Emotional issues but don't want anti-drepressants anymore

[ginandtonic324]

Hi, has anyone managed their depression/anxiety or emotional issues without anti-depressants?

I've taken anti-depressants here and there in my thirties but then I changed GP's and he wanted to prescribe a brand I never took before. He refused to prescribe the ones I always took as they were tricyclics and he didn't feel they were safe. I didn't want to go through the whole trial and error cycle so I said no. This is mainly because the first time around I felt terribly suicidal taking SSRI's for the first time. My head was a complete mess and didn't want to go through that again, or even risk it.

I've been sort of OK for the last four years but I still have periods of rage and irritability combined with anxiety that I find really hard to go through. Obviously, this in turn leads to depression as I feel there's something wrong with me, and I can't cope.

I'm OK for most to the time. but just when I think I'm on a balanced mood, something will happen that throws me back again to square one.

Has anybody been able to manage without medication? What helped, what didn't? Thank you in advance.

Hi gin
I have tried a couple of times to be without AD's and sadly both times I weaned myself off the tricyclic I was on long term I experienced a bout of anxiety and went down hill badly. So I have been in the same mindset as you I think; I wanted to be free of them, but I haven't managed yet. My very supportive GP wanted me to try an SSRi also, as I felt I had plated on my Tricyclic.as they have improved greatly. Many years ago I tried Prozac and was immediately freaked out and hyper anxious on it so switched to Tricyclic, I have now been on Mirtrazipine which is an SNRI or about 2 months and seem to be tolerating, but have had weight gain, but I miss my old ones!

Like you, I still want to be without them but I think its a way off for me. I'm not in a good place at the moment. I have finally qualified for Pychodynamic Psychotherapy on NHS and am joining the waiting list. I hope to be drug free one day.

If you seem to be managing mostly without, are you having any talking therapies or lifestyle changes such as exercise or yoga?

Hope you get on ok.

Personally I didn't cope without medication very well, I've just started on it again and so far so good. Whilst I wasn't on it I couldn't focus long enough even during the good times to arm myself with the tools to help me in the bad times.

I think you need to be very proactive about finding yourself tools to cope with the bad times. If the bad times few or far between, maybe another kind of medication you could just take them would help? I had hydroxyzine recently (sedating antihistamine also prescribed for anxiety) and it was quite effective at getting through a few hard days, it works well with anxiety and helps you sleep. As you've identified those times as a trigger for depression, that might help keep the wolves from the door?

Otherwise, I think you really need to find a good therapist and also work out how you can best practice self care eg some yoga, mindfulness, exercise, reading, whatever you like to do. And make a plan in advance so you don't have to when you're not well enough to. Keep it as a note on your phone so it's just there when you need it. Put some good food in the freezer so you can feed yourself well with minimal effort. Basically get "well you" to make a care plan for "unwell you" .