Another I'm older than you .... be careful story.

I have been relatively open about using medication for depression and anxiety. After some personal experiences this summer, experiences of both my sistas and some reading I have new insight for you. So listen up .

1) FIRST. Don't read shit off the internet. It will either scare the shit out of you causing more stress./ anxiety or , if done long enough will give you a butt the size of Saturn, including the rings.

2) Long term use of anything can be considered chronic use. Look up the definition of "chronic" add it to "prescription" and put in an = sign and see what YOU get.

3) The world is full of stressors. Our brains have only evolved as far as responding to short term stress  ie. hmmm. buga buga. Big cougar .... run, run run.... see everyone run FASTER than average. Thank you God for adrenalin, cortisol and for that slow guy. num num says cougar. Ahhhhh says the survivors. I think I'll take a nap!!!

4) Introduce "chronic stress" add to it our whimpy response with short term adrenalin/ cortisol put in an = and see what you get. I get left over or + stress.

5) So. Start with (+ stress) - ( X ) = neutral stress or "normal". What ARE the possibilities for "X" ?

a)  X= exercise, meditation, vacation, acupuncture , any self - help  strategy to reduce the extra fight or flight chemicals cruising the BODy.

b) X =  eliminate  the additional stress ( + stress) altogether or reduce it and add in some of a).

c) X = DRUGS.

d) X = any combination of above but must include good sex. Good sex is what would be called a CONSTANT in this math ( and I was taught using "old" math) .

6) Sometimes choice (c) has to be used but use it as conservatively as possible. If your Doc. recommends an increase or a change or an additional something .... question it.


The long term effects of SSRI s use is just being studied because it is just emerging. It is the first time in human kind's history that there are people who have been on SSRI s over an extended period in time.  Although all brains are different, there is some evidence that using SSRIs for a long time ( thus changing the chemistry in our brains for a long time) MAY universally result in changes that MAY take a very long ( and sometimes very uncomfortable)  time to resolve.


The medical community has very little experience with this emerging problem of  chronic SSRI use and so SOME Docs. are understandably hesitant to admit that what they have been prescribing for a long, long time may have at least SOME serious consequences.



SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!! AND HAVE A LOT OF GOOD SEX!!!

Signed,

"yer loving colleague.