Bad Depression and Anxiety

[liftr486]

i just got my bloods back from my doc and he said my total test was 341 and free was around 30. my levels have been going down from 600-500-341 over the past few months as i lowered and stopped my clomid. im going to see him tomorrow but he said theres nothing to do because im still in the "normal" range.

is it just me or does ne body else think that my low-normal levels could be a factor in me feeling like shit? i feel fucken great when im on and now hes basically told me this is how i should be. idk wat to do....now i wanna go back on

 

[ProtienFiend]

Were you taking nolvadex by any chace? That always did a number on me.

Id go with wellbutrin if youre doing anti-d's (talk to doc first, they love to prescribe this stuff). I used lexapro once and it was very weird. It kinda makes you spacey and not care about things. I would recommend something else.

 

[liftr486]

Were you taking nolvadex by any chace? That always did a number on me.

Id go with wellbutrin if youre doing anti-d's (talk to doc first, they love to prescribe this stuff). I used lexapro once and it was very weird. It kinda makes you spacey and not care about things. I would recommend something else.

i would rather fix my test levels than just mask the symptoms with anti-depressants.

 

[ProtienFiend]

i would rather fix my test levels than just mask the symptoms with anti-depressants.

Didnt see your last post, but it is more than likely contributing to how you feel.

 

[thezan]

Hey guys,

I might be a little biased given the fact that I'm in medical school and see things through a more biological standpoint. I just finished a rotation in psychiatry and psych disorders are no joke. I saw the mention of CBT in the thread, and although I agree with you that CBT is effective - it is not effective alone for depression. CBT is far more useful for disorders such as social phobia and what not, because those type of disorders tend to be due to maladaptive thought rather than a biological imbalance. Depression is a little tricky as there is a biological basis (and being in the depressed state alters your body chemistry a lot). Plus, I don't think it is a coincidence that the depression is coinciding with your steroid use. Mental disorders are usually not treated as a type of disease, but they are. Chemical imbalances can lead to profound effects. My advice, see a doc, take the meds and do the therapy too. The meds will cause a lot of side effects which i'm sure you're not going to like (weight gain, sexual dysfunction, liver toxicity, etc.) but stick with it, get your head together and move on. A big problem I see with patients is that they become noncompliant with the meds and end up back in the psych ER. So to summarize: Meds + therapy is effective, but each is not effective alone. Honestly, although I love the AF store guys - but rubbing yourself down with peppermint oil and taking shots of oxytocin into the nares probably won't cut it. Good luck.

Yes, one way to look at depression is through theroies of neurobiologics, but what about psychological theroies? You truley beleive that depression only arises through biologics? What about the lose of a loved one?? what about a person ubbringing- lack of love, care, warmth and protection?? irrational beliefs amd negative distortions of thought about one self?? And when you speak of one who is in their deppressive state, could there be more to altered body chemistry, this is why cognitive-behavioral-therapy is so effective, it tackles the our thought process and we can live healthfully with psychological issues. Include other models into that medical model approach! and you said it yourself, the two make for great recovery.
I agree with you-that meds and use of CBT is very effective; however, i think misunderstood what others encouraged and why one should look into CBT. Yes, you hear of CBT (pretty much) only used with patients with mood disorders and other disorders, but why couldn't one use this therapy when they first notice symptoms of depression?? We both know the answer.... because people are not educated in effective ways to deal/cope with problems and do not face them-leaving the problem unattended-which causes a sever state. But what if it people did know of statagies...... Perhaps you should look at the idea of health promotion/proactive and CBT..could these therapies not be used to the general public for depression??

That's pretty impressive that you're actually managing your bipolar purely on will power alone. I've met some interesting bi-polar patients and it seems so unlikely that they could control it (especially during manic episodes). Most of them lacked insight into their problems so that made it much harder.

 

[thezan]

Also to add,

U should look into more effective ways of dealing with your problems liftr486, alcohol will only make it worse, and if it takes medications than do so- have seen it first hand how it dramatically increases anxiety and depression.

 

[BigCracker]

I still say smoking dope is a healthier alternative than this govt prescribed "junk" everybody is on. Granted, some people may truly benefit from these happy drugs, but as overprescribed as they are you gotta wonder if they are right for you.

 

[bigmodean]

Hey guys,

I might be a little biased given the fact that I'm in medical school and see things through a more biological standpoint. I just finished a rotation in psychiatry and psych disorders are no joke. I saw the mention of CBT in the thread, and although I agree with you that CBT is effective - it is not effective alone for depression. CBT is far more useful for disorders such as social phobia and what not, because those type of disorders tend to be due to maladaptive thought rather than a biological imbalance. Depression is a little tricky as there is a biological basis (and being in the depressed state alters your body chemistry a lot). Plus, I don't think it is a coincidence that the depression is coinciding with your steroid use. Mental disorders are usually not treated as a type of disease, but they are. Chemical imbalances can lead to profound effects. My advice, see a doc, take the meds and do the therapy too. The meds will cause a lot of side effects which i'm sure you're not going to like (weight gain, sexual dysfunction, liver toxicity, etc.) but stick with it, get your head together and move on. A big problem I see with patients is that they become noncompliant with the meds and end up back in the psych ER. So to summarize: Meds + therapy is effective, but each is not effective alone. Honestly, although I love the AF store guys - but rubbing yourself down with peppermint oil and taking shots of oxytocin into the nares probably won't cut it. Good luck.

I also think peoples moods precycle will depend much on there post cycle outlook,many who have problems when they get off cycle had exhisting problems before,though being "on"helped alliviate the symptoms,when they get off they are much worse.If one has a history,or family history of depression or anxiety,they are surely likely to experience them more dramaticly after a cycle,then those who dont have a history.

 

[liftr486]

I still say smoking dope is a healthier alternative than this govt prescribed "junk" everybody is on. Granted, some people may truly benefit from these happy drugs, but as overprescribed as they are you gotta wonder if they are right for you.

doesnt pot decrease test levels and increase chances of gyno?

thezan...
i also have stopped drinking by the way and it has made me feel better.

 

[BigCracker]

doesnt pot decrease test levels and increase chances of gyno?

thezan...
i also have stopped drinking by the way and it has made me feel better.

Those two myths were disproven many yrs ago. Check erovid for 411 to verify. Most other 411 is outdated shit from the reefer madness days. I've been a daily smoker since my teens. I had a real chip on my shoulder when I was a young buck, and I think weed probably kept me from killing somebody on a few occasions. At age 18 I honestly had no fear of going to jail nor did I have any remorse for beating someone into inches away from death. I even broke a kid's back with a bear hug in a high school wrestling match. I squeezed that fucker as hard as I could and put the guy in a wheelchair for life-which I never really felt bad about until I got older. I didn't try to cripple him, but I was trying just as hard to inflict pain as I was trying to win.

Anyway, with my fucked up childhood of recieving daily beratings and beatings for no reason, if anyone was a candidate for Rx mood meds it would be me. I just refuse to buy into the govts drug propaganda-especially when you see these people that kill their own children on the news. They're all on prozac, ambiem, paxil, etc-obviously the shit aint working too good. I'd rather self medicate with good old Mary Jane.