Anti depressants. Unsure to take them

[Limbo21]

Hello LS

 

I won't bore you with my story but I'm having difficulties with some stuff going on in my head

 

When me & my ex split the 1st time back in may I went to the docs for some sleeping pills, he's a very good doc & sat me down for a little digging. He decided I was depressed and prescribed me 30mg of something or other as well as some sleeps ... About 1 week later (we'd split for 8 weeks) me and my ex reconciled (she chased me and won) my depression just magically lifted David Blaine style (I hate that man)

 

we've spilt again & I'm becoming depressed. I'm trying to fight it but not doing a grand job. The thing with me is I suffer as time goes on. Everyone says the first few weeks is the hardest but that's not the case for me, I suffer as time goes on.

 

This depression is not sorely the break up, my depression is the reason why we've broken up & that's 100% down to me and my choices in life that's led me here

 

really don't know if taking them is the right thing to do, I feel low but could feel lower (like last time) so I have some way to go but I dot want to visit that really dark place I was in IN May

 

I know I can't take them for a little while - 6 mnths at least but if it helps me cope with this better than I am then maybe I should

 

Ps: when I say depressed I don't mean low, I mean depressed

[brock9911]

well speaking from experience, im pro medication. i hate when people say its all in your head, you can control your thoughts...well unfortunately that is not true, and what happens in most cases is there is a lack of production of a chemical called serotonin. this is what can cause your problems.

 

i myself happen to have anxiety/depression. they coincide with each other. you get anxious, it cuases depression, and when your depressed it can cause anxiety. i also happen to have ocd, which triggers and sparks the anxiety. now i dont have ocd like you might think, puting things in order, cleaning ect., i obsses over my own thoughts. i will sit there and analyse every thought and aspect of me, my life, anything involving me. this literally drove me nuts to the point about 5 years ago i was bed ridden and couldnt move, talk or walk. my anxiety and depression led me to attempted suicide....thank god it didnt work.

 

all im saying is even if its for a short time to right the wrong and correct you, it doesnt hurt. if you dont like the way you feel or become on the medication, than stop it. i personally take lexapro for long term, klonopin for short term attacks, and seroquel for my insomnia.

 

haha, i sound like im nuts. either way good luck, depression and/or anxiety can be the worst feeling in the world....good luck

[GrayClouds]

we've spilt again & I'm becoming depressed. I'm trying to fight it but not doing a grand job. The thing with me is I suffer as time goes on. Everyone says the first few weeks is the hardest but that's not the case for me, I suffer as time goes on.

 

This depression is not sorely the break up, my depression is the reason why we've broken up & that's 100% down to me and my choices in life that's led me here

Don't be so hard on yourself. Many of us genetically are predisposed to it. I suspect depression often had a significant contribution to choices you made in life rather then the choices causing the depression. It is why many turn to drink, drugs, and other poor choices as a way to self medicate the depression without really knowing it.

 

One of the problems with depression is that it is really difficult to see how much it is affecting you. It so quickly starts to feel normal that it interferes with judgment. While it is always good not to give into depression, it is important that often it is not something will power along can fight it. It is about brain chemistry. it has nothing to do with having strong will power or character. Some people do not produce enough insulin so as diabetics they take something that helps their chemistry top function. It makes no no less of a quality person and no matter how hard they try to fight it, they still needs medicine to help.

 

This depression is not sorely the break up, my depression is the reason why we've broken up & that's 100% down to me and my choices in life that's led me here

 

The depression is not why you two broke up. It more likely was that she did not have the maturity nor the coping skills to help you with the depression. There is many people out there who understands it and stands by their mate during issue like this. If it wasn't this then it would have been something else in the future that she could have not given you the support you would need. While she is likely a good person, her leaving reflects something about her not about you or your depression. You will find someone else more capable of giving when the time is right.

 

It does appears that you feel the depression is affecting your life, so why not try to do some things to manage the symptoms? All the meds do is adjust your brain chemistry, given you the space to work on making yourself healthy and strong.

 

If you do decide to give the meds an oppertunity, understand it could be 2-4 week before you start seeing a positive affect of them and another 4 weeks before you see the full affect. So give them a chance to work.

 

I would also suggest trying to get some exercise every day, anything including walking 30 min, to a little running to lifting weights. Whatever gets you out and moving. With or without meds this is very important.

 

Good luck, and feel free to ask any questions

[quankanne]

this is a really good link that describes how your blood chemistry works in your body. After you've read it, you might appreciate a bit better just how keeping it "in whack" will affect your overall well-being, and is in your best interest.

 

I've had issues with depression over the years, but never realized it until my doctor picked up on what was going on with my life and how it affected me not only psychologically, but physiologically, and prescribed anti-depressants. I cannot begin to tell you what a world of difference the meds made, because I felt like the girl I was before: Involved, confident, energetic, involved ... I use that word twice because for the longest time, the stress and resulting depression made me feel like I was underwater, doing whatever I needed to do, but very detached. I stayed on them a few years, and with the doctor's approval, stopped using them because things were on an even keel. Started them back up about a year ago because of new stresses that were making me spiral back to the "underwater" phase, and I can see what kind of difference it's made again.

 

you can operate as you are, and realize that you're not going to be 100 percent because your body is missing what it sorely needs, so you're in a bad funk or depression; or, you can do the healthy thing and utilize a prescription for anti-depressants to help you get back to where you need to be. From the sound of it, your episodes of depression are somewhat like mine – stress leeches those chemicals from your body, throwing your psychological state off balance, resulting in a natural depression. There's no shame in giving your body get the attention it needs, medically.