[How many of your MLCers are on antidepressants/SSRI medication]

How many of your MLCers are on antidepressants/SSRI medication

Yes started after MLC

9 (20%)

Yes started before MLC

10 (22.2%)

Do not know

4 (8.9%)

No

22 (48.9%)

Total Members Voted: 45

[Buggy31]

What are others thoughts on antideppresants during MLC?  Particularly during the Depression stage.  Why is MLC so similiar to someone suffering from a mental illness?  How do you know it's not a mental illness making itself known?

[OldPilot]

My thoughts are that most MLC'ers will not take AD's. It would be wonderful if they did but they ususally will not take them.
I believe Lost1234 H is on AD's and it has helped him navigate thru his crisis. Maybe a little bit faster than normal, but he is still not home yet!

[ForeverHopefulOne]

Personally, I think my H could definitely benefit from AD's.  He has some major childhood issues that he has yet to deal with.  For me, I my accupuncturist is going to give me some homeopathic herbs to take - we"ll see if those work for me.

[Dontgiveup]

Keep in mind that depression is not just a stage, but is present throughout MLC.

I did read an opinion that posed a question about AD's in MLC.  The question was if MLC is a process that must be gone through and has no shortcuts, then is it possible that AD's could hinder that process?

I don't have the answer....I just have the question.

[Still]

Don't,

I have also read that AD's can slow down the navigation through the process. My IC has said numerous times that he thinks my H would really benefit from AD's. He also says that most major depressive episodes burn themselves out within 2 years. My H has been depressed since his MLC began in spring 2008.

[Love being on higher grounds]

I will not be long winded on this subject as much as I would like to be!

I have A LOT if firsthand experience with a/d...with myself as well as my husband...

Yes, OP h has been on them for a few months now and the benefits have been unmeasurable!

however, it is also true the most will not have anything to do with them...my H was a bit different...meaning he knew something was wrong with him...NOT saying he doesnt or didnt do all of the normal mlc stuff but he did seek help from our doctor...he just didnt feel right...

his testosterone was nearly depleted! he went through hormone replacement that was ROUGH!!!

he couldnt take an a/d because it would play with the hormone part of it!

Once his T level came up the Dr IMMEDIATELY put him on an A/d and h didnt even question it...it is part of his overall treatment.

IMO if anyone is showing signs of depression, it should NOT go untreated...there are many options and if the person will atleast speak with their physician about it, they have taken one step towards recovery!

[Buggy31]

Most of you have brought up the question I've been pondering.  If depression, most specifically the Liminality written about on RCRs site, is a neccessary part of the process would AD's hinder their progress?  My husband has told numerous people that he would take them and they've been sitting on the counter for over a month.  He refuses to admit to any depression although he has shared many of his struggles, which are all signs of depression low libido, lack of purpose, not wanting to be a "waste", watched him start several books and finish none, Just someone who is stuck stuck stuck.  I also wonder about low Testosterone because his brothers went through a similiar "breakdown" at the same age.  EAch of them ended long term relationships to be with OM (both gay).  One brother, who is a medical doctor, put himself on AD when he had an impulsive suicidal thought.  It scares me to say the least. 

[Love being on higher grounds]

it saddens me to say Buggie...if the meds are only sitting on the counter, he is not ready to receive the help...if you are concerned about the low T...he needs to be able to look at the problem himself and be tested...taking an a/d with low t can make it a whole lot worse!

hugs,
L

[Buggy31]

Thanks L1234,
I was concerned about that too.  I don't want him taking them if it's going to make things worse and there is so much going on that who knows?  I've had to let go and put it in God's hands because he's must take care of this himself.  It's such a cycle though because someone who is deeply depressed has trouble taking action. 

[rdy2livagn]

My H was tested for low testosterone and the results were that it was low. Dr did not put him on meds. I don't know anything about the conversation with the Dr. The only question I asked H was how was the level and he replied low. It was obvious that he did not want to talk about it so I didn't pursue a conversation about it. Would taking meds for the testosterone help with the MLC? Thyroid and vitamin D are also low and he is on meds for that. How much of mlc is hormonal?