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 Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:16 pm
My family wants to put me on anti-depressants, and honestly, I kind of want to go on them.
But is this kind of thing acceptable in Buddhism? I'm so depressed all the time, I can't even pick myself up to do anything. It's ruining me. I don't plan to stay on them forever.
How should I deal with this?
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Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 10:11 pm
i say do whatever you feel is the right thing. intuition is the best answer.
i recall a story in which a scientist addicted to LSD meets the Dali Lamma and wants to ask him about the drug. when he gets there he actually never gets around to asking the Dali Lamma, but eventually he is summoned to his presence for that very matter.
the Dali Lamma asks to see the medicine the proffessor brought, and he hand shim the bottle of LSD. the Dali Lamma then drinks the whole thing... and nothing happens. he tells the proffessor that it was useless.
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 7:05 am
Honestly, if you need the anti depressants, you need them. Some people do require them to attain normal brain chemistry and allow them to function. Just make sure you ask what the side effects are, proper usage and that sort of thing - some of the meds in question have some fairly strange effects. And also keep in mind the effects won't be immediate; you may not feel better for a few weeks after starting things. Just hang in there. And make sure you can get therapy alongside it - the medication alone isn't enough; you're going to need help to train yourself out of the depressive thought patterns, even with the meds.
Also, anti-depressants are not a reason to stop practice. To be honest, they may help - once your brain is rebalanced into normal chemistry, it should become easier to practice meditation and the like without becoming obsessive over depressive thought during your sitting.
Chieftain, can I get a source for that story? Sounds kind of like an LSD proponent's rationale for why the stuff is good (the Dalai Lama already being in the mindset of it and not needing it; it being meditation in a bottle) rather than an actual true story. It's especially weird considering the Buddhist precept against intoxicants...
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 9:45 am
I agree with Byaggha. Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance, and if that is the case, then they can be taken without affecting your practice too much.
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:41 pm
I have chronic depression, and am on antidepressants for it. There are times when depression is a chemical problem, and medicine can fix that. Sometimes I can't function without my meds (I can't even meditate when I'm not on it). It just shuts you down.
What Byagga says is true. Meds are okay so long as you need them. I know I do...
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Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:13 pm
Byaggha Honestly, if you need the anti depressants, you need them. Some people do require them to attain normal brain chemistry and allow them to function. Just make sure you ask what the side effects are, proper usage and that sort of thing - some of the meds in question have some fairly strange effects. And also keep in mind the effects won't be immediate; you may not feel better for a few weeks after starting things. Just hang in there. And make sure you can get therapy alongside it - the medication alone isn't enough; you're going to need help to train yourself out of the depressive thought patterns, even with the meds. Also, anti-depressants are not a reason to stop practice. To be honest, they may help - once your brain is rebalanced into normal chemistry, it should become easier to practice meditation and the like without becoming obsessive over depressive thought during your sitting. Chieftain, can I get a source for that story? Sounds kind of like an LSD proponent's rationale for why the stuff is good (the Dalai Lama already being in the mindset of it and not needing it; it being meditation in a bottle) rather than an actual true story. It's especially weird considering the Buddhist precept against intoxicants... yes, the book was Called "Be Here Now", i can't remember the author, but it was the very proffessor that i mentioned. the story was basically about his own experience with LSD and then with Eastern Philosophy. when he was first introduced to LSD he was told to experiment with it and see what he could come up with. he thought he had found his "true self", but became very upset every time he came down. so when he heard of the Tibetan Book of The Dead (which was discovered and translated just after his experiments with LSD) he was struck to hear that the description he was told about the Buddhist experience of Death as exactly like that of his LSD Trips. he travels to India, and basically learns that he didn't need the LSD because of that ending in whic the Dali Lamma took it and it didn't effect him (because as you said, he was already in that state of mind that the LSD would have tried to put him in). it probably was some scientist's way of rationalizing his use of LSD, but i have no doubt that the story is true. i believe his story.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 6:37 am
Thank you, everyone. I started taking my medicine today, so, hopefully, this will help.
But now I've been diagnosed with PCOS, too. gonk xd MORE MEDS FOR MEEEE.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 7:01 am
Chieftain Twilight yes, the book was Called "Be Here Now", i can't remember the author, but it was the very proffessor that i mentioned. the story was basically about his own experience with LSD and then with Eastern Philosophy. when he was first introduced to LSD he was told to experiment with it and see what he could come up with. he thought he had found his "true self", but became very upset every time he came down. so when he heard of the Tibetan Book of The Dead (which was discovered and translated just after his experiments with LSD) he was struck to hear that the description he was told about the Buddhist experience of Death as exactly like that of his LSD Trips. he travels to India, and basically learns that he didn't need the LSD because of that ending in whic the Dali Lamma took it and it didn't effect him (because as you said, he was already in that state of mind that the LSD would have tried to put him in). it probably was some scientist's way of rationalizing his use of LSD, but i have no doubt that the story is true. i believe his story. Oh wait - you mean Remember Be Here Now? Because that one's about a man becoming a Hindu with random spiritualist leanings, and not a Buddhist. His Guru was supposedly an avatar of the deity Hanuman, and may have been the one who drank the LSD. From what I can find, the Dalai Lama has refused LSD when offered: "In 1962, poet Allen Ginsberg famously offered the Dalai Lama some LSD on a visit. His Holiness politely declined."
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:01 am
Byaggha Chieftain Twilight yes, the book was Called "Be Here Now", i can't remember the author, but it was the very proffessor that i mentioned. the story was basically about his own experience with LSD and then with Eastern Philosophy. when he was first introduced to LSD he was told to experiment with it and see what he could come up with. he thought he had found his "true self", but became very upset every time he came down. so when he heard of the Tibetan Book of The Dead (which was discovered and translated just after his experiments with LSD) he was struck to hear that the description he was told about the Buddhist experience of Death as exactly like that of his LSD Trips. he travels to India, and basically learns that he didn't need the LSD because of that ending in whic the Dali Lamma took it and it didn't effect him (because as you said, he was already in that state of mind that the LSD would have tried to put him in). it probably was some scientist's way of rationalizing his use of LSD, but i have no doubt that the story is true. i believe his story. Oh wait - you mean Remember Be Here Now? Because that one's about a man becoming a Hindu with random spiritualist leanings, and not a Buddhist. His Guru was supposedly an avatar of the deity Hanuman, and may have been the one who drank the LSD. From what I can find, the Dalai Lama has refused LSD when offered: "In 1962, poet Allen Ginsberg famously offered the Dalai Lama some LSD on a visit. His Holiness politely declined." yes, that's the one. though it was no poet who was in the story.
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:29 am
Chieftain Twilight yes, that's the one. though it was no poet who was in the story. Yeah, I know. 3nodding In all honesty though, I do have a tough time believing the veracity of the former acid guru's claim in this case, especially given the Lama's history with the drug. I can't see him simply downing something that he was unaware of, and I know he wouldn't take it if he knew what it was given that Allen Ginsberg thing. Ah well. Guess it's me versus Ram on this one. xd Thanks, Chieftain. 3nodding
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:40 pm
Byaggha Chieftain Twilight yes, that's the one. though it was no poet who was in the story. Yeah, I know. 3nodding In all honesty though, I do have a tough time believing the veracity of the former acid guru's claim in this case, especially given the Lama's history with the drug. I can't see him simply downing something that he was unaware of, and I know he wouldn't take it if he knew what it was given that Allen Ginsberg thing. Ah well. Guess it's me versus Ram on this one. xd Thanks, Chieftain. 3nodding The former "acid guru" in question is Baba Ram Das. He is still alive, still teaching, and ceased taking LSD a very long time ago. Advanced yogis have exquisite control over not only their minds, but their bodies. It's not so hard to believe a siddhi could take LSD with no effect.
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:43 pm
davidm843 Byaggha Chieftain Twilight yes, that's the one. though it was no poet who was in the story. Yeah, I know. 3nodding In all honesty though, I do have a tough time believing the veracity of the former acid guru's claim in this case, especially given the Lama's history with the drug. I can't see him simply downing something that he was unaware of, and I know he wouldn't take it if he knew what it was given that Allen Ginsberg thing. Ah well. Guess it's me versus Ram on this one. xd Thanks, Chieftain. 3nodding The former "acid guru" in question is Baba Ram Das. He is still alive, still teaching, and ceased taking LSD a very long time ago. Advanced yogis have exquisite control over not only their minds, but their bodies. It's not so hard to believe a siddhi could take LSD with no effect. indeed. smile glad to see we have common ground, i was beginning to think that we were going to be at odds about everything. sweatdrop i have been amazed by the story not so much because i found it unbelievable, but rather just because i'm a sucker for inspirational stories. xd plus, i've always loved the Dali Lamma, he is awesome! whee
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Lord Alucard Ere Casanova
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:38 pm
Personally, I am against anti-depressants. I was on them before and the only result was a change in my thought patterns. Had I been a more impulsive individual, the things I would have done goes against any religion that focuses on love and kindness. I threw the prescription away and then took to meditation. I looked at what it was that was depressing me, considered the honesty(or lack thereof) behind the thoughts and beliefs that led to the depression and eventually decided I was wrong. After that I went through a seasonal depression, but as soon as I recognize the symptoms I push the thoughts away and in doing so set aside depression itself.
However, I understand this is not an option for people who are depressed due to a chemical imbalance. My advice would be that if you must use anti-depressants, find a type that works and use it for as long as you are told to by a doctor. While doing this, meditate on why you are/were depressed and try to figure out why. See if it is something you can overcome yourself, even if you do so with the help of anti-depressants.
Do what you've got to do. I'm sure you can find support here from anyone you ask for it. Ask and you shall receive.
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Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:47 pm
Yes, that's what I am doing. I'm hoping that I can be free from them someday, but I guess we'll see...
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