How do I get to be myself again?

Question

I have been depressed for a few years now. It basically started when I got news that my wife had been cheating on me. It got worse after I separated from my wife and began drinking in copious amounts of alcohol. I have been sober for a little over a year and a half now. I am taking 125mgs of Ratio-Sertraline and 200mgs of Wellbutrin daily and 7.5mgs of Zopliclone nightly. I seem to be on a mixture that works well to keep me balanced but not enough to bring me back to my happy-go-lucky self. Sometimes I wonder if maybe I should slowly stop taking these drugs and see how things go without them. I think that my doctors like to throw pills at problems because they don't know any other way. Being in the military, I'm not sure if I should go against what my doctor tells me.

Answer 1

Sorry to hear about your depression.. have you specifically asked your doc about weaning off the meds? I don't know, as far as military personnel, what obligations you may have to following docs orders to the letter, but if it were me (a civilian, and NOT a doctor or medical professional of any sort) and if I thought that a reduction in the meds might help, I'd do it.

I'd also keep a journal, chronicling my every mood swing, my thoughts and feelings, and daily general attitude. That way, you can really keep track of what your meds change is doing to you, and whether the change is a benefit or a detriment to your life and outlook as a whole. Great job on getting and staying sober, by the way. That in itself is commendable.

Hate to say it, but you may never again find your Happy Go Lucky self... time itself has a way of eroding that person away.. add to the time factor some unpleasant experiences that change who we are, fundamentally, as a person.. you know what I mean.

I do wish you the best of luck. From your post it's somehow obvious that you're a good guy, and you deserve happiness. Hope you find it!

Answer 2

Good god man, take a leaf from your own booklet and do what you have suggested, you are correct to want to get off these chemical cocktails. You will never be your old self if you continuously take these toxic drugs. You are essentially lining the doctors pockets with your hard earned money. You sound like an intelligent person so whats the problem, get off the drugs. I believe you need to change your drug supplier. You will need to slowly lessen the dose over a period of weeks.
Good luck to you.
You will need to wear some bright yellow clothing, sit in the full sun for 10-20 minutes, get out and get some fresh air, and say goodbye to 'not-your-friend' the doctor. Does it not concern you at all that what doctors do is called 'Practice'?

Answer 3

Those drugs basically dull your brain so you don't care about much of anything. It's no way to live. You should be getting counseling to deal with your feelings and negative thinking habits, so that you can be in control instead of the drugs. Drugs alone are never the answer unless one has a chemical imbalance in the brain - not so in your case because your depression was caused by a situation in your life. With counseling you should be able to slowly taper off the drugs one at a time. Ask you doctor which to taper off of first. Be advised that going off the drugs causes severe withdrawal symptoms in many people. You might think you are more depressed, and it might be the withdrawal you are going through. You might also have headaches, dizziness, ringing in your ears and other symptoms. It might take several months to taper off, but it is worth it.

Answer 4

Alcohol is a depressant, which probably made your original depression even worse. I'm glad you've gotten yourself sober -- that's a good step in the right direction.

Whatever you do, don''t try to wean yourself off the meds without help and advice from your doctor. That can cause some very serious physical and psychological conditions.

I suggest going to your doctor and discussing your concerns with him, then following his orders. The military doesn't have much of a sense of humor when it comes to their people collapsing, and a simple blood test would tell them if you've been taking the prescribed meds.

Hopefully, your doctor will be sympathetic and will help you by changing your meds, lowering the dosage, or whatever it takes to get you feeling better. God bless!

Answer 5

i've been depressed for about 12 years and i'm still not the happy go lucky person i used to be and i'm also taking wellbutrin. depression is a lack of a chemical in the brain and so the anti-depressants are there to replace it. you should see about getting a different type of anti-depressant and maybe get in to see a counselor. my dr. won't give me my happy pills without having counseling also. he thinks it's a 2 part solution to a big problem. there are alot of new (i call them) "Happy Pills" out in the market so explain to the dr. you're still not right. don't stop taking the ones your on otherwise you will go into a downward spiral. good luck, and i would like to say thank you and that i appreciate you fighting for our freedom.

Answer 6

Being in the military, if you ask your doctor for a fasting blood insulin test, to rule out a blood sugar imbalance as the cause of your depression, would he order it?

Check out the symptoms link at www.hufa.org. The fact that you used alcohol to recover from the depression makes me think you might have a low blood sugar condition.

Feel free to e-mail me through my profile if you wish.

Answer 7

I believe you should follow your heart.
Doctors prescribe anti-depressants and sometimes people on them become more depressed.
You should slowly work at taking them less and also start occupying yourself with the things that you enjoy.
You shouldn't spend your life sheltered and on medication, you should be out enjoying the beautiful weather and nature and all the things you enjoy like sports and movies.

Answer 8

TALK this over with your doctor first (preferrably a psychiatrist). It is your life we're talking about here. And every one of us is special and has been put here for a reason. I have bipolar disorder (manic depression ) most of my life so I understand your feelings. But just remember....someday you may be able to help someone else out...but you have to help yourself first! Good luck!

Answer 9

It sounds like you are on your way to being yourself again.

Drinking gone, wonderful.

Now on the road to your happy go lucky self. Are you in therapy?
one on one, or group therapy?

Medication DOES WORK, although you may not need it forever,
talk this over with your Dr.

In the mean time, are you going out? trying new adventures? etc.
It helps!

good luck to you

Answer 10

Just take it one day at a time, I am here for you if you ever want to talk.