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Do you have a mental or physical condition that interferes with your life and magical/divine workings? |
Yes |
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51% |
[ 15 ] |
No |
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48% |
[ 14 ] |
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Total Votes : 29 |
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:42 pm
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About a year ago I joined the medicated masses in North America. Namely, those with depression and taking anti-depressants for it. Background info: Since the onset of my depression most recently(about 2 years ago), I have totally stalled/stopped my spiritual/magical development. That is not because I haven't wanted to, per say. But because I have not managed to gather the will required. When I do manage to muster the energy to say, use my Tarot, or do a spell, things just end up wonky. I don't even seem to have the ability to meditate any more.
ok, before I go off on a tangent. I shall pose the questions for discussion...
To medicate or not to medicate? Have you found that any magical or divine encounter you have experienced differ when you are taking medication and when you are not?
Those with depression or other mental health issues: Have you found it difficult to nearly impossible to use magic, speak to your gods, do other such things while in the midst of depression or another mental health issue?
How do you cope/move forward when in these states?
Ah, I hope these questions are not too vague. I am among those who have trouble articulating themselves. Feel free to share, or not.
Thanks to everyone for the comments and suggestions and words of encouragement!!
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:25 pm
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VisasMarr About a year ago I joined the medicated masses in North America. Namely, those with depression and taking anti-depressants for it. Background info: Since the onset of my depression most recently(about 2 years ago), I have totally stalled/stopped my spiritual/magical development. That is not because I haven't wanted to, per say. But because I have not managed to gather the will required. When I do manage to muster the energy to say, use my Tarot, or do a spell, things just end up wonky. I don't even seem to have the ability to meditate any more. ok, before I go off on a tangent. I shall pose the questions for discussion... To medicate or not to medicate? Have you found that any magical or divine encounter you have experienced differ when you are taking medication and when you are not? Those with depression or other mental health issues: Have you found it difficult to nearly impossible to use magic, speak to your gods, do other such things while in the midst of depression or another mental health issue? How do you cope/move forward when in these states? Ah, I hope these questions are not too vague. I am among those who have trouble articulating themselves. Feel free to share, or not.
I have Bi-polar (unspecified), ADHD, and PTSD. I have been diagnosed for any sort of clinical depression, but I do often end up depressed as a result.
I'm medicated for the Bi-polar, though nothing else. In therapy as well. GO me. neutral
I have halted a lot of my mystical and dinvine work until resently, but this was for reasons not realted to my medicine, as I stopped on that venue long before I was medicated.
My mental issues do tend to get in the way of things by themselves however. I have never been able to meditate, as my mind dosen't ever shut up. Further, it's hard for me to focus on anything mystical. Am I listening to my spirit guide, or what I want to hear her say? I can never be sure sometimes. I don't know...hard to explain.
I'm looking foreward to having the ADHD medicated to see if that helps.
Have you considered that this may be only a mental block (i.e. subconsiously imposed)? Failing that, perhaps look into getting a different medication.
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Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:35 pm
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Kuroiban I have Bi-polar (unspecified), ADHD, and PTSD. I have been diagnosed for any sort of clinical depression, but I do often end up depressed as a result. I'm medicated for the Bi-polar, though nothing else. In therapy as well. GO me. neutral I have halted a lot of my mystical and dinvine work until resently, but this was for reasons not realted to my medicine, as I stopped on that venue long before I was medicated.
Ditto here. That is, stopped long before I was medicated. It was a quiet thing, I didn't even notice until later that I stopped searching, stopped experimenting. Now that I am medicated, I have found it hard to "get back on the horse" so to speak.
Kuroiban My mental issues do tend to get in the way of things by themselves however. I have never been able to meditate, as my mind dosen't ever shut up. Further, it's hard for me to focus on anything mystical. Am I listening to my spirit guide, or what I want to hear her say? I can never be sure sometimes. I don't know...hard to explain.
*nod-nod* My mind used to shut up, but it doesn't any more. But those with severe depression do get ADHD like symptoms, so it's really no surprise. Have you tried say a moving meditation, like yoga? I have found for myself it really quiets my mind...
Kuroiban I'm looking foreward to having the ADHD medicated to see if that helps. Have you considered that this may be only a mental block (i.e. subconsiously imposed)? Failing that, perhaps look into getting a different medication.
I have, and it may very well be. I have a habit of starting many many new things, and never finishing them. It could be my mind's way of stopping me from overloading my plate. I am trying to learn how to take care of myself at the moment (I know it seems strange...but you gotta start somewhere). I thought about changing my medication, but what I am on now (prozac) has kept me stable enough as to not attempt suicide. Which sadly, is a big risk for me at the moment. But I am thinking of adding Wellbutrin to the mix... so, we'll see.
When you do try to meditate (and I apologise if I'm assuming a bit too much here) do you find that Anxiety is triggered due to your PTSD?
It's weird with me, it seems that when I finally do manage to relax and calm down - for instance meditate I just end up with a mild panic attack, and of course everything bad just pops in my mind, and I cannot banish it....
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 11:34 am
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I have had depression for 5 years, and several months ago I started antidepressants. I do feel more "myself" on the medication, have more energy, am less overreactive about things, am able to balance more things in my life, etc... I don't expect the medication to solve everything, and I hope to discontinue it this spring. I hope to use it as a bridge to get back to an active, normal life by making progress on things that I had fallen behind on when depressed... getting a job, social connections, exercise, etc, while on the medication and getting me going enough that I can continue after I'm off. I have made progress: I've gotten a job, bought a house, invested in a new bike, and I feel really good about these things.
My dad said the main way antidepressants helped him was to help him think of things in a different light. Depression can really warp your thinking, and it's a downward spiral feeding on itself. Medication can help you break those patterns and get a new perspective. It can give you a "boost" that you were incapable of giving yourself. However, these things can also take time. I did not feel a surge of energy when I started the meds. It took time to take new actions.
Anyway, I hope that the meds can help focus and calm your mind. Also, look into other therapies like talk therapy, yoga, etc. These can help with your overall healing, and many times meds work better with other therapies.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:15 pm
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this is a pretty good topic.
almost five years ago, i was been diagnosed with dythymic depression (also called chronic depression) accompanied by stress-induced psychosis (but really, its just anytime it feels like it). a lot of people dont actually know what psychosis is, so i'll take a minute to explain that. psychosis is characterized by: hallucinations delusions/parinoia lack of insight (being unaware one is acting strangely) thought disorder (strange mannerisms and speech patterns)
so...do my mental issues get in the way of my spiritual endeavors? yes. mainly because when i DO have hallucinations, they seem real and its hard to know if im interacting with spirits or if my mind is just fritzing. i have no trouble talking to Gaia, no trouble doing rituals. but then again, i dont worship a lot, you know, rituals and such. i try to give homage (in my thoughts and actions) to Gaia every day.
i was on SSRIs (antidepressants) for a couple of years, but they just made me feel worse, it was like "i can't even live my own life by myself, i suck" kind of thing. so i stopped taking them and i just deal with my depressiveness; i've accepted that it's a part of my personality.
i think thats all. if you've got further questions/inquiries, feel free.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:56 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:05 pm
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Wood Sorrel I have had depression for 5 years, and several months ago I started antidepressants. I do feel more "myself" on the medication, have more energy, am less overreactive about things, am able to balance more things in my life, etc...
That's how I was at first, but it quickly went away sad
Wood Sorrel I don't expect the medication to solve everything, and I hope to discontinue it this spring. I hope to use it as a bridge to get back to an active, normal life by making progress on things that I had fallen behind on when depressed... getting a job, social connections, exercise, etc, while on the medication and getting me going enough that I can continue after I'm off. I have made progress: I've gotten a job, bought a house, invested in a new bike, and I feel really good about these things.
I am glad to know that you have made progress, that is awesome! I, haven't really made any. In fact, I think I've dug myself a little deeper. I simply do not (most of the time) take care of myself. And, without a healthy mind and body, it's hard to do anything spiritual or magical, much less mundane.
Wood Sorrel My dad said the main way antidepressants helped him was to help him think of things in a different light. Depression can really warp your thinking, and it's a downward spiral feeding on itself. Medication can help you break those patterns and get a new perspective. It can give you a "boost" that you were incapable of giving yourself. However, these things can also take time. I did not feel a surge of energy when I started the meds. It took time to take new actions.
*nods* Indeed. Though I wouldn't say my own perspective has gone totally healthy (or normal), it is definitly a lot better than it used to be.
Wood Sorrel Anyway, I hope that the meds can help focus and calm your mind. Also, look into other therapies like talk therapy, yoga, etc. These can help with your overall healing, and many times meds work better with other therapies.
Well, I am going through psychotherapy with a psychiatrist. But I plan to start Cognitive Behavioural therapy with a free Psychologist soon. I have a refurral, I am really just waiting for a call to make an appointment.
Have you found since you started treatment, that your spiritual/magical pursuits are easier or more difficult?
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:13 pm
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kirio26 this is a pretty good topic. almost five years ago, i was been diagnosed with dythymic depression (also called chronic depression) accompanied by stress-induced psychosis (but really, its just anytime it feels like it). a lot of people dont actually know what psychosis is, so i'll take a minute to explain that. psychosis is characterized by: hallucinations delusions/parinoia lack of insight (being unaware one is acting strangely) thought disorder (strange mannerisms and speech patterns)
Do you take medication for your psychosis? I have been on again and off again on Risperdal, which is used as an anti-psychotic. It made my brain foggy sad
Before your diagnosis were you seeking a religious/spiritual/magical path? Did you find it interfered? Or do you find it interferes more so now? Or not at all?
kirio26 so...do my mental issues get in the way of my spiritual endeavors? yes. mainly because when i DO have hallucinations, they seem real and its hard to know if im interacting with spirits or if my mind is just fritzing.
sad
kirio26 i have no trouble talking to Gaia, no trouble doing rituals. but then again, i dont worship a lot, you know, rituals and such. i try to give homage (in my thoughts and actions) to Gaia every day.
That is good to read ^^ Do you find Gaia a calming presence? You don't have to answer that if you don't want to wink
kirio26 i was on SSRIs (antidepressants) for a couple of years, but they just made me feel worse, it was like "i can't even live my own life by myself, i suck" kind of thing. so i stopped taking them and i just deal with my depressiveness; i've accepted that it's a part of my personality.
I am glad that you are able to do that. Without anti-depressants I'm pretty useless. I'm quite sure I would have killed myself a few times by now. I am actually sort of afraid to go off of them..
kirio26 i think thats all. if you've got further questions/inquiries, feel free.
Thank you ^^
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:15 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:52 pm
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:15 am
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:19 am
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:58 am
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:23 pm
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:53 pm
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VisasMarr Do you take medication for your psychosis? I have been on again and off again on Risperdal, which is used as an anti-psychotic. It made my brain foggy sad Before your diagnosis were you seeking a religious/spiritual/magical path? Did you find it interfered? Or do you find it interferes more so now? Or not at all?
that is a fairly loaded question, actually. yes, i was seeking a spiritual path AS i developed psychosis, which made things confusing and hard. i was very confused when it first developed because, well, i thought i was just psychic, not psychotic, hehe.
i was never put on an actual regimen of daily anti-psychotics. the psychiatrist gave me a few hydroxyzine (sp) for my psychotic episodes, but i found they didn't help much.
i would say that it's fairly managable now, i just have to make sure i know what im interacting with; i've found that generally, i can predict the actions of my hallucinations, while i cannot predict any spiritual bodies i may encounter. so i would say that it interferes little now.
VisasMarr kirio26 i have no trouble talking to Gaia, no trouble doing rituals. but then again, i dont worship a lot, you know, rituals and such. i try to give homage (in my thoughts and actions) to Gaia every day. That is good to read ^^ Do you find Gaia a calming presence? You don't have to answer that if you don't want to wink
i do indeed find her a calming presence. i realize that she has plenty of things to worry about, but it's nice just to talk to her because i know she wont judge what i say or how i feel. its nice.
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