Posted by IsoM on December 20, 2001, at 12:05:30
In reply to Conundrum, enigma, BIG problem, posted by tina on December 20, 2001, at 8:30:23
Tina, I don't know if this is a good answer for you but I've been taking medications for depression & at times, anxiety since '87 (at last count 18 different kinds but not all at once, of course). When I'm feeling down & my medication & siturations just aren't working well, I worry a lot about harmful effects on my body from the chemicals. I imagine that all sorts of weird things are being irreversibly changed, my brain chemistry in particular.
But when it works well & I feel good, I realise it's not a real problem to be concerned about. I think part of it may simply be the depression/anxiety having its way with our thinking.
I've taken enough biology & chemistry courses at university to understand the cellular processes fairly well. I voraciously read science & medical journals too. When these meds go through our system, they end up going into the liver where it breaks down the med into its metabolites. Eventually all the metabolites & unconjugated meds are sent to the kidneys to wash our in our urine & some are excreted in the feces.
I just make sure to take good care of my liver & kidneys. It's why I drink alcohol both lightly & rarely. I avoid cleaning chemicals that can be absorbed by our lungs or skin into our bodies. Many can affect the liver. I take extra time-release vitamin C for helping the liver (yes, it really does work - it's not hype). And I drink lots of water on a regular basis.
After taking meds for +13 years, my health is still good. Everything works well (except my joints from a number of old injuries) & I feel & look good. The fact that my track record is still good after 13 years tells my mind that the meds aren't causing any lasting damage, if any at all. I hope this eases your fears a little. :)
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> I've been on and off meds since 1989. I had a good 3 or 4 years where I didn't need anything,,,,,amazing as that seems.
> The thing is, when I am on meds, I "feel" my body is becoming toxic. I worry about the damage meds may be doing to my physical system. When I am taking meds, I can only think about NOT taking them because I am so afraid of what they are doing inside my body. I am very sensitive to my physical reactions to things. Taking a med every day "feels" like I'm pumping toxins into my body and how can that be better than the emotional/mental instability. I guess I figure, what's the point of feeling mentally good if,physically, my body is slowly being destroyed from the inside out.
> How do I get around feeling that way or is it part of the anxiety syndrome that has become such a fixture in my existence?
poster:IsoM
thread:15815
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011216/msgs/15823.html