tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012499708688254847.post2073438679450974926..comments2024-02-19T21:16:14.878-08:00Comments on Prozac Monologues: Weighing Costs and Benefits Part II: BenefitsWilla Goodfellowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05816752444634576606noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012499708688254847.post-50378859463813993212010-09-08T20:22:21.833-07:002010-09-08T20:22:21.833-07:00Great post, Willa. :)Great post, Willa. :)John McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2012499708688254847.post-68250004864857683702010-09-04T04:04:31.656-07:002010-09-04T04:04:31.656-07:00Love your blog. Always makes me think, always make...Love your blog. Always makes me think, always makes me laugh. <br />I just read my medical records from 2004 - 2006 when I was treated by a psychiatrist for Bipolar II, (having graduated from my first diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder after taking an SSRI antidepressant). My medical files were very detailed and thorough. In my case it was clear that the medications made me worse. I ended "treatment" when the results were so bad that the psychiatrist insisted I undergo ECT. I refused to allow the ECT as I did not think the $20k hospital bill (which I had no health insurance to cover) would make my depression anything but worse. So I went home, stopped all medications and applied everything I knew about brain health and nutrition to my body. And I waited, and I slept, and I waited and I slept. I reduced my responsibilities down to the bare minimum, and I waited, and I slept, and I waited and I slept. <br />I was very fortunate. I went into remission.<br /> <br />I have never had any mania, only SSRI induced hypomania (hence the diagnosis of Bipolar II) from years of taking Prozac. While recovering I spent many hours online researching medical journals to really acquire a clear understanding of what the psychotropic medications actually do to the body, while they are "treating" the brain. My experience was the medications actually made me worse off mentally, plus caused health problems I had never had prior to taking such medications. <br /> <br />For those with the more serious Bipolar I, or Schizophrenia, there is no spontaneous remission, so psychotropic medications must be used consistently, and the health issues dealt with as they arise. <br /><br />I may return to my former psychiatrist, and have him officially document my current state of remission so that it can be included in my medical record.catlady4545https://www.blogger.com/profile/09580756637213688839noreply@blogger.com