antidepressants + meditation

[Dunnel]

Will this effect my meditation for the worse? Anyone here experienced downsides of taking meds and combining that with meditation?

Edited February 22, 2021 by Dunnel

[Endangered-EGO]

Probably depends on the meds, I took ssri, and had a spontaneous kundalini awakening during long meditation sessions. Not sure if that's a downside, but it could have been prematurely activated, I don't know. Maybe this is bad for the nervous system, maybe it was supposed to happen.

I guess you still can make "progress" while taking them, but you know, things can go bad with meditation alone, and antidepressants have side effects too, so talk to your dr about it, especially if you have a condition that could be worsened from meditation, like psychosis schizophrenia etc.

Medical doctors (and some psychiatrist) don't know the effects hardcore-meditation can have on your psyche.

[Dunnel]

@Endangered-EGOyeah I have been doing meditation for over three years now. Barely noticed any difference for my depression becasue my mind is so uncouncious. If I can get more councious, then it will be easier. I will try expermenting with it. 

Edited February 23, 2021 by Dunnel

[sleep]

I take antidepressants too. Don't know if they affect my meditation progress but I do know that without them maybe I couldn't even bring myself to meditate. What I'm saying is even if sometimes they make progress slower they're still a necessary component for having a practice in the first place, so don't stress too much over their negative effects on meditation if you wouldn't even be able to meditate without them.

[James123]

@Dunnel what is your medical issue? If antidepressants helps you to overcome from your sickness, it will help to meditate easier. For instance, If you have an anxiety problem, it will be hard to meditate as regular human being. And if antidepressants helps you to overcome from your anxiety, it is helpful. But do not depend on anything in the long term, use it just for recovery. 

[Dunnel]

@James123I suffer from OCD. I have an intense addiction to thinking about everything. It gives me a sense of control. Whenever I stop completely to attach myself to my thought patters I become severly depressed and I can get impulsive and might even kill myself. I have attempted it once though even if went all in it probably wouldnt have killed me. But something need to change but trying to for years and avoided meds becasue I was recogmended not to. 

[Endangered-EGO]

@Dunnel Just make sure the type of meditation you use doesn't make your ocd worse.

[James123]

@Dunnel if you want give antidepressants a try. Additionally, OCD is based on over “self “ controlling. You can overcome it by yourself too. Meditation or process of enlightenment is completely surrendering and letting go the self. Which mean is completely opposite direction of OCD. But you can overcome without the medication too. 

[Dunnel]

@James123Ill talk to my doctor next week. Thanks

[Dunnel]

@sleepIll give it a shot. Thank you. @Endangered-EGO

Edited February 23, 2021 by Dunnel

[James123]

@Dunnel anytime ? good luck. 

[roopepa]

@Dunnel I have tried two different antidepressants for depression. Citalopram and vortioxetine. I will share my thoughts on the matter. Keep in mind that people react differently for substances.

The first one was citalopram. This one somewhat helped me, mostly with social anxiety. There was certain drowsiness and mindfog in the beginning, and with larger doses. I do not have a daily meditation routine, so I cannot really say for sure it's effects on daily meditation, but I would say that for me, citalopram did not help but neither did it make meditation worse. Feeling the energy, or my intuition on the substance, I would say that at least for me, this one is not helpful in spiritual matters.

I started taking vortioxetine a couple of months ago. This one has absolutely been helpful for me. Depression has significantly reduced. There is much more positive mindset. This is quite weird but I feel like vortioxetine also works a bit like a mild psychedelic or something like that. It expands my awareness. Also, it has helped me to focus better, unlike citalopram. I am more meditative in general. Vortioxetine has been more stimulating rather than drowsy. Also, there has been basically zero side effects, which is kind of amazing especially when we are talking about a freaking antidepressant.

It is hard to say how big role the substance has played in this, but after starting it, there has been a huge leap in my journey so to speak. I've been a lot more in touch with my emotions and life in general. My sexuality has opened up in a way never before, and I've even had some mystical experiences. Intuition tells me that the substance has had a major role, but it is not the only factor here.

Overall I have a good feeling about vortioxetine. It seems like it goes well with my system.

I know that I have given a very positive look into vortioxetine here. Keep in mind that I am not a professional, and I really don't know shit about anything. You make your own choices.

[Dunnel]

@roopepathanksif i ever get to talk a psychiatrist Ill mention vortioxetine just to see if it would fit me. I dont really want to numb my emotions because i already feel pretty empty to begin with. So maybe this one could help. I just want more councious meditations, been wasting a lot of time just daydreaming and clinging to thought patterns. I am still gonna meditate though without them for now, but I need some sort of hope that there is other options out there. 

[Osaid]

On 2/23/2021 at 2:28 PM, roopepa said:

I started taking vortioxetine a couple of months ago. This one has absolutely been helpful for me. Depression has significantly reduced. There is much more positive mindset. This is quite weird but I feel like vortioxetine also works a bit like a mild psychedelic or something like that. It expands my awareness. Also, it has helped me to focus better, unlike citalopram. I am more meditative in general. Vortioxetine has been more stimulating rather than drowsy. Also, there has been basically zero side effects, which is kind of amazing especially when we are talking about a freaking antidepressant

That is very interesting 

This website says:

“Vortioxetine may also affect a variety of other neurotransmitters. The relevance is that it’s the first antidepressant to affect the domain of cognition independently, a domain we struggle to treat well in depression.”

Through path and subgroup analysis, the researchers were able to show that vortioxetine’s effect on cognition was largely direct and independent of its effect on other symptoms of depression.

“That is the zinger. There is little evidence that any other antidepressant improves cognition independent of its effect on depressive symptoms,” McIntyre said.

https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/topics/mood-disorders/vortioxetine-a-unique-antidepressant-for-major-depressive-disorder/

So apparently, it is a bit more unique than other antidepressants, in that it has a direct and independent affect on cognition.

[roopepa]

18 hours ago, Dunnel said:

been wasting a lot of time just daydreaming and clinging to thought patterns.

This is completely fine, and you are a magnificent, beautiful being as you are.

You could try to focus a bit more into your body and emotions. There is a great wisdom there waiting for you. Each time you find yourself in thought pattern you no longer choose, do some kind of movement with your body that you usually don't do. A little dance, perhaps. And listen to your feeling. See if it helps.