quote:

Originally posted by Don57:
Just wanted to post to the Midwest Center and to those on the forum that the program has worked great for me. It's taken me longer than a lot, but I'm finally off of all meds. I'd been on them for thirty years, since 1977. I'm a little surprised I'm off of the anti-depressants, but am feeling great. Over the last 2 months at least, and perhaps longer, I'd been suffering pretty bad side affects from the meds, not able to sit still at night for several hours, dull headaches occassionally, sleeping too much and appetite out of control. It got to the point I couldn't take it anymore and went off of the meds cold turkey. I don't advise anyone to do this. I just couldn't take the side affects anymore.

I still have a sleep problem, not being able to go to sleep when I need to in order to work, not going to sleep at all until 24 to 36 hours have gone by, but I believe I will be able to solve this problem as well. I'm hopeful that an over the counter sleep aid with passion flower and valerian root in it or st johns wort will do the trick. Once that is solved I can go back to work.

I do want to say that exercise has been instrumental in my recovery as well. I don't think I would be off of meds without the exercise ( jogging/walking 3 miles 3 to 4 times weekly). I think it generates endorphins/neurotransmitters for me and helps create and maintain a healthy chemically balanced brain. However, the CBT, the program was absolutely necessary for me to learn how to deal with difficult personal problems and life circumstances in order to rewire my brain. I have a significant increased energy level now that I am off of meds and more control over my appetite. I am hopeful I can shed some weight now.

Thanks Carolyn, Tammy, Lucinda, and everyone at the Midwest Center. Thanks also to my friends here on the forum. You guys serve a very important purpose in this life. God bless you all. I believe that God is soveriegn over the affairs of men and has granted me this freedom. "Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty I am free at last!" A quote by the late Dr. Martin Luther King. His reference was to black slavery, abuse, and discrimination. Mine is to being free of debilitating depression, anxiety, and prescription meds and the side affects they cause. I am out of prison but still on probation. I am very hopeful about what the future holds. I hope and wish for everyone to reach the point you no longer are hindered by emotional problems.

For those who don't know, I have been hospitalized twice in my life and would have been more if I had had insurance. I don't need that now. I simply didn't know what my problems were or how to solve them. I've been at the point several times of wanting to end it all. So, for those who think there is no hope, It's a lie. There is hope. You can fully recover from clinical depression, chemical imbalances, panic, anxiety, whatever. That doesn't mean we don't face problems, but it does mean we can work through them and come out of them.