Are people taking too many drugs

I am so sorry for your loss. I can just say that I went to my insurance in network provider online locator and searched the city for therapy. Certain providers at this one counseling agency looked interesting. I read their profiles and found 2 that looked particularly qualified. I called and spoke with one of them, who referred me to his colleague, since he had more experience with patients who have health issues. Then, I had a chat session with him and we both felt it was a good fit. I’ve had 2 full sessions so far.

We have neighbors who have a mid forties daughter who was our daughter's best friend growing up. She's a very talented singer and graduated high in both her high school and college classes. A couple years ago she returned home and has lived a violent and difficult time with her aging parents. Her mother confided to my wife that her daughter has been diagnosed bipolar and she stops taking her meds because she gets paranoid. These episodes have ended up with time spent in jail and and institutions. There's little doubt she needs her meds. We recently found out she's also a frequent illegal drug user. The men she associates with are also troubled with mental illness and illegal drug habits. The parents have tried so much to help her but it appears hopeless. Another neighbor's forty year old son is addicted to illegal drugs. Been like that since high school. He's had issues with. the police. His father has been falsely arrested because of the son's accusations. He's finally moved away. So are there too many people on drugs? Or in some cases not enough people on the right drugs? These forums attract people with common problems like chronic pain. I know that's what attracted me. It's been sad watching young people with mental illness and drug addition getting locked up and struggling to get a job. Well it's time for my evening meds. BP, statin and Oxycodone. Then some holiday decorating.

My therapy sessions are done virtually and I really like it. It means that I have more flexibility in scheduling and save time and money on travel.

While there may be some overprescribing of drugs for mental illness, there is a place for prescription medication. There is also a place for talk therapy. I have been taking Sertraline for the past 30 years. I have tapered off periodically, but i generally know when i need to resume taking it. I think mental illness should be thought of in the same way as physical illness.

Agreed.

I was only married for twenty years, the only time I have ever known happiness. Ten years ago, because of my illness my wife was forced to divorce me and get herself and the children away from me.

Thankfully she had the courage to do so.

When I think of them ( most of the time) I miss them so much that I can hardly breath.

I have no idea if this might help you, but sometimes I can find relief in reframing my grief as the love I hold in my heart and soul for them. I still miss them but the love I feel warms me a little.

I can not know what the finality of the death of someone I love so much feels like. I sense however, that is in direct proportion to the depth of love that was shared.

I hope for you that you find the peace you deserve.

@dfb @marilynb @poon and others here.

I have been on a mild depression medication for several years now, Celexa 10mg once a day. It keeps my valleys from becoming too deep, and those mountains too high. Fortunately I do not deal with the side effects that some people have with this medication. And, then there are the 10+ [yep, you read correctly!] other prescription meds that I work with to attempt a healthy as can be attained life, given end stage renal disease and incurable blood cancer concerns plus a couple of others.

Would I love fewer meds? Definitely. Do I grieve those days of no meds? Definitely. I am grateful to have a stellar medical team, who works together. Along with my nephrologist, oncologist, general practitioner, and therapist, I am part and parcel of that team. We work hard to keep me at as few meds as possible, and carefully vet each one. We as patients have a real interest in being our own best advocate, sometimes going against the flow.

Lifestyle changes can contribute to the well-being of physical, mental and emotional health. Sometimes we need a gentle push, using medications, in the right direction. And then, we need to understand when to back off those again. Just my humble opinion, your mileage mary vary....
Ginger

I realize that a lot of people are dealing with much more than I am. It’s quite humbling.

I am happy to know you have a wonderful team of providers helping you!

I have nothing against medication or medical treatments. Modern medicine relieves the suffering of millions of people everyday.

I have received wonderful support from my team of providers, sometimes begrudgingly, but nonetheless vital, throughout my recent titration. I’ll post on a few setbacks shortly.

I speak out against the quick fix culture of the, medication first approach to wellness, especially mental (and dare I say spiritual) wellbeing because it is what I know.

Negligent decision making on my part and on the part of more providers then I can remember, brought me to depths of misery that no person should ever have to suffer.

I believe the mistakes made by me and my providers are somewhat unique to mental health care. Lack of knowledge, societies and provider’s judgment of the afflicted and a focus on ephemeral reasons as the cause of mental illness all contribute to what will become to be known as malpractice.

Physical illness has long been accepted as a biological disorder of one type or another. Doctors no longer “bleed” patients to rid the body of evil humors.

I believe mental wellness is still stuck in the dark ages. Until the science catches up with the intention, I believe I have to beware of those who would sell me “snake oil” disguised as medicine.

I fully and completely embrace medical science and all of its wonders. I also recognize that all humans are fallible and make mistakes. No amount of “I’m sorry” will give back the ten years my children lived with out their father or my wife without her husband.

Whatever my illness might be I now ask two questions that no doctor likes to answer but I believe are my sacred duty to ask:

“Are you sure?”
‘’What if you are wrong?”

How my provider answers those two questions guide the rest of my actions.

My most fervent desire is that everyone finds peace. The path one takes doesn’t really matter. Like you I do what I can to light the way, especially for those closest to me. I can’t really think of anything else todo.

Thank you for your post. You have reminded me to consider my words more carefully.

I wish you peace.

Drugs are usually reverted to for clinical (not as much situational) depression because psychs consider clinical much more serious, suspecting disruption of neurotransmitters.
Of course psychiatrists are naturally prescription-happy so that has a lot to do with so much prescribing.
Psychologists are not an option for me without coverage, so for myself it is covered prescriptions or rot.

It reads like you are clinical? I have long-term major clinical depression with suicidal ideation and wow, like yourself complex PTSD diagnosed also.

I do not know if psychology can help me. Depression has been with me some 55 years, helping ruin my life. Other diagnoses help ruin also, so psychologists are reluctant to take me on. It seems prescriptions are all there is for me with psychology being unaffordable.

Since you are sensitive to drugs, my opinion is you are smart trying to avoid them, but I was "severe," essentially become completely unfunctional in life so I took what they gave --- most of which indeed I stopped for side effects. The rest did not really help me.
Tryptophan (l-tryptophan) may be the only possible option for you, having natural origin as a natural bodily amino acid that makes serotonin for the brain. It is healthily taken by the gram. It at least regulates me and is the only thing available that helps me.

I wish you all the best 🧡 getting free of this hellacious, pernicious disease and disabler depression.