diving and depression?

[B]

I have dived whilst taking citalopram - which is the "new" favorite anti depressant amongst gp's - apparently the one with the fewest side effects and hardly any reported cases of addiction...

but... every person is so different, it all depends on the level of depression, the level of engagement the person is at getting better and what the triggers are...

I personally felt the benefits and happiness I got from diving far outweighed any causes there would have been against it. I no longer take the medication, have the odd little blip which in my case is purely confidence related... but has diving helped me get better, have I met some wonderful encouraging people within the tightly knit diving community - oh yes absolutely....

feel free to pm ever if any questions... I am not afraid to stand up and say YES I was a wreck, yes I was depressed and down... now I hope I can help others like I was helped and learned to help myself...

[Garf]

If nothing else, oine should learn from this thread that if you are clinically depressed, you appear to be in good company, and very much not alone.

As for the medication, as David rightly states, everyone reacts differently to the same medication, especially anti-depressants, as there are many factors that can effect their efficacy. It's going to have to be a personal judgment in concert with your doctor's advice, listening to web advice on this issue is not a good idea.

[yazzyfooty]

Originally Posted by Little fish

Needless to say, I came off it, as the desire to dive won in the end. Your friend might not be in a position to do this though. Definitely need to seek medical advice.

Good luck.

Little Fish.

Narked at 90
Please tell your friend whatever he/she may do it is NOT to just stop taking her medication. As with many drugs anti depressants need to be decreased in dose on a gradual basis.

[Gez Ward]

i had a student who was on anti depressants but he never told me . so at 3metres he try s to commit suicide and i end up resusitating on the surface for a while after a perfect warm water dive all this came out in the investigation he decided it was a nice way to go .i nearly lost my business over this incident all down to his state of mind didnt want to go back to uni and continue with his studies and many other reasons .The mind is a complicated thing add drugs and anything can happen my advice is take care

[DIVE BUDDHA]

Originally Posted by SilvaFish

Apologies, forgot to say that I am not actually on medication. Just feel down alot and don't want a nark hit excaberrating that.

dont we all !!! feel down that is ????

[DIVE BUDDHA]

Originally Posted by Gez Ward

i had a student who was on anti depressants but he never told me . so at 3metres he try s to commit suicide and i end up resusitating on the surface for a while after a perfect warm water dive all this came out in the investigation he decided it was a nice way to go .i nearly lost my business over this incident all down to his state of mind didnt want to go back to uni and continue with his studies and many other reasons .The mind is a complicated thing add drugs and anything can happen my advice is take care

bloody hell ??? so if owt had have happened to him u would have been up the creak without a paddle

[narked at 90]

to follow up on this i have told my friend that I'm not diving with him until he's been cleared by Margret clamp, so he's been to see her and has been given the all clear BUT and this one is for any body using the drugs he's on and thinking of diving
the drug brings on heavy narcosis even at shallow depths (10m) so you must not take the drug for 24hrs before the dive and all should be good and you can take the meds after the dive has finished.
kind regards and thanks for all your advice on this.
john routley

[Little fish]

Originally Posted by narked at 90

to follow up on this i have told my friend that I'm not diving with him until he's been cleared by Margret clamp, so he's been to see her and has been given the all clear BUT and this one is for any body using the drugs he's on and thinking of diving
the drug brings on heavy narcosis even at shallow depths (10m) so you must not take the drug for 24hrs before the dive and all should be good and you can take the meds after the dive has finished.
kind regards and thanks for all your advice on this.
john routley

Word of caution. I would urge anyone to seek medical advice about their own particular situation/medication, as what goes for one doesn't necessarily go for all. Different drugs work in different ways, and the same drug works differently for different individuals. Too risky to make judgements based on general advice here. Your efficiency as a buddy might be non-existent if you are under the influence and don't realise. That potentially impacts on the safety of others ... don't go there.

[royplumber]

it's good to read about this but it's a bit depressing in it

[narked at 90]

Originally Posted by Little fish

Word of caution. I would urge anyone to seek medical advice about their own particular situation/medication, as what goes for one doesn't necessarily go for all. Different drugs work in different ways, and the same drug works differently for different individuals. Too risky to make judgements based on general advice here. Your efficiency as a buddy might be non-existent if you are under the influence and don't realise. That potentially impacts on the safety of others ... don't go there.

Of course you are right, i think i over shot the mark in my reply
kind regards john