Wellbutrin or homeopathic treatment?

Question

Wellbutrin (anti-depressent) or not?
Over the past two years I've become holisticly minded. I very rarely take tylenol and never artifical sweetners etc
I have an ongoing major depression w/sadness, no focus, indecision, isolation. My life changed 14 months ago when I quit a job I hated but supported me financially w/ a degree of security. Bad timing was a breakup the day before. I wouldn't label my funk depression for the 1st 7 months but rather extreme heartbreak as I struggled financially and tried to build a new business.
Well the business has proved to be challanging by virtue of the FDA (another story) + other things. I'm still doing it on a small level while going deeper into debt. I'm in a deep funk, often feel paralized, have way to much free time-which makes everything worse.
In desperation I got on Wellbutrin yesterday. For months I've considered it but always went back to "I'm going to defeat this funk by virtue of worthwhile action" I'm worried about putting these chemicals into my body.keep taking?

Answer 1

I can see it in two ways:

1. You can not take the meds. and make an actual full fledged effort at going homeopathic. This would include:
- Change your diet (allow yourself some goodies but in small amounts, chocolate is great if you like it because it increases mood)
- Drink more water
- Force yourself to excercise (even if you don't feel like going out, you have to at least go for a walk)
- Expose yourself to sunlight. If no sunlight is available expose yourself to a high amount of artificial light. Light is shown to increase one's mood
- Force yourself to have people contact (at least once a day for an hour a day)
- Force yourself to get enough sleep. Go to bed at regular times and wake at regular times (there are herbs that can help)
- Start doing something productive and charitable. You can volunteer somewhere (which will give you people contact) or you can do something from home like make crafts that you will sell and donate money or donate crafts.
- Take care of your mental health. If there are issues from past or present bothering you make sure to journal at least and if you can see a counselor.

All of the things I listed above are essential to raising your mood naturally. In fact even if you take meds. you should try to do these things.

2. On the other hand you can take meds. to improve the quality of your life more quickly and then go back to being homeopathic.

Do what your gut tells you to do. Trust yourself. And it is very important to stay in contact with social support in case things get worse before they get better.
Hope things work out for you!!!!!

Answer 2

Major depression is caused by a biochemical defect in your brain. It is a serious, life-threatening illness that need serious treatment. Whether Wellbutrin is the best choice for you or some other treatment most people do need medication. I do not recommend homeopathic treatment for anything. I holistic approach is always reasonable (mind, body and spirit), but that is not the same thing a homeopathic treatment. The is no reason the medications like Wellbutrin cannot be part of a holistic approach.

Homeopathy is based on the notion that you can treat a disease but using that disease in very dilute amounts to stimulate the body to fight the disease. Typically some substance will be diluted hundreds of times, and then be given as a remedy for the illness. In most instances the "active ingredient" has been diluted so much that it is undetectable.

A few years ago, using homeopathic principles are large group of people in France (I believe) commit "suicide" by drinking homeopathic poison. Of coarse, the poison was so dilute that if had absolutely no affect at all. This was done to illustrate the absurdity of homeopathy.

Answer 3

You've got a lot of stuff goin' on there, buddy.
Please find a family counselor to touch base with. If the chemicals don't work well for you, they may make you more despondent, and without having someone to 'check in with' regularly, that could be dangerous (as in rrrrrreally suicidal). At least having a counselor allows you to mark your progress in managing your depression. It's a real load off to have an unbiased, nonjudgmental individual with eager ears for only you, once a week or so.
The advantage of that type of chemical is to slow down, or stop, the 'knee-jerk' emotional reaction we have to stimuli (situations, conditions). This allows us to get in better touch with however it is we want to use our minds. Over time, you might find you miss the emotional element (first it's a curse, when it feels gone, we miss the blessing of it, go figger), and prefer to manage the depression with homeopathics. Either way, seeing a counselor will be like a rudder in the heavy seas of life, there to guide you come what may.
Blessings and good luck, wishing you all health.

Answer 4

A certain percentage of people with major depressive disorder have it biologically and genetically. It is not just mental. You can not change your body chemistry and genes with homeopathic means.

I recommend using medication to stabilize you body and then use alternative medicine to stabilize your mind. Because you will not truely get better until those two are in harmony.

HOWEVER, I am a former user of Wellbutrin. And I want to warn you that the medicine can make you a little shakey, just so you know what to expect. It did not sit well in my body so I had to change, but many people love it. Make sure to monitor yourslef very carefully.

Answer 5

there are different types and causes for depression,i have been what they call bi polar most of my life.and taken everything on the market,and most have some type of side affect.wellbutrin has had the least amount of side affects of any Ive ever taken.it has also been the only one that i could tell after about 4 weeks was helping me.i personally think you got lucky to find a doctor that knew what he/she was doing without having to be a test monkey.good luck.

Answer 6

I believe you can. Shouldn't be anything with ur blood just messes with chemicals in ur brain