So I have not been feeling real well the last almost year. It is probably a combination of things. Perhaps having 3 babes in 3 years, being postpartum, overweight and lacking consistent sleep. Or maybe it is the addition of the house stuff thrown in there. I don't know. But what I do know is that I have been to 2 different doctors in the last 2 months and they have both been very quick to write me up a prescription for an antidepressant and shove it in my face, okay there was no shovin involved.How come it is so easy to handout a scrip for a drug? I asked both of the doc's a lot of questions about the meds they were prescribing and they assured me there would be no problems. But with each med I went home and googled them and found out that there are a lot of unknowns about each one in terms of how they affect a specific person. The side effects are all over the place and the withdrawal from both of the meds require tapering off, which frightens me. One of the drugs withdrawal was being compared to withdrawaling from cocaine...eek!
Now what?!I really wish docs would have more accountability-not sure how that would work but that is my wish. Why so quick to prescribe meds? I guess I was hoping for more of a holistic approach. I have heard more and more stories in the news and such over the last few years about how doctors are over prescribing meds to patients. Why?Today I did a few searches online for holistic doctors in my area but I was overwhelmed by all of the information that I ran across. Are there certain "things" I should keep in mind while looking for one, other than my insurance needs to cover it?
As of right now I am not taking a med for depression but instead I am trying to change my diet. I am pretty much weaning myself off of anything that is processed and seeing if I feel any different. I am also going to tackle the YMCA again. I know a couple of years ago I was training for a Triathlon thus exercising 5 to 6 days a week. I felt really good. Although I don't want to go at that pace again, with 3 babes in tow, I would like to go at least 3 times a week.
How difficult it is to be a mom on so many levels. We truly must spin an assortment of plates at one time.
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Have you thought about talking to a pharmacist about the medications the doctor's are trying to give you? I know I am a little biased when it comes to a pharmacist's point of view (sorry...can't help it!) but if you can find a good, trustworthy one, they will be more than willing to take the time to talk to you about the medications, their side effects, withdrawal symptoms, etc. So many times when a doctor prescribes a medication, they are trying to hmm, appease the patient & give them what they want. You also have to factor in that the doctor's are getting so many perks from the drug companies & their reps that they often times push whatever is "hot" in their office at the time. A pharmacist, however, truly has no loyalties to the drug companies & can be much more objective about the medication & what will really work for the patient. I'm beyond fed up with doctor's & their willingness to, as you said, shove prescriptions in a patient's face without always taking the time to sit down & really get to the bottom of the issue. (And I am not saying any of this b/c I am a pharmacist's wife. Honest.) I hope you can find something that works for you & will help you out.
Momma Bear, I so know where you are coming from! My issue was a little different, but like you alopathic medicine had nothing to offer me.
I found my answer in a constitutional homeopath. I don't know what part of the country you are in, but if you are interested in this path I could ask my homeopath how to find a good constitutional homeopath.
My homeopath has saved me. I was really scared about the mom/person I was becoming. I was angry, but not just angry. I was a time-bomb and was wound so tight I would explode on a regular basis...not just daily, but throughout the day.
I was really worried about how my behavior was affecting my daughter. Homeopathy saved me. Let me know if it's something you might be interested in.
And I offer you the same thing you offered me...if you ever need to talk I'm here.
Antidepressants scare me too, or more so the willingness to hand them out to almost anyone.
As far as the wholistic stuff, my MIL has been seing a psychotherapist for her anxiety issues and really is starting to feel better. She has been doing accupuncture and hypnotherapy in addition to meds smd it'd covered by her insurance. It really seems to be working as she played hide and seek (in the dark) the other night with my kids, where as before she was so closterphobic it was getting downright silly.
Good luck to you Momma Bear, I think you're on the right track with the exercise and healthy diet!
Cara,
Thanks so much for your response! I didn't mention it but I actually did talk to the pharmacist, who I like at Target. And he is who handed me the information on the drug and so I got to ask some questions while there that I then googled later. Yeah I have experienced what you said, I guess a more objective perspective.
Shady Lady & Aliceson,
thanks so much for responding as well! I would like to check out both of those suggestions. Any information would be helpful.
Momma, I totally hear ya on all of this. My whole immediate family (including me) has had to deal with depression at some level (I think I told you about my mom). My mom actually got worse because her regular family physician tried to prescribe her various drugs that weren't doing anything for her. He tried to do that to me once when I was having job issues, and I hated how I felt on the drugs. I've found that "talk therapy" works best for me, but everyone is different. When I was in Ohio, I started working out and eating right, and I felt so much better about myself. This was before I had my son. I need to get back to that because I think I would be a better mom if I was physically healthier. I hope you find what works best for you, and I'm glad you're questioning the medications. I know I'm married to a doctor, but even he knows that medicines alone won't solve a problem! Good luck. I'm here for you. E-mail me if you need anything.
Yes, it is way too easy to get a prescription for antidepressants, and I'm truly disturbed by the number of people, who take them. I believe last thing I read, is that one in three women will be on antidepressants at least once in their lives. It has almost become a fashion statement to say that you're depressed and on meds now.
The cause is not treated and will still be there, when you're done taking the meds. I read once about a psychologist who takes his patients for walks in the park during their sessions. The added exercise had people feeling much better.
I think you're doing the right thing, changing your diet and adding exercise to your routine. I am almost certain that you'll feel much better in just a couple of months.
Hang in there. (Dang, I really need to add you to my blog roll!)
thanks Freckles! I hear ya!
I'll have to second (seventh?) the others' trepidation about the anti-depressants. I think they are over-prescribed by busy doctors, hoping for a cure-all. I'm no doctor, obviously, but I have seen first-hand the addictiveness and the side-effects certain medications like these can have, and I caution you to try them as an absolute last resort.
I would also suggest finding a good therapist, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Also, a *break* for you when you can get it!
I have a close friend who struggled with depression for a long time. Honestly, it changed her into a different person who was very touchy and irritable all the time. She was in perfect shape and worked out a lot and ate healthy. Those things helped (which is why she did them) but it wasn't enough.
She finally broke down, went to a MD she trusted and got on an antidepressent. It made a world of difference. I was so glad to have her back! She still has to make sure she gets enough rest etc, but it made a big difference.
I am a nurse and I do believe that anti depressents are overprescribed. But I also think that they can make a HUGE life changing difference for some people.
My point? I would try some other measures, but if they don't work and you have to. Don't feel bad about it or ashamed.
I see the extremes in the hospital all the time. The people begging for meds to address every small concern and on the other end patients who are in so much pain it is etched in their faces but they REFUSE to accept the pain pill or the anti nausea drug.
Just find your place, somewhere in the middle :)
Without the happy outcome I feel the same way currently as Shady Lady. I am definitely a time bomb. I keep saying I need to figure out how to fix this but I do nothing because simply - i hate drugs. I rarely ever will take as much as tylenol for my headache unless it is really awful and I *MUST* function top notch. Good luck and do share if you find help.
I'm going to come out on the side of the anti-depressants...
I don't know if you know but I have Seasonal Affective Disorder. I usually can deal with it, but a few years ago it hit about the time my GF left me. That wasn't pretty at all...my doctor prescribed me Celexa.
It's not addictive and I had NO problem coming off it when it was time (I stayed on it for a couple years).
It really did help me through some rough spots, so still consider the option.
One other good thing about it...it's generic so it's only $4 a month...even if insurance doesn't cover it it's affordable.
wow, this all seems so familiar. I also had three in three years, and shortly after weaning the baby at around 8 months I began feeling very wrong, very lousy. My first thoughts were that it was hormone related. After several doc visits, many tests, prescriptions, I still am not "better."
I hope you get to the bottom of it all. Good luck,
Jen
Thanks everyone for your responses and suggestions and thoughts.
One of the antidepressants was a generic for Celexa Tony, I need to consider things for a bit longer before I pursue a course.
I do know with trying to get to the Y its difficult for me. i think I need to catch up on sleep, go to bed earlier and then in a few weeks after I have some sleep under my belt then I'll attempt the Y.
thx again!
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