1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome back to the Psychology of Your Twenties, 2 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:11,480 Speaker 1: the podcast where we talk through some of the big 3 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: life changes and transitions of our twenties and what they 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: mean for our psychology. Hello everyone, I am fresh out 5 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: of the office or ready to record this episode for you. 6 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: It's a pretty personal one. It's a deep one. It's 7 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: a vulnerable one. That's what we always try and do 8 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: on this podcast. Something that I haven't really talked about before. 9 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: We're going to talk about any depressants. Yeah, you've clicked 10 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 1: on this, you know what you're in for. Well, maybe 11 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 1: you don't. So I'll give you a little overview of 12 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: kind of why I wanted to talk about this. What 13 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: we're going to talk about, what it involves, and hopefully 14 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: answer some questions about what it's like from my personal 15 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: experience taking any depressants, why people take them, where it 16 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: fits in with this broader decade the subject of this podcast. So, 17 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:14,759 Speaker 1: I think that the topic of antidepressants is super interesting 18 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: but also super misunderstood by a lot of people, and 19 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: goes without saying. I'm a little bit nervous to record this. 20 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 1: It's quite a vulnerable topic. I think as much as 21 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: our society has gotten to the point of kind of 22 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: downgrading some stigma around common mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. 23 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: There still is, I think a big corner of society 24 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: that sees people who experience mental illness is weak or 25 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: incapable or unable to kind of operate in society. I 26 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: just think that's bullshit firstly, but I also kind of 27 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: want to discuss, yeah, why that's a not the case, 28 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: but b how medication kind of plays into that stigma 29 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: narrative and why it is such an important thing to 30 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 1: talk about if you are on antidepressants, if you're considering 31 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: going on antidepressants. This is just my personal experience and 32 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: some kind of like basic facts, basic research that I've 33 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: gathered to give this a bit of a evidence based backbone. 34 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: But I'm definitely not a doctor. And if it's something 35 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: you're considering, go to your GP, discuss it with them, 36 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: have an ongoing conversation with any mental health professionals in 37 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: your life, with your family, with your friends, with your 38 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: partner if you have one. But yes, definitely do not 39 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: take this as a source of all known medical advice. 40 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: That's not what this is intended to be. More So, 41 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 1: it's just a discussion and maybe just kind of an 42 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: informational podcast on what it was like for me, what 43 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: it continues to be like for me, how it impacts 44 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,399 Speaker 1: my life, and how it has improved my life immensely. 45 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: So antidepressants in our twenties. I think I've said this 46 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: on many podcasts where I've talked about mental ill health 47 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: and mental illness in the past, but you're most likely 48 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: to develop signs of any future mental ill health in 49 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: your late teens and your early twenties. So that's why 50 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: I think it's super important to talk about where medication 51 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,959 Speaker 1: kind of falls into that journey whilst we are in 52 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: in these kind of early decades of our lives, just 53 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: so we kind of set the narrative straight around what 54 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: it's really like. So most people who experience depression or 55 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: anxiety will go on some form of medication, probably in 56 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 1: this decade, probably before the age of thirty, in the 57 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: early twenties, some people even in their late teens, which 58 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: is a little bit controversial, but it happens nonetheless. So 59 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: having a good grasp of what that actually means for 60 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: your brain what you can expect is something that I 61 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: have been pondering for a while. I thought was really 62 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: important to talk about them. And like I've said, stigma 63 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: around it is still so prevalent. I don't need to 64 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: explain that to people. I think we see it everywhere 65 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: all the time, people thinking that those with mental illness 66 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: are somehow unable to hold jobs, unable to take care 67 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: of their families, unable to function, and I just don't 68 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 1: think that's the case, especially when medication is something that 69 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: you take in something that is part of your kind 70 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: of mental health journey. Additionally, I did some searching. One 71 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: in seven adult Australians are on some form of antidepressant. 72 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: It is one of the ten most prescribed drugs in Australia. 73 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: So whatever a stigma there may be, or whatever a 74 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: stigma that you may hold, I would just ask you 75 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: to challenge a little bit and think about the fact 76 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 1: that there is probably someone in your life who has 77 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: been on this medication who may need to go on 78 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: this medication. Maybe you will have to one day, and 79 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:12,919 Speaker 1: there's really no shame in that. It's like taking a 80 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: panetal when you've got a headache. I think when we 81 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 1: start seeing mental ill health as ill health, that would 82 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: be treated like we would treat a physical injury, a 83 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: broken bone, migraine, you know, COVID something like that, and 84 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: we're looking for treatment options and seeing those as part 85 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: as that journey. That's when we really start to actually 86 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: respect mental ill health is just as valid as physical 87 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: ill health and treatment and medication as a big part 88 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: of that. So that's what we're going to be kind 89 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: of discussing today, And yeah, I hope that's it's enjoyable 90 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: when you gain something from this. So perhaps the first 91 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: thing we kind of need to wrap our heads around 92 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: when we're talking about antidepress is what exactly are they. 93 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 1: There is this great, big myth I think a lot 94 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 1: of people pandered too that they're kind of like a 95 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 1: happy pill. You know, you take your antidepressants and suddenly 96 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 1: like the world's more colorful, everything feels better, and it's 97 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: an easy way out of for those who are experiencing 98 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: depression or anxiety. That is absolutely not the case, at 99 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: least it hasn't been my case in my experience with them. 100 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: Antidepressants work on the basis that there is a chemical 101 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: imbalance in your brain that is causing you to experience 102 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: happiness less frequently. It's causing you to experience more depressive 103 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: episodes and depressive periods at a greater frequency and for 104 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: a longer amount of time. And with that, with many 105 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: people who are experiencing that, it's also probably the case 106 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: that you have higher levels of anxiety as well. Depression 107 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: and anxiety, as we know, often chrome orbid, they happen 108 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: hand in hand and in kind of you know. After 109 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: the seventies, what doctors and psychologists began to realize this 110 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: isn't just, you know, because your life circumstances are crap 111 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: or because something traumatic has happened. Depression is not just 112 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: experienced in moments of intense grief or intense suffering. It's 113 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: something that people experience all the time. Even when your 114 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: life might be perfect, even when from the outside everything 115 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: seems to be going well. You've got food in your belly, 116 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: you've got a family, you've got all the things that 117 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: would fulfill you, there's something still quite not right. And 118 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: what they identified that as being is a chemical imbalanced 119 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 1: in your brain, mostly and most often that being deficiency 120 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: and dopamine or serotonine. And it's not just that your 121 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: brain isn't producing enough of these happy chemicals as a 122 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: lot of people call them, but it's that your brain 123 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: is having difficulty transmitting them, processing them, and using them 124 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: for the correct reasons. So that's what the most common 125 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: type of antidepressants, which are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, 126 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: aim to kind of fix. So selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors 127 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: we're going to call them SSRIs. You may have heard 128 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: this term before, but they're the most common type of 129 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: medication that someone experiencing depression or anxiety is most likely 130 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: to be prescribed. So how these work is, I guess 131 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: we have to go back a step. Our neurons communicate 132 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:42,959 Speaker 1: using chemical impulses, electrical impulses, but also chemical signals as well. 133 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: So what these SSRIs are trying to do. They're not 134 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: so much trying to address the electrical impulses but the 135 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: chemicals that these unlock. And these chemicals are things like 136 00:08:54,440 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: serotonin and dopamine. So when those chemicals are released to 137 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,199 Speaker 1: the signaps, which is this little gap between your neurons, 138 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: they send messages on to the next neuron to elicit 139 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: a certain feeling such as happiness or to create a 140 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: behavioral action. But if those chemicals are reabsorbed too quickly 141 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: or they you know, not enough of them is released, 142 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: that's when we might start to experience in the long 143 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: term episodes of depression and of intense sadness. So what 144 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: these drugs aim to do is they aim to block 145 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 1: the sending neuron from taking back serotonin that it's released. 146 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:42,479 Speaker 1: So basically what that means is, once a neuron releases serotonin, 147 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: the happy hormone, the happy chemical, the SSRIs stop that 148 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: neuron that sent it from kind of you scooping it 149 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 1: back up again. So it means that more of that 150 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: chemical becomes available within the signaps, essentially meaning that it 151 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: changes the chemical structure of your brain to be more 152 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 1: receptive to serotonin, to have more serotonin and dopamine available 153 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: to you, and therefore kind of change your life and 154 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:11,959 Speaker 1: change your kind of outlook on life. So what is 155 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: your brain like on antidepressants if we have this kind 156 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: of chemical understanding of how they work. So, like I said, 157 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: there's this myth that they're happy pills, that they work 158 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: kind of like ecstasy or some kind of like immediate 159 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: they provide this immediate jolt of just like pleasure and 160 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: happiness and all your suffering ceases to exist. And it's 161 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: just not like that it's not a wave of joy. 162 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: It's not a wave of ecstasy. What these hormones, what 163 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 1: these sorry chemical kind of drugs intend to do, is 164 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: to push you back into equilibrium. They're not trying to 165 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: push you to the other side and make you deliriously happy. 166 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 1: They want to kind of stabilize your brain so you're 167 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: at a point where you can operate. So basically, the 168 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: way that I describe it is if you are someone 169 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: who is depressed, like I've been for a big you know, 170 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: not a big part of my life, but for some 171 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:06,720 Speaker 1: of my life. What SSRIs do is they don't shift 172 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: you all the way to this like other end of 173 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: the scale. They put you back in the middle. And 174 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 1: the result of that is that you no longer feel 175 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 1: those like terrifying, awful black lows. But the other side 176 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 1: of that is you no longer feel those highs as much. 177 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: You no longer feel that like just like pure genline 178 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: of joy, the kind of upside being that you no 179 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: longer have to experience those lows. It kind of steadies 180 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: the roller coaster, if you can imagine like a roller 181 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: coaster at Luna Park or like an amusement park. You know, 182 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: the first part of the roller coaster is often like 183 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:44,839 Speaker 1: really up and down, really up and down. You get 184 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 1: those like the fear, the excitement, the anticipation that's your brain. 185 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:55,319 Speaker 1: Without antidepressants, it's just like chaotic and there's extreme lows 186 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: and extreme highs. But on antidepressants, it's kind of like 187 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 1: that end of the roller coaster. There's still a few bumps, 188 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: but they're not as significant, and it allows you to 189 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: relax more. You can see you're coming to the end 190 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 1: of the ride. That fear, that adrenaline kind of starts 191 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: to decrease, and that's how antidepressants are intended to make 192 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: you feel. So what does this kind of tell us 193 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:18,319 Speaker 1: about depression in general? So there's been so much research 194 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: into SSRIs. They were quite controversial when they first came out. 195 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: They still are really misunderstood. But it tells us a 196 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: kind of bigger story and paints a bigger picture around 197 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: what the condition of depression actually is, and that is 198 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 1: it's a chemical imbalance in your brain. Obviously, there are 199 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: external factors that can make you depressed. There are things 200 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 1: that create deep suffering in deep grief, but every day, 201 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 1: kind of run of the mill depression, not that I 202 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: really like to call it that, But the general disorder 203 00:12:54,679 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 1: or the general illness that is depression is chemical chemical 204 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: origin in your brain. And that's why SSRIs work so well, 205 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: because they stabilize that chemical imbalance. They make more serotonin 206 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: available to your brain and therefore contribute to kind of 207 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 1: not so much a more positive outlook, but to a 208 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: greater sense of control, a greater sense of kind of 209 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 1: peace and happiness in your life. So my experience on antidepressants, 210 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: I don't really have a point of reference as to 211 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: whether it's common, whether it is how everyone else experiences it, 212 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: but I would think that it is of the friends 213 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: that I know who are also on this kind of 214 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 1: medication that I'm on, like, they all kind of have 215 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: said the same thing. So for those who might not 216 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: have the privilege of having friends who are going through 217 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: similar things, I thought it would be maybe interesting to 218 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: talk about what my experience on this medication has been, 219 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: why it has helped me, what it was like going on, 220 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 1: and what it was like kind of going off for 221 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 1: a while, and what it's kind of done for my life. 222 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: So I've been on antidepressants for two years. I continue 223 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: to be on them at this point. It is kind 224 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: of normal for me to just take one once a day, 225 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: and I find that, especially when I first started taking them, 226 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: it helped me a lot. It really helped me at 227 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: the point of my life that I was at. I 228 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: think if you met me as a person in real life, 229 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: and for those who do know me, I don't think 230 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: that you would know that I've had experiences with depression 231 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: and pretty dark times. I think I come off as 232 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: very happy and pretty outgoing. Maybe you can hear that 233 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: in the podcast, and the things that I talk about 234 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: are generally pretty upbeat or interesting. They're not really about 235 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: the sadness that has sometimes been in my life. But 236 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: when I did decide to go on antidepressants, I went 237 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: to my Chickipede and I kind of explained everything that 238 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 1: I had been going through. At that point, I had 239 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: mental health professionals around me, which were just an amazing asset, 240 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: and he explained what the strug was, what the strug 241 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 1: that he was going to prescribe me, what he was 242 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: going to prescribe me, what it was like, and why 243 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: he thought it would help me. And I remember him 244 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: saying to me, this is not something you take for 245 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: six months. It's not something you take for a yacht. 246 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: It's something that you take for a while because your 247 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: brain takes time to adjust, and there is it's probably 248 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: not particularly healthy to go off them cold turkey. Now, 249 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: this is really personal, and I was kind of hesitant 250 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: to talk about it, but you know, I think it's important. 251 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 1: And at the end of the day, what really drew 252 00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: me to take and to get on antidepressants was just 253 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: this sense that what I was going through I just 254 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: couldn't endure it. I was really struggling, and I don't 255 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: think that's something that you need to be experiencing, especially 256 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: with all the options these days. I'd been so hesitant 257 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: about going on it before when it had been suggested 258 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: to me. I think because I myself was experiencing a 259 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: lot of personal stigma around what would mean for my character, 260 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: the fact that I couldn't just persevere, the fact that 261 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: I couldn't just change my life and make myself happy 262 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 1: through daily habits and through exercise and healthy eating. But 263 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: the thing that I came to realize is that taking 264 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 1: medication is a daily habit. It is you taking action 265 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: to help your brain, to help your body to get better. 266 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: So I went on them, and the first experience that 267 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: I really felt was just like extreme fatigue. So, as 268 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: my GP had explained, it takes a little bit of 269 00:16:56,080 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: time to adjust to your new brain, I guess, to 270 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 1: adjust to the fact that your brain suddenly has this 271 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,479 Speaker 1: new drug and its blood in its blood stream passing 272 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 1: through the blood brain barrier, creating chemical changes between your neurons. 273 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: And I just felt so tired, so tired and numb 274 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 1: for the first maybe month or two that I was 275 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: on them, and I was like, these I'm not working, 276 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: There's no point being on them. Yes, I don't feel sad, 277 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: but I really don't feel anything at all. Is that 278 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:36,680 Speaker 1: really how I want to feel? I think I particularly 279 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:40,679 Speaker 1: really like to feel elated. I like to feel extreme joy. 280 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: I like to like experience like hedonism and like really 281 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: enjoy my life. And I was like, Okay, maybe it's 282 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: worth experiencing those lows, knowing that I get that reward 283 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: of feeling elated and ecstatic and like high on life. 284 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 1: But like my GP said, it takes a couple months, 285 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: three months to kind of really see how your brain 286 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 1: is going to react. So I kept going and I 287 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: kept putting, you know, kind of pushing through, and that 288 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: fatigue went away. Those you know, sense, that sense of 289 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: being heavy and of being numb went away. The world 290 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 1: became clearer, and it also became more manageable. Before I 291 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 1: went on them, and before I went on my particular dosage, 292 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: everything in my life just felt completely out of control. 293 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: Like I didn't know what to do. I couldn't force 294 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 1: my brain to interpret situations the way that I wanted them. 295 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 1: I wanted it too, and like life was just like 296 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 1: not feeling amazing. And after three months it may have 297 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: been in combination with other lifestyle changes, who can really say. 298 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: Some people say it's placebo effect, but I did start 299 00:18:56,320 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: to feel a lot better. I started to feel so 300 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: many improvements in how I could identify my emotions and 301 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 1: address them. The one thing that did kind of stick around, though, 302 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: is that experience that I've talked about a little bit earlier. 303 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,119 Speaker 1: Yes I was not, you know, spending days in bed, 304 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 1: but I also wasn't you know, as excited by my 305 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:28,400 Speaker 1: life as I had been before, which was something that 306 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:32,880 Speaker 1: was really hard for me to give up. But over 307 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: time it did start getting better, you know, as my 308 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 1: brain adjusted to having this little helper and having this assistance, 309 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:43,960 Speaker 1: there started to be more of an equilibrium and a 310 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: balance between those periods of like pure elation and joy 311 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: and happiness, and those lows, one as deep, one as crushing, 312 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: weren't as stabilitating, and I found that I could manage 313 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: my life and my life a lot more so. That's 314 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 1: the idea. That's kind of what happened around starting. Other 315 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 1: things that I noticed was I was always thirsty. That 316 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:08,399 Speaker 1: was just like something really weird. I put on weight, 317 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 1: which I didn't really mind because I was like, fuck it, 318 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: that's totally worth it. And I think that's about it. Yeah, 319 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: I had a bit of insomnia to begin with as well, 320 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: but I think that was just the fact that I 321 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: was also really anxious. But all in all, after three months, 322 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 1: it allus kind of started to kind of figure itself out. 323 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: And since then I've kind of been on them. And 324 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: there was a point when I decided that, you know, 325 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 1: I wanted to stop. I didn't want to be on 326 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: these for much longer. Kind of thought about how long 327 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: I had been taking this medication, read a few books 328 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: that I probably shouldn't have read about, like alternative therapies. 329 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: You know, do your research. I guess if that's the 330 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 1: thing you want to you want to read and if 331 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: you want to think about other ways to manage depressure 332 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: or anxiety, if you're experiencing it, it's totally up to you. 333 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: But always seek healthcare advice, I think, is the thing. 334 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: And there are some like pretty serious dangers if you 335 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: decide to stop taking your antidepressant and your SSRI like 336 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: cold Turkey. It's like withdrawal from any other type of drug. 337 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: Your brain is addicted to it. You are taking it regularly. 338 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: Your brain is not used to operating without it. And 339 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 1: I won't lie. I think about stopping every month. There 340 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 1: will be days when I just don't take my antidepressant, 341 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: or sometimes even you know, half a week. I think 342 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: the most was a week. And at that point, after 343 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: a week of not taking it, oh my god, did 344 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 1: I start to notice. And I was told that, you know, 345 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: if you were to stop cold turkey, you're probably going 346 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: to experience this thing called discontinuation syndrome. And I had 347 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 1: a little bit of a taste of it. It was 348 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: just like tingling sensations, trembling headaches, confusion, vertigo, and it 349 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: can get a lot worse. You know, people extreme insomnia, 350 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 1: a return of extreme anxiety, sweating, trembling, vomiting, and that 351 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: confusion I was talking about. And I just remember I 352 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: hadn't taken them for a week. It was not intentional. 353 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: Maybe it was unconsciously, but I don't remember being like 354 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,199 Speaker 1: I'm going to go off them. I just hadn't taken it. 355 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: And I was riding home from the pool on my 356 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:24,479 Speaker 1: bike and I just all of a sudden got this 357 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: like incredible dizzy front of the head feeling and confusion, 358 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: and I got my head started to her and I 359 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:37,919 Speaker 1: just felt awful. I felt extreme dissociation, like I couldn't 360 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,879 Speaker 1: really feel my body, and I was just had this 361 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,879 Speaker 1: pounding headache. And the next day I woke up same feeling. 362 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:50,199 Speaker 1: Everything just felt really confusing, Everything felt a little bit 363 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: out of place. My head hurt, I was sweating, I 364 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 1: couldn't sleep, And that both scared me for two That 365 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,639 Speaker 1: really scared me for two reason. Firstly, it scared me 366 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 1: because I was like, oh my god, this is an 367 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,680 Speaker 1: awful feeling. I don't want to feel like this again. 368 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: So I'm going to go back on these because if 369 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 1: this is what life was before I was on them, A, 370 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: it's much worse than I imagine. And b I don't 371 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 1: really want to go back. But it also scared me 372 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: because I had this sense of like, have I permanently 373 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:25,120 Speaker 1: damaged my brain? Am I going to be on this 374 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 1: for the rest of my life? And is my brain 375 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: hooked on these things? Is my brain unable to operate 376 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 1: without this assistance? And is this what it's going to 377 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 1: be like if I ever decide that this isn't what 378 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 1: I want to do anymore? And that was really really terrifying. 379 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 1: I think that was also exacerbated by the fact that 380 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: withdrawing from antidepressants is like withdrawing from any drug because 381 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: it's become a part of your system and a part 382 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: of your biology in some senses, So you know, ceasing 383 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: to take it really quickly, you can't really trust your 384 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:06,639 Speaker 1: emotional and mental and cognitive reactions to things, especially in 385 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: those first few weeks, because your brain is adapting to 386 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 1: a whole new way of perceiving the world, a whole 387 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:16,399 Speaker 1: new kind of chemical system and machination that is just 388 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 1: really confusing and one that you probably haven't experienced for 389 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 1: a while. So I did end up going back on them, 390 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: and that's happened a few more times where I've just 391 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 1: gone on a holiday, forgotten to bring them, had those 392 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: awful symptoms come back, and been like, yeah, I don't 393 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: know what I was thinking. This is not for me. 394 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 1: And I think that is kind of an important sidebar 395 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:43,640 Speaker 1: to make note of if you're thinking about taking antidepressants, 396 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 1: don't take it lightly. It's not a six month happy, 397 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 1: you know, happy crash course. Like, It's something that your 398 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: brain and that your body will be on and hooked 399 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 1: on for some time. And going off them is not 400 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:00,880 Speaker 1: as simple as being like, okay, ready to step back 401 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 1: into the real world and experience things like, you know, 402 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: as they are. It's a lot more complicated than that. 403 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 1: So I guess in recent years, some kind of areas 404 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: of the psychological and medical and mental health community have 405 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 1: kind of been turning away from the prescription of medication, 406 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:33,159 Speaker 1: particularly drugs like SSRIs, because there is more of a 407 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: focus on holistic healing and positive psychology and you know, 408 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:43,479 Speaker 1: mind body connection and lifestyle changes, which I am totally 409 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: a fan of. I think that that is an amazing 410 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: movement and an amazing direction to kind of be pushing 411 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: our ideas of mental health towards, but it doesn't really 412 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: provide a full picture, and I don't think that it 413 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:59,119 Speaker 1: should put any shame on people who do continue to 414 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 1: use men vacation because that's the best thing for them. Also, 415 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 1: I think it's important to realize that holistic healing and 416 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 1: you know, adopting healthy practices has a price to it 417 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: has an entry fee. It's pretty expensive to do pilates 418 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,679 Speaker 1: and drink green juice and spend time outdoors if you 419 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:25,399 Speaker 1: have to work all the time and if you don't 420 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 1: have the income for it, or if you have kids 421 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 1: that you need to look after, and sometimes you just 422 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: need the safety net of knowing that your medication or 423 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 1: your ssris're kind of taking care of things for you 424 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: whilst you continue to live your life and gives you 425 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:42,120 Speaker 1: time to kind of get back on your feet and 426 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: sort out what practices you want to incorporate. So funny story, 427 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 1: my friends Jack and Julian, friends of the show, they 428 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:55,159 Speaker 1: gave me this really interesting book for my birthday, none 429 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: the less about depression. Thank you boys. Yes, very funny, 430 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: but also very sweet. And it was called Loss Connections. 431 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: And this book was something that I read when I 432 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: was kind of considering whether I wanted to continue to 433 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: stay on my antidepressants, and it provides an alternative point 434 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 1: of view. If you're interested in it, definitely go and 435 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 1: given a read. I'm pretty sure Russell brand as like 436 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 1: a review on the front. So that's the kind of 437 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,400 Speaker 1: literature you're getting into, the kind of thoughts and ideas, 438 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:30,119 Speaker 1: And it basically explains that no, depression isn't a chemical imbalance. 439 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: It is because of your perspective, it's because of your 440 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:39,639 Speaker 1: life circumstances. It's because of your cognitions rather than something 441 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: innately chemical in your brain. And in some ways that 442 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:48,400 Speaker 1: is entirely correct. When paired with things like cognitive behavioral therapy, 443 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:52,160 Speaker 1: any kind of medication is going to perform a lot 444 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 1: better because any mental health problem is not one dimensional. 445 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: And I think that's the thing that's important to remember 446 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:02,120 Speaker 1: at the end of the day. Taking a pill once 447 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 1: a day, yes, it's really good, probably going to help you, 448 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 1: but there is that period of time when it's not 449 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:10,719 Speaker 1: going to really you're not really going to feel feel 450 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 1: the full effects in that first three months. But also 451 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: it is about cultivating it a healthier way of seeing 452 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 1: the world, moving away from that kind of depressed perspective 453 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 1: and into kind of a healthier perspective on the problems 454 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 1: that you face your life, your relationships and those kind 455 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:32,200 Speaker 1: of things so that they're more manageable just in general, 456 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: but also when you decide that maybe it's time to 457 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: go off your medication or when things happen that mean 458 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 1: that you can't take it anymore. So, yeah, there has 459 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:43,959 Speaker 1: been a rise in this kind of alternative way of 460 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: looking at depression and looking at things like anxiety. That's 461 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 1: really taken hold. But the end of the day, and 462 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: antidepressants are still something that is that are widely prescribed, 463 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 1: that are widely available, that are accessible. I think like 464 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 1: a my prescription costs me five dollars a month, which 465 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: is just like incredible chemist warehouse. If you are, if 466 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 1: you're listening, sponsor me. But I do just think it's 467 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: an amazing discovery and it's amazing kind of medical technology 468 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: that has allowed people like myself to kind of get 469 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 1: back on the horse and sort out their lives and 470 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 1: think better about the circumstances they're in inform positive relationships. 471 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 1: So yeah, a bit of a shorter episode, a really 472 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 1: personal episode. I asked that if you have listened to this, 473 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:36,959 Speaker 1: you have an open mind about what was discussed, and 474 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:41,959 Speaker 1: if you're considering adding medication into your mental health journey. 475 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: Definitely talk about it, do your research, think it through. 476 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: It has its amazing benefits. It's made me a better person, 477 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 1: it's made me a more reliable person, it's made me 478 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:58,240 Speaker 1: a happier person. But there are also downsides like discontinuation 479 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: syn rome, like not being on that roller coaster, And 480 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 1: if the roller coaster is something that you enjoy and 481 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 1: something that you can tolerate, maybe think it through before 482 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 1: going on something that, let's be quite honest, you know, 483 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 1: changes the structure and changes the chemical foundations of your brain. 484 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,120 Speaker 1: And if that you kind of have to think about 485 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:19,479 Speaker 1: if it's worth it for you, and for me it was, 486 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: so Yeah, thank you for listening with open ears and 487 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: no judgment, and just for listening in general. The podcast 488 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:31,920 Speaker 1: is about to reach its one year milestone, and this 489 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,400 Speaker 1: is by far the most personal episode I've done, so 490 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,440 Speaker 1: I think in many ways my own journey with my 491 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 1: mental health and my well being has grown with the 492 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:44,480 Speaker 1: podcast and has The podcast has definitely made me think 493 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 1: about these choices and made me think about my health 494 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 1: a lot more. So. Yeah, it's just been a really 495 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 1: positive influence. So thank you for listening and if you enjoyed, 496 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 1: maybe subscribe, leave us a raining if you'd like, and 497 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on Instagram That Psychology Jet Podcasts And 498 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:05,080 Speaker 1: we'll be back next week with a less depressing episode, 499 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: but until then, thank you again