|
|
Post by Sweet Pea on Oct 2, 2007 8:23:14 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by phoenixferret on Oct 2, 2007 14:46:59 GMT -5
After reading the article, I'd just like to point out that someone taking anti-depressant/anti-anxiety meds on a lark probably isn't the best judge of a drug's usefulness. The only real lesson I get from this article is that it's a bad idea to quit a powerful drug cold turkey and without medical supervision. Well, and also, that if you're serious about using medication, it may be a better idea to work with a psychiatrist rather than just popping over to the GP for an Rx, lol. But I suspect the point of that segment in the article was more to demonstrate the moral argument that it's too easy to obtain this stuff, and while I would agree that this seems to be the case, I don't think that has any bearing on the fact that for many people, this stuff can really help. Notably, people for whom intense, even pathological, negative emotions are not quite the life-affirming experience the writer of this article discovers his own, normal emotions to be.  Anyone with severe anxiety or depression who sees medication as a viable option should take the time to research positive as well as negative accounts. Keep in mind that no one can tell you what your individual experience will be like, and that reaching a point where you're on a drug that is actually working for and not against you may take time and trial-and-error--and there are no guarantees that it'll be pleasant. Whether that's a risk you're willing to take is a personal decision. Just sayin'! |
|
|
|
Post by Sweet Pea on Oct 2, 2007 17:39:00 GMT -5
After reading the article, I'd just like to point out that someone taking anti-depressant/anti-anxiety meds on a lark probably isn't the best judge of a drug's usefulness. The only real lesson I get from this article is that it's a bad idea to quit a powerful drug cold turkey and without medical supervision. Well, and also, that if you're serious about using medication, it may be a better idea to work with a psychiatrist rather than just popping over to the GP for an Rx, lol. But I suspect the point of that segment in the article was more to demonstrate the moral argument that it's too easy to obtain this stuff, and while I would agree that this seems to be the case, I don't think that has any bearing on the fact that for many people, this stuff can really help. Notably, people for whom intense, even pathological, negative emotions are not quite the life-affirming experience the writer of this article discovers his own, normal emotions to be. Anyone with severe anxiety or depression who sees medication as a viable option should take the time to research positive as well as negative accounts. Keep in mind that no one can tell you what your individual experience will be like, and that reaching a point where you're on a drug that is actually working for and not against you may take time and trial-and-error--and there are no guarantees that it'll be pleasant. Whether that's a risk you're willing to take is a personal decision. Just sayin'! well, in all fairness, he did do exactly what the drug company intended. he saw their paxil commercial and went and asked a doctor for a prescription. he was hoping it could get rid of his social anxiety. i didn't really get the impression he did it on a lark...his social anxiety appeared to be his real motive to try it...but i do agree that psychoactive drugs should be taken while one is seeing a therapist who is monitoring those drug reactions, and that some people do benefit from them sometimes. i thought the part about how he experienced numbing of his feelings and had new appreciation for them afterwards...even the 'negative' feelings...was interesting. |
|
|
|
Post by theinfiniteabyss84 on Oct 2, 2007 17:46:55 GMT -5
That guy is an idiot. You don't turn into an extrovert by taking Paxil. Paxil does not give you a new personality. I do not magically become outgoing. He had unreasonale expectations regarding the medication. Also you do NOT go off Paxil cold turkey. I tried to gradually go off of it and I do admitt it really really sucks incredibly. I believe shyness is more of a personality trait than something that is to be cured. |
|
|
|
Post by Sweet Pea on Oct 2, 2007 18:47:58 GMT -5
That guy is an idiot. You don't turn into an extrovert by taking Paxil. Paxil does not give you a new personality. I do not magically become outgoing. He had unreasonale expectations regarding the medication. Also you do NOT go off Paxil cold turkey. I tried to gradually go off of it and I do admitt it really really sucks incredibly. I believe shyness is more of a personality trait than something that is to be cured. i agree...i think shyness is a personality trait...social anxiety maybe not so much when it gets severe. so did you experience any of the withdrawal symptoms he described when you cut back the dosage? are you still taking it? overall, do you think it has helped you? i pulled up the paxil.com site, and it really does appear to say that paxil can get rid of social anxiety disorder. i can see how people would get that impression. www.paxil.com |
|
|
|
Post by phoenixferret on Oct 2, 2007 20:58:59 GMT -5
well, in all fairness, he did do exactly what the drug company intended. he saw their paxil commercial and went and asked a doctor for a prescription. Advertisements are meant to make people aware of the product's positive side; they're not going to do your homework for you. At any rate, overly-aggressive advertising and distribution, while reprehensible, do not by themselves have any bearing on the drug's efficacy. I definitely got that impression. A few quotes: "I've often wondered what it's like to be outgoing—a social butterfly, an extrovert." "Was a smoother, suaver Seth just 20 milligrams away?" "Yes, I'm uncomfortable speaking in groups. Have I suffered from depression? I've been blue but nothing serious." "In retrospect, it was a bad idea to screw with my brain chemistry and possibly inflict lifelong damage just for the sake of experiment." Generous of you, lol. First of all, in a normal, fully functioning human being, even the "negative" feelings are not often a cause of true and lasting distress. As someone who avoids medicine in general and who has never been on any kind of mood medication, I can tell you that, having reached a point where I feel "normal," I would certainly not want to mess with the range of emotions. Same goes for my now only moderate shyness. However, it was a far, far different story when I was deeply depressed and debilitatingly shy. If you can pass off your negative feelings as "blue, but nothing serious," you do not need Paxil. I don't care what the drug company or your GP says; I could get my hands on antibiotics quite easily, too, but that's a problem with the system of distribution, not the product. Point being, this man was not in any position to evaluate the drug's usefulness to anyone who might truly benefit.* The article makes a convincing statement only in regard to the issue of availablity, not effectiveness. Furthermore, I don't know about "interesting," but his little revelation was certainly pretty predictable, considering that he felt pretty good to begin with, and the fact that his story closely followed certain common plot conventions, lol. Anyone who'd take Paxil in the hopes of transforming into a social butterfly may find food for thought in the article. However, I would hope that no one with severe anxiety or depression would put too much stock in a fluff piece like this. *Let me make the disclaimer the I am not in any position to evaluate the drug, either, lol. |
|
|
|
Post by Sweet Pea on Oct 2, 2007 21:24:15 GMT -5
well, not everybody is as smart, knowledgeable and experienced as you, ferret. probably alot of people see those ads and simply believe what they are told. especially if they go to a doctor and the doctor sees fit to prescribe the drug. if paxil should not be prescribed for the particular severity of his shyness, perhaps the doctor should not have prescribed it. i think many people, if not most, would trust the judgement of a doctor over their own.
as far as the author of the piece goes, he may not have been suffering from severe depression, but he also stated: "I dread public speaking. I get nervous on first dates. I hate to be called on in classes or meetings. In short, I'm shy." these are things we hear people talk about on this board all the time. these are common concerns many of us have, no? one person's experience is anecdotal, of course...and not to be construed as evidence of what everybody's experience would be. i don't think it's stupid to find another person's experience interesting, but of course you're entitled to your opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by theinfiniteabyss84 on Oct 2, 2007 21:31:11 GMT -5
I have to say once again...This guy is an IDIOT!! And yes, he did do it on a lark. He is by no means shy...
"I dread public speaking. I get nervous on first dates. I hate to be called on in classes or meetings. In short, I'm shy. Not debilitatingly so. I'm guessing many of you are no different.
I've often wondered what it's like to be outgoing—a social butterfly, an extrovert."
Who DOESN'T dread public speaking, first dates and being called on for class?!?!?!?! This is not shyness. This is the standard anxiety that everyone faces. I don't dread public speaking anymore because I took public speaking classes. It's something you get used to. EVERYONE gets nervous on first dates. If you are prepared for a class or a meeting then the nervousness of being called on in class or a meeting is not as strong.
"Back home, I pop my first pill and wait.
Day 2: I'm lying on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, staring at the wall. My head is buzzing. My eyes won't focus. My stomach hurts and I'm shaking. I feel like a slo-mo version of Dr. Jeckyll's violent transformation.
I do not feel outgoing."
WTF?! If he honestly thinks that after 2 days he will feel outgoing then he has another thing coming to him. Its not an outgoing pill. There is no pill for being outgoing. He began taking this for all of the wrong reasons and expected a magic cure for extroversion. The doctor was a hack to give him a perscription for it.
This is one of the most inept articles regarding shyness I have ever read.
SP -
" Some patients have experienced symptoms on stopping Paxil CR, including: dizziness, sensory disturbances (including electric shock sensations and tinnitus), abnormal dreams, agitation, anxiety, nausea, sweating, mood fluctuations, headache, fatigue, nervousness and sleep disturbances. " from the paxil website.
Yeeeeaaahhh I got a lot of these. The dizziness and sensory disturbances are the most irratiating...so much so that you can go about your daily activities. I believe it has worked for me. I have been taking it since I was 17.
*note...after reading a few articles on Slate.com I have come to the conclusion that the writers of this website are morons*
|
|
|
|
Post by phoenixferret on Oct 2, 2007 21:43:46 GMT -5
probably alot of people see those ads and simply believe what they are told. especially if they go to a doctor and the doctor sees fit to prescribe the drug. if paxil should not be prescribed for the particular severity of his shyness, perhaps the doctor should not have prescribed it. *Personally,* I feel that if I'm addressing the kind of person who believes every word of what they see and read, it would be better to teach them to evaluate the situation critically, than to stick another biased opinion in front of them and let them bounce between the two. On the problem of doctors prescribing when it isn't necessary--yes, this is a big, and separate problem. As patients, we need to be our own advocates. Sad but true. Stupid? Surely someone as smart, knowledgable, and experienced as yourself could see that I was offering my own opinion, not negating yours. |
|
|
|
Post by Sweet Pea on Oct 2, 2007 21:44:28 GMT -5
i'm not familiar with the website as a whole. this article turned up in a search i was doing. i guess i just have lousy taste in reading material, huh gals? lol well, thanks for letting me know.  |
|
|
|
Post by MrNice on Oct 3, 2007 6:44:32 GMT -5
a typical semester in college for a very shy person
half of what he says is probably not even true
horrible article, frivolously written
|
|
|
|
Post by Sweet Pea on Oct 3, 2007 8:34:39 GMT -5
a typical semester in college for a very shy person half of what he says is probably not even true horrible article, frivolously written true. far be it from a shy person to ever be frivolous. we should all walk around like eeyore bemoaning our fate throughout the day. obviously the only genuinely shy person is the pessimistic, gloomy, depressed shy person who can't write an amusing and upbeat article about a difficult experience he has survived. one thing for sure, we have many budding critics among us. we should add that to the list of potential careers for shy people. |
|
|
|
Post by phoenixferret on Oct 3, 2007 16:30:34 GMT -5
a typical semester in college for a very shy person half of what he says is probably not even true horrible article, frivolously written true. far be it from a shy person to ever be frivolous. we should all walk around like eeyore bemoaning our fate throughout the day. obviously the only genuinely shy person is the pessimistic, gloomy, depressed shy person who can't write an amusing and upbeat article about a difficult experience he has survived. I really don't think that's fair. How does criticism of one crappy article extrapolate to personal humorlessness and pessimism? *deja vu* I'm going to take a giant leap here and ask if it's possible you enjoyed the article solely because you dislike mood medication and are happy to see it skewered "by any means necessary." We should all be critical of what we allow ourselves to believe. That means questioning the validity of the source--its reputation, its objectivity, and its honesty. And yep, when it comes to passing judgment on the value of a strong psychiatric medication with the capacity to correct pathological depression or anxiety, I'm not so much interested in entertainment value. Call me crazy. Or gloomy, pessimistic, and humorless, if you prefer. |
|
|
|
Post by Sweet Pea on Oct 3, 2007 17:43:10 GMT -5
thanks for the feedback i've received so far on this article. it's interesting, especially in the strength of the responses. i'd like to hear how other people respond to the article as well.
by the way, i wanted to point out that the author can be heard reading his own article if you click on the hyperlink at the top. i thought it was interesting to hear the emphasis he placed on the words as he read.
|
|
|
|
Post by theinfiniteabyss84 on Oct 3, 2007 17:52:12 GMT -5
a typical semester in college for a very shy person half of what he says is probably not even true horrible article, frivolously written true. far be it from a shy person to ever be frivolous. we should all walk around like eeyore bemoaning our fate throughout the day. obviously the only genuinely shy person is the pessimistic, gloomy, depressed shy person who can't write an amusing and upbeat article about a difficult experience he has survived. one thing for sure, we have many budding critics among us. we should add that to the list of potential careers for shy people. Heh. This article is neither amusing or upbeat. Reasons this is a horrible article : "I dread public speaking. I get nervous on first dates. I hate to be called on in classes or meetings. In short, I'm shy." (read what I wrote a few posts above) "i've often wondered what it's like to be outgoing—a social butterfly, an extrovert." (ditto) " I wondered what Paxil could do for me. Was a smoother, suaver Seth just 20 milligrams away?" (this was already discussed) ""If you'd like, we've got some counselors upstairs you can talk to, but it sounds like you just want the drug," he says, and hands over the slip. "It could take a couple of weeks to kick in. Be patient." Idiotic doctor.  "I do not feel outgoing." (ditto) "Eating cereal, I spill milk from the spoon before it reaches my mouth. When the doc said tremor, I thought it could be cool—give me a little Katharine Hepburn style. Turns out tremors are not so cool." "Paxil is messing with my livelihood. I'm still not getting any work done. Could it be Paxil's antidepressant effects? Perhaps I'm too content to be motivated." "Also, the last few days I've considered cutting down on free-lancing and getting a regular job—consulting or something. Previously, I couldn't imagine a job like this. Regular hours and no creative outlet sounded like a nightmare. All wrong for me. But now, stability, routine, and boredom sounds A-OK. Pleasant, even. An easy way to make a buck and just live my life." ~ HAHA this guy sure is an idiot. Yeah...PAXIL is the cause for him for wanting to get a regular job. Wow... " It's mercifully over. But a new phenomenon has taken hold. When I get teary-eyed watching a horrid chick-flick on a cross-country flight, I recognize it: feelings. On Paxil, I barely noticed they were gone. Now that they're back, even overcompensating, I never want to lose them again. Bitterness, anger, jealousy, sadness: They all make me happy." You do not become a feelingless zombie while on Paxil. I agree with Isdima...this garbage is probably made up or even overexaggerated. Very very very overexaggerated. It wasn't a difficult experience he survived. It was a stupid whim that he thought by taking this magic pill that he will be a "smoother suaver" guy. The doctor should have never perscribed this guy the medication because HE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH! Paxil is widely overperscribed. If someone feels nervous on first dates or hates public speaking, OH lets give him a pill! That will cure everything!! This article just shows how foolishly it is given away to idiots. Aaaaagreed. I think criticism of one crappy article entails that the reader does not take anything at face value. I agree, we should absolutely be critical about what we allow ourselves to believe, especially if it is in an internet article on Slate.com. We never implied that shy people must be gloomy and pessimistic and humorless (although I guess I *am* since I think this article is a bunch of bs). This is just one idiot's lame experience wishing to be a suave outgoing extrovert, taking some magic pills that he thinks promise extrovertness, so he overexaggerates here and there to add dramatics and call it true experience. Call me crazy. |
|
