for me (depression) they had no effect at all
Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?
51–60 of 64 posts
Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?
#52I have experience with SSRIs, and then going through other methods (which take much, much longer and more work).
SSRIs are basically a shortcut to a good mood, and no, they won't make you "dumber", but the personal reason I got off them is basically the lingering thought of getting used to them and for some reason being in a situation where I couldn't get medication, and being absolutely fucked mentally (reading up on people with benzo withdrawal didn't help).
The other methods, which involved a big shroom trip and all the shit I had to do afterward to basically essentially become a new person are much harder to execute. For example, even for the shroom trip, you need a VERY good trip sitter that is a good, qualified therapist that can lead you on a journey of introspection but also understand how shrooms work through personal experience - I was lucky to have this type of person with me during my trip.
Id say try SSRIs, but plan the taper on (and taper off if you decide to stop) periods so that you don't have anything going on. If anything, you can use the period while you are on them to essentially progress in life (get a job, then save money as much as you can), then if you decide to taper off, you have some safety net funds to live off of where you can explore other methods.
Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?
#53Makes me happy but destroys my sleep. I'm currently taking Sertraline. I've tried other SSRI's but teh same thing happens. Terrible broken sleep
Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?
#54Totally depends on the person, I’ve tried literally every SSRI and they all make my condition worse, but for my girlfriend they have radically changed her life in a positive way.
What ultimately works best for me is the Keto diet. I would recommend you just try a bunch of different things with professional supervision. There is little harm in it and there is probably some modality that will help you.
Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?
#55You may want to look into the resources available at amenclinics.com. Research and evidence-based advances in psychiatry over the years with FDA-approved SPECT and PET scans that show what is occurring in the brain or if there is evidence of TBI along with the evidence of brain-gut health connection may offer you a different perspective and treatment direction. This is a lot different than a 20 minute consult for a prescription.
Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?
#56I got on 10 mg escitalopram (Lexapro) in 2014 for social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression. I just tapered off these last few months. Pros: * Legitimate reductions to anxiety - no longer crippling most of the time. * Made it harder to fall into depressive episodes. So, it did its job, I guess. * Did not make me a blunted zombie or sterilize my brain. Cons: * Increased sleepiness: unable t…
If you don't mind me asking, why did you decide to discontinue use? Do you feel like you're done needing it? Are you checking back in with your "natural" self to compare against the past 8 years? I assume the effects of the drug don't last after discontinuing use so your anxieties will theoretically return?
I was tired (literally) of the side effects, and I simply felt that I didn't need it anymore. I'm a different person than I was when I started, and I know how to manage my anxiety and depression a lot better now.
> I assume the effects of the drug don't last after discontinuing use so your anxieties will theoretically return?
Yeah, in theory, my anxiety could get much worse sometime in the next few months. I've dealt with that before when I discontinued a different SSRI. If it happens though, I'll be much more prepared this time.
Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?
#57It can cause permanent orgasm dysfunction and might also cause "compulsive" behaviors like pacing (SSRIs affect the extrapyramidal system). Repeat: these side effects may continue forever, even after you get off the medications. Same deal with SNRIs. Also most psychiatric drugs increase the risk of suicide.
Psychiatrists like downplaying these side effects, so if you ask one about them, you'll leave with a feeling that it's "no big deal." This feeling is artificially induced and is the result of emotional manipulation.
You might be suffering from bottled up emotional trauma. Find a good therapist. But whatever you do, demand that the therapist not use cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT is how people with narcissistic personality disorder think.
Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?
#58It can cause permanent orgasm dysfunction and might also cause "compulsive" behaviors like pacing (SSRIs affect the extrapyramidal system). Repeat: these side effects may continue forever, even after you get off the medications. Same deal with SNRIs. Also most psychiatric drugs increase the risk of suicide. Psychiatrists like downplaying these side effects, so if you ask one about them, you'll leave with a feeling th…
> CBT is how people with narcissistic personality disorder think.
Can you elaborate more on this, or do you have any sources to support this claim? I have no read/heard this before, and I would like to learn more about it before coming to a conclusion about CBT.
Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?
#59I'm a residency trained pharmacist and someone whose life was improved immensely by antidepressants from ages 19 - 37(bupropion x 10+ years, SSRI x 2 years, SNRI x 5 years). These drugs will change your affect (your mood) but not your intellect. I am also currently not on medication x 2 months for the first time in about 18 years, so I have seen myself both on and off meds and I have a deep mechanistic understanding…
As someone generally outspoken against the class of drug, but has required it for short term due to imbalances caused by health issues: listen to this comment.
Watch yourself closely, and have your smarter and less judgey friends and family do the same, because the doctors sure as hell don't have enough time with you to do so.
But, listen to this comment.
Re: Ask HN: What is your experience with SSRIs?
#60So this is my story, I won't' claim it invalidates anyone else's experience and it will have an element of anecdotal. Everyone can have different levels of depression and there are many variables at play (current lifestyle, health etc). I found myself in an utter mess. I constantly felt depressed or under huge stress from rampant anxiety. The best way of describing my depression is to imagine wearing a weighted jacke…
Books and tapes can be insanely helpful with cognitive pattern adjustments.
So can others prodding us. We've forgotten the value of both of these.
It explains why "we" don't seek these things — and simultaneously let others take their place (ads, behavioural suggestions in media, etc).