Posted by Kath on December 31, 2006, at 17:20:24
In reply to Let's hear some success stories?, posted by UGottaHaveHope on December 28, 2006, at 14:02:18
Hi Michael & all,
I went on Celexa in 2000.
Had one sorta brief period off it (I think maybe a few; can't remember) then had to go back on.
My problem was severe anxiety...my doctor thought it was anxiety due to depression...I thought it was anxiety due to having a teenage son who had quit school/wouldn't get a job/was abusing chemical drugs!!!!!!! On the other hand, who wouldn't get depressed due to that?!
I tend to think the stress affected my brain chemicals.
So in 2000 with much kicking & shouting I started the SSRI Celexa. I did NOT want to take pharmacetuicals! I'm a wholistic-type dudess (female of dude) :-)
Anyway, I was desparate; felt my life was falling apart; felt I could NOT cope much longer. At the same time, I started going to CODA - Codependents Anonymous. THAT was the best thing I have ever done. I would STRONGLY recommend it for probably just about anyone who's having emotional problems. Don't hesitate to look it up on the internet - there might even be an internet group.
ANYWAY - numerous ups & downs & ups & downs but a year ago November I stopped Celexa. So I've been off it for a year & 2 months.
And, as anyone who's read my posts on the Social Board knows, I've had BIG challenges since July this year....BIG ones - including my son moving across the country, living on the streets, & most recently becoming psychotic & trying to check himself into the hospital, being refused, being psychotic, afraid of hurting himself, & under no care...finally hospitalized this Friday nite.
ALL THAT & I'm not even thinking of needing to go on meds!!!!!! So how's that for a success story?Mind you, I am taking homeopathic medicine and some herbal tablets when I am feeling REALLY upset, but the good thing is that I'm feeling quite a range of feelings - lots of uncomfortable ones included, and I am OOOOOKAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY.
Not happy; not very emotionally comfortable, but OK!!Sometimes I think, "I canNOT take any more" or "Hey - I'm sick of this life; I just don't want to do this any more" but lots of times I am OK & depending on what crisis is happening, I can enjoy doing things, feel good etc.
So for me - I think this is a success story.
I hate uncomfortable feelings...sadness, fear, worry, anxiety, anger, grief. I hate feeling those feelings. And often, when I have one of those feelings I feel a bit panicky - like, "I can't take this - oh nooooo" but I think it's because over the past 8 years I've had SO much to go through with my son...it's just been ongoing; one thing after another - sometimes with a few months of smoothness in between. So I think I'm sort of oversensitive to problems. When something really stressful happens, I think parts of the old sh*t feelings from past experiences surface & I can feel as if I won't be able to cope with yet another problem. But I call a Distress Line, or arrange to go to a therapist for a bit (I'm lucky 'cuz my husband's work provides free short-term crisis counsellors). And I talk with friends. I write how I'm feeling in a journal. If I have disturbing dreams, I write VERY briefly what the dream was about then put:
[Feelings: (for example) fear; helplessness; overwhelmed] or whatever feelings there were in the dream.
I often notice that totally different dreams will have the same feelings!I also use EFT (www.emofree.com) meridian tapping method which you can learn free on the internet & which can help "dissolve" various yucky feelings & has helped me immensely.
So it's still an ongoing challenge, but as I said, to me it feels like a success story in a way.
love to all.......
I wish everyone all the best.
luv, Kath
poster:Kath
thread:716962
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061224/msgs/717975.html