Anxiety & Depression...Medicine vs. Exercise?!
Question: I have some anxiety and depression. I have been going through some stressful things right now, I have two little kids, taking 3 stressful college courses, have a house, a husband, mom with health problems (we are really close), the works for me right now. My doctor has suggested going on an antidepressant like effexor xr, but I am petrified of the side effects. I had taken effexor about 9 years ago and had minor side effects, but my kids are 2.5 yrs and 1.5 yrs. (not exactly self sufficient) and no one with me during the day should I get nauseous or dizzy.
In the summer I was walking nearly everyday and in the greatest spirit! I had stresses then too. My sex life was great then too, right now it is not so hot b/c my mind is always elsewhere, and antidepressants minimize it too. Has anyone really felt better with just exercise and prayer? I am desperate I don't want to live my life under a drug. I took effexor for 2 years and getting off of it was physically difficult. HELP!
Answers: I have some anxiety and depression. I have been going through some stressful things right now, I have two little kids, taking 3 stressful college courses, have a house, a husband, mom with health problems (we are really close), the works for me right now. My doctor has suggested going on an antidepressant like effexor xr, but I am petrified of the side effects. I had taken effexor about 9 years ago and had minor side effects, but my kids are 2.5 yrs and 1.5 yrs. (not exactly self sufficient) and no one with me during the day should I get nauseous or dizzy.
In the summer I was walking nearly everyday and in the greatest spirit! I had stresses then too. My sex life was great then too, right now it is not so hot b/c my mind is always elsewhere, and antidepressants minimize it too. Has anyone really felt better with just exercise and prayer? I am desperate I don't want to live my life under a drug. I took effexor for 2 years and getting off of it was physically difficult. HELP!
No wonder your'e depressed, honey, you are doing TOO MUCH !
May I suggest to let go of at least two college classes?
That will improve your quality of life tremendously, and your little kids will definitely benefit from it. With kids, one class should be plenty on your plate right now.
You are right, exercise is very uplifting. When I do not exercise I get depressed.
In the mean time, here is what can help you. It helped me when I used to have anxiety attacks:
1. Take long, deep breaths. It slows the heart beat. I used to feel warmth throughout my whole body, this is normal.
2. Drink Orange Blossom (very hot) or Valeriane herbal tea. It helps relax before you go to bed.
3. Take a hot bath. It knocks me right out.
4. Listen to self-hypnosis tape. It saved me from insanity many times. It is called "Relieves Stress and Anxiety" and you can find it at www.thepotentialsunlimited.com
When I had surgery last year I panicked again because I had weird reactions to pain killers and I listened to it about 4 times a day. I was glad I still had it after 15 years !!!
5. Get into meditation and yoga classes. You will learn A LOT of relaxation techniques. Or you can get a book on it.
6. Self-help classes would also help. Panick attacks are the result of repressed emotions and I am pretty sure if you dig inside yourself you will find stuff that will amaze you.
My panick attacks were the result of me, as a child, not knowing in which kind of a mood my alcoholic dad would be when he got home.
Also, I found out that I was a co-dependent. Doing everything for everyone... never asking for help... does it sound familiar?
7. As weird as it sounds, stay away from refined sugar and coffee.
8. Stay away from negative people.
9. Do physical exercise. It stimulates the endorphins in your brain, endorphins are the pleasure hormone that are released when you exercise, listen to music or do pleasant activities.
10. Find your passion. Me, it was martial arts. It kept me busy enough to stop worrying. Life is much better when you are working towards a goals that you have at heart. But in your case it might be to SLOW DOWN... before it's too late.
Good luck!
Despite my being on antidepressants, a healthy lifestyle (especially getting fresh air in my lungs) still seems to have great benefit.
Take the kids for some fresh air too!
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Exercise is one of the first things I recommend actually...medications are of course available...but for many this is not necessary. (your doctor can advise as to the severity). I suggest something FUN...(I started taking a dance class once a week and do go to the gym 3x a week since our weather is FREEZING) - I love the outdoors so walking is great...mall walking too...depending on where you live. Good nutrition is key as well...you are stressed...B vitamins are key in this area...drinking more water daily helps with mood swings too. Not to mention your hormones are probably fluctuating as well with the stress factors...so that can intensify your moods. Taking care of you should always come first...this is not being selfish..this is making sure you are at your best for everyone else!
Docs love, love, love to write scripts for drugs like Effexor cuz they're the hottest thing in anti-depressants. The thing is, they're really for people (like myself, which is how I know so much about this stuff) who have a chemical imbalance/central nervous system problem - and they're meant for people who have to take these pills for a lifetime.
While it IS important to treat depression, there are meds out there with lesser side effects, meant to treat short term event driven depression. AND they're much cheaper with a generic form.
My meds are $1300 a month because there are no generics for the ones I take.
someone once told me, "if everything in your life is going bad, and youre depressed, then it's normal. if everything in your life is going great, and you're depressed, then it's a chemical imbalance."
it sounds like youre going through a lot of stressful situations. it aint easy playing the role of a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a student all at the same time. if you think stress is the reason for the depression & anxiety, exercise might be a better alternative route for you, as well as maybe adopting new relaxation techniques. cant you hire a babysitter for 1-2 hours maybe twice a week so you can do what you want/need to do?
now if your depression is rooted somewhere else or if it's to the point where you can hardly get out of bed and function, then it's probably time for something more drastic (like meds). but the fact that you used to be on an antidepressant and is still going through the illness shows that something didnt work. maybe you can talk to your doctor about the option of a different antidepressant, should you decide to go on it. you might want to see a therapist as well, to help you with new coping mechanisms with your stressors. good luck!
There's a great way to get rid of anxiety, phobias, fears, addictions, traumas and emotional issues in general. It's a technique called EFT which is costless, easy to do and very efficient. You can find out more information and even get a free (donate if you want) consultation here: http://www.info-santanyi.com/eftservice/...
I know exactly how you feel where living your life under a drug is concerned. I can tell you from personal experience that exercise and a positive outlook has always had more power over depression than a bottle of pills ever had. The reason a lot of people with depression don't use this method I think is because it requires a lot of effort. Once you get that ball rolling though, you feel great! I say go for it, after eight years of battling depression, this is the best method I have found that truly works, it empowers you, because it's all you, it's not the doctors, it's not the medication, it's YOU, fighting the beast that is depression. You are actively doing something against it and not relying on pills. And it does wonders for your health all around, your well being, it has so many benifits outside of fighting depression. And the best thing, it doesnt cost you anything, it only requires 30-45 min of your time, 3-5 times a week! If you think you can do that, I say go for it, it's working for me, good luck