10 years of prozac

[Guest guest]

Hi - I am a newbie here and could use some help. After 10 years of

Prozac which was begun for sever post partum depression, OCD, and

anxiety I am ready to find another way to begin the weaning process.

I tried once several years ago but the crash was so bad (I know

realize that I probably came off way too fast) that I resolved not to

put my family through that ever again.

I would like to try this but honestly I am scared shitless (pardon

the profanity). I don't like being drug dependant even though I have

nominal side effects. I live a vegetarian/organic/holistic health

lifestyle and this doesn't fit. But more than the discomfort with

the choice to medicate is my fear of a return of the depression/OCD.

My father died at age 59 due to severe complications from alcoholism

and self destructive behavior to relieve his depressive anxiety. My

grandfather suffered from depressive episodes his entire life

including a relapse in his 80's from which he never recovered. I

don't want to repeat this pattern and yet I don't want the meds.

I am really at a place of searching right now. I want to see if I

can find the courage to try this again. I haven't spoken to my

husband yet about this because I believe he will want me to stay with

the meds since I am doing so well and have so few side issues.

I love my life and love the ability I have to process my days and

choices clearly. I laugh and cry with equal ease. I cringe when I

hear Prozac called a " happy pill " because for me it is not that at

all. It has been life preserver that has given me 10 years with my

family that I know I would not have been able to have had I continued

with untreated mental illness.

Yes I have done therapy

Yes I have tried every homeopathic/natural remedy I could research

Yes I am willing to learn more and listen to your experiences

and finally Yes I am willing to wade thru the muck and make the

difficult journey it will take to get to the other side, but only if

I can come to believe that the other side includes life and not

suicide.

I appreciate the fact you have listened and value any input you might

have - kriss

Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through

understanding.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is unpatriotic to lapse into silence in the face of government wrongdoing.

- G. McGovern

In the end

we will remember

not the words of our enemies

but the silence of our friends

- Luther King, Jr.

[Guest guest]

Dear Kriss,

You said:

<< Hi - I am a newbie here and could use some help. After 10 years of

Prozac which was begun for sever post partum depression, OCD, and

anxiety I am ready to find another way to begin the weaning process.

I tried once several years ago but the crash was so bad (I know

realize that I probably came off way too fast) that I resolved not to

put my family through that ever again.

I would like to try this but honestly I am scared shitless (pardon

the profanity). I don't like being drug dependant even though I have

nominal side effects. I live a vegetarian/organic/holistic health

lifestyle and this doesn't fit. But more than the discomfort with

the choice to medicate is my fear of a return of the depression/OCD.

My father died at age 59 due to severe complications from alcoholism

and self destructive behavior to relieve his depressive anxiety. My

grandfather suffered from depressive episodes his entire life

including a relapse in his 80's from which he never recovered. I

don't want to repeat this pattern and yet I don't want the meds.>>

** It's not necessary to repeat this pattern. The drugs may actually

perpetuate it.

One of the drug industry's favorite tools for selling drugs is to point

out " genetics " . 99% of the time, this is BS. What DOES happen is people

learn coping mechanisms from family members, and equally as importantly, eat

the same things their parents do when they are children.

In your particular case, I'm unsure why you're even seeing the connection.

Your father was an alcoholic. Are you?

Your grandfather was in his 80's. Most likely the depression was brought

on by a drug (or several) he was taking.

Could you please post a 5 day food and drink diary? Thanks! Also,

pleasegive me an idea of the health of your mother throughthe years, and any

siblings you may have.

You said:

<<I am really at a place of searching right now. I want to see if I

can find the courage to try this again. I haven't spoken to my

husband yet about this because I believe he will want me to stay with

the meds since I am doing so well and have so few side issues.>>

** You can't see what they're doing to you but some day you will end up

with diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.

You said:

<<I love my life and love the ability I have to process my days and

choices clearly. I laugh and cry with equal ease. I cringe when I

hear Prozac called a " happy pill " because for me it is not that at

all. It has been life preserver that has given me 10 years with my

family that I know I would not have been able to have had I continued

with untreated mental illness.>>

** Here's the good news. Hang in here with us and you will see that

this waas not at all a " mental illness " . It was and still is mostly

physiologically-based. We can help you fix that.

You said:

<<Yes I have done therapy

Yes I have tried every homeopathic/natural remedy I could research>>

** Most people look for the answer in one to two substances . This is

how conventional medicine has taught people to think. This is so incidious

that even some alternative practioners think this way today.

It is the synergistic effect of many things that eliminates this problem

and restores good health.

You said:

<<Yes I am willing to learn more and listen to your experiences

and finally Yes I am willing to wade thru the muck and make the

difficult journey it will take to get to the other side, but only if

I can come to believe that the other side includes life and not

suicide.

I appreciate the fact you have listened and value any input you might

have>>

** I'm very comfortable guaranteeing you that if you invest yourself in

the process here, you will be able to do this.

regards,

(list owner)

" Human beings, who are almost unique in having

the ability to learn from the experience of others,

are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination

to do so. "

--