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airwolf282 · 26-12-2008, 08:56 AM

Hi,

I'm not a doctor so you shouldn't take my advise as gospel but I will give you my opinion.

I have been told that there is a link between spirituality and better mental health but I'm not a religous person so I can't really say that it has worked for me.

There are other non drug therapies like CBT, DBT, support groups, counselling which all help different people. I'm a believer in psychological therapy too so I go to regular counselling sessions which are helpful.

I have come to accept that my mental illness is an ongoing thing and I will need drug treatment for the rest of my life. In some cases like mild/short term depression it is possible to recover without meds with the help of supportive counselling or other therapy.

In my case I have been through a hell of a lot of meds too. Effexor, Several SSRI's inc Ciprimil, Avanza, Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox, Aropax. Currently taking Epilim (Sodium Valproate) and Prothiaden (tricyclic AD). Have also taken many benzodiazepams and occasionally Zyprexa in acute situations. It seems you have been through many meds too. Doctors generally try the SSRIs first as they have fewer side affects and if they fail they may go to TCAs. I was given this warning before I started taking Prothiaden but I find it much more tolerable than Effexor was so everyone is different in the way their body reacts.

I certainly believe that if you are self harming or suicidal, medication and psychological therapy are both necessary. I doubt that the psychological therapy alone would be very effective without the meds and vice versa.

26-12-2008, 08:56 AM	#9
airwolf282 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Australia I am currently:	Hi, I'm not a doctor so you shouldn't take my advise as gospel but I will give you my opinion. I have been told that there is a link between spirituality and better mental health but I'm not a religous person so I can't really say that it has worked for me. There are other non drug therapies like CBT, DBT, support groups, counselling which all help different people. I'm a believer in psychological therapy too so I go to regular counselling sessions which are helpful. I have come to accept that my mental illness is an ongoing thing and I will need drug treatment for the rest of my life. In some cases like mild/short term depression it is possible to recover without meds with the help of supportive counselling or other therapy. In my case I have been through a hell of a lot of meds too. Effexor, Several SSRI's inc Ciprimil, Avanza, Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox, Aropax. Currently taking Epilim (Sodium Valproate) and Prothiaden (tricyclic AD). Have also taken many benzodiazepams and occasionally Zyprexa in acute situations. It seems you have been through many meds too. Doctors generally try the SSRIs first as they have fewer side affects and if they fail they may go to TCAs. I was given this warning before I started taking Prothiaden but I find it much more tolerable than Effexor was so everyone is different in the way their body reacts. I certainly believe that if you are self harming or suicidal, medication and psychological therapy are both necessary. I doubt that the psychological therapy alone would be very effective without the meds and vice versa.