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Hello.
So I'm a normal guy; I eat breakfast everyday, take a shower (mostly) and have friends.
I thought I would introduce myself a bit...I'm 28 years old, residing in the great country Sweden. We have swedish meatballs, porn and ABBA. Also (for you metalheads) we have a lot of awesome metal bands. Theres no need to list them really...In Flames, Dark Tranquility, Amon Amarth, Hammerfall etc.
Sorry, couldn't help myself.
So, anyways. I study social work, majoring I guess you would call it in the US/Canada. But I also learn some psychology and law.
I live in a town with like 60 000 residents and it's all good; the sea is nearby, NICE girls etc.
I'm originally from another part of Sweden, down south, called Lund. It's a town with a well known university and I've seen and met alot of "foreigners" there.
My grades from high school sucked ass, I mean REALLY sucked ass. They were in fact so bad my mother started to cry.
So I went to something we have in Sweden called "Komvux" which is like a second chance here in Sweden to get your grades up from high school in order to get into university.
So I attended Komvux and fucked up some more. Basically I only got grades from 3 out of 7 classes.
I now felt that I was a bit fucked up so I went to something called "folkhögskola" which is like a separate school (often pretty remotely located) where you can get your grades up (again, lol).
I had good teachers there who knew how to motivate me so I graduated with pretty good grades.
I wanted to be a psychologist but my grades weren't good enough so I landed where I am now, studying social work.
My plan is to finish the schooling, then to work for a bit and then to study further, becoming a psychotherapist. In Sweden, you need to be a doctor, or study social work in order to be able to become a psyhotherapist, and since I've always wanted to help people with issues I figured this would be right for me.
So here I am now. I live in a small fucking dorm room, meet girls every now and then, meet friends, but mainly I isolate myself and play starcraft/watch tv-series.
I don't know why it's like this really...I used to be a very outgoing person but lately I don't feel like hanging out with random jerks for some reason.
When I lived in Lund (my hometown)I was living with two girls in a four-room apartment and shit was good. I was in love with one of them however earlier and my current girlfriend was her best friend...so the whole situation was a little bit odd.
Anyways, we're not together anymore and I moved to Kalmar to study since a friend of mine, Miguel, was also gonna study here and this school had the classes I wanted to attend.
I've also eaten anti-depressants for years now. It started when I was 20. My mother wanted me to talk to someone, since she thought I was not on the right track so I talked to a professional and soon she thought I would perhaps eat some medication.
The idea of eating some kind of medication for issues I didn't really have except of a lack of motivation, seemed stupid to me.
Finally though, I met with the doctor and he told me that this medication called Zoloft was the greatest thing ever which would make me a great, outgoing and happy human being (remind you though, I was outgoing at the time being).
So I started medicating myself for shit I hardly had before...I mean who isn't anxious about shit at some point in their lifes...and I'm still on medication today.
And...it sucks, really does.
I've been on Zoloft, Cipramil, Paxil, Efexor and some others and shit doesn't get better.
What these SSRI(serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors) do is mainly to numb people.
Really, you don't feel THAT different either while on medication (well, I don't anyways, maybe some do), but you can't feel shit.
I become apathetic, and I am now.
So basically I have been prescribed these damn anti-depressants since 8 years back which for startes weren't even for me. I didn't have panic attacks nor clinical depression. Why did I get them? I guess only god knows...
What I do know is that my life has been somewhat twisted because of them...
In America only, anti-depressants are described like they would be candy.
Ritalin and Prozac ring a bell? People are getting fucked up on these brain-altering medications and people get numb, loose they sex-drive, get agressive/suicidal and what not.
I have been experiencing psychiatry first hand, and I know how they like to drug people to fall in line.
Everything is an illness nowadays.
Drugging peoples minds is like boob jobs or making face-lifts, only it affects peoples brains and I think it's sad if that's the kind of society we are creating, where flaws are seen as something unwanted.
If you have anxiety, expose yourself to the scary shit. If you have depression, start by taking a shower in the morning, eating breakfast, get some rutines in.
But don't start eating anti-depressants because you know what?
They don't cure shit, they just (supposedely) releave you of your symptoms, although I haven't gotten relieved of shit.
Lol, I got all fired up about this, but hey, it's my blog and my life.
I just wanted to introduce myself to the TL community and I look forward to make new aquiantces (sp?) here.
Feel free to write me or comment =)
  
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Hello Jens!
Well, actually, I guess I know what you mean about the meds (not personally) but my dad being a psychologist when I was still at home I always saw him doing work on that shit and stuff, and he was of a similar opinion.
Well, I don't what to say lol...-_- hi!
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Hi Wizard ^^ you seem like a nice person.
Yea, you know psychologists and psychiatrists (doctors) often treat a patient together and usually psychologists, like your dad are more against drugs, which I think is good.
Thy think it's more important to talk to a person and find out about their life, and why they feel bad than to stuff them up with medication.
Your old man seems to be a good man.
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Haha, thanks.
oh and another thing, i think you signed up for the new chess tournament (the one after this one) and I've made a topic, so might wanna go check who your opponent will be
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Oh I see, um I signed up for the first (?) tournament but I got placed in a reserve slot so I don't know anything about this new tournament ^^
But I would be happy to play though.
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and I look forward to make new aquiantces (sp?)
a/s/l? :D
btw I think it's supposed to be acquaintances, but I'm not too sure.
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Yea your spelling is probably correct, Obvious 
28/m/Sweden, fancy you?
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u took ssri for 8 yrs and dont know why?
sounds like an emo-blog, so much whine and depressive talk:x
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HiTexas, you seem like a mature human being.
Hello and goodbye
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u took ssri for 8 yrs and dont know why?
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On August 18 2007 07:50 JensOfSweden wrote:
Oh I see, um I signed up for the first (?) tournament but I got placed in a reserve slot so I don't know anything about this new tournament ^^
But I would be happy to play though.
Oh, the reserve slot is now the list of all the players, check out the thread "2nd tl chess championships"
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On August 18 2007 08:11 HiTexas wrote:
u took ssri for 8 yrs and dont know why?
wow, you post the same thing twice. good on you. -_-;;
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If you have anxiety, expose yourself to the scary shit. If you have depression, start by taking a shower in the morning, eating breakfast, get some rutines in.
But don't start eating anti-depressants because you know what?
They don't cure shit, they just (supposedely) releave you of your symptoms, although I haven't gotten relieved of shit.
Personal experience? Some random advice? It wont help as you cannot cure real depressions and anxities with some showers and good mood. Side effects of antidepressants are wide-known, antidepressants are needed and can be very valuable.
You take Zoloft, Cipramil, Paxil, Effexor but dont have a clinical depression? How does this work? This sounds too odd.
I understand ur scepticism but demonising care w/ medical support is wrong. A dry mouth, sex. inactivity etc sucks but justifies the use of antidepressants. Just wait until some practical courses at a psychiatry (e.g.) and you will realize it.
psychotherapist might be the wrong job for you btw?
wow, you post the same thing twice. good on you. -_-;;
OH YES. Was hoping for an answer, sorry if i offended you with a second (third now) post. I hope you will understand. : )
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awesome, an anti anti-depressents rant while simultaneously sharing your experience about using said pills for eight years..
do as i say not as i do
I agree with HiTexas that you should maybe look into other professions.
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Hey Jens.
I'm studying sociology and psychology in university. 3rd year now.
There is a big problem with ap (anti-psychotic) and ad (anti-depressive) medication. Unfortunately anti-depressive are over prescripted and most of the times it actually have other effect than the wished one.
The lack of cooperation betwen psychiartists and psychologists/terapists gives bad results. Many of the problems where psychiatrists give medication, that will have bad effects on the person, can be solved by going to the psychologist and doing therapy.
Psychiatrists and most of family doctors which send you to psychiatrist if you have "disorders" are doing alot of bad. Sure it's cheaper to give medication instead of months or years of therapy but all they can do is in the end make the human being incapable of helping himself.
They even prescribe medication for diagnostics like social phobia, twitch and even for low level anxiety. That's just lol, they are practically destroying the human's body capacity of regeneration.
Those problems could be solved with ease by doing therapy. There are many types of therapy and it's 100% that one of them will work on a certain individual.
Most of the doctors nowadays discredit the ideea of clinical depression and it has been shown in numerous ocasions that it can be treated (the therapy practically starts your body's auto-regeneration system) without the use of medication or a slight use of it.
3 years ago i had big problems with concentration. I just couldn't study. I visited the family doctor which sent me to psychiatrist which wanted to give me some pills. I didn't take any of them.
I visited a psychologist for 1 week but that didn't help me at all so i visited another psychologist and after not even 3 meetings i began to councious aknowledge my problems which led to a quick progress and finnaly the problem was solved.
Why do you wanna be a therapist? you want to help yourself more than others? be sure you can't help others untill you solve your own problems  .
Btw, in romania atleast to get to be a therapist you have to finish psychology and make 5 years of practice before you get your degree. That effort doesn't worth unless you really like it and you really can help others.
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Hi.
I am the first American to post in your blog post. Very nice!
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Why do you still take them if they dont do anything for you? I recently took ap psychology and was going to say some stuff that you probably already know, routines + regular excercise to increase norepinephrine levels, your serotonin levels were probably already fine if the medication doesnt seem to have any effect on you. What exactly was wrong that you got prescribed them in the first place? Zoloft/prozac came out in the 90s so you've been on it since that shit like first came out.
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We all make mistakes and fail in life, this is life, I am so sorry you had to go through all this. You genuinely seem like a very nice guy. School can be tough, and I know what you mean by that. You struggle and struggle and struggle; sometimes, it will get you places -- other times, it won't. The feeling is horrendous. This leads you to depression/anxiety huh? I don't know, I have manic depression, and if little things happen in my life, I have panic attacks, and usually that goes into anxiety attacks. Take care of yourself, if you want to talk about anything, feel free. I know your situation.
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Nice blog Jens, you seem like a really nice and cool guy, keep up the good work! As for becoming a psychotherapist, do what you believe will make you happy and never give up on your dreams! But also remember to explore all your interests. Perhaps you could even volunteer at a local psychiatry clinic to see how that field is? Also, remember that everyone makes mistakes in their life and that you learn from them, so they too have a positive side.
About the meds you're on, why not go to a different doctor or try different treatments. We're all different and no one treatment will always be the right choice for one person as it is for another. Maybe therapy would be best for you? I don't know but be sure to check it out. I like Pika Chu's post because of his good advice, definitely check that out too. He seems to be knowledgeable in this area.
Anyway, keep up with the blogging. I like one's like these! GL and I hope everything goes well for you.
Oh yeah, 5 stars!
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Physician
United States4146 Posts
JensOfSweden wrote:...and since I've always wanted to help people with issues I figured this would be right for me. [....] I don't feel like hanging out with random jerks for some reason.
Judging only by some of your other comments, your reactions to criticism and some of your prejudice - I would have to agree with HiTexas' comment,HiTexas wrote...psychotherapist might be the wrong job for you btw?
Social work and psychotherapy really might just not be your thing. Just take it as advice rather than a criticism.
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Nevertheless I would like to add to your blog a few of my own thoughts and maybe add to its general value. One can treat this blog as a sign of our times or an anecdotal case to support what I too have seen repeated in our youth today ad naseum.
I have to agree with you, JensofSweden, that trying to treat social problems, misguided values and motivation issues with medications and doctors is really the wrong thing to do, and sometimes causes more harm than good.
I also agree that today many normal human behavior variants are being labeled as diseases, when they are not, and that in the mental health field misdiagnoses are far too prevalent, to avoid using the words rampant and irresponsible. It goes to the extent that I frankly believe some disorders are outright human constructions that have no pathology to them.
One of the reasons is of course the snake oil industry and their exploitation of market pressures but another equally important reason is health care workers, physicians included, with little training in psychiatry that are allowed to prescribe left and right medications they have little or no understanding.
You are also right in suspecting SSRI's lack of efficacy. There is increasing evidence that these medications are no better than placebo for depression; for other "disorders", like anxiety related syndromes, OCD, pain sydromes, fibromyalgia, migraine etc.. the evidence is even more scare.. and yet these agents are being used left and right for a myriad of conditions with little science supporting their use.
There is also very strong evidence that to use of SSRI's in developing minds, i.e. children & adolescents, the adverse effects outweigh any "supposed" benefit they might bring, making their use in children very questionable.
There are however other depression medications aside from the SSRI's. Some of the older depression medication have been proven to work so it is not wise to assume its all the same shit and that nothing works.
I guess we are still learning but unfortunately they are releasing some new meds without good science behind them. The advantage I guess is that it makes dam easy to test their efficacy and actions when you make the whole world your test lab - which is not the most ethical thing to do.
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EPT
