I wonder what impact this will have on treatment. Does this mean that most of the talk about differences between Zoloft and Lexapro and Effexor are basically marketing.
That somehow makes me feel a bit used. You?
-DMR
Category Archives: pharmacology
Pastoral Care and Depression
Last night I had a pastoral care visit with a parishioner. She came from another parish in town (not LCMS, although it could have been). She was nervous, fearful, on the edge of tears and yet strangely numb, like she wasn’t all there. I recognized the signs.
She came to tell me that she was in an outpatient mental health program for clinical depression. The reason she came to tell me was because she wanted to make sure she wasn’t sinning by being in this program or by taking anti-depressants. You see, her previous pastor had told her individually and from the pulpit that it is “sinful and wrong” for Christians to take anti-depressants or see psychiatrists and psychologists. Because we are Christians, we have no need to be depressed, and should be joyful all the time, because Jesus died for us.
We had a long talk, prayed, heard the Word of God together, and I worked hard to dispel the destructive words of her previous pastor. It will take a long time for it to sink in. She feels guilty because she is undergoing medical treatment. Good grief.
If this is the stigma and gunk that our parishioners have to deal with from us, imagine how hard we pastors are on each other? I think that many parish pastors view those of us who has suffered from clinical depression as damaged goods, weak, with some kind of serious moral failing. Suffering from depression is somehow unmanly. Real men don’t have mental problems. They just think that way.
God help our parishioners who suffer from our false understanding of mental illness. God help us when we judge and condemn one another needlessly. God help me when I want to throttle someone for being such an idiot. God help me.
-DMR
Pastoral Care and Depression
Last night I had a pastoral care visit with a parishioner. She came from another parish in town (not LCMS, although it could have been). She was nervous, fearful, on the edge of tears and yet strangely numb, like she wasn’t all there. I recognized the signs.
She came to tell me that she was in an outpatient mental health program for clinical depression. The reason she came to tell me was because she wanted to make sure she wasn’t sinning by being in this program or by taking anti-depressants. You see, her previous pastor had told her individually and from the pulpit that it is “sinful and wrong” for Christians to take anti-depressants or see psychiatrists and psychologists. Because we are Christians, we have no need to be depressed, and should be joyful all the time, because Jesus died for us.
We had a long talk, prayed, heard the Word of God together, and I worked hard to dispel the destructive words of her previous pastor. It will take a long time for it to sink in. She feels guilty because she is undergoing medical treatment. Good grief.
If this is the stigma and gunk that our parishioners have to deal with from us, imagine how hard we pastors are on each other? I think that many parish pastors view those of us who has suffered from clinical depression as damaged goods, weak, with some kind of serious moral failing. Suffering from depression is somehow unmanly. Real men don’t have mental problems. They just think that way.
God help our parishioners who suffer from our false understanding of mental illness. God help us when we judge and condemn one another needlessly. God help me when I want to throttle someone for being such an idiot. God help me.
-DMR
Anti anti-depressants
One of my favorite bloggers has a post today about anti-depressants. It’s worth checking out, and is something I have observed and commented on many times here.
(And for those who are keeping score, I am okay. Just been busy.)
Six Days
Well I’ve been drug free for six days. I had one meltdown day, but that may have been other factors involved. For the most part, it’s book good. I really REALLY like being off drugs. I feel like I need to detox for like six months. As most of my readers here know, I am a proponent of using anti-depressants, etc. They are good and often necessary. Having said that, I’m also really happy NOT to use them if it is possible.
Now if I can just get my act together enough to exercise and eat well, we’ll be in great shape.
One thing at a time though!
-DMR
Prozac a fake?
The big news today is about Prozac. The granddaddy of modern anti-depressants, Prozac has been around in some form or another since 1972. But today a study was released claiming that Prozac is no more effective than a placebo.
I’m sure this will provide lots of ammunition for everyone that thinks drugs are basically evil. Personally, I recognize the two edged sword which is drugs. At the same time, though, amongst pastors it is WAY more likely to be under-medicated or not medicated at all than to be overmedicated.
So I don’t find this announcement as good news at all. I think it will contribute to a lot of people not getting the help they need, whether it be medical or alternative.
Bummer.
-DMR
One Down, Two to Go, and Panera
I’ve been off clonazepam for a week now, and things seem to be going pretty well. It seemed to help me in the past with stressful situations, excessive noise, and either visual or verbal clutter. After a week, I seem to be able to manage these things fairly well.
One of the signs for me that things were starting to resemble normalcy was Panera. I love Panera. Half of my sermons are written at Panera. But that has not been the case for some time. I just haven’t been able to handle the hustle and bustle one finds there. It’s really kinda driven me crazy.
So Monday I went to Panera, and after being there 45 minutes, I noticed that I wasn’t having the huge desire to run and hide. I know, that sounds a little silly, but it’s true. Sometimes victories may be found in very small things. Being able to drink a cup of coffee in peace, for example.
Hopefully getting of Welbutrin will go s smoothly. But we’ll try one step at a time for now…
-DMR
Depression and Grapefruit
I remember when I first starting taking anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication that I was told I couldn’t eat grapefruit anymore. While this didn’t leave me suicidal, it certainly puzzled me then as it does now.
So in the interest of the depressed grapefruit lovers everywhere, here are a few articles that examine the issue:
Grapefruit and Drug Interactions
Grapefruit Juice and Medications: A Potential for Adverse Events
Basically grapefruit has a bad interaction with a drug metabolizing enzyme called the CYP 3A4 enzyme. It makes it so that effectiveness of certain medications is drastically reduced.
Why grapefruits and not other citrus? I don’t know. But apparently, depression and grapefruit don’t mix.
Bummer.
-DMR
A new anti-depressant
Coming Down (going off depression medication)
So I have now been on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication for over two years. My current cocktail (zoloft/sertraline, welbutrin, and clonazapam) has been fairly steady for over a year. Things are going well for the most part, so I am starting to wean myself off of the medications.
The concept is both exciting and terrifying.
When I started taking all of this stuff, I was in a very desperate position. There were few options. It was medication or check myself into a hospital. I’m glad that I made the decision to go on this medication, as it has allowed me to live and regain some semblance of normalcy.
Having said that, there is no doubt that you also lose something by taking anti-depressants and anxiety medication. The lows aren’t nearly as low, but the highs aren’t as high, either. The anxiety medication makes it so that I don’t feel claustrophobic, but it also just makes you a little dulled to the world around you. I feel like I have been tired for two years, and that I don’t even remember what it is like to be fully awake.
I am excited to start the process of going off of them, but I’m also scared. They have served as a safety net for a long time. They are one of the earthly causes to my ongoing healing. I don’t want to go off of them, because I don’t want to go back to where I was. But I don’t want to stay where I am, either.
So there is the dilemma. I can’t stay where I am, but I can’t go forward either.
Well, actually I can. By the mercy of God, I can start this process of going off medication. The absolute worst thing that happens is that I go back it/them for a time. I am baptized. My inheritance is sure, and my future is as certain as Jesus’ death and His words, “for you”.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
-DMR