what are your thoughts on taking psychotropic medications for mood disorders?

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what are your thoughts on taking psychotropic medications for mood disorders?

they are mostly not effective because mood is a mental phenomenon
3
7%
if used under the administration and supervision of a healthcare professional, they can be effective
13
29%
there are better therapies found outside of western medicine
7
16%
blind breaking in supposedly placebo controlled randomized trials invalidates the majority of psychotropic drug studies
2
4%
there is virtually no difference between recreational drugs and legal drugs
2
4%
these drugs treat symptoms without fixing the causes
9
20%
dhamma can't solve all your problems
3
7%
the mind is an epiphenomenon of the brain
0
No votes
the brain is an epiphenomenon of the mind
1
2%
other
5
11%
 
Total votes: 45

sphairos
Posts: 966
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Location: Munich, Germany

Re: what are your thoughts on taking psychotropic medications for mood disorders?

Post by sphairos »

Crazy cloud wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 4:41 pm
sphairos wrote: Wed May 05, 2021 7:41 pm

He usually means a different trauma -- a traumatic event in the past. Acute PTSD, like in veterans of the war, is almost always absolutely uncurable by the mind alone. But yes, with the Ayahuasca it's treatable.
I've listened a lot to Gabor, and a few other specialists on trauma treatment, and never heard any of them putting it as you do. In fact, I recall hearing that prolonged childhood traumas were more complicated than a single shock event.
Acute PTSD very often is not treatable by any drugs, exercises and meditation. And it can last for 10, 20 and more years. That's why the FDA allowed MDMA, LSD, mushrooms etc.

Gabor mostly deals with addicts who has a history of trauma. But when the trauma happened long ago, in the past, that's not acute PTSD, like in some veterans. To treat addiction you must exert power of will, like Gabor says. Makes sense: it's only you who can stop shooting heroin up your veins. But no power of mind will help a guy who can't sleep and can't think and NOTHING helps. And usually those guys have a lot of willpower - the military.

That's why what he works with he calls not PTSD, but ACE, adverse childhood experiences.

Yes, complex PTSD, long abuse in the family etc. can be as hard as acute PTSD in veterans etc.
How good and wonderful are your days,
How true are your ways?
TRobinson465
Posts: 1783
Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 5:29 pm
Location: United States

Re: what are your thoughts on taking psychotropic medications for mood disorders?

Post by TRobinson465 »

Mood disorders are real. just like autism and adhd are real, its not just "all in their head". These kinds disorders are real and real people suffer from them. And just like with all illness, as we unenlightened beings "have not gone beyond illness", you sometimes have to take medicine to cure or manage it. I think there are better naturalistic ways to treat people who suffer from these ailments, but just like how eating right and exercise can only get you so far, i think there are people who do need these medications to cope with their symptoms.
"Do not have blind faith, but also no blind criticism" - the 14th Dalai Lama

"The Blessed One has set in motion the unexcelled Wheel of Dhamma that cannot be stopped by brahmins, devas, Maras, Brahmas or anyone in the cosmos." -Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
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Crazy cloud
Posts: 930
Joined: Sun May 12, 2013 8:55 am

Re: what are your thoughts on taking psychotropic medications for mood disorders?

Post by Crazy cloud »

TRobinson465 wrote: Sun May 09, 2021 5:46 am Mood disorders are real. just like autism and adhd are real, its not just "all in their head". These kinds disorders are real and real people suffer from them. And just like with all illness, as we unenlightened beings "have not gone beyond illness", you sometimes have to take medicine to cure or manage it. I think there are better naturalistic ways to treat people who suffer from these ailments, but just like how eating right and exercise can only get you so far, i think there are people who do need these medications to cope with their symptoms.
Of course, there are times when medication is necessary, but in the long run, it doesn't solve the underlying causes. And as you mention exercise and nutrition, - these two aspects are very important, and I don't know yet how far-reaching it goes. when doing exercise or deciding a diet it's important to consider why one does it, or the right view. If one doesn't listen to what the body-mind needs, then one doesn't get the results one want's either. I have listened to what the body-mind needed, and that was not close to what I thought would be right for me. But in the long run, it works, and the reason I can say it really works is that it helps to deepen my practice of the eightfold path. So, I have stopped completely to listen to my thoughts about how to heal and let the body-mind inform me.

There is such a thing called intuitive intelligence, and that intelligence is far better tuned to reality than my scattered being can produce on its own.
If you didn't care
What happened to me
And I didn't care for you

We would zig-zag our way
Through the boredom and pain
Occasionally glancing up through the rain

Wondering which of the
Buggers to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing
- Roger Waters
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StrivingforMonkhood
Posts: 301
Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2020 4:27 pm

Re: what are your thoughts on taking psychotropic medications for mood disorders?

Post by StrivingforMonkhood »

befriend wrote: Mon May 03, 2021 11:40 am I have to take these medicines or else I would be in a hell on earth.
I am happy that your medications are helpful.

I wish you much compassion.

May you fulfill your deepest wish for happiness.

:anjali:
May we all fulfill our deepest wish for happiness

We are already Buddha
bpallister
Posts: 662
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2021 2:13 am

Re: what are your thoughts on taking psychotropic medications for mood disorders?

Post by bpallister »

i'm on celexa now but have cut my dose in half from 20 mg to 10 mg and plan on coming off soon. It's been helpful. I've been on it for about a year. have used it and other SSRIs in the past as well.
Observing
Posts: 26
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:56 am

Re: what are your thoughts on taking psychotropic medications for mood disorders?

Post by Observing »

I was recommended to take antidepressants and sleep aids by a health professional. I did not want either. The most success I've had with untangling a mental health problem and all it's symptoms has been meditation. Vipassana has absolutely changed my life and possibly even saved my life. I agree that there are sometimes better options outside of western medicine and that sometimes, these drugs only go as far as treating symptoms. But I also recognize there is sometimes a place and circumstance where drugs might be necessary.
bpallister
Posts: 662
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2021 2:13 am

Re: what are your thoughts on taking psychotropic medications for mood disorders?

Post by bpallister »

i'm off the celexa now. my mood is a little up and down. i have been kinda slacking on my meditation, and lo and behold....i've been suffering more.
JohnSo
Posts: 79
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:10 am

Re: what are your thoughts on taking psychotropic medications for mood disorders?

Post by JohnSo »

Psychotrophic 🥱🥱🥱. It may help for a moment. It is not a solution. The cause is still there. It will emerge again if there is a triggering agents.

The best solution is to do 'Bhavana' as taught by the Buddha. A proper teacher will give a proper teaching.
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