medical doctor have helped me greatly. But it also depends on your problem as well.
Some disorders require meds, I do not believe they all do. But that's just my opinion. And this is just me talking from my experience. Good luck.

Almond milk, flaxseed, sausage induced vertigo? Fruit smoothies? (& what was that word, next to flaxseed?,,never heard of it)

sorry, you accept non certified advice.

If you are going the holistic route, then do it with a professional holistic healer, not what they sell on TV, YouTube, middle of night infomercials.

Sent from my LG-MS910 using Tapatalk 2

Stop listening to your husband

That's dangerous, make an appoinment with doc for mental disorders and for a psychologist. Your husband is not a doctor, don't follow what he says, be real, deal with the situation and get on with it, but you have to be persistent and continous with treatments...Good luck!

I took meds for many years for depression and didn't realize how bad they were until I got off them. I was just numb! I tapered off and started trying to eat healthy food and get a reasonable amount of exercise. I feel much better now. That being said, I believe bipolar is much different and probably does require meds. You are the person who should be reading about your condition and deciding what treatment you should have--not your hubby however well-intended he may be.

Your husband has no business telling you how to treat your mental illness. End of Story. Do what you want.