I have seen many of the girls on here
mention about being on some form of
anti-depressants. I was just wondering
what types have worked for you guys, and
what it's like to use them? iAny personal
experiences really. I've never taken any
before (though there were probably times
when I should have been on some), so I
really have no idea what their like and
about the different kinds.
It's weird because for the first time in a
long time my life is going well, and
things are in place. It's not like I hate
my life, I just find it hard to get
excited about things, and I'm constantly
tired and dragging myself around. I also
get really stressed and depressed about
school, like I dread waking up and going,
and on the weekends I dread the new week
coming to the point where Sunday is
torture because I'm so upset about another
week starting. I feel like I don't have
the motivation to have social
interactions. Like I don't want to go
there, and have to see people, or speak to
anyone ever again. I just don't feel like
ever being around people anymore. Also
lows will just hit me out of no where, and
all of a sudden everything is crappy, then
I'm happy again, then all of a sudden I'm
insanely sad again with no trigger or a
very unreasonably small trigger.
I don't think I'm out of control depressed
or anything, I just think it would be nice
to be a little more balanced.
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soldierswifey
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 225 Location: , ny usa
Posted: 11-25-07 01:01am
im not on anti-depressants and am
satisfied with my life....
im glad to see you are too and i agree
with you...everyone cheer up
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Jules
Moderator
Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 3760 Location: Merrie Englande, UK
Thanks: 79
Thanked:66
Posted: 11-25-07 02:31am
soldierswifey
wrote:
im not on anti-depressants
and am satisfied with my life....
im glad to see you are too and i agree
with you...everyone cheer
up
This is a common misconception about
depression and is simply down to ignorance
about the illness. Depression has
nothing to do with being 'dissatisfied
with one's life' and it's not simply a
case of 'cheer up'.
Tanya, I have suffered with post natal
depression and, even though I am totally
contented with my life, simply found that
I lacked the motivation and energy to do
anything. Everything felt pointless and
bleak and I became like a shadow of my
real self, merely going through the
motions of every day but not really feeling
anything. I have been prescribed several
antidepressants before I found the ones
that are working brilliantly for me. I
started off on Citalopram but found the
effects wore off so I was switched to
Prozac but that made me feel really ill,
spaced out and sick. I am now on Efexor
and they are marvelous! I have got my
spirit back again, I am going out and
meeting friends, am back playing badminton
and am enjoying my work again.
Before I had depression I thought there
were times in my life when I had
depression. I was wrong. I may have had
times when my life wasn't going great or I
felt dissatisfied but I was not truely
depressed. I now realise that true
depression is an illness that slowly saps
your life force from you and turns you
into a creature that merely 'exists'. If
you think you have depression you must see
your doctor because it will not just go
away. I don't like the fact that I have
to take tablets to be well (especially
because DH and I were hoping to ttc in Jan
but the antidepressants can harm the
foetus) but I'd rather be a great mummy to
one than a crap mummy to two.
The way I look at it, I don't question the
fact that I need to take medicine to keep
my asthma under control so why should my
mental health be any different?
Good luck.
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sick_mama17
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 960 Location: , England
Posted: 11-25-07 03:07am
Im glad you're feeling better Jules those
tablets sound goood! I too hate it when
people say "cheer up" to anyone with
depression, because you cant just cheer
up!
Tanya I have depression and anxiety, Ive
had it in some degree for years but
finally went to the doctors about it last
year because it got so bad I just couldnt
handle it by myself anymore.
Ive been on 4 different meds since then.
First 2 didnt have any/much effect on me.
3rd one was prozac which helped but made
me exhausted all the time I couldnt look
after Jay on it. Now im on sertraline
(zoloft).
I've found they cover up your really bad
feelings. Like I was having constant
suicidal thoughts, found myself crying a
lot over nothing in general, really
anxious about going anywhere, would sit
and stare at the walls, would stay in bed
all day if it was possible etc. Now that
stuff doesnt happen. Its like im numb to
my emotions in a way.
They dont make you feel happy though. I
get anxiety attacks occasionally and Im
still depressed but it doesnt affect me so
badly. I dont want to go out much or see
many people though I make myself. I enjoy
being a mum and doing things with Jay
more, but its still a struggle most days,
however at least im not a complete mess on
the bathroom floor crying my eyes out and
holding a razor blade.
Still wish they made me feel better than
this but the doctor said they wont make
anyone feel happy, just back to
yourself...well I dont know what that is
because ive been depressed for so long. I
dont know if I should try yet another
medication or stay on this one and be
thankful at least the worst feelings are
gone. What do you think Jules?
Thanks for these replies, I'm going to
properly read them tomorrow and reply as
I'm about to pass out from exhaustion on
my nice comfy bed.
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Becky
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 6224 Location: London, England
Thanks: 0
Thanked:7
Posted: 11-25-07 03:54am
My mum is taking seretraline (zoloft). She
has suffered from depression for many
years. She has been switched to loads of
different tablets but none seem to really
work. She still has suicidal thoughts and
still is down right depressed with life
I wsh there was a way of making her feel
better
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Jules
Moderator
Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 3760 Location: Merrie Englande, UK
Thanks: 79
Thanked:66
Posted: 11-25-07 12:15pm
sick_mama17
wrote:
I dont know if I should try
yet another medication or stay on this one
and be thankful at least the worst
feelings are gone. What do you think
Jules?
I don't think you should be feeling 'numb'
and I think you should be feeling better
than you describe. Of course the tablets
won't make you 'happy' - their purpose is
to make you 'normal' (just like my asthma
medication doesn't give me super strong
lungs but just lets them function like
normal ones) but unless your normal
personality is to feel numb and like
cutting yourself off from people then I
would say you need to see a different
doctor.
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sick_mama17
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 960 Location: , England
Posted: 11-25-07 12:27pm
I meant numb in the way of the tablets
make those bad feelings stop, like they
numb them out. Im not totally numb of my
emotions though, just dont feel the bad
ones so much...if that makes sense? Ive
heard others describe the effect like that
too. I hate changing meds because I worry
the new ones wont work as well as these
and I'll be in that bad place again. My
doctor did offer to change them last week
but I said no because they are helping to
an extent definately! But not as much as I
want them to. I'll think about it some
more. Thanks for your advice
I was going to see a psychiatrist too but
the hospital hes at isnt in this town so
it would be difficult to get there so I
decided not to.
