toxic pills .... where am i

You may already know what I think about medication used as treatment, @Bunniekins, but it is this: generally speaking, medication is used to get symptoms under control while the cause of the symptoms is being dealt with. Medication is just a stop gap treatment to alleviate current symptoms and allow the therapist time to assess the situation accurately and bring about cure.

I don't know what your medication is for @Bunniekins, and I don't give medical advice, but it seems to me that a psychiatrist should be able to discuss it with you, tell you what they are doing for you and also, how long he wants you to remain on them. Not just to convince you but also to alleviate your concern to your satisfaction.

I also know that you have a lot going on in your life.

NEVER just go off medication, EVER!

My ex-psy was against medication and only resorted to it in very serious circumstances. Then he got me off them as quickly as possible. I am extremely grateful for his advice and it serves me well to this day. Nothing goes in my body that I can avoid by my own endeavours–removing myself from people or situations that are causing them, exercising, eating well, etc. And at times, I have endured stress beyond endurance without medication because he conditioned me to endure until I had greater and greater stress tolerance.

Tablets are tiny but they pack a punch, and make considerable changes in our bodies. The reason for them must be valid and unavoidable.

Take care. Sending best wishes.

Hey @Bunniekins

Medications can be a pain in the, can't they?

With your memory fears- is this a noted side effect? How much have you discussed this with your Dr? Are there alternatives?

I know from my own experience that one of my meds, at least, took years to 'settle in' properly...maybe time will help you too? The side effects are still not wonderful, but 'satisfactory' and manageable. And the meds are Definitely helpful over all.

But yeah, no great insights here. Just a reiteration to not just drop the meds suddenly. Which I know you know.

When do you next see/speak to the doc?

Dear @Bunniekins

We have already talked about this a little and you know my position. I think the input of @Emelia8 re looking for second opinions is valid. It is the way people who are educated and well financed deal with their physical health issues ... and their mental health issues ... as in my ex husband. I grew up with the doctor knows and is almost God ... so I was grateful to learn and understand that others had different experiences. My ex deliberately sought out doctors who would help him get off. He was from very well to do background and holidayed with a range of medical specialists ... so always saw them as human ...

@chibam suggests organisations that may be more empowering that hardcore psychiatric models

My position is similar to@Historylover

Your situation is very different to my exhusband and so is your personality. He was very sciencey, like me At the same time I was watching my uncle by marriage with violent shakes, and the mother of my stepdaughter with smaller ones. Yep so many people in my world with severe MH issues. Those 3 were not biologically related, so I came to know it was not just my faulty genetics. Somehow you need to find a way to work through emotional regulation issues.

Tbh I believe some of the heavy music can be over stimulating, which is why I never totally got into it. Only used it later in life to get me going and do housework etc. Music was work for me, then immersion. I needed music to calm me as I had a LOT of trauma and pain, but thats me. Glad @StuF is still here as he may be able to walk with you and know more music that may help stabilise I do not know enough about more modern music ... not meaning to put you on the spot mate ... just waffling on ... thoughts only ...

I am still on a low dose of antidepressants and anti psychotics ... the titration up or down, has been driven by my needs, but my pdoc never argues.

If you want to lower your meds, you have to learn more about them, so you can make informed choices rather than handing your choice over to the doctors. If you really know, then you will be sure, and not rock back and forwards on the 50/50 odds. Maybe best only think of lowering rather than coming off... and see if you can co-design your treatment ....be an active partner in it.

With my son ... some young pdocs ... like to talk about "treatment" as if it is the final word, and "therapeutic amount" as if humans are only chemistry in test tubes. Thank God I have done enough chemistry and biology (in the 70s) and social science (in the 80s) to see through that. I simply do not believe them, and see them invested in the system cos of their career paths. I see it as part of the injustice to my family, but we have to "do what we are told" atm.

Hello @Historylover

I'm TuxedoCat, a peer worker here. It's nice to e-meet you 😊

I totally agree with your nugget of wisdom there, talking to our psychiatrists about our medication is a great first step to share discuss any of our worries.

And thank you so much for sharing your own relationship and journey with medication. And as peers, one of the most useful things to do is to offer our experiences to others as ideas and options. And this is here for @Bunniekins to take what's useful for them.

For me, I will probably be on my medication for the rest of my life, which was a hard adjustment. We all have our own journeys ❤️

Hello @Bunniekins I hear you re being scared of memory loss. It can happen to anyone whether they're on psych medications or not. You can find some preventive strategies on reputable sources online that include regular exercise, having a good diet, staying open to new ideas and experiences, and challenging yourself with games and training. I don't know whether my meds put me at higher risk of memory loss but I know they reduce my risk of relapsing into disordered thinking. So for now I'm trying those other strategies.

Hugs @Bunniekins hope that helps.

Dimity

Great advice @Dimity

Anyone can have memory loss, medicated or unmedicated. I love your suggestions about looking into ways to combat memory loss such as exercise, eating well, challenging your brain etc. There is some good information out there on what the evidence shows helps.

hanami 💮

Thoroughly agree with @Appleblossom re consider talking about lowering the dosage, but don't necessarily expect there won't be adjustment at each step. And I also agree re researching any medication you take. In fact, I research everything these days. GPs aren't the all-knowing gods I once assumed, and neither are therapists. Cheers.

Nothing overly helpful to add @Bunniekins but feeling your pain. Please talk with your treating team first and if they won’t listen, please speak with an advocacy group. Your treating team should be listening to you and how you are feeling.
leaving a heap of hugs here for you 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

@Bow @Historylover @hanami @Dimity @Gwynn @StuF @Appleblossom and everyone who has answered to my post. I really appreciate your care and time answering my post. it makes me sad that with this current psychiatrist she has taken away my choice. it is more than that though i just feel i have no control over my being...... my life. pdoc said she would not work with me if i go off meds. family have said they want me to stay on meds. so i have to stay on meds ...... you know the other day i forgot the word olive ....