do I need an anti-depressant?

[red5260]

I haven't been to the gym in nine days. That is a big break for me. I got strep and was in bed for five days. Up and well again now. Will go tomorrow. The last few days I have been really down. My best friend of 14.5 yrs (my dog) died two months ago. Been helping out my 79 yr old bi-polar mom since my dad died two years ago. So I've got some stresses. I am well aware that if I don't lift, I nosedive. Lifting is my drug. Do you think that is wrong? Is that a sign that I need something? I rely on it heavily to keep me happy. I love the gym and bodybuilding lifestyle. Nothing better. My sister wants me to get on an anti-D, but I don't want to. If I'm going to deal with sides, I'd rather it be from steroids.

 

[Dezzy]

Do not feel bad brother. I'm am currently studying psychology, and I too strugle with depresion, manic issues. I perfer manic to bipolar, because whenever I here bipolar people use it as a cop-out for their bad behavior. But it is a legit condition. The good news: It is treatable.
The bad news: It grows worse with age.
I have noticed I get depressed more as I get older. It might do you some good to go into the doc and talk to him about it. It can be your general practioner. Just tell them your symptoms and they will give you a suggestion. You decide if you follow it or get a second opinion. Go see another doctor you can pick him from random of your provider or group. Tell him the same thing as your last doctor. Go with his idea.
Tip: I like citalopram. Take your script to Costco (you dont need a membership) or walmart.

 

[VNV]

If you're asking that question, you probably do. Not as a rule, but people who have their shit together emotionally just don't go there.

Swallow your pride and ask a physician for help. It's not a weakness.

 

[loganb_football]

I was put on paxil a while ago, and only took it for two days, before I realized that the sides just aren't worth it. But in your instance, it's really up to your discretion. Anti-depressant's can actually increase suicide risk in quite a few cases. One of my friends did her thesis for her doctorate on this... I'm not trying to scare you but just making you aware. Along with several other side effects.

Secondly, everyone has a vice in order to deal with pain. Some drink, some workout, some resort to drug use, etc. Stress is natural, and it seems you have a healthy vice as long as you don't make it your life. You say you rely on it heavily, have you tried something new? Have you tried talking with a therapist? Sometimes talking about it with someone can make all the difference.

If in fact you do get on medication. I would recommend talking with your physician on Strattera or Welbutrin. Obviously, he will give you what he thinks is best. Strattera is actually used for people with ADD. However, before it was used as a med for ADD, it was used as an anti-depressant. Many people compliment on this. The most side effects I see on this are constipation, and cold sweats. Some people usually find this acceptable. Welbutrin has more of a stimulant effect, and is used for smokers trying to quit (other methods are used smoking cessation, but I know many smokers who use this). People compliment this, but if you have high blood pressure, and have severe anxiety this may not be for you.

These are just a couple you can question YOUR physician on if you decide to use medications. I think you should try other methods first, then if you feel you still need to get Anti-d's, then by all means consult your physician.

 

[datamon]

the most popular class of ADs, SSRIs (zoloft, paxil, prozac, lexapro, others), typically have sexual side effects. lack of sex drive, ED, long time to orgasm. this is usually dose-dependant though.

wellbutrin is not in this class and may be a good choice for a first attempt.

it may be a trial and error process to find the one that works for you, and it may take some time. it usually takes about 3-4 weeks for you to feel the effects once starting the medication.

 

[shitforbrains]

Happiness is a habit: Sadness, anger and other sufferings come easy. But being happy is very tough. Successful people have a talent for enjoying life. They try to latch on to the everyday joy, however simple or small. If they can't have big victories, they accept small ones.


I keep this quote handy for my bad days.

Sucks about your dog too man, that takes a long time to get over if ever. I know you dont want to hear it but getting another one really does help.

Best of luck bro

 

[POWER HOUSE]

No , you do not.

Stay away from them.

 

[Metal]

Sorry for your loss and your predicament. Now...

NOOO DUDE!, You have a few probs ( Wha Wha WHAAAH!!!) We ALL have problems, but dont give into a pill. Everyone feels pills are the answer to the problem. You have a bad day and all the sudden, your world comes crashing down. I would tell u to get over it and move on.

Truth is, Im willing to bet, If your doctor prescribed you a placebo med, like telling you its a med, but really a sugar pill, you would feel better anyways.

Besides Anti-Ds are fucked up meds. Look at how many people are on them? They are whacked out! They make depressed people calm yet insane little zombies.

 

[Massive G]

I am on Wellbutrin and it doesn't make a damn bit of difference with stress anxiety and sometimes depression. These are all normal feelings we suffer from THERE are some chronically depressed and chemically imbalanced people out there that have a need for these drugs.
Healthy males that lift (which is an incredible stress reliever and high) don't need them. I had a lot going on a few months ago-had my 14 year old dog go into heart and renal failure in 7 days and had to put him down and then less three days later a pipe broke in myupstairs bathroom and destroyed 2/3rds of my house plus the constant stress at work and a brief hospitalization from stepping on a nail-just was an incredbile whirlwhind to deal with in such a short time and huge lifestyle adjustment. So I took the bait the doc offered Wellbutrin. Can't say it helped or ever did help, so I am going off it soon with the docs taper. Any form of exercise cardio or the ehavy weights gives me a tremendous lift and high and is my mood enhancer stress reliever.

 

[mr. boom]

It's because you have not been in the gym. The gym is your anti depressant.. Get back in the Gym... Your body releases endorphins when you train which are your bodies feel good chemical. I was on an anti depressant once and it made me not care about anything. I was content with not going to the gym so I got off..This will pass, it's one of those obsticals in life. Only the strong survive. Hang in there, get back in the gym and it's up to you but I highly recomend praying about it.

All the best

 

[max33]

My wife has been on different Anti-Ds for over 7 years. And I'll tell you she is not the happiest person I've met.
I do agree with most here that lifting/cardio is the best natural anti-depressant ever.

Keep in mind one thing, once you jump in with this medicine, it won't be easy to quit it, especially with anti-D like Paxil.

 

[Phidias]

I do agree with most here that lifting/cardio is the best natural anti-depressant ever.

I'd place sex 1st and chocolate 2nd...

 

[mule]

i don't believe in drugs for this but my opinion is in the long run they make things worse and do not treat the case, though if a person is really seriously having issues like being suicidal i would then use them because you need a quick fix in that case. the only place i see for drugs is a short term fix so you can get yourself together, then you have to try and figure the causes out and take care of them.

take a look at this

http://www.lindenmethod.com/


it looks at the behavioral causes of this



also there is the eating part of this. i really like weston price for this . there is a lot about mental health and food on there site

**broken link removed**

 

[notsobig32]

I'd place sex 1st and chocolate 2nd...

You know phidias, i gotta say taht i don't think i have ever been depressed during or after sex and also never been depressed when i was eating chocolate, i think you might be on to something

 

[Papa Van Smack]

I have the same issues. I have 2 things in my life that help me combat the demons. Music and lifting. Playing guitar and pushing weight are theraputic for me. I don't seek help....my mom pushed me into a shrink in HS...."wellbutrin and ritalin are what he needs" they pumped me so full of drugs that i couldn't even recognize myself....my personality, as I knew it, was gone. I bitched, and whined, and begged for about a year and eventually my dad pulled the plug on that fiasco. Since then, I've learned that my mom was onto something, I do have some tendencies that I need to deal with, but I prefer to do so naturally. I may need medication one day, but I'm doing just fine w/o it today. I'd rather self-medicate with a healthy dose of testosterone....though I've made a rule....if I'm down....the cycle doesn't start until I'm "okay" on my own. But I've learned to handle things well enough that I don't stay down for too long anymore. I may have a bad day here and there, but who doesn't?


On that note.....be warned....look out for substance abuse. If I'm not lifting....I become very self-destructive....and I dont' even care....I love it. I'll still play my guitar, but I'll plow through a half a bottle of jack(or more) every night as I sit there and play.....and love every minute of it. In fact.....if it weren't so extremely unhealthy, i'd be content in doing just that. But let's face it.....fifteen years down the road I'd be paying a major price for living that lifestyle. I was lucky, my body doesn't develope dependency easily, I lived in that world for 18 months....and when I decided I'd rather lift and be big again, i was able to go cold turkey....and it was easy, really easy. I know not everyone is so lucky to be able to do that, I feel blessed. I'm not saying I'm done having fun, but I limit myself to two nights a month now. Even then, it's not a party on the town, I like to do some song writing when I indulge. I feel that two nights per month is forgiveable.


That being said......do what you feel you should do. If you think you need to see a doc....go see one. Try what they have to offer....if it works for you, great. If it doesn't, don't be afraid to come up with other ideas to keep things under control. My experiance has been just that. I prefer to cope on my own because I embrace and enjoy everything about who I am and don't want some pschobable and pills to change that. For the record....I have ADD(not hyperactive) and bouts w/ depression. The depression used to go on for weeks at a time, these days, I can recognize its happening and kick it within a few days. Sometimes, replacing chest day w/ back day(my favorite) is all I need to snap out of it. Or I can play my guitar so loud that I'll get the cops called for a noise complaint....ON PURPOSE.....that's kind of fun.....

"we had a noise complaint...."

"really? i thought you might, what the hell took you guys so long? I was playing for over an hour...."

stupid shit....but it works for me.

good luck bro.....you'll get a handle on it. It's the people who ignore it that get into trouble.

 

[EVERLAST]

dont get me started.......

As someone who has lived through some real serious shit in my life..
I have been on just about everything from Paxil, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Prozac, Effexor, Zanax, etc. These are mostly SSRI's and just plain didnt work for me.
They dont know exactly how they work but by limiting the re-uptake of serotonin thats supposed to help make you feel more warm and fuzzy.
Individual results vary, but for me it was a waste.

I quit them all and went to the gym and the track. Workout, walking, running, stretching. thats the best medicine. Eat some good food and feel good about the physical.
Then look at the situation youre in.
Anybody would be depressed. You cant really do anything about the situation either. You feel like youre spinning your wheels, or just treading water.
Thats the worst kind...
Go listen to some little kids playing in an elementary school, go walk near some running water, get on a cliff edge and admire the view.
Then go get a girlfriend and take a night off...

 

[Phidias]

get on a cliff edge and admire the view.

Not the best idea if you're considering suicide... it would only take you a moment of profound despair to jump.

 

[muscledoc1]

No , you do not.

Stay away from them.

Good advise !!!-do not mess with your serotonin,you need to be strong and get through this-things will change for the better.get a new puppy,push yourself to the gym-once your'e there,you'll feel 100xbetter.

 

[hellraiser27]

I have been on Paxil for 3 years. It is the best thing that ever happened to me. It completely changed my life. I will probably always take it and I will be happy to do so.
If you have a 'nonchemical" depedency then you are probably ok bro. I'm sure we all feel the same about the gym in some sort of way.

 

[Silver4Judas]

I am 36, and have been on anti ds for the the last 20 years of my life!!! Now i am on Cymbalta and think it is working better than most. I was on 300mg of Effexor and it was no good, the highest dose is 225 for most. I used to get mad...say at a bar after drinking and not even be aware that i really hurt someone. I hold all life as gold. I thank god that i did not feel to much of a burden 2 my loved ones or the common man. When you are on Anti-Ds the reason why you might feel like doing things not cool with the big man is, your feelings are all good! THINK ABOUT WHAT & WHO YOU HOLD DEAR.......AND IT WILL ALL FALL IN 2 PLACE. But what do i know? You create your own future!