i bailed on bipolar meds after multiple different ones and about 6 months of sickness because of them. I recently went back on Adderall for the ADHD back in June 2012. i am currently backing off of it because I am rather sick of it and it isn't working at its normal dose. NO, taking more will not help as I did this before while on the bipolar meds(with the pill pushing psychiatrist) and came to find out later I was ODing on the Adderall.
I myself am wanting to go back to talk therapy, but I really don't think it will help....but that is just me..

I have a story 4 U....

So short story long....I was riding a horse went through a plum tree ripped my bottom eyelid off...hanging by a thread would be the best description. So there I am waiting 4 the dock's and also waiting 4 my gut to digest all the food I had consumed..... the anesthesiologist shot me up with the good stuff and she told me it was to get me ready for the bad stuff......

SO there I wake up thinking where in the hell is my friend who was here to get operated on...no...where is my friend who was operated on who I am here to be with....talk bout screwed up...and, all the while the anesthesiologist is asking me what day it was and all I could say was who in the hell cares it's day time....

SO, she fills a syringe with ritalin (looked like half 2 me) and the some kind of sedative bout a third. i wake up back in my hospital bed as hungry as a spring bear.... I ATE CONTINUOUSLY FOR THREE DAYS...

later on I found out that one of the side effects of ritalin is hunger...humm go figure....

im not on any medications at this time but Ive taken just about all of them. i just personally dont like the side affects. im getting tired of talking to anyone about my problems because I already know what I need to do from what past therapist told me but therapy i can say did help me. The thing that helps me most is not being stagnant to where my thoughts consume me.

Speaking just for myself, Prozac has always worked the best for me.
It has also been used for weight loss, has to be taken in the morning because it can, for some, keep them awake, and it stays in the system for quite some time. Really glad to hear that your getting counseling... I'm working on that as well. Hugs GB

Thank you everyone for your advice. I am staying off the wellbutron as it is not doing anything and if its not helping what is the point. Also going to wean myself off Riteral as it sounds like all it is probably doing is adding in weight as well. As I said, the weight gain is not helping with my depression, low self esteem and insecurity issues. Will try to stay with the therapy, its expensive on the co pay, but will see if it helps. Thanks.

I talk to my very best friend,in the world,and she always knows what to say,tp make me forget about depression for a while,so I owe her alot of my life,otherwise,don't know where I'd be right now,what I'm trying to say is,friends can help.

Thank you Argus1956, I have a hard time trusting people to get close enough to be best friends, but I do have some aquaintances that help a bit. I also tend to isolate. The therapist is trying to get me to work on that aspect of my life.

Hi Joanie
I am not on anti depressants any more. My choice. I still take Ativan for anxiety as needed. It helps.
I am fortunate enough to have a supportive husband who is there for me. He may not understand but having him in my life helps but it still isn't easy. I agree.
I TRY and be positive and look at good things in my life and I have a dog and she is an incentive for me to get up and move and get outside.
I eat healthy as best i can and I do take supplements. I also take 5htp which I feel is helpful. It's over the counter
I know I could be better. The depression is there but I am functioning. i am ok. not great, but ok. I fight it but i won't take the drugs again unless I get bad like I did before.

Lately I have been exploring sound therapy, sound healing.
I feel it is helpful.
I listen to certain music at frequencies that is healing. Didgeridoo music is calming to me.
I also am exploring balancing the chakras within the body. I know to some it may all seem kooky but I find a connection to it and it's teaching.
I am currently learning and performing the chakra vowel sounds. It creates vibrations within the body. Different sound correlates to different parts of the body where we may have weaknesses and inbalance.
After a session I feel calmer and less "heavy" in mood.
I have fear, sadness, etc and it seems that my heart chakra needs strengthening.
It could be yours too as you say you find it hard to trust others. Me too.
But I think all my chakras are out of balance.

Today I woke up with less anxiety and a good feeling.
I have noticed an improvement since doing the sound healing especially the "singing" of the chakra vowels.


I hope maybe the therapy sessions will help you and if you are interested in alternative healing methods then explore online. Plenty of info. YouTube videos.

Peace

well for one thing i think that the therapy seshions will realy do you good but you have to let it havetime to work and get use to your councelor and you need to get everything out all tat has bothered you ........i am so happy for you that you have started that ................as far as antiedepresants go you have to try them to see if they help you also you have to try them at diferant doses to it is unfortunalty a lot of times trial by error .................i am on four diferant kinds and it took me 8 years to get to be feeling this good at this leavil i still feel the depreshion but it doesent take over my life ..............i am managing it now i how ever have gained weaight to but to not be on meds was not an option for me .................i tell everyone that everything that was ever hurtfull has to come out because we cant keep it in and expect to stay unefected it is like a sliver it festers and soner or later it will come out i keep things in for years and i ended up in hospital and needed ect to get me up out of the depreshion i plunged into .................i never want to go back there this was some 30 years ago ...........belive me i talk now and i know the importance of talking ................god bless .....take care........................................i am happy to here you are also working on not isolating your self so much because that just compounds our problems...........................i am happy for you if you can do it with out the meds but if you need them i hope you will take them there are maney on the market not all cause weaight gain................so you take good care of your self ...........god bless i will keep you in my prayers

Exercise. Money.

Those are what help me. I'm drug-free.