pissed off prozac

Last year, I pissed(or pished as we say where I'm from) off from prozac, the serotonin of life!

Man, it was good to feel emotion again. I got a virus a couple of years ago which led to a diagnosis of ME or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I went through all the "tests" and whop de dop, I'd got ME!

The treatment for ME in Scotland is to get the psychiatrist involved, you know what I mean?

I could hardly stand, never mind walk when I was "diagnosed." It follows that I couldn't work(I'd been fortunate enough to work in the NHS for 28 years non-stop before I became an ME).

Naturally enough I was a bit down with it all, and the Mental Health Team got involved in my care. The doctor assigned to me was a good guy. However, as a psychiatrist, his main treatment plan for me was anti-depressants in ever increasing doses. He also recommended fatty acids and steroids as an adjunct to my serotonin fix. I gave it a try. I even paid good money for a light box to combat the dark winter nights. The doctor used to like visiting. He liked tea and biscuits. He liked me. I should confess that I was a respected(I think?) Community Psychiatric Nurse, prior to my "break-down," and the therapeutic relationship we enjoyed was (I think) mutual.

I have been depressed in my life. I defy anyone to say different (well, anyone with feelings).

The thing about anti-depressants, and I used to recommend(get)general practitioners to prescribe them to the people, is they are useful in treating mood disorders. The can, however blunt your mood, your emotions. Serotonin is a naturally occuring, sunshine, brain chemical. The prozac type pills are supposed to boost your fluoxetine (prozac)levels. SSRI(selective serotin reuptake inhibitors) are the business for depression: maybee's aye, maybee's naw!

What the SSRI's are good for (in my humble opinion)is treating anxiety: you know..... the heartbroken angst..........the fear of dying (at the heart of phobias)............the acute distress of traumatic events. The pity is, the drug business could not, until recently, see beyond the profits to be made from people with "depression," and therefore failed to find the true niche for the SSRI: anxiety(like I said, in my opinion).

People with that collection of disorders called anxiety are often written-off as "walking- wounded, " or hysterical inadequates. Diazepam, so marketable "on the street," is the reluctant recourse of the primary care practitioner, and for good reason: it is short-lasting, addictive shite( as we say where I come from). SSRI's are in my view(as practitioner and practitionee?) good, mainly for short-term acute distress, accompanying other physical or mental illnesses.

I know treatment of illness is a very complex matter. Serotonin anti-depressents have their specific uses. My general rule, however, is they are not brilliant in treating ME long-term.

As I said at the start, It's good to feel the beat of your heart, to feel emotion.


Neil Lennon, the Celtic captain recently spoke of his periodic depressions. He was high in my regard. He is now sky high!

Here's hoping we beat Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday, and Manchester United at Old Trafford next Wednesday!


ps the above picture is of a time I was depressed

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