Posts by darkbison5

6 posts shown.

Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Mar 14, 2014

David Vaughn75 said:Well, good morning to you too, Sherlock.

Look, we aren't evolutionarily wired to just pop a pill and take a hit and suddenly all our problems vanish into thin air. We're built to actually deal with things—either by solving the issue or, if it's something you can't fix (like, I don't know, bringing people back from the dead), learning how to process it properly. That's literally why religion exists, why people seek spirituality, why we talk to friends, or why we see therapists in the first place. That's the only way to feel "right" naturally.

Psychotherapy helps you learn stuff and maybe even find the root cause, but even then, it might not be enough to permanently free someone from the mental struggles they're dealing with.

I’ve already posted here saying that therapy is pretty much useless if you don't actually face your fears head-on, and man, did I get roasted for that. But hey, don't listen to me—I'm clearly just some idiot who doesn't know anything, right? Even though I managed to kick my own panic attacks to the curb. ☕

If you’ve truly moved past your panic attacks, then why are you still taking AD?

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Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Mar 13, 2014

Even if the facts you're laying out are correct, I still maintain that we simply underinvest in medicine. We see billions of dollars poured into professional sports, and even more into defense spending—yet when it comes to healthcare (be it physical or mental), progress over the last fifty years has been marginal at best.
It seems the priority is advancing cosmetic surgery so that people—mostly the wealthy elite—can look perpetually younger, while mental health issues are "managed" by popping pills for years that often do more harm than good. The reality is that most psychological struggles could be resolved through psychotherapy without medication, but there is a severe shortage of trained professionals capable of providing high-quality care—largely because it requires an immense amount of time. These things aren't fixed in a month or two. This brings us back to those who can afford much more than the average American; for them, paying $400— $167 per hour for private therapy isn't an issue, but what about everyone else? They end up on waiting lists for months just to see a psychiatrist for ten minutes, only to have a prescription handed to them. Naturally, people find themselves stuck in a loop because the underlying issues return; since quality therapy is unavailable, they are left with nothing but more medication... for how long? A year, two, five... or is it for life? Will the drugs remain effective that long, or will the dosage have to double, bringing even more side effects along for the ride? As ironrider11 points out—these are all substances that play very questionable games with our brain chemistry.
Unfortunately, an even larger hurdle is our somewhat backward society that continues to stigmatize anyone seeking psychiatric help... which leads many to suffer in silence for years, refusing treatment just to avoid the label.
But then again, who am I to judge? The choice is ours: attempt to live without medication (which is sometimes impossible if you need to function normally in daily life)... or simply take them for the rest of our lives and let nature take its course. After all, we’re all leaving this planet eventually. 🤷

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Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Mar 12, 2014

I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on a specific question of mine;
Is there actually such a thing as a PERMANENT solution to the struggles caused by antidepressants—
specifically regarding panic disorder?
I am talking about individuals who successfully tapered off their medication years ago and have seen no return of their symptoms.
Based on what I’ve been reading on various forums, that seems like an impossibility—as if antidepressants merely act as a veil, masking the underlying issues rather than curing them. If that is the case, what is the actual purpose of the treatment? Why don't psychiatrists simply admit that these drugs only work while you are taking them, rather than suggesting that a few months or perhaps two years of use will lead to long-term stability?
Psychotherapy can offer a lot of insight—you might even uncover the root cause—but understanding the "why" doesn't necessarily provide the "how" when it comes to being permanently free from mental distress. I personally understand the triggers that led to my panic disorder, but knowing the cause feels hollow when the symptoms keep resurfacing despite all my hard work and four years of medication. It looks like I’ll be heading back to the pharmacy soon enough.🤷
It is difficult to wrap my head around the fact that medical science remains so stagnant in the 21st century while technology advances at breakneck speed. We are approaching an era where teleportation might feel plausible, yet we still haven't found a definitive cure to liberate millions from psychological suffering, let alone physical ailments.
It seems far more profitable to pour money into the NFL or pay a pop star $50,000 to headline a New Year's Eve party than it is to invest in genuine medical breakthroughs.🙂
It is quite disheartening.

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Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Dec 15, 2013

Kevin Nguyen3 said:

No, this isn't about what "I" think, because I am certainly not issuing orders or telling anyone what to do! But you did say yourself that you were on antidepressants and that you are struggling with this fear now.
If you aren't having actual panic attacks, then you don't need an antidepressant. You should follow whatever the doctor prescribed regarding the Generic.
You aren't going to conquer fear through risky behavior—like driving like Schumacher through the streets, for instance.
It is true that facing your fears can bring solutions, but not in that manner. One must prepare gradually to fight against fears; the human organism simply isn't built to solve stress with more stress.
No, this isn't about what "I" think, because I am certainly not issuing orders or telling anyone what to do! But you did say yourself that you were on antidepressants and that you are struggling with this fear now.
If you aren't having actual panic attacks, then you don't need an antidepressant. You should follow whatever the doctor prescribed regarding the Generic.
You aren't going to conquer fear through risky behavior—like driving like Schumacher through the streets, for instance.
It is true that facing your fears can bring solutions, but not in that manner. One must prepare gradually to fight against fears; the human organism simply isn't built to solve stress with more stress.
Thanks for getting back to me. I feel a bit braver immediately after reading that. 🙂
That is precisely what I am attempting to do—taking it step by step. For the most part, I succeed within my "comfort zone," but I haven't quite found the courage to push further. There are days when I feel like I could save the world—days when the fear vanishes and I can walk through downtown without a second thought—but the good days aren't consistent. Then the setbacks happen, and I find myself right back at square one, spiraling into "what if" scenarios. Just the other day, I ventured out alone, and after walking only about three blocks from my house, my heart started racing at over 100 beats per minute (I'm actually on medication for tachycardia). I had to pull myself together and head straight home because I was terrified that a panic attack would strike after such a long hiatus. At this point, I'm not even sure if I'm dealing with cardiophobia or actual panic 😕 So, what should my next move be? 🙂
Before these panic issues started, I was a very self-assured person, which is why this whole situation is so incredibly frustrating... sometimes I wish this fear had a physical form so I could just give it a good thrashing. 😁

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Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Dec 15, 2013

Kevin Nguyen3 said:I really hope you see the contradictions in what you've shared here.
You aren't taking Zoloft anymore because you don't have panic attacks, yet you suggest you'd need to take a Generic every day because you DO have them—or rather, because of this "fear of the fear" you mentioned.
Your doctor gave you sound advice based on your own description: use the Generic as needed.
But then, what you’re telling me now feels like a completely different story altogether.
Zoloft, which is a standard AD and actually quite effective, should have helped manage your anxiety and the depression that stems from dealing with panic, all while helping balance those hormonal shifts typical of such episodes.
Beyond all that, shouldn't one also pursue psychotherapy? For panic disorders, therapy is the absolute foundation—changing thought patterns, facing oneself, confronting circumstances, and so on.
But honestly, hasn't this been written about a thousand times already?
That is the established treatment system.
Anxiolytics on an as-needed basis, ADs until your body "realizes" there is no legitimate reason to be afraid, and some form of psychotherapy, whether it's group sessions or individual ones.

The rest of your post is essentially about how to eventually break free from that vicious cycle—fear, panic, anxiety, depression—and how to improve the very quality of your life.

So, if I follow your logic—is what you're actually suggesting that I should go back on antidepressants?
The issue isn't actually the panic attacks themselves—I’ve only experienced a few in my life, and honestly, I haven't had one in years. The real problem is the lingering shadow they left behind. It’s the persistent, nagging dread of the unknown—that constant fear that another one might strike out of nowhere. In a sense, the anxiety isn't about the event anymore; it's about the anticipation of it.
I am fully aware that psychotherapy would be immensely beneficial for me—provided, of course, that I could find a private practitioner. The issue with the public healthcare system is that the clinicians seem more interested in checking a box and handing out prescriptions than actually engaging with the patient. It feels less like healing and more like an assembly line designed to move people through the door as quickly as possible. The logistical hurdle, however, is that there isn't a single private therapist in my town. To see any meaningful progress, one really needs to commit to at least one session per week—consistency is everything—but that's a tall order when there isn't anyone local to see.
Regarding antidepressants—that was precisely my point when I mentioned that even while I was on them, I wasn't exactly liberated from my anxiety.
Aside from this particular issue, I don't really have any other mental health struggles—I’ve never been prone to depression. On the contrary, I tend to be quite vibrant, creative, and—if I do say so myself—usually the one keeping everyone entertained when I'm out with friends. 🙂Honestly, I am just feeling incredibly frustrated right now—it feels like I can’t get ahead of this anxiety, and I'm struggling to see any kind of way out. It’s exhausting. My only thought at this moment is to just hop in the car and drive—maybe twenty miles away from home—just to see who wins this tug-of-war: me, or the fear. 😁

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Psychotropic medication discussion thread in Psychology & Therapy · Dec 15, 2013

I was on Zoloft for four years to deal with panic attacks. After discussing it with my psychiatrist, we decided to taper off since the actual attacks had stopped—but the "fear of the fear" remains, which effectively keeps me from living a normal life. My therapist suggested that in situations where I feel vulnerable—like being alone or traveling somewhere by myself, fearing a sudden onset—I should take a Generic. At this rate, it sounds like I’d need to take a pill almost every single day.
My takeaway is this: antidepressants seem to merely mask the symptoms of panic disorder rather than actually curing it. It implies one would have to stay on them indefinitely, and even then, it isn't a perfect fix—I never felt entirely liberated from that underlying dread even while I was medicated.
The most effective thing I've done for myself during those moments is to confront the fear head-on. I treat the anxiety like some obnoxious stranger trying to pick a fight—I basically tell it, "Alright, what are you waiting for? Come on then, attack me." Usually, it quietens down. Then I can say, "See? I'm the one in charge here; you can't touch me."
The catch, of course, is that maintaining such a bold stance isn't always possible. You really have to practice facing these triggers daily and simply refuse to back down. That’s been my approach, and I believe it's the way out since my panic is purely situational—it doesn't strike out of nowhere; it only appears when I'm in specific circumstances. In fact, it feels more like a phobia. When I'm with someone else, the whole thing seems ridiculous; I can't believe I lack the nerve to just hop in a car and drive more than ten miles by myself. For instance, if my husband is with me, I can drive to the coast without a second thought, knowing that even if something happens, I'm not alone. And believe me, that's the truth! If I could just be honest with everyone about my fear of panic, it would likely vanish completely. But how do you explain that to others? We live in a society that is quick to label anyone struggling as "crazy." So, I've been spinning my wheels in this frustrating loop for years, unsure of the exit. If I go back to my psychiatrist, they'll probably just put me right back on antidepressants, and we'll be right back where we started.

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