Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 well said casey until people go thru what many off us have and r still going thru people dont realize the dangers of these meds most dosc still in the dark but the truth is slowly getting out there peace shannon nd 31 osu 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 , I have learned between my job and AA a few things about bringing up the subject of meds. Be careful. When I used to go around and throw my opinions around freely it tended to make people recoil. That in the end does nothing for getting your point across. I had an experience where I was at a lecture for people in recovery and the guy giving the lecture stated that most people in early recovery should be on meds. I vehemently objected and started a giant debate between me and another girl who was there. I tried to state my argument as clearly and calmly as I could. Nevertheless, I was villified. Every time she said something they would clap and every time I did I would get jeered. It wasn't the most comfortable situation I have been in. There are two points there. First, people who are on meds have someone with an MD next to their name telling them one thing. On the other side is Joe Schmoe telling them another. The MD usually wins. Therefore, all I do now is make vague and oblique references to my experience with meds when I share. If approached I will only share what worked for me. I stay away from absolutes and condemnations. THis applies to the kids and their parents at work as well. You said you want to be of service. As you know that is the key tenant of AA. Your being of service would be just sharing your experience with those willing to listen. If it makes an impression you can point them in the right direction. If not, you tried. The most important thing in my experience though is not to come on too strong. You will just turn people off. I learned that the hard way. So yes, it is heartbreaking, but it is a reality that most people just don't get it and never will. The people in AA are clueless for the most part as it pertains to this and always will be. Just sharing your experience and being able to help those with an open mind is all you can do. The others will have to find their own bottoms so to speak with meds and with God willing they will find the right answers that won't include the ghouls in psychiatry. Email me anytime if you want to share AA experiences with this sort of thing. God bless, Casey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, and Casey. I still find myself sometimes sharing my knowledge about what the meds really do to people, even when I know I'm going to be looked at as if I have three heads. Sometimes I manage to stay quiet, or just drop hints, and other times I still feel compelled to offer the info just once, so that people know it's available. I hate that it's considered absolutely insane to even think this way. Lately, I find myself dropping out of any conversation about health, as I get just as upset about the blood pressures and the cholesterols and the diabetes, and the insomnia, headaches, overweight, etc, that get insanely treated with more and more drugs, as i do about the " mental illnesses " . I can't even discuss diet with people outside a small select group without severely censoring myself. And of course the trump for everything is, " My DOCTOR said.... " Makes me want to scream. Someday, the truth will become common knowledge. I can't wait for that day! Regards, Kim co-moderator -- Visit my art blog at http://kimdenise.blogspot.com/. " Thanks to my work everything's going well " --Claude Monet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Hi, Kim! I absolutely could not agree with you more... Right on, girl! xoxoxo Sally quote: " Neither reality, nor the appearance of reality itself, are real. " Pierre Soulages. > [Original Message] > > To: <Withdrawal_and_Recovery > > Date: 1/2/2006 1:04:23 PM > Subject: Re: Re: med recovery in AA > > Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, and Casey. > > I still find myself sometimes sharing my knowledge about what the meds > really do to people, even when I know I'm going to be looked at as if > I have three heads. Sometimes I manage to stay quiet, or just drop > hints, and other times I still feel compelled to offer the info just > once, so that people know it's available. > > I hate that it's considered absolutely insane to even think this way. > Lately, I find myself dropping out of any conversation about health, > as I get just as upset about the blood pressures and the cholesterols > and the diabetes, and the insomnia, headaches, overweight, etc, that > get insanely treated with more and more drugs, as i do about the > " mental illnesses " . I can't even discuss diet with people outside a > small select group without severely censoring myself. And of course > the trump for everything is, " My DOCTOR said.... " > > Makes me want to scream. > > Someday, the truth will become common knowledge. I can't wait for that day! > > Regards, > Kim > co-moderator > > > -- > Visit my art blog at http://kimdenise.blogspot.com/. > > " Thanks to my work everything's going well " --Claude Monet > > > > To subscribe to our off-topic Social list go to: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socialWandR/ > > To subscribe to our Truth-in-Health list go to: > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/truth-in-health > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Gently plant the seed of truth , thats all you can do hun. They will take it on board or not. Love Ya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 " And of course the trump for everything is, " My DOCTOR said.... " LOL, my trump for everything is " said........... " Hehe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 hehehe....GOOD ANSWER! > " And of course > the trump for everything is, " My DOCTOR said.... " > > LOL, my trump for everything is " said........... " > Hehe. > -- Visit my art blog at http://kimdenise.blogspot.com/. " Thanks to my work everything's going well " --Claude Monet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 , I have bigger worries and finite amounts of energy. THerefore, I am judicious about who and and when I shoot my mouth off. My sympathies on the Irish buddy. Weis has them on the right track. Casey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 Hi , My personal experience has been it's almost impossible to influence anyone against psychotropic meds in AA unless they already have an inkling about how suspect these meds really are. I had a friend in the program who injured her neck (just a muscle thing) during her first year. She was given unbelievable amounts of valium. Then she kept going through a vicious cycle....she'd go off the valium, her muscles would all tense up (withdrawal IMO), so she'd start taking the valium again to treat her(self-diagnosed) fibromyalgia. I, who have been on valium-like drugs, tried to convince her what was going on. She just kept telling me that her doctor would not put her on anything addictive and I didn't know what I was talking about. Eventually he had her on tegretol, valium and two anti- depressants. She had a mini-breakdown from all these meds and eventually got off. It turns out she did not have fibromyalgia. Like others have said, I no longer discuss problems with medications, coffee, cigarettes, etc., unless someone is already looking to stop those things. It usually turns out to be a bad experience for me. It is so sad to see, but I understand it a little more with my own recent experience. When my terrible migraines hit and I was prescribed Lortab, I KNEW it was not a good idea, I knew about the addiction probabilities, but I would have taken anything for pain relief. Now I am paying the piper. > > Hi. From time to time someone here (sometimes me) mentions how no one in AA wants to hear about the possibility of not taking meds. > > So I just wanted to share what happened yesterday, and I welcome input from anyone (Casey?) about what to say to people in AA. > > I spent six hours at the AA New Year's alcathon yesterday which in itself is a marvel b/c I am such a recluse. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 Hello again Catching up on the posts and as an AA member for 25 years, you might like to know my recent experience. 5 years ago I was taken off many years of phenelzine and Lithium in one day and the following two years were hell in AA. I was begging for help in the meetings (had been off the drink a few years and didn't want to go back) I was suicidal, psychotic and in the most unspeakable mental torture, long periods of physical trauma, unable to move limbs - but I just didn't want to drink. I was completely abandoned by them and directed back to 'doctors' who were in turn throwing me out of emergency departments AA even had a conscience meeting (with members who were taking meds) to draw up an additional preamble that prohibited the mention of any other drug. (which I didn't do because I didn't want to get rejected). I was the nutcase and "somebody with other problems". I didn't have any mind to even think about steps. It was shot to bits. I became severely mentally and left to spend long periods sitting by railway lines. It felt like my very brain cells were fighting to stay alive for two years. Its taken me 3/4 years coming off 75 mg Quetiapine and achieved so much in that time. Not going to many meetings but doing good nutrition with this group, meditation and spiritual healing instead. I found a lovely little job with children and passed my driving test. Things okay clean for 4 months them the frightening brain explosions and zapping started and I ran to the psychiatrist in panic. He offered me 14 (what I thought were) valium, called Lorazepam. I remember taking two. Don't know how many after that (had memory blackout) Then the car crash. I wasn't hurt too much but was in hospital over night passed out. - car was write off. I could have killed myself or someone else. I found out the next day they were Ativan. A heavy sedative they use for pre-meds and have the same effect as alcohol. Its been terrible trying to recover from this experience and I'm in court on 31st January. But I WILL recover as best I can and I hope to God that no more drugs of any description get inside me despite the ongoing pressure. I know now that the brain can't tolerate any drug once it has been free of them for a while. Theres no going back for me. I have this addiction disease so I still go to some AA meetings where there is not so much hostility. Its hard having to shut up about this stuff but I'm slowly beginning to resume the meditation and healing after the Christmas break. Sorry its been long - It won't happen again but hope its been useful to those in AA on this list.Kim wrote: hehehe....GOOD ANSWER! > "And of course > the trump for everything is, "My DOCTOR said...." > > LOL, my trump for everything is " said..........." > Hehe. > -- Visit my art blog at http://kimdenise.blogspot.com/. "Thanks to my work everything's going well" --Claude Monet Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2006 Report Share Posted January 11, 2006 Nice to hear from you , don't stay aware for so long!! With Love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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