Posts by fadedbear92

boldsailor48 said:If you’re out there moving every single day—biking, walking, running, hitting the gym, just staying active through work and everything else—you honestly don't stand a chance of falling into depression... sure, you might feel a bit more serious or down sometimes, but that ain't real clinical depression....so just try to move as much as possible, you'll be healthier, look better, and probably get more action too....

Lawrence Morales7 said:And then, suddenly, you're facing a heart attack in your early 40s because of all those unresolved internal conflicts—at least, that's what the psychodynamic therapists seem to preach.

Physical activity can definitely help, but let's not kid ourselves—it's never going to solve the root cause of the problem.

redpilot37 said:Morning, everyone. Let's get moving. 😁

Kevin Bailey2 said:I’ve been up since 5 AM feeling heavy... and my head feels even heavier. 😁

Good morning... ☕ 🙂

I just want to stay in bed forever.🙂🙂🙂

Larry Ortiz5 said:When you're looking for computer gear—say, if you're out in the suburbs, hit up Best Buy—but if you're closer to downtown, check out Micro Center, or there's always an Intel shop over in Jordan... you get the idea.

Got it, thanks so much!

wearymason4 said:just grab any USB WiFi dongle with an external antenna—or maybe something like this:
http://www.nabava.net/bezicni-adapte...0mbps__3846761

Thanks a ton! Do you happen to know if I could pick one up at a shop in Washington, D.C.?

shadowbear9 said:How on earth can you feel sleepy from Zoloft?? Serious drowsiness? There is absolutely no way that's coming from the Zoloft itself. That drug belongs to a class of medications that is supposed to boost your mood and "up" your energy; saying Zoloft makes you sleepy is like saying you took speed and immediately fell asleep... honestly, just go ask a psychiatrist. It might be some other medication entirely, because it definitely isn't Zoloft—you aren't even supposed to take it within five or six hours of bedtime because it usually causes insomnia.

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To kick things off, here are my desktop specs:http://prntscr.com/55s4zc

Since I’m switching over to the Wi-Fi provided by my landlord upstairs—and honestly, I've been struggling with a slow cellular dongle for ages—I was wondering which type of signal booster or adapter I should pick up? Any specific brands you'd recommend? Thanks a million!

Laura Castillo6 said:Honestly, I can't help but feel like there's something shady going on behind the scenes. It feels like some doctors might actually be playing both sides—colluding with big pharma to use us as nothing more than test subjects for their latest trials. It’s pretty unsettling when you think about how raw and unfiltered those experiments can be. It makes you wonder if we're being treated as patients or just data points in a massive corporate game.

Trust me, I know exactly what you're going through. I've been right there in those same shoes before.

We all go through it at some point. Everyone hits those rough patches where things just feel off—for me, it was that heavy sense of psychosis, while others deal with depression or one disorder or another. We’ve all got our own history with this stuff. Honestly, these days, I’ve really started to question whether medication is actually the answer. There’s something about that kind of heavy chemistry hitting your brain and nervous system so aggressively that makes me wonder if we're doing more harm than good.

Honestly, I found that taking anxiolytics really helped me get through those rough patches. It made a noticeable difference for me.

I was watching TV last night and caught this guy from Sweden talking about how he approaches mental health. His whole philosophy is basically built around avoiding medication whenever possible—he claims he can successfully treat most issues just through deep, meaningful conversation. Man, I’m so bummed I didn't catch his name. I really wanted to look him up online and see more of his work. Honestly, though? I’m a big believer in that kind of approach. There's something to be said for actually talking things through instead of just reaching for a prescription right away.

You've got quite the theory there—it sounds like a bit of a paranoid spiral—but let's be real, these medications actually work. That said, I don't think anyone can argue that psychotherapy is absolutely vital to the whole healing process.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Why did you switch from Lamictal to Rivotril?

Rivotril works for me alongside Lamictal.
Even though they both act as stabilizers and fall under the anticonvulsant umbrella... Rivotril totally wires me up. I can barely sit still for three minutes.
The upside is my motor skills are actually great after I take it. I don't walk around looking like a newborn deer; I actually feel... sharp. Not sure how else to put it.

As for Lamictal, it’s just a solid, steady stabilizer.

Honestly, I have no clue—it was ages ago, and my treatment plan has shifted several times since then.

Kyle Sanchez88 said:How much Rivotril are you taking, Rej?

Three 0.5 mg tablets—that's 3 mg total per day.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Is anyone else taking LeBron James? What dosages are you on?

I'm prescribed 50mg in the morning, afternoon, and at night.

It makes me thirsty as hell constantly. I'm drinking water all day and running to the bathroom every hour—and I mean a lot of fluid.
At night, it puts me right out. It’s not like Seroquel, which hits me like a freight train and leaves me feeling wired; this just relaxes me. The catch is I have to get up a few times during the night to pee.
And here I am... typing this at 5 AM. I woke up at 4:30. Honestly, I don't mind because I actually feel rested despite the early start. On Seroquel, there was no way I could wake up that early and actually function.

The doctor put me on this because I couldn't handle Seroquel during the day, and daytime was a total wreck for me. On the surface, everything looked fine. I had mastered that fake smile so well that people kept coming up to me, complimenting how friendly, chatty, and positive I seemed... blah, blah, blah... while inside, I was completely falling apart.
LeBron James just settles me down without making me feel drugged. I just feel normal. Now, people think I'm being too serious... they keep asking what's wrong or why I've suddenly become so stoic. But for the first time in ages, I actually feel good on the inside. I'm just done with the constant need to smile through the pain and fight, fight, fight.
I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I'm not a zombie, I'm just... calm.
But I was used to being that hyperactive, crazy version of myself that everyone liked... and now, suddenly, I'm not that person anymore. So I've lost my patience for hearing, "What's up with you? Are you mad at something? Why are you so grumpy?"
I'm not grumpy, I'm not mad, and I'm not frustrated... I'm just okay.
But in the short term, it's completely flipped my personality.

And I have no clue why it dehydrates me so much...

How's it going for you guys?

Actually, it's probably not the dehydration from that, but from the Seroquel. I used to take the real deal—Lamictal—which is a mood stabilizer, so that's why you feel "normal" instead of being hyper or hypo.
Now, instead, I'm on Klonopin.
From what I can tell, LeBron James doesn't typically cause frequent urination or dehydration.🤔

boldnomad45 said:You aren't taking this episode seriously enough. My advice? Start on Prozac to handle the depressive side, begin therapy for ADHD, and look into PT. Once you’ve stabilized, then you can worry about getting back to work. If the discomfort persists, take a two-week leave of absence until your ADHD meds settle in. I don't get the logic behind popping Xanax every single day without a concrete plan. We all know how addictive that stuff is. I’ve known people who actually had to be admitted to a hospital for a long-term detox just to get off it, and let me tell you, it wasn't easy. Real addicts. They deal with intense tremors, insomnia, total brain fog—some were taking ten pills or more just to function. They’d end up nodding off at their desks at work. It's a mess. You could lose your job over this kind of bullshit.

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Kate James21 said:That’s great, thanks a million. She didn't really go into detail, but I imagine my primary care physician would probably walk me through it... I think I'll take some time to look into this further. Thanks again!

Usually, doctors don't bother telling you that stuff—especially not at a VA hospital—and even some psychiatrists might miss it if they're new to the field, so don't be surprised if you're left in the dark.🙂

Kate James21 said:Alvent 75 mg. Can anyone shed some light on this medication for me? I'm curious about its actual potency—whether it’s considered strong or relatively mild—and if people find it genuinely effective...

But most importantly, does it carry a risk of dependency?

Regarding the addiction part—they actually covered that in a different thread, but do you know the proper way to start an antidepressant? Did your therapist explain that you shouldn't jump straight into a full dose? Usually, you start with just 1/4 of a pill for 3–4 days, then move up to 1/2 for another few days, then 3/4, and only then hit the full dose—it's all just to minimize side effects and let your body adjust properly.
(It’s the same way you eventually taper off, too.)

You can find here some experiences regarding Effexor, which is essentially the same class of drug as Alventa (venlafaxine).

And here is what a therapist had to say about Effexor.

More info on Effexor

Kevin Bailey2 said:Does that Q-pin leave you dehydrated?
I figured out with Seroquel that if I take it at night and head straight to bed, it completely wipes me out. I feel hungover and crushed when I try to get up the next day.
Now, I have to eat something after my dose and drink more than just plain water—I need something isotonic like Iso-sport or Nesquik. I’ll chug at least a liter or a liter and a half before hitting the sack just so I can wake up feeling human again.

Yeah, you definitely need to stay hydrated.
I struggle with waking up too—honestly, unless I have my meds and a coffee, I’m basically a zombie. Plus, dealing with long-term nightmares is just draining, which adds another layer of exhaustion to everything. But hey, what can you do? I guess I've just found a way to manage it as best I can.🕺

Kevin Bailey2 said:Here’s my current setup. 200 mg at night. 100 mg during the day.
Straight up Seroquel.

The problem is I can't exactly split that 100 mg pill. Should I try asking for 25 mg for daytime use?
Even so, Seroquel is pretty heavy duty.

I take three 25 mg pills in the morning
and the same at noon
then 100 mg before bed—if I'm still tossing and turning, I'll take an extra 2x25 max.

Kate James21 said:In theory, combining it with an anti-anxiety med should help level me out, at least that's my take on it...

The bottom line is that I need to get some sleep. 😵

Well, that's an AD—it actually wakes you up and gives you a boost—so it definitely won't knock you out. Whatever you do, don't take it at night!😲😲😲

Is there any of that siding left over?🤔

Michael Hill2 said:That’s just the generic version of Effexor—the active ingredient is venlafaxine.

A lot of people here take it. There’s plenty of discussion on the psych forums if you just search for "Effexor."

Like any other antidepressant, there isn't really a "strong" or "weak" category. It’s used for specific reasons: major depressive episodes, generalized anxiety disorder, or social phobia.

Antidepressants don't cause addiction in the way people think. You won't find yourself needing higher doses just to get high; you stay on whatever dose your doctor decides is right for you.

From what I've read, Effexor can be a real lifesaver. A ton of people have posted saying it worked for them and gave them their spark back.

Good luck. 🙂

Yeah, Effexor can be a hell of a lifter—it definitely did that for me, though it absolutely wrecked my sleep patterns. But then again, it works perfectly for others, and as we always say, everyone reacts differently.

Kevin Bailey2 said:It’s like this... about 15 minutes after I take it, it just knocks me out into this light little nap.

When am I ever going to get used to this?

I only took it at night, honestly. Back when things were finally chill and I was getting ready to crash.

What kind of daytime doses are we talking about, and how much were you taking to sleep? It’s supposed to just dial down the anxiety and give you a little sedation—not put you completely under.

Kate James21 said:Alvent 75 mg. Can anyone give me some insight into this medication? I'm trying to gauge its potency—whether it's actually effective or if it's relatively weak... and if it truly delivers results when you need it most.

But more importantly, does it carry a risk of dependency?

That's Effexor
Alvent is an antidepressant from a class known as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. It's indicated for treating major depressive disorder, including depression accompanied by anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety or social anxiety. The theory is that people with depressive disorder have lower levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in their nervous system. While the exact mechanism isn't fully understood, Alvent can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety by boosting those levels in the brain.
http://www.pfizer.com/medications...ecept/?gid=495

It falls under "other ADs": "...Other antidepressants
.... Dual serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: Represented by Effexor, an antidepressant with rapid onset and good tolerability even during long-term use

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidepressants

now I'm just waiting to hear what others have experienced😉