I think some conditions can't be cured, they need to be managed as best they can.
If a med helps to keep someone from feeling horrible or thinking horrible thoughts then to me it would be worth it.

HEY WHAT ABOUT THIS STORY I JUST FOUND

{{{From the April 2001 Idaho Observer:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can it be the world is in a moral crisis?

After reading the following Prozac horror story this will no longer be a question.

by Vickie Barker

Can it be we have become comfortably numb to the world around us? Do we no longer have the power to analyze information that is brought to us? Do we no longer hope to change the dishonesty and deceit or should we only sit back and hope that somehow the deceit will pass us by?

I am compelled to tell this story in hopes that you may take the time to research the possibility that we are receiving misinformation concerning the potentially deadly side effects of frequently prescribed pharmaceutical drugs.

In 1993, I was seeking medical help for headaches and was not sleeping well. The doctor felt that a drug called Prozac was the solution. True I had been under some stress and I had always assumed that doctors were the last word when it came to good health. My stress I suppose had been growing over several years. By 1989 I had watched my husband, my soul mate and father of our five children change into a violent and angry alcoholic. In a period of two years this man's personality had been totally altered. He had not been much of a drinker before, but maybe because of his metabolism, it seemed the alcohol began to consume him. I had to make a choice for my wellbeing and the children's wellbeing to leave him. In 1990 he was killed in a fishing accident in the Bering Sea.

Life moved ahead, I found a good job, bought a house and had very good medical insurance. "I now wonder if good medical insurance may just be one of the most deadly diseases we face today."

But in 1993 the doctors felt that I had experienced so many traumatic situations over the past several years that I was diagnosed as depressed. They suggested that the depression was causing the headaches and sleeplessness. I was given a prescription for Prozac. On the fourth day of taking the medication, somewhere along the one mile trip home something changed. By the time I hit the front door I wanted to die. I walked straight to the bedroom and while sitting on the bed began thinking about getting the gun and ending it all. I was overwhelmed with wanting to end my life, right then. Fortunately, I realized that something was not right. I was not the type that believed in suicide. I reached for the phone instead of the gun and the Doc advised I stop the Prozac immediately and come to the office. He prescribed a different drug. From that point my condition continued to deteriorate. The next few diagnoses covered such things as Chronic Pain Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and finally, Multiple Sclerosis. The total for pharmaceuticals was sometimes in excess of $400 per month. By this time I was no longer able to concentrate, had lost my balance, suffered excruciating headaches, endured back spasms and much more.

My health continued down hill and I realized I wouldn't live much longer at that rate. I wanted off the medication. I couldn't tell what symptoms were from the disease and what were side effects from the drugs. Reluctantly the doctors finally agreed they would refer me to a pain clinic. It took three months, to wean me off the drugs and I began to return to my old self. We made a decision to move back to Idaho. I began learning about the natural medicinal herbs and found remarkable success in using natural products in treating many diseases in place of the chemical compounds I had been prescribed in the past.

In April, 2000, my then 17-year-old daughter was having devastating episodes and was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from violence she witnessed as a young child. A therapist was found in Southern Calif. and she stayed there with an aunt to receive the therapy.

During that time I became acquainted with a gentleman that shared some startling information with me. There are, in fact, several successful treatments for cancer and there is a formula available that prevents heart disease and stroke. These are not treatments promoted by the medical mainstream. Further research resulted in the discovery of scientific proof that millions are suffering and dying needlessly. This impressed upon me to assist in further research. My 15-year-old daughter Anny became very involved. She knew the suffering our family felt during my years of struggle and was even more upset with the facts she found. One upsetting fact was that the U.S. is the only nation in the world that has not banned the use of asbestos and bleaching with dioxins in feminine hygiene products. Another fact that upset her even more was watching the Cancer clinics asking for more donations and those ads would show small children that had undergone chemotherapy. She was angry that these children were allowed to suffer, even though their cancers could be stopped quickly, safely and affordably.

During the summer of 2000 we bought a television because my son had an accident that disabled him for a couple of months. It was shocking to see how television had changed but even more remarkable were the amount and kinds of advertising about pharmaceutical drugs; some of which seem to allow young persons to diagnose themselves. Many of these drugs list very serious side effects, but they DO NOT list all of the potential side effects.

The therapy in California was very expensive for my 17-year-old and our funds ran out two months before she was finished. The psycologist telling us she still needed care, she came back to Idaho and went to a doctor for her depression and anxiety. The doctor prescribed Prozac. I watched her carefully and was nervous about it, but it seemed she hadn't reacted the same as I had seven years before and her anxiety attacks seemed to subside. This was December, 2000.

The family was really happy to be together and it had been a very long year. On January 30th the girls had been in and out of the house all day. Laughing and joking as they went to visit friends in the area. Nothing out of the ordinary. They stopped by the house sometime between 3 and 4 in the afternoon. Both were happy and heading down to a neighbor's house.

Less than 2 hours later, my 15-year-old, Anny Belle, walked in the front door covered with snow. I asked, "Did the truck breakdown?" She answered, "No, I just walked home." She brushed the snow off and headed upstairs to her room. I called to her, "There is chicken on the counter." She answered, "OK." I then heard her walk down the stairs and heard our little dog yelp. Then I heard her say, "Oh, I'm sorry Valerie." She probably stepped on her going down the stairs. Then I heard her footsteps go back to the kitchen area. About 20 to 30 seconds later, I heard a pop. I called to her, "Anny, what was that noise?"..No answer.

I got up and called up the stairs to her, no answer. I walked into the kitchen expecting to see her standing there. She wasn't there. I walked through the kitchen and opened the back door. As I stepped out I saw my beautiful baby girl lying face up in the snow. She had blown the back of her head off.

This was the most agonizing sight for any mother to see. Nothing made any sense. She had just been fine. Anny had no signs of depression or suicidal tendencies. In fact she had just the day before scheduled her next week full of activities. No warning .. No signs. No time for a note. It made no sense at all. We were in shock.. Then 30 minutes before her funeral one of her friends told us that Anny had been sneaking into her sister's Prozac for the last few days. Her friend said she started taking them about 4 days ago, we counted them and there were 4 pills missing.

As with most news today, some will say, Ah Ha, another death from a gun. It was not a gun that killed my daughter --it was a legal drug that is being prescribed to millions of people. Cigarette commercials were cited as the cause of promoting smoking to children and taken off the air. These pharmaceutical commercials are causing children to self diagnose and with the availability of these drugs they can easily give them a try. Prozac was advertised in the past as the “feel good” drug. Where is the disclaimer at the end of the commercial when they list the potential side effects? I can tell you this, the commercials do not list potential suicidal tendencies in some persons. Where is that potential suicidal tendency side effect listed on the bottle? Where is that potential suicidal tendency side effect listed on the paper that is given to us at the pharmacy? It isn't.

Anny broke a law by taking someone else's medication. Her punishment was death.

I think that punishment was rather harsh for the crime. The real crime is the fact that money is more important to these companies than human life. By withholding basic information regarding side effects and safety studies done on these products, I believe we are being mislead.

My research during this last month has given us proof that the company manufacturing this drug has in fact known about this side effect since at least 1978 and some say it has been known since the 1950s. When do the people get the truth? How many suicides can be attributed to this potential side effect? How many of these are overlooked in the data being collected? When will we as a people say, "Either give us the whole truth or get these advertisements off the television?”

We can not bring back my baby girl, but God willing, we will be able to spread the word that we are being misled and that people need to be aware of what these chemicals do in our bodies so that others are not left with this pain and frustration.

Anny contributed many hours in her last eight months to help spread the word on many health issues. Advanced Scientific Health has donated a membership to the Anny Belle Foundation. Proceeds from this membership will support youth achievement in rural areas and assist with chemical and drug education that will alert others to drug interactions. Please help support getting the truth to the uninformed and the misinformed. You can help spread the word by going to The AnnyBelle Foundation. Get the scientific proof that can potentially save millions of lives a year.

This cannot stop here. I have had a call to action and as you realize the misleading information we receive on a daily basis may affect your loved ones, this may be your call to action as well. I know it will take funds that I do not have right now to make this message heard but I will continue to spread the word as I am able.

If you would like to offer suggestions, make a donation or have information that could help, please call or email me at: abfoundation @ hotmail.com

or write to:
Vickie Barker
AnnyBelle Foundation
P.O. Box 420
Fernwood, Id. 83830
e-mail: abfoundation @ hotmail.com

As a special note, I have discovered that the Eli Lily Company, makers of Prozac, now have a new drug on the market called Sarafen. If you look closely at the commercial you will see it is Fluoxetin Hydrocloride and is being prescribed for a pre menstrual disorder commonly known as PMS. Fluoxetin Hydrocloride is Prozac. }}}}}}}}}

Have you tried coming off the mj for a while to just see if maybe your physical sx's disappeared?

Also...prozac is sometimes used to help ED. It's not all bad.

Besides with BPD, I was under the impression that they've found anti-seizure meds more effective than AD's.

About the article...yes there is a risk involved, but here's the warning label off of Zoloft..

WARNING: Antidepressant medications are used to treat a variety of conditions, including depression and other mental/mood disorders. These medications can help prevent suicidal thoughts/attempts and provde other important benefits. However, studies have shown that a small number of people(especially people younger than 25) who take antidepressants for any condition may experience worsening depression, other mental/mood symptoms, or suicidal thoughts/attempts. Therefore, it is very important to talk with the doctor about the risks and benefit......

The label goes on. Let me tell you....the idea is, these thoughts do not occur overnight. It's a recurring pattern. If thoughts are left untreated or unmentioned, of course it could get pretty bad, yet then again...these thoughts can exist without the meds.

I'd imagine that if you were under compliant treatment with a trained medical doctor, then they'd know you've a history of this kind of thinking.

I see in your above post, mention of chronic mj use. Though it's touted by many as nature's prozac....as with any medication, too much of a 'good' thing can have some pretty negative outcomes.

You are complaining about short-term memory issues, yet you continue to toke it up.
You are complaining about unexplainable muscle twitches, yet you continue to use.
You complain about possibly being schizophrenic...yet...you still use!

Don't you see a pattern?

Could it be possible that you've gone from use to misuse/abuse? Isn't it just another unhealthy coping mechanism?

You write like you've got the potential to accomplish a great many things. It seems like you are an intelligent enough human being. Just very scared. I really hope for your sake, and the sake of your son, you are able to overcome yourself and start finding the truth and beauty in life.

It's not all good/bad, black/white...life is full of grey areas. I'm glad you are posting on NT. It's a great place! Truly it is!


Your dysmorphic disorder could very well be connected to the borderline dx. And I'm suprised, that as a borderline, you've spent so much time with hypnotherapy--0-3 is the source of trauma for borderlines. DBT is much more effective! That's been proven thanks to the research of Marsha Linehan.

Best of Luck! Please realize, somewhere deep inside of you, that I am not posting to you for the sake of argument, nor because I don't care about you. Believe me, if I didn't care I wouldn't have posted.

And if you've felt ignored on this board in any way, sometimes posts like these make others fearful of spammers, or they just don't know what to say or how to say it....like I said...life is full of grey areas!

I hope you seek wellness in some way shape or form.....Warm Wishes....

Hi there Gladys!!

Wow, i reprect you so mush more for putting me in my place. LoL. You are write in so many ways andi thank you for letting me see a little grey. The day i read your message i had a doctors appointment for something else. I decided to ask my doctor for something for anxity ( FOR NOW!!!!), something i can take when needed. Even though i don't agree with medication for mental health( it's an easy way out, and a bandaid for the soloution) i have a son that needs me, and if i don't get out of this depression due to my anxity soon i'll ended up dying and not seeing him anyway. HE"S THE ONLY REASON.

I am going to try my best once again and again and again ( lol) to quit the whole weed thing but on Sunday, hee hee i start school on monday. It gets very hard to cope with things. I have been smoking since i was 14 pretty regular like now until i was pregnant with my son, i still smoked it after he was born butonly when he went to bed for the night and only like 3 times a week or less. And until he got tookin 3 in a half years ago now i smoke all day. I LOVED how you said " u see a patteren" just like the articule. i laugh afew times on that one, plus it got my attention ven more.

I have to ask you about what you meant about the hypnotherapy and the effects u said. U said u were suprised about something. I am having some eye effects from it, but i don't know if it' the hypno or something else in it self.

I just wanted to clarify with you what my difficulties are so were on the same page.I would love to keep in contact with you seem blunt, very intelligent and your on both sides of the fence when it comes to naturals and medicine. I have been diaignosed with borderline A.D.D means i'm onthe normalcy and borderline of having it, also clinical depression, personality disorder, anxiety, learning dissablities( i say difficulties). I think i may have OCD from having to stay at a shelter for 2 weeks because i had no money to get home when i was out of town. This was a year in a half ago. I would like to disscuse that with you on a latter date, cuz i already feel like i'm rambling. A lot of people can't read my letters. Please feel free to ask if you can't understand something. I seen a thing about body dismorfic disorder, i don't know if i have that or not but wouldl ike to disscuss it with someone knowledgable about it.

I'm going ot end this until your reply. It might take me a week or so to get back. I come on about once a week, 'll read it right away but responded when i come on the site and read a bit also. I feel the more you obsseesse about your mental health the more it stays with you.

Talk to you soon
Cory

Oh yeah i seen in another reply you had sent to me , i think it was a link about personality disorder, i'm not good at understanding complicated things, or putting things together. If you can explain it a little more that would help. I would REALLLY liek to study that hard because i think thats my biggest effect.

As far as Borderline Personality Disorder is concerned.....DBT has been proven as a much better therapy than hypnotherapy!

Something you might want to consider.

I see you are spending huge amounts of $$$ on hypnotherapy, and with borderline it's not showing to be as effective. Sometimes it makes your progress back-track. Borderline is due to something traumatic in early childhood(along with some type of genetic physical component, possibly). Whether it be physical abuse of some sort or just witnessing some traumatic episodes between your parents, etc.

What happens is that BPD's in stressful circumstances sometimes 'regress' emotionally to that 'child-like' place where things are black/white---I'm just simply stating to help you understand what you are up against.

Someone who specializes in DBT---will help you stop letting your emotions control you, so that you can function better with your life.

Don't beat yourself up over the other stuff. Just realize that after using for numerous years, things can occur in your body, that suddenly there is a toxic reaction. They call this Tardive Dyskinesia. This is something that can happen with any medication after sustained usage through the years. If you view mj as a med...then this is something to consider.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardive_dyskinesia

Best of Luck with schooling!!!

Prettyinpink...

Back to the teen suicides. The warning labels on AD's now come with the warning that these things can occur in users under 25.

With those warnings, those over 25 don't seem to be at such an elevated risk.

And anti-anxiety pill that starts with L? Is it Lamictal, by any chance? I hear that's pretty good for all that you've got going on with you....

Hello, I have to say you are very right when it comes to me obssessing about my mental health. You seem very intelligent person. In saying that to a person that is feeling suisidal thoughts and is overwhelmed i would leave the whole " i got a headache thing" to yourself. Don't get me wrong i mean no disrespect , i do like a person who is blunt , and LITTLE harsh, but your reply was very rude, inconsiderate, and thoughtless. If i did not have my son to consider your message would proberly take alot of peole over the edge if they were in my shoes.

Try and be a little more considerate of other people and how they are feeling.

Best Wishs

P.s I do belive alot o people on here don't have the key answers but have alot of knowledge and puzzle pieces that can help each other reach our goal of self awareness.

I knew your reply would evoke that kind of reaction from PrettyinPink. The brain is a very complex organ. I believe harboring suicidal thoughts is a mental imbalance which needs motivation and support more than anything else. This person needs understanding, not condemnation.

Plus, compassion and support from peers is very important for someone with a personality disorder. The brain is most definitely a very complex organ. And with PD's emotions are what rule the mind.