I need some advice as to whether medication will affect my life in terms of the trauma I have just been through due to the past, whether I should give in and ask for medication or if I should try to cope without? My husband and I probably both have depression of some description but mine is to do with a past trauma and what has happened in the past rather than what is going on now! I feel like I'm being shoved in a corner rather than listened to. I am wanting foster or adopt so have a life plan but this doesn't involve medication as I'm so frightened this will ruin the last chance my husband and I have got to have the children we so desperately want to have in our lives but know if we take medication this will stop the process. What else can we do apart from taking anti depressants as this is all my doctor keeps going on about! She's driving round the twist with it and I keep saying no. There is also such a stigma about anything to do with psychiatry in our family as my husband has been in a psychiatric unit and I don't feel this is right for me. I am in a Catholic family and they will disown me if I go down that route. What else do I take?
If your looking to move on, especially from trauma then psycotherapy will serve you better, a pill is just a pill - it can't deal with issues for you
hi sam, don't know if this is any help or not...but i'm from a catholic family that resent me for taking medication to treat my illness. they think i'd be fine if i just started going back to church. i feel bad that they are disapointed in me...but i have to do what is best for my own sanity. fortunately i know better that meds and therapy are crucial for my mental health...even when i go against my loved ones
My view of pills are that they are for depressed people who have nothing to be depressed about, they correct a balance of chemicals in the brain.
If your depression isnt because of something wrong with your brain, but something wrong with your life, trhen how can pills help anymore than drinking alcohol or taking cocaine?
I was put on SSRIs for depression, they did nothing what so ever for depression because they couldnt fix my broken life.
I agree.; haven't taken cocaine but pelnty of alcohol.
Peter, what you wrote is actually an important question in contemporary psychiatry. One can say that depression results from an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain and then develops to impacrt on the life of an individual. On the other hand, the opposite scenario is also possible, whereby life difficulties result in an imbalance of brain neurotransmitters. Scientists do not know which way it works, it is suspected that both mechanisms can occur independently. This is why the combination of medications and a ‘talking therapy’ is always recommended as the most effective treatment – it addresses problems on both ends.
But asking for help, it doesn't mean time psychiatric unit. I really think that you should a frank discussion with your GP as it will be her that would refer you to you local CMHT.
In terms of medication, that will be your personal choice. Something that you should talk to with your husband and GP. It wouldn't be appropriate to say that you should or should not try medication. It helps since people and not others. Everyone is different, and what suits one person, doesn't suit another. You could ask your GP what type medication she would prescribe then have a think about it?
Whatever you choose to do, is going up have to be your own choice. You could ask top see a different GP for another opinion? You may find that helpful.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
First of all your parents not anyone else needs to know so why would you have to tell them?
Second if you refuse all medical help then the only route is the self help one. Look online at mindfullness, meditation etc.
There are no magic wands unfortunately.
Hi tony, as my depression or anxiety (call it what you will) symptoms are caused by specific events from the past what do you recommend, what did you do and how did it help you?
Hi laura, I now have found someone sane who understands me. I feel as though I am trapped. I'm judged if I do ask for help but may be prevented from fostering or adoption if I do or don't. I don't know what to do but know one thing my relationship with so called health professionals who think they know best is shot. I reported being raped to 5 different health professionals but was ignored. I find it really difficult to trust any of them now. May be you can see why. The family's view was 'leave it we'll sort it out' but then did nothing. I can'f now forgive anyone and won't trust either! You're best to ignore your lovely family (sense the sarcasm), it's the worst faith in the world for prejudice! Oh sorry good luck.
Why should I trust them they all let you down every health professional!
Hmm this is what I want and the fact that most days I can tell in my own mind what I need tells me I don't have depression. I was diagnosed with ptsd - it's a different thing, or have I lost the plot?
No chocolate - no alcohol otherwise my ibs goes haywire due to all the stress but you try to get a doctor to understand that it's like trying to get through to concrete!
I agree, but I can't tell my parent as she caused the problem along with a so called friend who just kept adding fuel to fire! Hmm mindfulness, thanks I'll try it!
well the way I was any family who dishowned me didnt warrent having anything to do with catholic or whatever, very unchristain so frauds, sorry it really annoys me.
Its very mean of them if they blackmail you into staying ina distressed state. I woul do it on the sly, you dont sound like a minor, what you do is your business and noone elses. well no if you make sure your doc give yousomethin g that wont affect you hormonally or whatever which I dont think any of the usual ones do though they sometimes reduce sex drive for some people.
My depression was caused by the treatment I recieved from my mother and her man who al but destroyed me. Thankfully I was sent to a day unit for psychotherapy ( no meds except mogadon to sleep) I stayed there at least ten years. five days a week. If your have similar trauma and your parents were bad you would do better to cut ties I did and it helped. And if it is as mine was treatment you had had then therapy is for you, not really drugs, I find them to be gags and only reallyt for bad depression.
Thank youf or your help I will find a way I'm sure but don't fel medicineds are for me. I have only one parent and I'm t4rying to keep her weet to adopt.
thanks for the compliment. i've never been called sane before...lol. but i am sorry for your problem. it's not easy sometimes to find supportive and helpful professionals and family members. even though i dont go to church, i still believe in prayers...and you are in mine. good luck sweetie x
it very much depends on what you expect from them. They can only care professionally, they have to work within a remit which keeps all their patiends and themselves safe. In a way they should never be able to let you down, if they do then youve got too much invested in them - they are professionals who will help you get better if you can both work together, beyond that - they arent carers. There are of course bad ones out there, like in every field. Ive had horrific therapists in the past who have no business being in the job, but ive also met some of the kindest and most caring people, thats just life im afraid, some people just arent nice people
An adoption agency will know from your health records that you have been seeing your gp for depression and advised to take medication. Having therapy will show any agency that you have worked through your issues.