Did this question offend you when your doctors suggested it?

Frankly the thought of living without medicine for my depression and anxiety is more scary.

In my opinion, if your referring to AD's, then that would be doubtful that any Doctor could foretell the future. Never did any of my Doctors tell me that I would be on meds forever. My Doctors and Therapist dealt with the present, only.
Doug

I voted "yes" but I want to clarify. It upsets me because I worry about maintaining access to my meds, mostly because of the cost and my changing health coverage. I've been on my partner's health plan, because I'm self-employed and a single plan would be astronomical. Well, we're separating soon, and although he said he'd keep me on the plan as long as I need, I know that eventually I'll have to think of something else. I'm just hoping that with a new president, my country will finally take care of its own people and offer some kind of national health coverage.

I've tried stopping my medication a couple of times, and it's been a disaster. It used to bother me that I physically need it to live a decent life, but I can honestly say I've gotten over that now. There are many people with chronic illnesses that need medication for life, and I think I have it relatively easy as far as treatment. Pop two pills a day and I'm done. As I said, the only thing that concerns me is being able to afford those two pills every day for the rest of my life.

I voted no because, as Kirkwuk says, the thought of living with untreated depression and anxiety is way scarier than continuing to take meds. I just hope the meds keep working......

I do agree with Duggie also though that it is strange for a doctor to talk about "the rest of your life". No one knows what may happen. But, I am definitely ok with the possibility that I will need to continue taking medication for the foreseeable future.

Good luck to you and everyone

Joanna

Initially I fought against it. I wasn't offended. However, once acceptance had sunk in: that hubby and I have a life together now that i can take an AD and a beta-blocka for ever: i relaxed and realised that we enjoy things again: that I no longer sit, deeply depressed, unable to leave the house through pre-hensile fear ...... I can go into our garden, we shop together, I can visit friends ........

If someone told me that the drugs weren't going to be offered any longer I would crawl into bed and wait ........... however, a psychiatrist recognised my 22-month cycle of depression ups and downs so made the suggestion: low maintenance dose for life. This way I don't have to worry about tomorrow: tomorrow never comes, it's always today ;-) : I am less likely to end up in that deep pit of darkness and if my brain begins to get low of mood then I uppe the doseage for 5-10 days. I visit my Dr every 3-6 months to up-date him on my progress. It is worth the hung-over efffect I get some mornings

I said yes, because I recovered from a previous depression, and there's no reason to believe that I won't recover from this one too.

And during the last one, they claimed I was bipolar, and pumped me full of drugs that made me stoned out of my gourd, and told me I was disabled and to go on disability! I threw their meds and their advice out and reclaimed my life. Since then, I've bought my house, worked full time teaching history to inner city high school kids, dealt with my dad's unexpected death and my mom's prolonged illness, as well as my son's heroin addiction, (he's now in recovery). Doesn't seem too "disabled" to me!

So, if someone tells me I need psycotropic meds for life, I'm going to think twice about it. They've been proven wrong before! And in the end, it's *my* life.

I've also found that when I take care of myself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, I am much better off. And yea, it's true, when I'm depressed, it's harder to do. The trick it to do it to keep from getting depressed in the beginning!
I know that this may not be true for everyone, but, taking care of ourselves certainly does *help* everyone.

So, in the end, no....don't tell me I'm on psycotropic meds for life. Only I can determine that, based on how I'm doing. And the decision will be made in partnership with my provider. Because my doc is not a dictator; s/he is a *partner* in *my* health care.

Peace!

Oh I agree it is so much better to combat this illness without any drugs whatsoever, but it is so hard for some of us, those that do not sleep whilst working full-time, are a danger to themselves.

I am not in favour of drugs being the ONLY answer, but they are AN ANSWER to people who are in chronic depression and hungry for positive thoughts.

Well, my current pdoc has suggested that I may need to be on antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication for the rest of my life, and that doesn't bother me at all. But you've got to understand that I have lived 40 years in anxiety/fear and depression, have been in and out of therapy most of my life and been on and off several medications with little effect. Because of that, I've gone through periods of just giving up on treatment. But eventually I would get desperate enough to go back. So that's where I am now, back in therapy and on medication. Still having problems with depression, but my anxiety is much better. I'm also using a therapy light, omega III and vitamins along with Celexa, Klonopin and cognitive behavioral therapy. Medication alone has never been a "cure" for me, but the doctors seems so confident that we will be able to find something that works on the depression, too - right now I'm holding on to that hope. And the thought of giving up the anti-anxiety medication is terrifying.

I have no doubt that many of my problems are with my thinking (thus the therapy), but I also know that some of it is biological. Depression and personality disorders run in my family, and I have been full of anxiety for as long as I can remember.

I said 'yes', simply because it's highly unlikely one particular med's benefits are going to last as long as you do, so it will be an endless chop and change to keep on top of things.

Perhaps I'm being overly negative, but I really dread the thought of that.

I voted no. No one has suggested to me that I would have to be on meds for life. I suggested it. I now realize that this is the case and if that's what it takes to keep me out of the pit than that's okay with me. I'd rather take a pill or two every day than live with despair.

I voted yes... I did so not so much because of the medicine itself but I agree with Burgy and Joanna. Burgy states he hopes he can afford his medicine... I hope I can continue to afford the medicines I need. Joanna stated she hope her continue to work... Same here. I don't mind spending some money on my meds as long as they work... I can't afford to but them and still live in

I voted yes. It actually bothers me to sit her and look at the number of pill bottles in front of me. I would love to be able to live without this myriad of drugs that I take for both the physical and emotional pain that has become my life or should I say existence.

No, it doesn't bother me at all. It is better than living in a constant state of depression. I will be on other meds for life (such as insulin for my diabetes). My theory is that insulin helps me manage to live with diabetes, and my other meds help me to manage living with depression. Thanks to my meds I can function and I'd like to stay that way. And as long as I can work, my meds are 80% covered by insurance, so cost is not an issue for me thakfully. I consider myself lucky.

I voted no. Life has so many problems it’s overwhelming for me to grasp even some of them. Popping a pill once or twice a day to deal with it all is no big deal in comparison.

I don’t like the concept of needing a supplement that others don’t to survive. However, I have far more important issues to deal with, so the pill thing doesn’t even register on my list of concerns.

I voted no, although no doctor has ever said this to me. It´s comforting to know that there are so many other people who like me can function normally on meds and who are in the same boat. When I tell someone I´m on ADs they can´t believe it. I consider myself fortunate as meds work for me and I only need a relatively low dose.

I may have voted yes 2 months ago. I was determined to come off my meds as I was convinced I had got rid of my depression, but when it came back with a vengeance I changed my mind. Like many of you have said, much better to take a pill and feel ok than live with depression.

I said no because I have been on meds since I was 18 and can't see my life without them.