Drug Sabbatical Support & Appreciation Thread

[easytiger]

sad reading about parents suffering mental health issues. My dad suffers from it too and it has pretty much gone unsupported the last 30+ years even though he had a clinical diagnosis around10 years ago.

thankfully my mum has remained resolute, stood by him and is strong as an ox, unwavering in her strength and support. Irish mothers, ya gotta love them eh

agree with Kate's earlier point re CBT (wise words as usual!); I think some docs in recent years have been too quick to dispense (shit) meds rather than trying to support people in dealing with the root cause. Cheaper to manage the symptoms than deal with the cause....? although in reality, probably a false economy, and of course has nothing to do with the extensive lobbying/ marketing of GSK et al in promoting the next 'be all end all' anti-depressant.

oh, and on a positive note - off the liqour 17 days and counting. Could have murdered a beer last night, every time i opened the fridge door to get milk for coffee, the cans were winking at me

 

[effie]

I'm really sorry to hear about all the poorly parents, I hope everyone gets the help they need.. I'd like to cast another vote for CBT, helped my anxiety so much!

It's really interesting to hear everyone's perspectives on prescribing benzodiazepines. I have always been taught that they are a BAD THING and that even taking them occasionally is not good, but I have never quite understood the logic of denying someone the occasional one. I suppose the idea is it encourages people to rely on them.. I see a lot of elderly patients with huge benzo habits because they were prescribed them recklessly when they were younger, it's horrible. But surely as other people have said it would be easy enough to prescribe a small amount in a set time period to prevent the danger of the patient becoming dependent. I would always rather give patients the benefit of the doubt, and try to help them, than assume they will abuse the medication and deny it to everyone!

As for prescribing antidepressants, I think the problem is there are just not the resources available to offer everyone CBT. The choice for the average GP is occasional benzos, which will undeniably help with bad days but are not a long term solution and only mask the issue really, or antidepressants, which do have a lot of evidence behind them and do work on a lot of people. They are not without their faults, definitely, but I don't think it is a case of doctors deliberately throwing useless drugs at patients.. it is just hard to know what to do with the limited resources available to you. If I had my way CBT would be available to everyone, no questions asked!!

to everyone having problems with depression or anxiety, don't give up hope, things will get better

Ooh, one other thing, one practice near me has banned all of its GPs from prescribing benzos at all, whatever their own personal feelings might be. This was in response to a paper in a journal a while back looking at the benefits and risks of benzodiazepine use which concluded that overall they do more harm than good as they often cause patients to fall down or become unsafe, sometimes causing fatal accidents, as well as the addiction potential. I know this sounds a bit ridiculous (how can you measure psychological benefit against physical harm) but doctors are always considering the risk/benefit ratios of everything and I think a paper like that would have a big impact. Will try to dig out the article..

 

[Treacle]

Haha your Mum is on stuff for vertigo too?

I used to be on medication for vertigo, too. It's pretty common to get vertigo with anxiety. Of course, they didn't work.

 

[brokenbrain]

I've had 2 CBT courses and they work for anxiety and do absolute zero for my bottomless depression.
I've been an absolute drunk and it was because I wanted to use it for an anti-depressant which of course it does at first and then turns to depressant,but I reckon I'm one of the people with the gene that locks alcohol onto the mu-opioid receptor because sometimes it can feel like a more depressant opioid in me.
Then of course theirs my ongoing GBL addiction which stops me drinking but seems to have turned to shit and stopped doing anything good anymore.
Opium pods really help me, I made my own idea in 2001 after having morphine sulphate in hospital for 4 days that I had an endorphin/enkephalin problem. I'm not going into what happened but my life was destroyed yet it didn't kick in till the morphine went.
When I'm not on GBL I do the most dangerous mixes, although I try to limit them. I should have died about 20 times in the last 5 months
But no one is going to remember me and who on here would know that I was dead?

 

[effie]

What did you do in CBT for your anxiety? I've had CBT for depression but not for anxiety, just interested in how it works.

It worked along the same lines really, trying to identify what negative thoughts triggered your anxiety (eg i can't cope with all these people) and replace them with more realistic, positive thoughts.. and trying to change your behaviour to build up your confidence. Really helped me

 

[Treacle]

This is the benzo break now. Day three again. I failed my last attempt. Now I have pregabalin prescribed, I reckon I'll be here reporting day four tomorrow.

 

[lazygit]

Tramadol taper, down too 200mg's XR from 400mg IR daily. Been on 200mg's for about a week, but have just gave in and had 400mg IR allong with some benzos. I feel great again, I need to get off the shit but that inner voice allways wins. "you deserve it lazy...you've done well tap yourself on the back and swallow a bunch of pills, why not you have the day off with nothing to do and your tolerance must have dropped abit, persides you can go back too tapering tommorow"

Trying to taper benzos also but get anxiety, I'm going to give pregablin ago like Treacle.

Oh and have had no codiene neither.

 

[cherrycolouredfunk]

Originally posted by: Now I have pregabalin prescribed

You succeeded to get it off doctor then?

 

[tribal girl]

Haha your Mum is on stuff for vertigo too?

Yeah. My Mum's anxiety started when her Dad died (he died before I was born), her anxiety then made her become agoraphobic, which then makes her depressed. It's a terrible cycle. And I'm heading down the same road.

But anyway, they have her on cinnarizine, which is a antihistamine. What the fuck is that gonna do for her situation?. 8)

But yeah my Mum suffers from depression and anxiety too, think it runs in the family, all her side do...

Yeah, my aunt, and I'm fairly certain my Nan (on my Mum's side) was in the same dire situation. My Dad's side also has a history of mental illness so I'm well and truly buggered in that respect.

When I'm not on GBL I do the most dangerous mixes, although I try to limit them. I should have died about 20 times in the last 5 months
But no one is going to remember me and who on here would know that I was dead?

Brainy, oftentimes I feel where you're coming from, I really do. But your posts also scare the crap out of me a great deal of the time too. I wish you'd take a bit more care, because I for one notice when you're out of sorts.

 

[Tangerine Dream]

I've told my friends to post on here if i die, I'd want all you fuckers to morn the loss

That won't happen though, God told me I was immortal the other day...

Seriously though... you need to fix your brokenbrain I can't relate that well, but I have managed to go straight the past 3 weeks almost now, contrast that with years of being high or drunk or ketted up or on benzos or GBL (literally spent almost every single night of each year on some drug I'd say, for 3+ years) it's doable for anyone... you've just got to be really committed I guess?

 

[eclipsedesign]

This is the third day of complete detox of everything including alcohol.
I'm going to really start focusing on university and generally sorting everything the fuck out. Can't be dealing with this procrastination, hangovers, comedowns, fuck it.
Going to see if I can manage two complete weeks and then try and push that to a month, I just don't see the point in studying my course and wasting it away getting fucked all the time.

 

[eclipsedesign]

I just need to learn to save getting a bit drunk/wasted for the odd good occasion every other week and such. I've pushed things pretty far and don't want to go back, and drugs mean I don't practise writing music which makes me feel like shite.

 

[captain codshit]

Been t total for the last 10 days, feeling alot better for it. Been doing tons of exercise and eating healthy food aswell. Just had a few beers with mates watching the football. Feel like I have actually learned something from my wee stay in a&e tho.

My mates DJ'ing on the local pub this weekend. Should be a good one but will see if I really have learnt my lesson. Will probably just be a few beers anyway would like to keep up the no chemicals for a little bit longer till my bday.

 

[eclipsedesign]

Loving this. Been up bright and early from 7.30am made brekkie organized lecture notes I feel like a machine :D

 

[Treacle]

You succeeded to get it off doctor then?

Yeah, at long last. Got two month's worth on repeat. Just for being honest.

But anyway, they have her on cinnarizine, which is a antihistamine. What the fuck is that gonna do for her situation?

I was put on that for the dizziness I got with anxiety. It's good for travel sickness, and actual dizziness which isn't caused by mad anxiety. It didn't help me at all. I don't really get dizzy now. I just don't get anxious enough.

 

[cherrycolouredfunk]

Yeah, at long last. Got two month's worth on repeat. Just for being honest.

Good stuff.

I just had major dizzy anxiety spell in my interview today. Just had to breathe through it and keep talking. Bloody irritating it was.

 

[discopupils]

I'm definitely needing to stop the drugs for a good few weeks after this weekend. wish me luck!

 

[DS_]

My ketamine sabbatical has lasted 1 month 14 days thus far the longest since I started back in 2007. It's been a combination of a draught and little loss of love with the chemical. I'm not sure how long to keep this up for though.

GBL Sabbatical starts today I should think with any luck I will have SOME willpower this time. Repeated relapsing can fuck off.

Good luck everyone!

 

[Bella Figura]

Congrats

I'm on 3 weeks without benzos now, aiming for a month. Probably going to need a codeine sabbatical soon as well.

 

[CbRoXiDe]

Think a H sabbatical is in order after this weekend. My use has been getting abit to frequent as of late, best to air on the side of caution I think and take a break for a while.