Down and out.

[mainbutter]

They aren't uppers, they are not designed to make you feel happy, they arent designed to get you a high. They are mood levelers, they take you from depression to flat effect, thats it. Its entirely up to you to pull yourself up the rest of the way, but they keep you operating. They wont fully kick in for a few weeks, and you get to pass through the dangerous levels of depression
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Drugs arent always needed and should only be used to get you back to functioning levels

Very true.

In addition I forgot to mention: only a health professional can prescribe meds, and are the only ones capable of determining if it's a good idea for someone to try out.

Don't seek meds just because your girlfriend/whatever suggested it (she's not a doctor), or because they worked for someone else, my original post was to try and let people know that meds aren't "bad" and they don't make you "weak", in fact if it's recommended by a doctor then actually taking your meds IS BEING PROACTIVE ABOUT DEPRESSION. My original post was meant to emphasize that it's a good idea to seek outside help.

It was said that only you can help yourself. That is pretty much true, and often seeking outside help is in fact a good way to help yourself.

[Oxylepy]

Another good point I failed to address. You may need to seek help, and that can help you a lot, but what I was getting at is that you are the only one with the power to change you, outside help is useful, but it only helps if you're willing to change.

In highschool I went to a lot of psychologists and they will actually drop you as a client if they see you are completely adverse to change, its their right to do so, however if a hospital (psychiatric) determines that you need help they'll just put you with someone else, and you end up bouncing around until your psychiatrist decides you wont find anyone.

Personally I quit taking meds (Celexa) because of being in that active level of depression where one day I flat out decided I was going to kill myself but instead of going through with it I stopped taking my meds to decide later and realized it was a bad plan.

Anyway, the moral of my stupidity is that meds can definitely help, but they wont be a quick fix. Seeking outside help can definitely help if you go in actually wanting to go through with what they will tell you, but thats part of you actually deciding to change, its really all in your own hands, and it sucks because when you're depressed, truly depressed, you will feel like you have no power to change yourself, and it take a lot of work to really get there which is NEVER what a depressed person wants to hear.

And if anyone ever tells you to "snap out of it" punch them in the face. That is horrid advice and will do nothing more than make you feel worse. NO ONE has the power to just "snap out of it" it's impossible to do, they're pretty much telling you to suppress your feelings, which is EXTREMELY counterproductive.

[BrucenBruce]

This is only my personal opinions and story - take what you like, and toss the rest.

A few years ago, my Dr., after a routine physical, asked if I'd like to try something to improve my mood. Since my mood was pretty bleak, and I was experiencing physical pains as well, I agreed, and went onto Cymbalta. The drug removed the physical pain, and elevated my mood, but as someone else already mentioned, only to "flat". Pretty much left me not caring a rat's red rear end about anything at all. That wasn't working for me, so I took myself off the drug after 5 or 6 months - I preferred the pain. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, still not happy, and not caring about much; not getting much out of the things I love, and not having much motivation at all. And still having days where I could feel physical ache originating in my soul. I did a bit of research, and decided that it couldn't hurt to go down to the local CVS and try some of the things that're supposed to help with mood elevation: SAM-e, St. John's Wort, Omega-3s, and vitamins (just because). Guess what? I'm feeling more energy, and more _positive_ energy than I have in years. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm in a better place than I was last month.

For what it's worth.

I think the solution is different for each individual - I hope you find yours!

~Bruce - who still has life issues to cope with, but has more energy for 'em, and more smiles gettin' through 'em.

[redpython]

hulk hogan said he was down and out and ready to blow his brains out...and some old lady on an airplane gave him a copy of the secret.

but in addition to the secret, he also says he found god in the process.

he credits these two things into turning his life around.

maybe something to check into.

[dsirkle]

http://www.metrolyrics.com/refugee-l...tom-petty.html









YouTube - Tom Petty - 'Refugee'