How can I cure myself from depression without taking medication that you get addicted to?

Question

I take paxil CLR for depression and I want to get off of it because im becoming dependent on it. If or when i run out I have major withdraws. Its the worst feeling in the world! HELP.

Answer 1

see a therapist, get involved with good positive friends, get involved with a group theraphy.
Group Theraphy helps me the most with my depressions, I have friends that I have met there and they understand me better than those that don't go to group.

Answer 2

You need help alright, but you don't need to get off of your meds. You need some therapy or additional therapy. Look, do you know how many people with mental disorders try to discontinue their meds on their own??? And do you know what happens to them?? They end up locked up. If you need this medication, take it. So what if you're dependent on it; no big deal...you just keep taking it. I'm telling you this from personal experience and from professional experience. Do Not Play With Your Meds!!! Your doctor will think there's more than depression going on and actually, it does sound like it. Get your mind on something pleasant and forget about yourself for a while. Remember how you felt before the Paxil?? Well, you'll be headed right back down that road. This condition is not something you can control. You didn't ask for it. You're working yourself into this helpless feeling, so get your butt out and do something productive; maybe even for someone else. God bless.

Answer 3

clinical depression is caused by a lack of neurochemicals, you cannot cure yourself of this problem.
Taking an antidepressant isn't the end of the world, unless you are irresponsible enough to run out, then, like most medications you go thru withdrawal, and with antidepressants especially that can be dangerous; sudden cessation can lead to seizures coma even death.....something your doctor should have told you when you started taking the Paxil.
The problem, in mho, is that people start feeling better when they take the antidepressants, and start thinking they don't need them anymore.....guess why you feel better? The meds work!!!
I would suggest you would do far better to go to regular counselling so you better understand how clinical depression affects your life, and how to better deal with the results of that diagnosis. Whining about having to take medication is pointless and counterproductive. It's like a diabetic whining about having to have insulin.....it does keep him alive!!! So, get off the pity pot, take your medication, and find a good counsellor to help you sort out your issues.

Answer 4

Not much. There are drugs that the doctor can prescribe that are basically synthetic man-made versions of the chemicals that your body makes, or at least it's supposed to, under normal conditions. You can try a hot bath, but when you go to sleep, your temperature drops. Don't make yourself uncomfortably cold, but turn the thermostat down a few degrees. Also, have a turkey sandwich for the tryptophan. And if you don't go to sleep within 15 minutes, get up and walk a little. Alternate the 15 minutes trying to sleep with a little walk. This will hopefully also help.

Answer 5

Antidepressants are NOT addictive. You have withdrawals because you are going off cold turkey by running out. If and when you come off antidepressants, you need to do so gradually to help your brain/body adjust.
Antidepressants actually stimulate your brain to produce more of the chemicals that are lacking (i.e serotonin). By weening off you are hoping that the brain will continue to make that amount of chemicals without as much drugs in your system.
Are you in therapy? That's a big deal too especially since you are so paranoid about addictions. I'd say, start counseling, stay on the meds and DON"T forget to get the Rx filled on time.

Answer 6

That's true. Withdrawals are the worst. First, you have to ask yourself, is using the drug becoming a problem? You have to weigh the positive and the nagatives of it, because quitting a narcotic cold turkey is dangerous, dangerous stuff.

If you're using the drug, and you can interact with soceity and go about your business in a reasonable fashion, then you don't have a problem; just an addiction.

Speak with your doctor. That's the best advice anyone can give you (even a recreational substance abuser such as I can find advice on this subject tricky to give). It's thin ice you tread on, so be careful.

Answer 7

I stuggle with really bad depression at times. I never took medications for it when I was younger because my mom believe that depresssion is not a real disorder. But it is very real and can be caused my chemical imbalances. Turns out mine is from multiple cystts causing my hormones to go out of wack. My moods have changed drastically since I have been treated for it.

My point is, get checked for something that might be causing it. Who knows, if treated, you would feel a LOT better.

And as for dealing for it without medication, for me it was my friends that got me through it. They put up with me being weird and coming to them being sad for no reason. There were times where I felt suicidal and stuff. I wouldn't tell them that, just that I needed a friend to be with at that moment. They put up with me knowing that I had some stuff to work through. I hope that you have people in your life like that too to help you out.

Edit: I am not saying to get off of it at all. If I could have, I would have taken something. I'm just advising that you get checked to see if there is another cause, and hoping for you that you have friends to help you though all of it.

Answer 8

Despression is either a chemical imbalance, in which case you really need to stay on it, or it is environmental.

Get out of the house, get a hobby, and join the world. I know how bad depression can be, I've been there. I got my ovaries removed, which got rid of my chemical imbalance which was causing the depressions, and I got a life. I forced myself to get several hobbies. I study just about everything, I found my spirituality, and I began writing stories. Putting my characters through my own issues and making them work it out actually helped me to work things out. A lot of the depressions turned out to be caused by past issues. Once I dealth with them, I was fine.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Its highly unlikely that you will become addicted to Paxil. It is not an addictive drug in most cases. Going off it cold turkey is a very bad idea and can actually increase the depression symptoms.

Answer 10

I took Paxil...hated it. Honestly, the ONLY thing that really helped me was exercise and diet. I still suffer from severe depression...I'm an alcoholic currently relapsed unfortunately, but I know the difference between depression from alcohol and the other kind. The best I ever felt in my life was when I exercised and watched my diet.