Drug Abuse: Methadone Symptoms & Side Effects

Question: What to do when counseling and medicine doesn't cure depression and it leads to drug abuse?

(Posted by: on 2010-01-25 13:04:03)

I have been clinically diagnosed with depression for 4 years but I have been suffering from it for much longer. I started coping with my depression with spouts of anger and rage towards by friends and family but over the years it has progressed. I began self injuring myself 4 years ago and then I finally started seeing a counselor. I thought I was getting better but I soon found that my prescribed anti- depressant caused me to gain 50 pounds and the counseling sessions weren't enough. I then quit the medication and the counseling and found myself self injuring again, but with more intensity. When I couldn't cut anymore (because I'm on swim team and couldn't hide it), I began smoking pot. The two then became interchangeable and I would do whichever one I could do that day. I started seeing a counselor again and taking a different kind of medication which has helped my school work improve but i am still struggling. I recently started taking prescription pain killers and I don't think I am addicted, but I am taking several every day. My depression doesn't seem to be getting any better and my way of dealing with it is getting worse and worse. What should I do since every single day is a struggle and medicine/ counseling isn't helping? I have tried a variety of medications but I have terrible side effects to SSRI's. I am currently taking Vyvanse. I absolutely love my counselor and she really helps with the problems I portray, but I can't seem to talk about or handle all of the underlying causes for my depression. I am actively involved with my church, art classes and my swim team but no matter what, I can't pull myself out of this rut. I'm also only 18.

Posted by: aubrey on 2010-01-25, 13:16:01

I have been there. the doctors will hand out pills and more pills because they don't really know how to help you on a deeper level. if you need a pill to keep you from self injuring do it. in time you can find a doctor/ therapist that is more open minded and can help you with alternative treatments. yoga, meditation, art, sound therapy, etc. and when going off the meds you need to tapper off slowly. please check these out. youtube.com/ profile?user= bipolarorwakingup#p/ u/ 29/ 3c4CmhwD80w youtube.com/ profile?user= bipolarorwakingup#p/ u/ 26/ xBBc3fEnwOw bipolarorwakingup.com newlightbeings.com indigochild.com stickam.com/ reecejones87 Reece also has some great youtube videos with the same name. on stickam he hosts a weekly mass meditation with 1,000's of people all over the world. 12:30pm sundays(pacific time)

Posted by: Chase on 2010-01-25, 13:18:15

I would seek Medical help, as soon as you try to do any one what you have described; Even if you have to call 911 or the suicide hotline. Have you ever tried Lexapro, Abilify, or Wellbutrin? These are wonderful Depression Drugs! Also I would try something in therapy called THEOPHOSTIC PRAYER. It gets out things (such as the underlying problem) I would STRONGLY recommend it!

Posted by: Helpful M on 2010-01-25, 13:32:22

Exactly my point. Pills cant talk to you or cure anything. Have you ever read online about emotional abuse and cutting? When you know why people hurt you then you feel better. Google Emotional abuse and cutting. Reading fixed me Psychiatrists claim that a person needs a drug to combat their chemical imbalance in the brain which is causing a persons mental disorder. However, the concept that a brain-based, chemical imbalance underlies mental illness is false. While popularized by heavy public marketing, it is simply psychiatric wishful thinking. As with all of psychiatrys disease models, it has been thoroughly discredited by researchers.