Happy Pills Yay, or Nay?

[stealurface831]

Is it addictive?

If I miss a dose of my Lexapro, I absolutely cannot function. Deep sleepy time all day long.

[Cono Este]

I’d also tell anyone who thinks they have “depression, anxiety”. To get your hormones checked. Especially if over 40.

I’ve dodged anti depressants several times the last two yrs since my dog died and all kinds of other shit, and I’m glad I did.

I saw a video a few months back about a soldier Mis diagnosed with ptsd while really he had no testosterone. So I saw a specialist and i was the same. I said what the hell, might as well try it, and instantly i started to feel more positive, more productive and have more energy.

We could probably start an entire thread on Taking T shots, but if you are super low, you need know.


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[Skidog]

If I miss a dose of my Lexapro, I absolutely cannot function. Deep sleepy time all day long.

interesting. I havent missed a dose yet in over 1.5 years. Good to know.

[whipski]

time for a repost

[whipski]

FTR I think the antidepressants were a major contributer to the divorce. Major personality change and the libido deal

[BC13]

I started taking zoloft in 1997 when my 9YO's cancer returned. Needed something to keep me functioning for the family while we all dealt with her dying.

Stopped in 2008. As said upthread, it only puts limits on the emotional highs and lows - the grief/depression was still there. It also helps you gain weight. I've got enough scar tissue built up over the grief now that I don't need meds.

Peace to all those dealing with depression

Jesus TBS,

Just reading this half a year after you posted it. My heart aches for you. You've lived through every parent's worst fear and found the strength to carry on. You should be so proud to have carried on living.



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[SoVT Joey]

I’d also tell anyone who thinks they have “depression, anxiety”. To get your hormones checked. Especially if over 40.

I’ve dodged anti depressants several times the last two yrs since my dog died and all kinds of other shit, and I’m glad I did.

I saw a video a few months back about a soldier Mis diagnosed with ptsd while really he had no testosterone. So I saw a specialist and i was the same. I said what the hell, might as well try it, and instantly i started to feel more positive, more productive and have more energy.

We could probably start an entire thread on Taking T shots, but if you are super low, you need know.


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That was the #1 reason I said get a doctor you trust. I left out that taking B vitamins was a big help. But I only found out after doing a full panel test on blood vitamins and every other thing in my body. Best shit I ever did.


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[stealurface831]

I just got prescribed a new antipsychotic called Abilify (I think that is how it’s spelled). They finally took me off Wellbutrin after 2 of med-resistant symptoms. Anyone have experience with Abilify? I’d like an idea of what I’m in for.


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[Dhelihiker]

We have victim based cry baby society now. Everyone is a victim and nothing is fair. All of you problems are unique to only you and no one else deals with your issues.

Its all BS, life is all about the ups and downs. Feel it up, coming out a rough period in life to see the other side is one of the most rewarding experience and life lessons you could have.

don't be afraid to feel

[Dantheman]

Quit sitting in a puddle of shit and get moving.

Doing literally anything is better than doing nothing. Congratulations on staying clean.

We could probably start an entire thread on Taking T shots, but if you are super low, you need know.

It's TGR, there's a thread: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...o’s-doing-it

We have victim based cry baby society now. Everyone is a victim and nothing is fair. All of you problems are unique to only you and no one else deals with your issues.

Its all BS, life is all about the ups and downs. Feel it up, coming out a rough period in life to see the other side is one of the most rewarding experience and life lessons you could have.

don't be afraid to feel

Some people really do need help and I won't fault anyone for doing what they need to do to live their life. That said, embracing suck is a good way to end up happy(er). Ultra runner Nikki Kimball suffers from depression. She has said that the worst part of depression for her was not that she felt bad, but that she didn't feel anything. The suffering inherent in ultra running relieves her depression because it means she feels something.

[SoVT Joey]

Doing literally anything is better than doing nothing. Congratulations on staying clean.



It's TGR, there's a thread: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...o’s-doing-it



Some people really do need help and I won't fault anyone for doing what they need to do to live their life. That said, embracing suck is a good way to end up happy(er). Ultra runner Nikki Kimball suffers from depression. She has said that the worst part of depression for her was not that she felt bad, but that she didn't feel anything. The suffering inherent in ultra running relieves her depression because it means she feels something.

Thanks Dantheman! I definitely don’t put it out there because I’m embarrassed. It’s made me who I am.

Also a little off topic but that opiate shit hits a lot of people and families. I put my parents through hell and everyone around me. If any mag ever finds themselves in a place like that or has kids going through shit don’t ever hesitate to reach out. I’m an open book and will to talk and share.


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[AK47bp]

Is the anxiety and feeling of dread coming from inside you or outside? Intrinsic VS extrinsic?

If a chemical imbalance, bad brain wiring etc. then I think using medication to mitigate, modify, assist your body into doing what it should be doing is proper.

If external factors, the news, Covid, marriage issues, unemployment, etc. then I think medication should be avoided if possible. Once you start taking something you’ve just added a new crutch to your life, another external influencer to your body. No bueno.

Yea yea yea, you just need the medicine to get you over the hump and then you won’t need it. Sure. Sometimes it works like that.

Of course there are exceptions.

This is my opinion and I did stay at a Comfort Inn last night.


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[The SnowShow]

I’ve been on celexa for years after having major anxiety in 2001-03 (was close to the Twin Towers on 9/11). I think I started at 15mg back then but brought it down to 10mg after I left NYC in ‘03 and found a more relaxed lifestyle in VA then CO.
I’ve been feeling anxious and restless almost everyday the past few weeks with an upcoming medicine procedure (fairly routine), my doc recommended I increase the celexa to 20mg. I’m really sensitive to medicine so I’m a few days into taking 15mg. I also have Xanax (.5 or .75) for flying and have been taking one dose of that more mornings than not to come back to center. I talked to my therapist about all this but I still get really anxious about taking the Xanax, for fear of getting addicted and having another problem to deal with. My understanding is it takes about two weeks to feel the effects of the new increase in celexa? If that’s true, should I take the Xanax as needed (one or two doses a day at .5 or .75) until the celexa finally kicks in?

[The Reverend Floater]

I’ve been on celexa for years after having major anxiety in 2001-03 (was close to the Twin Towers on 9/11). I think I started at 15mg back then but brought it down to 10mg after I left NYC and found a more relaxed lifestyle in VA then CO.
I’ve been feeling anxious almost everyday the past few weeks, so my doc recommended I increase the celexa to 20mg. I’m really sensitive to medicine so I’m a few days into taking 15mg. I also have Xanax (.5 or .75) for flying and have been taking one dose of that more mornings than not to come back to center. I talked to my therapist about all this but I still get really anxious about taking the Xanax, for fear of getting addicted and having another problem to deal with. My understanding is it takes about two weeks to feel the effects of the new increase in celexa? If that’s true, should I take the Xanax as needed (one or two doses a day at .5 or .75) until the celexa finally kicks in?

Definitely ignore any answers you receive here other than "ask your doctor."

[The SnowShow]

Definitely ignore any answers you receive here other than "ask your doctor."

I’ll ask him tomorrow - sometimes it’s hard to get an answer within 24-36 hours which is annoying. Just wondered if anyone here had experience with increasing SSRIs and how to deal with that transition period.

[stealurface831]

i don't know about celexa but it is my understanding and experience that anxiolytics are generally slow-acting, sans benzos. talk to your doc and they should have the answer.

[Core Shot]

Tried Prozac in my youth. Made it about 4 months. Didn't feel right. Sucked coming off of it. Taper dose is the only way - one reason I hesitate to try any of the "newer and better" versions. Fuck, there's like 30 of them now.

My mom started something a month ago, and she's not the same on the phone. Not sleeping right, or doing any of her prior normal routine.
At 83 you should allowed to be a bit slow and slightly depressed, but happy pills for everyone!!
it's not like she's seeing a shrink. It's a GP handing out candy for everyone.

I made a second try 15 years ago, with Paxil after a family tragedy. I made it three days.
I was tripping. Literally. Even my pupils were pulsing in the mirror. Couldn't go to work without smiling on the outside and laughing inside.
And yet, every doctor insists it takes weeks to feel the effects. Fuck that noise. I was zooming for sure.

These things are powerful. Use with care.
I want to, and need to, but won't try anymore of them.

Used to smoke in my ski bum days. The shit people smoke today either couch locks me or makes me insanely anxious.
Maybe I should try that 1:1 vape pen.

[Meadow Skipper]

Used to smoke in my ski bum days. The shit people smoke today either couch locks me or makes me insanely anxious.
Maybe I should try that 1:1 vape pen.

One nice thing about vape pens is that I can dial in the mood adjustment pretty consistently. Maui Wowie sativa during the day, Kush indica at night, I know just the right number of hits to be where I want to be. The consistency of the cart contents and toke regulation is key for me.

There have been times when I’ve been pretty depressed, but after trying a couple anti-d drugs and talking about it with my doc, I realized that I had a really good reason to be depressed. It wasn’t about chemical imbalances in my brain, it was because shitty things happened. I didn’t have good reactions with the drugs, so I came to the conclusion that I just had to ride out the effects of shitty things happening. YMMV, but that’s worked for me.

[stealurface831]

Tried Prozac in my youth. Made it about 4 months. Didn't feel right. Sucked coming off of it. Taper dose is the only way - one reason I hesitate to try any of the "newer and better" versions. Fuck, there's like 30 of them now.

My mom started something a month ago, and she's not the same on the phone. Not sleeping right, or doing any of her prior normal routine.
At 83 you should allowed to be a bit slow and slightly depressed, but happy pills for everyone!!
it's not like she's seeing a shrink. It's a GP handing out candy for everyone.

I made a second try 15 years ago, with Paxil after a family tragedy. I made it three days.
I was tripping. Literally. Even my pupils were pulsing in the mirror. Couldn't go to work without smiling on the outside and laughing inside.
And yet, every doctor insists it takes weeks to feel the effects. Fuck that noise. I was zooming for sure.

These things are powerful. Use with care.
I want to, and need to, but won't try anymore of them.

Used to smoke in my ski bum days. The shit people smoke today either couch locks me or makes me insanely anxious.
Maybe I should try that 1:1 vape pen.

i know of experiences similar to yours: just felt too damn altered. in my case, i feel like my ssris and stuff have never made all that much of a difference. i've cycled through a good dozen different meds and feel more or less the same regardless of what i am taking. i just started lyrica as an adjunct dose so hopefully it will do something.

[Dantheman]

“The magnitude of the effect we saw was about four times larger than what clinical trials have shown for traditional antidepressants on the market,” says Alan Davis, from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and corresponding author on the study.

https://newatlas.com/health-wellbein...johns-hopkins/
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-...jor-depression
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...rticle/2772630

[stealurface831]

“The magnitude of the effect we saw was about four times larger than what clinical trials have shown for traditional antidepressants on the market,” says Alan Davis, from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and corresponding author on the study.

https://newatlas.com/health-wellbein...johns-hopkins/
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-...jor-depression
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...rticle/2772630

here is my research contribution to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy if anyone is interested: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing
i was supposed to be part of a study at emory but it got covid cancelled. i know i have felt lasting antidepressive effects in the past but have not tripped in awhile.

[Core Shot]

The treatment process resembled the general protocol used in most psilocybin studies. Two doses of psilocybin were administered to each subject, spaced two weeks apart. A number of psychotherapy sessions both preceded and followed the active psilocybin sessions.

The results were undoubtedly impressive with 71 percent of the cohort displaying more than a 50 percent reduction in depressive symptoms at the four-week follow up. The average depression score for the cohort had dropped from 23 to 8 a month later, and more than half of the group were considered to be in remission.
————-

Wow. That’s pretty fucking amazing.

Does anyone know if this this is micro dosing or an actual freak ride?

————-
Edit
Turns out the data is in the last Jama article
I have no idea how much that is?
30mg. Is that micro dose. Just feeling different?


The psilocybin dose was moderately high (20 mg/70 kg) in session 1 and was high (30 mg/70 kg) in session 2. Procedures for psilocybin administration and the conduct of the sessions were similar to procedures used in previous and ongoing studies with psilocybin (eMethods in Supplement 2) at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.16,32,33

Psilocybin was administered in opaque gelatin capsules with approximately 100 mL water. Both facilitators were present in the room and available to respond to participants’ physical and emotional needs during the day-long session, with the exception of short breaks taken by 1 facilitator at a time. During the session, participants were instructed to lie on a couch in a living room–like environment, and facilitators encouraged participants to focus their attention inward and stay with any experience that arose. To enhance inward reflection, music was played (the playlist is provided in the eMethods in Supplement 2), and participants were instructed to wear eyeshades and headphones.

[Buzzworthy]

Definitely ignore any answers you receive here other than "ask your doctor."

This.

Plus trust your feelings about taking Benzos. If you don't have to take the Xanax then don't. I am so very happy to be off them and instead learning coping mechanisms. Feeling awake is nice.

[RootSkier]

Nah that's a real dose, I think. I just did some quick research and it looks like most dried mushrooms are 0.5%-2% psilocybin by weight, so for one gram of mushrooms, there will be anywhere from 5-20 milligrams of psilocybin. If you average that, someone who weighs 150 lbs (~70kg), they are likely getting somewhere close to what most would call an 1/8 on the second session. Take an eighth of mushrooms, put a blindfold on, and you are gonna see SOME SHIT.

Here's another source talking about pharmaceutical uses for it that claims "Though it varies, 5,000 mg of dried mushrooms roughly equals 66 mg of psilocybin." https://qz.com/1235963/scientists-wh...7000-per-gram/. 5000 mg is just under 1.5 eighths so these sources are pretty close. It's a real trip.

[Dantheman]

Those are macro doses for sure. While microdosing is intriguing, in these studies high doses are key. Connectivity between different regions in your brain increases massively and appears to "reset" the neural circuits and connections that lead to depression, anxiety and PTSD.

This video summarizes what's actually happening in your brain. How to Change Your Mind also gets pretty deep into the neuroscientific understanding of the experience.