Posts by David Jackson22

Ryan Palmer2 said:Who says I think girls who take the Yasmin pill are stupid?

I’m just pointing out that a huge number of people have taken their own lives after being put on psychotropic drugs.

If that side effect wasn't listed in the instructions, then it’s a straight-up cover-up. It's a violation of a patient's right to actually know what they're putting in their body. Sorry, Meta, but you aren't the problem, and neither are the people taking this stuff. They aren't to blame; they're just looking for help and haven't been given the full story. The fault lies with the people handing out what is essentially lethal poison under the guise of "medicine" without being transparent about the risks. Look at any of those horrific school shootings in America—every single one of those perpetrators was on Ritalin. One of its side effects is turning someone into a potential killer. That is exactly the kind of information people need to be told about every single pill.

Every drug lists its side effects clearly enough. Of course, that assumes you actually know how to read and properly interpret what's in front of you.

Ryan Palmer2 said:😂 Asking me for clinical studies? You want me to find studies proving that something DOESN'T exist?!

Anyway, the proof is right there in the psychiatrists themselves—in the video, they openly admit they've never actually cured anyone, they never know how a specific "medication" will work, and there isn't some definitive test to prove a "chemical imbalance." My goal isn't even to argue with you; you aren't the only one on this thread. I only chimed in because reading about people who were suffering from those pills actually brought tears to my eyes.

And why aren't there any psychiatrists posting here? Because they DON'T CARE!

Watch from 3:36 onwards; she literally says, "we don't have any laboratory tests that we can use..." http://www.cchr.org/videos/psychiatr...l-illness.html

So what? Even if there aren't lab tests, does that mean anything that isn't physically tangible or visible to the naked eye just doesn't exist?
The brain is the engine behind everything; without it, nothing else functions, so can you prove that with a lab test too?
And just because you read something online or in a magazine, that makes it gospel? That honestly just says a lot about your level of education.
Besides, why would any psychiatrist bother coming here? To argue with people who don't know what they're talking about and try to prove points? They've got much better things to do, like actually treating patients, unlike people who just spend their time beating around the bush and selling snake oil!

Kenneth Scott41 said:Look, Supercow, this isn't even about Sakoman, it's just the plain truth that this Girl is coming for me and a bunch of other people with her posts, acting like she's some kind of genius who knows everything.
That's just how it is. Seriously, just take a closer look at all the threads and you'll see I'm definitely not the only target she's hitting, so please, just check it out.🙂
there's plenty of them here... constantly clashing with that Girl.

Nothing in this world changes the facts.

Man, just cut it out already! You're totally fixated on Girl and spouting all this nonsense about her when you don't even know what she's actually like! The people arguing with Girl are just the ones who have absolutely no clue what she's talking about in the first place!
Everything Girl says is backed up by logic, and honestly, she's just an educated, wonderful woman who isn't arrogant at all!
And she isn't attacking anyone—she's standing up for the people who come here looking for actual help or advice because their lives are falling apart, protecting them from those other trolls who poison them with ignorance and recklessness, acting like things like depression are just made-up excuses for being spoiled!
This is getting ridiculous because you've basically started a mob against Girl just to stroke your own ego, probably because you can't stand seeing smart, successful, young women who happen to be attractive too!
Well, newsflash, Girl has achieved all that and she has every right to be proud of what she's been through, which honestly just makes her a better, wiser person!
Besides, this psychology forum isn't meant for people who show up just to provoke others and pick fights, especially not for people aggressively pushing their views based on something they heard from one single psychiatrist who doesn't even understand the basics of psychopharmacology.

Douglas Long10 said:Tapering off Paxil, attempt #2. The first time, less than a month ago, I told my psychiatrist about the side effects—dizziness, this incredibly bizarre sensation, hard to even describe, like my brain was stuck in a jar of water—and she just told me to take the full dose again (since I had been tapering by cutting pills in half). When I finally sat down with her, she claimed it might not even be the Paxil, but low blood pressure (which is total bull...). So, I went back to taking half a pill a day, and naturally, I’ve been dealing with these dizzy spells and that "brain in a jar" feeling for a week now. I could probably handle that part, but my mood is a disaster. Today I spent a solid two hours crying; if someone even looks at me wrong, I start sobbing. By the afternoon, I was actually praying for something to hit me and just end it all. Then I felt okay for a bit (after I overdid it on some Lexapro), then an hour later I was bawling again. Now I’m mostly fine. I have an appointment with my psychiatrist next week, but I think I've lost all trust in her. So, my question for those of you who have tapered off Paxil: how long does this terror last? My biggest issue is keeping it together at work. God forbid I fall asleep on the job.

Paxil can be a total nightmare to get off of, but you can definitely do it. Maybe try a much slower taper, like just shaving off a tiny sliver of the pill every 15 days, then another tiny bit the next 15, until you're finally at zero.
I was on Effexor, which people say is just as brutal to quit, but I switched over to Prozac, so it smoothed out any potential withdrawal issues for me.
One time though, I stopped Prozac cold turkey, and I got hit with those exact same symptoms you're describing, plus some horrific nausea and diarrhea. It lasted maybe 15 days, maybe longer, but it eventually passed and things went back to normal.

Kenneth Scott41 said:Honestly, I wouldn't touch Effexor ever again! And if you ask me, it's your own fault for not realizing sooner that Zoloft just isn't right for you; it's not the doctor's fault. You should have just told him, and he would have switched you to a different AD. As for how I handle Effexor? Well, it made me start vomiting immediately! From the very first pill!

So you started puking right away, but for me, Effexor was a total lifesaver! It’s just how it goes—one person gets hit with side effects from an AD while someone else feels nothing, and that doesn't mean the med is garbage, it just means it isn't the right fit for that specific person.
Zoloft was a complete disaster for me; the side effects were so brutal I had to quit cold turkey.
Zoloft isn't the holy grail of meds, and honestly, there's no such thing as a "best" one. What works wonders for one person might be useless for another. Just because your "top-tier" neuropsychiatrist claims Zoloft is the gold standard doesn't mean he's actually an expert in pharmacology—if anything, it just shows he's a bit out of his depth.

Sarah Wood2 said:So... is it actually possible that this thing never comes back? Like, is a full recovery actually on the table?

congrats ragdoll

I mean, who's out here saying it isn't? 🤷 Of course it's possible.

Michelle Vaughn18 said:Hey everyone.
I’m dealing with this massive weight right now and honestly, I’m just lost.
I’m 19, and for the most part, life isn't even that bad, except for one thing:
I’ve always felt like I’m on a different wavelength than people my age. I’m super sensitive to everything—like, really pick up on criticism, people being mean, or when things just feel unfair... But lately, it feels like more than just being sensitive.

-Sleep is a total nightmare. It wasn't always like this, but for the last three months, I literally CANNOT fall asleep. Usually, I just grab a few pills (doesn't matter which kind) because I've convinced myself they'll knock me out. I don't know why I'm so fixated on them, but I'm constantly popping them.
-The headaches are brutal. I went to a neurologist, but they can't figure out what's wrong. I've done every test under the sun and everything comes back perfectly fine.
-I’m just constantly, deeply sad. FOR NO REASON! Sometimes there’s some stupid little trigger, and since I’m the type of person who gets crushed if things aren't perfect, it just spirals. But even when everything is going great, I still feel incredibly low.
-Sometimes, out of nowhere, I just "snap"—I get super irritable and do stuff that catches both me and everyone else off guard.
-There are days where I’m happy, but then I go overboard and become insanely hyperactive. Usually, my friends aren't really down for my weird bursts of energy, so I end up crashing back into being unrealistically depressed.
-I have friends, but our connection isn't like what you see in movies or what most people have. And that's on me, not them. They're great for hanging out, but I can NEVER actually trust them with anything. Even if I try to open up, I just end up feeling foolish and exposed.

I used to think all this was just how I was, until I had to admit to myself that these aren't the only struggles I'm facing.

-I have these self-destructive tendencies. When I "snap" or get that irritability I mentioned, I end up hitting my head, pulling at myself, or cutting. I can't stop it. In those moments of pure rage or sadness, I do it without even thinking, and the scary part is... I actually FEEL relief from it.
-I feel like I could just end it all if any tiny obstacle gets in my way. I just don't know the right way to do it. I don't have access to the right pills, and mixing whatever else I find doesn't work on me anymore. I'm basically immune. I don't know... when I watch a movie and a character is in a bad spot, I just think, "I'd kill myself if I were them." Often, when I look ahead at the rest of my life, I feel like I'm just not strong enough to handle it and that I'll find a way out before I get there.
I feel like I don't really matter to anyone anyway. I'm just a burden.
-And lately, I've been hearing "voices." Look, I'm not crazy, and they aren't saying anything profound. It's more like I'm dreaming while I'm wide awake. Like yesterday, I was at a coffee shop with a friend and her boyfriend. We were all talking, and suddenly, I heard and saw a SUBWAY TRAIN and people stepping off it—right there in the middle of the cafe! I know it didn't happen, I know it's not real, but I don't know why I keep seeing these disconnected things. It's like waking sleep.

And here's the kicker: I only realize for about five minutes at a time that this isn't normal... that not everyone feels this way. The rest of the time, I'm totally convinced that it's okay—that it's normal to not want to live, to not be able to sleep, to cry for nothing... So I can't tell anyone how I'm feeling or ask for advice. Honestly, writing this whole post probably feels pointless now.
Is this an actual illness, or am I just being normal??

I think the only person who can give you a real answer is a professional. So please, go see a psychiatrist—a good one, obviously...
And do it ASAP. The sooner you sort through this confusion and start moving your life toward a concrete goal, the sooner that self-destructive streak might fade.
Basically, you're gonna need some professional help.

Robert Grant84 said:It’s been about a month and a half since my mom had surgery for colon cancer (with a few lymph nodes involved too)... physically she's bouncing back, slowly putting some weight back on (she dropped over 20 lbs during that whole ordeal), though her iron levels are still a bit low.
The thing is, she just doesn't have any faith that she'll actually get better, and she’s acting pretty depressed, which is honestly tough for us to watch. We took her to see a psychiatrist and she was prescribed two pills. Should she actually take them, or will things just eventually settle down mentally on their own? Next week she’s supposed to meet with the doctors to figure out the radiation or chemo plan, so she’ll be spending more time around people dealing with the exact same crap.

My mom went through colon cancer surgery about 12 and a half years ago—same deal, a few lymph nodes were involved, Duke Stage C.
And look at her now, sitting right here next to me, totally upbeat and happy; we're still enjoying life together, just feeling grateful that the worst is behind us. She went through the chemo back then too, and she crushed it!
My mom struggled hard mentally through all of it (I mean, who wouldn't?), but what really pulled her through was the fact that I was pregnant at the time, and then I had my baby... she lived for her granddaughter, and today she gets to enjoy two granddaughters!
Your mom has a massive chance of beating this, but she seriously needs some psychological support. If the doctors are suggesting meds right now, at the start, then yeah, let her take them. Eventually, she’ll be strong enough to handle things without them.
Just stay by her side, maybe read her this post of mine—it might give her a little hope for recovery.
Anyway, my experience with my mom was a total success! I truly, deeply hope the same happens for your mom.🙂

Ashley Collins11 said:None of those symptoms apply to me, but my joints and muscles are aching like crazy and I just feel weak. Honestly, I’ve been feeling totally wiped out for a while now, so I can't tell if it's just this heatwave or if this is just my "new normal." My doctor thinks it's probably just some random virus and didn't even bother prescribing anything since my lungs sound clear and my throat isn't red or anything.

The thing that's actually messing with my head is that this has been dragging on for ten days straight. My temp stays under 98.6 in the morning and evening, but by the afternoon it creeps up to about 99.1. I've been reading online about how all kinds of nasty stuff can show up as a lingering low-grade fever, and honestly, I'm kind of freaking out because I don't know what to do when the doctors are just brushing it off as "probably just a virus." 😕

Go get some basic lab work done—like a CBC and a urinalysis—maybe that'll show if there's some kind of inflammation going on in your system.
I went through something almost identical a few years back and it dragged on for months. Usually, I'd be fine for two or three weeks, and then out of nowhere, I'd get this low-grade fever for a couple of days and just feel absolutely miserable, exhausted, nauseous, with these killer headaches...
I ran every single test under the sun, but they couldn't find a damn thing. It eventually just cleared up on its own, but man, the anxiety was real while it was happening.

Sophia Moore38 said:I don't think your iron drop is actually that terrifying, I was down at 1.18 once (though back then I could barely even function)
They’ll probably just hand you some pills or tell you to stick to vitamins🙂

Thanks!😍

So, I finally got my blood work back today, and apparently, my iron levels have taken a massive dive—sitting at a measly 6, when the healthy range is supposed to be anywhere from 8 to 30.
But here’s the part that’s actually tripping me up: my TIBC came back at 60 (normal is 49-75) and my UIBC is 54 (normal is 26-59).
My doctor is basically brushing it off, saying she doesn't think I'm actually that deficient since those TIBC and UIBC numbers are sitting right where they should be.
My red blood cell count is 4.49 and my hemoglobin is 137, so everything else seems totally fine except for this one specific iron number. Can anyone weigh in on this low iron situation and maybe explain if this is actually an alarming situation for my body, or if my doctor isn't just blowing smoke?

Sarah Wood2 said:Thanks! So, listen, could you maybe point me toward someone good for psychotherapy? I mean, I’m seeing my neuropsychiatrist right now, but she basically just walks me through breathing exercises and stuff like that. It's not really what I need. I don't have anyone to actually talk to about my problems or work on building up some self-confidence, you know? Like, nobody even asks how my life is going. What's your take on Gestalt therapy or those autogenic training sessions for a situation like this?

I can definitely point you toward a doctor in Washington, D.C., though I'm not sure if you're even based there.
If you want, I can shoot you their info via DM.
Autogenic training can be pretty helpful as a supplement to actual therapy.

Sarah Wood2 said:So, since the start of the year, I've been dealing with this whole mess of anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and agoraphobia. It was super scary because I went through all these medical tests first, thinking maybe it was my heart or something, but it turns out everything is physically fine—it’s all mental.
(The symptoms are just... a lot. Panic, dry mouth, chest pains, feeling like I'm tilting to the left like I'm dizzy, this totally irrational fear of passing out or even just leaving the house. I'm terrified of being alone, my back hurts—especially near the shoulder blade—I'm constantly thirsty and running to the bathroom, my vision gets really blurry even though the eye doctor said my eyes are perfect, and honestly? I'm scared I'm losing my mind. Even public speaking, which I used to absolutely love and was actually really good at, now terrifies me...)

About a month ago, I finally saw a psychiatrist for the first time. They gave me some unknown to take when things get bad, but the anxiety and that weird, unreal feeling won't quit. So, this week, my doctor put me on an antidepressant called Sarah Wood2. Now I'm stuck in this massive dilemma about whether to actually start taking it. I've been reading online that antidepressants don't actually "fix" the underlying issue and that the side effects can be pretty brutal.

Questions:

1/ Should I go ahead and take the antidepressant? Like, will it actually help, or is it just going to make me addicted or feel even worse than I do right now? And what about weight gain?
2/ Has anyone here actually tried Sarah Wood2? Apparently, it's a newer one.

Thanks guys, I really need some help or advice ASAP! I'm freaking out over here and I'm basically a total newbie to all of this. Is this something I can actually recover from?

Everything you've heard about antidepressants is just bad info being misinterpreted. They don't cause addiction; they just help settle things down enough so you can actually deal with your problems by calming your system and cutting down or totally killing those symptoms that stop you from living a normal life.
Obviously, just taking pills without doing psychotherapy isn't going to help you in the long run, which is why you really need to pair the meds with therapy to work on changing the behavioral patterns that landed you in this mess in the first place.
Antidepressants can have side effects (like pretty much any medication), but they’re usually mild and pass quickly. As for the weight gain or loss thing, some people find their appetite goes up or down while on them, so yeah, some people might see changes in their weight. But honestly, if you keep a decent diet and stay active with sports, it shouldn't be an issue.
Personally, I never had any issues with my weight while on antidepressants.
I'd definitely say listen to your doctor and take the antidepressant so you can actually live a decent, normal life without all those symptoms you mentioned. But seriously, get into therapy too, because that's the only way to get results that actually stick for good.
As for Elicea, I haven't tried that specific brand. Anything regarding the medication itself, just ask your doctor; I'm sure she'll give you all the details you need.
And don't worry, your situation is treatable as long as you follow the right therapy and stay consistent and committed to the process.

Richard Walker2 said:I’ve had a strange run with antidepressants. They work for a while, sure, but always with some kind of sedative riding shotgun—I could never manage on them alone. Eventually, they lose their edge and everything just slides back to where it was. I’ve started psychotherapy, but it’s early days, and I’m still feeling prone to relapses, so... I should also note that no antidepressant can stop a panic attack in its tracks if the stars align against you. Once a breakdown starts, nothing but an anxiolytic seems to kill it, at least based on what I've dealt with. It feels like the body just builds up a tolerance to the ADs. 🤷
Therapy is vital, I get that, but during those phases where you have to strip everything bare and wade through the heavy stuff, staying composed without medication feels impossible sometimes. Ideally, once the core issues are cleared up, the dosages taper down... though that’s easier said than done for people like me who went too far down the rabbit hole during my peak panic years before finally seeking therapy.

Yeah, unfortunately, antidepressants just aren't meant to keep you stable in the long run. That’s why doctors very often prescribe mood stabilizers alongside them for people who are prone to these kinds of relapses.
Stabilizers tend to provide more lasting improvement and help regulate those massive mood swings.
As for panic attacks, you really do need anxiolytics; antidepressants alone usually aren't enough to cut it.
And honestly, psychotherapy is the real fix for all this stuff—it takes a long time, but the results stick with you for life. That’s why it’s the most important thing here.

Quote : Cocaine Nights, this spirituality you're rambling about has absolutely nothing to do with what pavaogc is actually talking about.
The guy doesn't have a clue what he's saying, and honestly, that article you dropped as an example? It doesn't even touch the surface of pavaogc's "philosophy."

Robert Collins2, chill out, seriously. It’s pretty obvious this place is a free-for-all where anyone suffering from a chronic lack of brains or basic education can just spout nonsense, and if you dare to call them out, you're told you're being too harsh because these geniuses have a right to "their opinion" and we shouldn't bruise their delicate little egos.

Which hospitals are actually using the methods the OP is pushing here? Just let me know so I can make sure to stay far away from them, obviously.
Besides, there's a huge difference between an actual hospital and some "medical facility," or between a real doctor and someone playing dress-up; just because something is being peddled in American hospitals doesn't mean it's gospel or even makes any sense.

In some places, they even let priests perform exorcisms—can we just check that off as a legitimate psychological treatment for depression or whatever else, since certain "doctors" are apparently okay with it?
All in the name of patient care, right? Or maybe just to feed the delusions of people who actually believe this stuff!

And hey, mods, stop picking on Robert Collins2 for once and maybe try actually addressing the people you constantly ignore who spend all their time terrorizing everyone else! I don't even need to name names, you guys know exactly who I'm talking about, yet you just sit there and do nothing.