I honestly do think it "masks" the problem....and this bothers me cause thats what anti-psychology people (AKA Tom Cruise) think...but it is true. The difference though is that I think there are circumstances people can be in where thats exactly what they need to do (mask the problem) until they can help themselves. I think its a tricky situation though because thats how addictions, overdoses etc, start. But if you are careful with it, and allow yourself to exeprience some anxiety everyday so that you can push yourself, and improve, then eventually you can come off the drugs.
But for those of you on drugs now, anxiety ISNT a disorder where you have to be dependent on drugs. There are many people who have recovered with out drugs. And i know some peopls anxiety is worse than others, and if thats the case for you, you may need drugs to help. But anxiety is not like schizophrenia, or bipolarism, people with these disorders are dependent on drugs for their life b/c their main probelm is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Anxiety disorders are BEHAVIORAL disorders, that yes cause physical symptoms, but the core problem is the pattern of learned behavior which medicine can't cure for you.
So basically I think it's dumb to say people don't need medication, because the brain is an organ in the body and just like other organs disfunction, the brain can too. But I think you should only choose this option if you have tried working through it without medicine and you cant. And once you are on medication, you really try to eventually get off it. That is so important.
Joined: Aug 24, 2006 Posts: 130 Location: nowhere USA
Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:32 am Post subject:
I used to hate drugs. I avoided them for awhile. I found out that benzos really help though. I would be a total recluse if it wasn't for benzos. The benzos make me relaxed in social situations and hopefully my brain is making an association between being relaxed and people instead of being tense around people. Hopefully after awhile, the new association of being relaxed around people will replace the old association of being tense around people and maybe someday I can get off them. I have tried other drugs like Paxil and other SSRI's etc and they have not done anything for me personally. I know they work for some people though and I suggest that you try some medication, especially if therapy isn't working for you. Being on medication that helps and on therapy is the best way to go though. Eventually you may get to a point where you don't need medication and can discontinue it. Try the SSRIs like Paxil first. Benzos are nice, but they are physically addictive, but if they are the only thing that works for you, like in my case, they are better than no drugs.
Joined: Aug 24, 2006 Posts: 130 Location: nowhere USA
Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:38 am Post subject: Re: whats your view on drugs?
LittleMissScareAll wrote:
lifes_to_long wrote:
personally I Dont agree with drugs
I just recon you may as well be taking ecstasy if your gunna take any.
seriously though all drugs do is make you feel somethink that isnt really there just like ecstasy or anythink.medicated drugs turn you in to a zombie you dont feel bad or good your just zombifide....
less about my view.what do you think about the use of medication
and the effects positive or negative that its had on your life?
I agree... but I took Paxil for quite awhile and it never helped me. It just made me sleepy & dizzy all the time...what's the use in taking something if it doesn't get rid of your problems AND it makes you feel like crap all the time? So I stopped taking it, eventually.
Did you ever try Xanax or any other benzo? Paxil, etc. didn't do shit for me either, just benzos. If alcohol makes you less anxious, then benzos will probably help you. They pretty much work on the same chemicals in the brain. I know some doctors don't like to prescribe benzos as they are physically addictive. If nothing else works though then benzos can help a lot.
Joined: Aug 24, 2006 Posts: 130 Location: nowhere USA
Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:52 am Post subject:
pinkputter wrote:
I honestly do think it "masks" the problem....and this bothers me cause thats what anti-psychology people (AKA Tom Cruise) think...but it is true. The difference though is that I think there are circumstances people can be in where thats exactly what they need to do (mask the problem) until they can help themselves. I think its a tricky situation though because thats how addictions, overdoses etc, start. But if you are careful with it, and allow yourself to exeprience some anxiety everyday so that you can push yourself, and improve, then eventually you can come off the drugs.
But for those of you on drugs now, anxiety ISNT a disorder where you have to be dependent on drugs. There are many people who have recovered with out drugs. And i know some peopls anxiety is worse than others, and if thats the case for you, you may need drugs to help. But anxiety is not like schizophrenia, or bipolarism, people with these disorders are dependent on drugs for their life b/c their main probelm is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Anxiety disorders are BEHAVIORAL disorders, that yes cause physical symptoms, but the core problem is the pattern of learned behavior which medicine can't cure for you.
So basically I think it's dumb to say people don't need medication, because the brain is an organ in the body and just like other organs disfunction, the brain can too. But I think you should only choose this option if you have tried working through it without medicine and you cant. And once you are on medication, you really try to eventually get off it. That is so important.
Usually with a mental illness, there's some chemical imbalance in the brain. It could be not enough Serotonin or not enough GABA or the chemicals aren't working right by not binding to receptors or whatever. Something is wrong physically. Chemicals(neurotransmitters) affect your behavior and vice versa, behavior actually affects your brain chemistry. When you smile, you release Serotonin. Medication can help a lot by fixing a chemical imbalance, whether permanently or temporarily. Some people learn how to change their behavior and it fixes the chemical imbalance and there is no longer a need for medication. Personally, I suggest trying just therapy first and seeing if that helps. If it doesn't help, then you should try medication, it can really help a lot. I have known people with depression and OCD where medicine has been like a magic bullet and it pretty much fixes the problem. The person with OCD had to be forced to try Paxil and he's much better off now. Keep an open mind. Xanax XR "really" helps me. Almost like a wonder drug for me.
In my case my problem is not biological, it's psychological. Besides, I was on Paxil a few years ago and it didn't do anything other than make me yawn and make me pray for quick death when I quit taking it.
You make a good point here. In my experience, if the issue you face is due to some past event that you need to get over, medication won't help. Meds have made a big difference in my life, but mental illness runs strong in my family and since the time I was a little kid my problem has been biological. Meds help very much in this situation.
However, for my social anxiety issues, Prozac isn't helping much. It aleviates my depression and some of the anxiety, but no matter how we fiddle with my meds the social aspect does not change. I think this is because the problem is psychological and is something I need to work through in counseling rather than taking a magic pill to make it go away.
Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:36 am Post subject: chicken sh*t, that's me
I've always been too afraid of the (possible) side effects that come with drugs of any kind. That includes meds like Vicodin and some cold medicines. I've never been drunk a day in my life for the same reason and never got past pot in high school either.
To this day there's still a 50/50 chance I won't take a drug even if it's for something serious (like my asthma), so anti depressants are, for now at least, out of the question. Too bad though, as I desperately need to do something.
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