Finally off Happy Pills !!!!!

[abbecer]

Evening all,

I'm so proud of ickle me and wanted to share my great news with you all. I am finally free of my anti depressants after 5 1/2 long years :j. I have suffered severe PND after both of my gorgeous boys and for a long time wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. It has been a very long difficult road but I have finally got there. I have been pill free for a month today and am feeling great. The tired fuzzy brain has lifted and I can think clearly again.

So I just wanted to let you know that you do get well and it is worth hanging on in there :rotfl:.

Love ya all

Rebecca x

[Valley's girl]

That is fantastic news to come off them after such a long time, you should be really proud of yourself. :j
Wishing you all the best.
Ally xx

[angie loves veg]

Thank you for sharing your happy news Rebecca.

I have been off my tablets now for about 18 months, and away from therapy for nearly a year.

In my experience, it is good to remember to be kind to yourelf - you have travelled a very long and difficult path to get where you are now. No doubt, you will have the odd bad day, everyone has bad days - you will not be a failure for having them - in fact the oppostite is true - you are a success because you are able to move on from them now.

Well done, and good luck,

[abbecer]

Thanks so much for your lovely messages. Its quite scary really as you will know because I keep expecting to come to Earth with a bang as they say. I just need to tackle the weight that's crept on, as you are ALV. You are doing really well at Slimming World. That may be my next thing now I am not drowsy 24 hours a day and can contemplate exercise etc.

Rebecca x

[Paparika]

:grouphug: Well done.

That's a major achievement, you go girl :)

[Dippychick]

Congratulations :j :j :j

[absolutebounder]

Well done!
Without the pills you will find you can now think more clearly and focus on being a special role model for your children.
ADs do so much damage and it is really good to see someone come off them.
Regarding weight just put your mind into gear and focus on being the healthy mum that has all the energy needed to support active kids. Kids need to play. They want to play with mum so make sure you are in shape for them.

[f1re_cr4cker]

Well done!
Without the pills you will find you can now think more clearly and focus on being a special role model for your children.
ADs do so much damage and it is really good to see someone come off them.
Regarding weight just put your mind into gear and focus on being the healthy mum that has all the energy needed to support active kids. Kids need to play. They want to play with mum so make sure you are in shape for them.

why do they do so much damage?

[razorbladekisses]

Well done Rebecca. That's great news :j xxx

I would be keen to know what damage anti-depressants cause :confused:

[MRSTITTLEMOUSE]

Good for you.

[Penny Watcher]

That may be my next thing now I am not drowsy 24 hours a day and can contemplate exercise etc.



:TWell done you Rebecca :T

Exercise will be a great natural way to lift your mood. I recently took up running. (I say running I mean plodding :o :rolleyes: :D). It gives you a real boost to be out there getting fresh air in your lungs and making your heart beat faster.

[absolutebounder]

why do they do so much damage?
They mask the ability to think clearly which is needed to come out of depression. Many are addictive. There are side effects. They work by flooding the brains neuro receptors but in reality that is not the correct way the brains neurotransmitters work. They are very specific in their interaction with neuroreceptors.
There is evidence of them causing violence and suicidal tendencies.
They affect your ability to think in your natural way. Is that not what alchohol does? Would you want an alcholoic looking after children? I believe thare are better ways of beating depression but time is needed which doctors dont have so they take the quick fix lets see another patient option.
Then of course there is the evidence that they are no more effective than a placebo.

[angie loves veg]

Your comments are intersting AB, and many of these things (to an extent) I agree with, however it also has to be said that Depression itself 'affects your ability to think in a natural way'. Depression is a very destructive illness, and a woman with PND needs support from a range of sources to help her overcome her condition.

In my situation, with a young child (age 2) who had recently developed a lifelong chronic disability, was that my own illness and thoughts were getting in the way of being a competant, caring mother. Depression was heading me rapidly towards suicide. My period of time using AD's, gave me the ability to seek further treatment and help. Without AD's, as a fast effective treatment, I would never have sought counselling, which, for me, in conjunction with ADs was the better long term treatment option.

There are a range of options available to GP's who come across depression in a patient. Whilst it may be true of some GP's, I can certainly state that MY GP did *not* see ADs as a quick fix - he spent a great deal of time with me in that first appointment, and many subsequent ones, to discuss the range of treatments and how he thought my treatment could proceed over time - AD's were the first line of attack for what became a very long and difficult process. Even the OP states clearly that she has come off of ADs after 5 1/2 years. I believe thare are better ways of beating depression but time is needed I agree, but sometimes, at the start of treatment, one thing you do not have is time. In my case, if we had started with talking treatments (which for me were effective, but slow) rather than AD's , I wouldn't be here today.

So, to conclude my ramble, I think you do make some valid points, but depression needs acknowledgement and fast treatment, and regardless of ones opinion about the AD treeatments that are available (yes, there are side effects, but these are often better than the depression itself), for many people they are the right treatment to proceed with.

Be well.

[absolutebounder]

Your comments are intersting AB, and many of these things (to an extent) I agree with, however it also has to be said that Depression itself 'affects your ability to think in a natural way'. Depression is a very destructive illness, and a woman with PND needs support from a range of sources to help her overcome her condition.

In my situation, with a young child (age 2) who had recently developed a lifelong chronic disability, was that my own illness and thoughts were getting in the way of being a competant, caring mother. Depression was heading me rapidly towards suicide. My period of time using AD's, gave me the ability to seek further treatment and help. Without AD's, as a fast effective treatment, I would never have sought counselling, which, for me, in conjunction with ADs was the better long term treatment option.

There are a range of options available to GP's who come across depression in a patient. Whilst it may be true of some GP's, I can certainly state that MY GP did *not* see ADs as a quick fix - he spent a great deal of time with me in that first appointment, and many subsequent ones, to discuss the range of treatments and how he thought my treatment could proceed over time - AD's were the first line of attack for what became a very long and difficult process. Even the OP states clearly that she has come off of ADs after 5 1/2 years. I agree, but sometimes, at the start of treatment, one thing you do not have is time. In my case, if we had started with talking treatments (which for me were effective, but slow) rather than AD's , I wouldn't be here today.

So, to conclude my ramble, I think you do make some valid points, but depression needs acknowledgement and fast treatment, and regardless of ones opinion about the AD treeatments that are available (yes, there are side effects, but these are often better than the depression itself), for many people they are the right treatment to proceed with.

Be well.
This is not really the place to discuss as it really should be on another thread because we are hijacking this one.
The main thing is that the OP is drug free now and that in itself is a real acheivement especially after a long period. As she says she can now concentrate on other things and I expect once she gets a few pounds off she will go from strength to strength.
Succeeding in doing something for yourself is great for the self esteem.

[abbecer]

Awhh bless you all. Everyone has different views of depression and I don't mind at all if you want to discuss it. Personally I know that if I hadn't had medication I would not be here today. A psychiatrist and two nurses came to the house to section me because the health visitor caught me getting ready to commit suicide. My husband begged them not to section me and they agreed providing I agreed to all there terms. I was never allowed on my own, not even in the bath, had to have a nurse bring my medication everyday and all potentially risky objects were removed from the house ie knives, tablets even Calpol. Even then it was a long time before I feel anything resembling 'normal'.I usually believe that medication should be a last resort but in certain circumstances there is no other option.

I just wanted to post to show people that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I have joined a gym and am doing lots of classes and swimming and really enjoy the 'me' time. My youngest was a very poorly baby so has been quite demanding but it's getting easier. He has started nursery and loves it. My boys are my life and I feel so honoured to be their Mum. I still feel a lot of guilt that I wasn't the Mum I should have been. But they are both gorgeous clever, happy little lads and seem to have come through it unscathed.

Thanks again for your lovely messages

Rebecca xxx