Do I need medication?

[James1979]

Hi my name is James. Over the past 22 years I haven't been the same since I was mentally, physical, emotionally abusive by my dad who is a narcissist/psychopath. At the age of 6, my dad had pulled a gun to my head and my mind hasn't been the same. I was traumazied and terrified by this event. And I never learned how to be social with people nor did I learn the art of conversation with my peers.

So over the last couple of years I feel like I've been depressed and felt like my soul has left my body(very empty inside). I'm just simply amaze how people can interact with other people with ease. I just don't get it at times. This is also affecting my job as well because a lot of people are annoyed by me as I can read their body language very well.

Does anyone think I need to see a psychiatrist (I have before a few months back, saw a few improvements but not much) and maybe take medication to feel energized. I have only felt this one and it felt very good.

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

Hi James,

I'm so sorry to hear about what you went through. My heart ached when I read your post.

I think given the trauma of what you'd experienced at such a young age, it would be a very good idea to seek professional help. I have a family member who is an educational psychologist and she and I were discussing the long term effects of traumatic experiences during childhood as an individual enters into adulthood. You need someone like a psychologist to help you cope with the memories that you've got.

The top of this forum area has a few helplines for you to contact as a starter.

Big hugs and let us know how you get on.

 

[SamanthaOfHope]

*flops on cloud beside james* ^.^ hi!

listen to me James, although it's good to talk with someone about what you're going through, you already have all the power you need to overcome this! and i know it's difficult to consider that, but it's true.

i'm sorry for what happened to you with your papa, but you shouldn't dwell on negative things like that, it's in the past, leave it there k? move forward. realise that it isn't apart of your life right now, at this second, on this day.

right now you're NOT who you will be tomorrow, or the day after or the day after that ^.^ your spirit is constantly growing and shifting...moving towards something far greater than you can ever imagine.

we all carry difficult things in our past, but if we let them control our lives and BECOME who we are, we can never overcome, ultimately we would never be happy

you're special, and you were born with a purpose. never forget that k?

 

[DR RekLaw]

Yes i think you need to get help. You can not keep it all inside. If it is affecting your job then you need to take care of it.

 

[SaNcTaMaRiA]

Hey man,

Nothing weak in getting a little help. Go find you a great therapist and just unload on them ! You will thank yourself. As for needing medication your therapist will decide if they think you need to see a psych who will determine your needs for medicine.

Remember brother you are not alone. Not now not ever are you alone!

We walk this road together one day one step one second at a time.



SanctaMaria

 

[TheMainException]

Hey bro...empty is a bad feeling. Yeah? I'd rather feel pain than nothing...feeling nothing really sucks.

I've been to a psychiatrist, but it's a bit much money and they are more prepared to hand out drugs these days. For your case, I'd see a therapist first. Have you ever talked with anyone about it without going on meds? Meds can be helpful, but talk therapy should always go along with it! I recommend seeing a therapist to everyone, cuz I think everyone needs to just talk it out from time to time.

your soul hasn't left your body, it's just afraid to be seen...it sounds like you are really afraid to open up to the people around you. Take small steps man. It took me a while to ever be able to talk to people about much of anything. I spent my entire public school education inside my room after school and didn't talk much to people. I didn't have many friends and could never open up to people (my dad's an alcoholic and was a very angry one for a long time, he's calmed down since I left for college, good for my mom and bro at least, but I'm already out of the house). It's going to take time to relearn how to relate to people...but just keep trying.

 

[Soulwings]

I agree with what others have said on here... seek professional help, rather than keeping what happened to you bottled up inside. I, personally, would go to a therapist first, and s/he can guide you from there on out. Meds - they're not the only answer - rarely do they help people who are not in therapy as well. I'm seeing a counselor, have been for 3 years, as well as taking meds, and it's helped me quite a lot, but the meds are nothing without someone to talk with. And - on the flipside - often therapy is nothing without the meds helping the behavioral and cognitive changes happen that go along with therapy.

Continue to reach out.

 

[James1979]

thanks everyone for your encouragment. Well I'm gonna go through my company's network of listed of doctors to see. Which one should I see that is able to give out medicine and give therapy at the same time. Just in case if he or she insist that I should get on medication. Thanks in advance. I'm gonna look right now after I post this up. I don't know..its kind of hard of imagining me being able to have a normal life..i'm almost 30 i just don't know.

 

[Angeldove97]

Hi James,
It's very nice to meet you and I wanted to thank you for sharing a little bit of yourself with us--- I hope we can bring you some good advice and alot of encouragement.

I've personally dealt with depression since around 8th grade and after a traumatic event I never thought I'd be normal again. But I've worked on it for a few years now and I'm more like my old cheery self again. It's hard work, but it's something I really wanted--- enough that I did work at it.

One thing that I wanted to suggest for you is that you spend some time talking to a person without jumping on medication right away. I know you said you've tried this before, but perhaps this is a better time to try talking about your past to heal--- sometimes time has to pass by for awhile before we can open up. If after a month or so of meeting with someone, they suggest that you should be on medication, I would totally go for trying that route.

You could also ask your specialist if there are any natural remedies you should try--- like yoga, supplements, vitamins, exercise, etc. I've personally found that by taking Vitamin B Complex pills twice a day every day, my depression, anxiety, and just over all negative feelings are completely gone. This won't work for everybody, but may be a route that would work for you if you haven't already tried it.

Good luck and let us know how you're doing!

 

[James1979]

Angeldove97,

Thank you for your response. Well when I had went to therapy. It went out okay but i felt good the day after but before I know it the old behavior creeps right back in. Its a tuggle war issue that I'm dealing with. I'm to the point I'm afraid that someone will call me out on my job and then I'll lose my job. I mean my last therapist told me that I'm not obligated to tell people my issue even though I know they know something is up with me (ie, lack of communication and lack of energy) What do you think?

 

[TheMainException]

I think that it would be helpful to tell your boss or supervisor that you have some issues that are causing your lack of energy, etc., but you do not have to elaborate if you don't want to. It was helpful for me to tell my prof about what's been going on because I missed a lot of class...but he was very understanding and did what he could for me. And just remember, therapy takes time...don't expect that you can change behavior in one or two sessions...sometimes it takes years...we have set our behaviors and to untrain ourselves is very hard. Keep at it.

 

[Ave Maria]

Only a licensed doctor such as a psychiatrist can decide whether or not medication would be appropriate for you. I strongly suggest that you see one. He/she would probably also likely recommend that you enter therapy which I also strongly suggest that you do.