So, last week I had my first meeting with a "psychotherapist" because my anxiety and so called depression are getting the best of me. Almost every day is a cycle where I wake up feeling shitty, and it gets worse and worse until I sit down and concentrate on changing my thought patterns, if that makes sense at all. If I dont do this, my stomach cramps up, I feel almost immobilized, worst fucking feeling ever.

I broke down to my mom and told her about it after holding this shit in for probably 4 or 5 years and she agreed to take me to a shrink.

At the end of the session, the guy told me I was depressed and was having panic attacks and wants to give me meds the next time I go in, which I'm sort of for, because I feel legitimately shitty.

/emorant

Has anyone had any positive results from antidepressants?
Most people on here say SSRIs are shit, but has anyone had positive results with them, or with snri's or wellbutrin or something else I can ask the fooley to prescribe me?

I know that xanax or other benzos would help a ton, but I dont want to be using pills as a crutch.

Also, I told him that I smoked weed every so often and he kind of encouraged that I do it more. Can he give me a card at 16 years old, or am I being a douche.

Sorry for the long ass post :)

It varies from person to person, pill to pill. If you aren't seeing results from a specific Anti-D. after 3-4 weeks I'd try something else. I say they work in one way or another but they aren't going to be the cure for all of your mental ills...which is something some people think going into a pill regiment. Benzos definitely help..but as you are obviously aware, they can become a problem if you aren't careful.

I guess Ill give them a shot.
Also forgot to mention my father had seratonin problems, Im not sure exactly what.
What should I suggest pillwise?

It's really best if you try them yourself. Some people may get no results of out a certain pill while others may see amazing results. I found that taking lexapro was like swallowing a rock once a day. They didn't do a fucking thing for me. I started Cymbalta and got some so/so results and so on. It's all about experience with these things. Have patience and try not to go insane in the process.

Avoid Paxil (Paroxetene) at all costs.

What the FUCK do you think?

I agree with the person who said no Paxil. Try that as a last resort. Start with the standard stuff; what has been shown to work. That's pretty much Lexapro, Prozac, a couple others. If SSRIs don't work, they'll probably put you on Wellbutrin. The reason you don't try Wellbutrin first is that the side effects can be something creepy for a lot of people. They report feeling like robot-zombies or something. Weird shit. But if that happens, you just quit taking it. There is very little to no risk of withdrawal from Wellbutrin. The reason not to take Paxil is that the withdrawal is really fucking bad. The same can be said of most SSRIs, but Paxil is much worse.

Also, don't forget about the suicide risk. There is a statistically significant risk for people under the age of 18 that antidepressants will result in suicide. I don't think it's quite understood why this happens, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the drugs getting you motivated before they actually make you feel better. So you feel as shitty as always, but now you're motivated to do something about it. So resist the urge to kill yourself for the first few weeks.

seriously, ssris only had side effects for me. a good antidepressent is buspar, look it up. ask doc for that if you really do have depression. if not, and only anxiety, it goes benzos, weed, buspar, ssris

I was diagnosed with anixety disorder. The doctor decided it would be nice to teach me how to fucking MEDITATE. He told me he wasn't going to prescribe me meds. I couldn't concentrate because I was alone in a bad smelling room with a guy I didn't know.

you're getting meds after one session?

I got meds my first time in...it all depends on the doc.

he asked me at the end if I would be for them and we would talk about em the next time I went it, next week.

Buspar looks pretty legit for anxiety.

Its structure is unrelated to those of the benzodiazepines, but it has an efficacy comparable to diazepam in treating generalized anxiety disorder.

It shows no potential for addiction compared to other drugs commonly prescribed for anxiety, especially benzodiazepine medications

he asked me at the end if I would be for them and we would talk about em the next time I went it, next week.

Buspar looks pretty legit for anxiety.

You may have already answered this question..but do you smoke pot? If you decide to find a way around the Benzos I would definitely think of going that route.

if your mom approves of it, you bet your ass you can get a card. try to get the shrink to talk to your mom about it, but your probably going to need a "specialty" doctor because most doctors dont wanna risk getting their medical license revoked for recommending something that is (at the federal level) illegal.

My mom knows that I used to smoke weed a lot more often, and that it helped me out. I dont think that she would mind if she knew it would help, or the doctor could give her some info.

What do you mean by specialty? He isnt at a hospital or anything, its a small office building with like 4 other psychiatrists.

Should I bring it up next visit?

My mom knows that I used to smoke weed a lot more often, and that it helped me out. I dont think that she would mind if she knew it would help, or the doctor could give her some info.

What do you mean by specialty? He isnt at a hospital or anything, its a small office building with like 4 other psychiatrists.

Should I bring it up next visit?

most people that have medical dont get it from their regular docs, they go to doctors that specialize in medical marijuana, they arent hard to find theirs billboards and signs plastered all over LA for mmj (1-877-GOT-KUSH has good docs).
definitely bring it up the next visit, unless you dont want it for whatever reason :p

unless you dont want it for whatever reason :p

Now you're just talking crazy...

I'm taking Lexapro, and honestly it does jack shit for me.
So, yeah...

Now you're just talking crazy...

True dat.

Mkay, Ill ask him about what I can do. And I guess, just see what he has to say about different ssris and whatnot.

YES. Doctors who prescribe this shit should be shot.

Stay away from Effexor XR at all costs! I was at the max dose with no positive results and I'm now weaning off of them to try something else.

Somewhat minor w/d symptoms (nothing like Xanax w/d) but still rather unpleasant.

ICEMAN1968

He probably said you should smoke more so that you hang out with friends and smoke. Socializing helps, and if pot makes you feel better alone it cant hurt.

i was on prozacs for about 2 months. at first i noticed a difference, even if it was placebo. after about two months i stopped taking them. then a few days later i tried to kill myself.

i'm not on any meds right now, and i have no desire to get on any others.

You may have already answered this question..but do you smoke pot? If you decide to find a way around the Benzos I would definitely think of going that route.

Wait wait wait wait... let me get this straight. Are you telling this person to self-medicate with pot? Are you a fucking idiot?


If I just read your post wrong please feel free to tell me.

Self-Medication doesn't help shit. Trust me, I know. If the op is seriously depressed then he shouldn't be looking for a short escape from reality, but a solution to his problem.

Of course, smoking pot on the side of taking medication is no problem. =)

To op: Be aware of the medication that you decide to take... whether it be MAOIs, SSRIs, Benzos, etc. Some shit you do NOT want to mix with drugs.

maois are the only thing that would really be fucked up with drugs.

As far as selfmedicating with pot, this is probably not a good idea, however, the social experience of smoking pot can be good for you.