Posts by mistyheron8

I often find myself daydreaming about what it would be like to actually feel relaxed, cheerful, and genuinely social—to possess a sense of self-assurance and confidence that I clearly lack 😢. I wish I could finally conquer my eating disorder and stop chasing this relentless perfectionism that just ends up destroying me...
I wish I were someone who wouldn't be wounded by a stray word or a judging glance, someone who doesn't immediately spiral into the worst-case scenario. I’d love to be more optimistic, laid-back, spontaneous, and perhaps a bit more disciplined and organized. If only I weren't so plagued by anxiety, if only I had a partner, if only I felt more beautiful, or if I could just come to peace with the reality that I won't be everyone's cup of tea. And honestly, I wish I could sing—not just casually, but with a truly exceptional, soulful voice
.
And then there is the ultimate irony, which makes all of this feel somewhat absurd: the desire to simply accept myself as I am and learn how to actually love the person staring back in the mirror 😍
. So, I suppose that’s why I’m heading to see a psychiatrist; hopefully, there will be some tangible progress eventually (though I can already see it starting just now...)

Do you think it’s actually okay to bump up my Zoloft dose by 25 mg on my own without checking in with my psychiatrist first? I don't have an appointment scheduled for another two weeks, and while I am currently at 50 mg, I can't help but feel like a higher dose might be necessary. I’m still worrying about everything far too much—even if things are significantly better than they used to be—and there's still this lingering anxiety that occasionally hits me so hard it spirals into thoughts of suicide for a day or so. To make matters worse, I don't actually have her direct cell number, just the contact info for her receptionist. Has anyone else here ever decided to adjust their own dosage?

shadowrider8 said:Here we go again—another fight brewing out of absolutely nothing...🙄

Now, hold on there, shadowrider8, I’m really not one for starting drama🙂 It just gets under my skin when people are so relentlessly opposed to psychiatric medication🤷 I’m certainly not the type who enjoys spending hours bickering on an online forum for the sake of it😍

martyne said:Unfortunately, that isn't really an answer for you; it’s a long, drawn-out process, but ultimately, a person has to make the choice to step away from all those pills—neither taking them on their own whim nor demanding they be prescribed. The solution isn't just checking yourself into a hospital under vague circumstances, either. Mental struggles aren't physical ailments; they don't require bed rest, compresses, or herbal teas, and in the early stages, they shouldn't necessarily demand medication—which can be quite dangerous. Would you like to get in touch with me in Washington, D.C.? I have a fair amount of experience dealing with similar situations, because there are no truly "unknown" cases, only unknown causes, and the secret to success lies in uncovering those roots rather than simply handing out prescriptions.

Hmm, advertising oneself on a forum? I'm fairly certain that isn't permitted here. Honestly, it's precisely that kind of self-promotion that would keep me from ever joining. And regardless of whether you consider yourself an expert, I have to disagree with the notion that we should avoid prescribing medication entirely—assuming you mean for every single psychological condition. It isn't a coincidence that mental illnesses run frequently through certain families. You might point toward environment and upbringing, but I’d argue it's a mix of genetics and environment. For instance, you often see people who share close bloodlines but don't live together, yet still manifest the same mental health struggles. It’s well-documented that things like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, OCD, and depression have genetic components; the environment is merely one factor, a trigger. This means that something like severe depression absolutely requires medication first, and only once those drugs take effect does it make sense to layer on psychotherapy, because until then, therapy alone won't have much of an impact. I’m speaking broadly about mental illness here, not specifically regarding the girl mentioned by the original poster.

dustyangler2 said:The first acute phase usually lasts about four to six weeks. If someone responds well to an antidepressant, you might see some light at the end of the tunnel after maybe two or three weeks, and symptoms typically drop by about 40-50% after three or four weeks. I guess if there’s no real improvement after four to six weeks of sticking to the right dosage, we should probably switch things up and try a different class of drugs—something with a totally different mechanism of action. Swapping one antidepressant for another really only makes sense if the current one, used properly at a therapeutic dose for at least four weeks (though ideally six to eight), just isn't cutting it or if the side effects are way too rough to handle. One big reason things fail is probably sub-dosing—basically taking less than what's actually needed—and stopping the meds too early is a huge reason why people relapse.

Once things are looking good, you move into phase two: maintenance therapy, which needs to last for a year. The whole goal here is just to keep those depressive episodes from coming back. During this stage, you're basically staying on the same dose you used during the acute phase. For patients who don't necessarily need prophylaxis (like if it was their first episode and they went into full remission), we gradually taper off the medication. But for folks who deal with these episodes super frequently, they’ll likely need preventative therapy for at least five years, or even for life. And if we eventually decide to stop treatment, it definitely has to be done gradually.

That would pretty much describe my situation. Over the last five years, I’ve been hit with incredibly heavy depressive episodes quite frequently. Or, if I’m being honest, I feel like I’ve just lived in a constant state of depression, anxiety, and OCD. It’s deeply rooted in my family genetics; there are plenty of us struggling, with far too many instances of suicides and hospitalizations... But honestly, I don't mind, even if it means taking antidepressants for the rest of my life, provided they actually work. It beats living half-dead. People take medication daily for diabetes, heart issues, or blood pressure without anyone batting an eye... yet somehow, everyone looks at psychotropic drugs with such intense scrutiny.🤷

I’ve been on 50 mg of Zoloft for about five weeks and two days now, and honestly, it’s been a lifeline for the crushing depression I’ve been dealing with, along with the anxiety, those endless obsessive thoughts, and my issues with binge eating. However, over the last few days, I’ve started noticing these purplish-red spots or patches on the inner part of my thigh, right where my stretch marks are (which used to be white). Then there's this thing with my right nostril; for the past week or so, a capillary seems to burst more frequently, leaving me with dried blood when I check it. This morning, I actually woke up to find a bloodstain about an inch wide on my pillow from my nose. I mean, this has maybe happened once in my entire life before—I almost never get nosebleeds unless I actually take a hit to the face.
I was doing some reading online, and apparently, both of these symptoms can be rare side effects of SSRIs because serotonin acts as a vasoconstrictor and affects how blood clots. It seems they can prolong bleeding and cause a drop in platelet serotonin levels by preventing the platelets from reabsorbing it, which basically leads to platelet dysfunction. But the thing is, I really don't want to stop taking this medication. I’ve been battling depression, anxiety, and OCD for years now, and the alternative just isn't worth the struggle. Life was becoming unbearable, and I had even reached a point where I was thinking about suicide. So, what should I do? Has anyone else gone through something similar? Thanks! 😉

I’ve been dealing with depression, anxiety, OCD, and non-purging bulimia, and about three weeks ago, I started taking Zoloft 50 mg. It only took about a week before I noticed my anxiety starting to ebb away, along with the depression. Things have actually improved since then; I’m even less anxious, feeling much more relaxed, less irritable, and that heavy, dark cloud of depression has finally begun to lift. Generally speaking, I feel quite content, almost as if nothing really gets under my skin anymore. It would be wonderful if I didn't have to study, but unfortunately, I do, so this newfound sense of being totally unbothered by everything is actually becoming a bit of a nuisance. Before, the anxiety was so paralyzing that I couldn't even bring myself to start studying. Now, however, I just seem to lack any real motivation or interest in anything. I’m wondering if I should perhaps add something to the Zoloft to help spark some drive and interest? I did a little reading suggesting that Wellbutrin might help with that, given its effect on norepinephrine—and dopamine at higher doses—though I also read it can increase jitters, irritability, or anxiety. Aside from that, I feel great on the Zoloft; I’m binge eating significantly less, and I don't feel nearly as terrible when I happen to eat a bit more than intended, plus the obsessive thoughts have diminished... the only issue is this total lack of motivation. I don't mind being indifferent to most things, but I really need to get my studying done. Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Tyler Myers5 said:Wait, why are you seeing a doctor for this???
And what is the point of taking 🤷
anyway?

Solian functions as both an antipsychotic and an antidepressant. I was just digging into it because I was curious, and apparently, while the FDA doesn't approve its use here in the States, it's perfectly legal to use over in Europe. 🙂 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amisulpride

Hmm, I’m not entirely sure if I could walk into a clinic here in the States with a diagnosis from some private psychiatrist out abroad and expect my local doctor to just hand over the prescription...
It feels like a bit of a stretch, honestly, and besides, I suspect my travel insurance wouldn't even touch the cost of the medication itself, seeing as those policies are usually strictly limited to actual emergencies...

Could someone give me a rough idea of what SSRIs typically run these days? I'm considering seeing a private psychiatrist, and I’d really rather not have the medication costs become another massive financial burden on top of everything else. I realize it varies wildly depending on the specific prescription, but just as a ballpark figure—how many packs does the average person go through per month, how many pills am I looking at daily, and so on?
thanx! 😉