Anti Depressants - where to start?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been experiencing waves of depression for about a solid year now. There are highs and lows, mainly I have absolutely zero desire to engage in daily tasks.

I function as a mother, attend work, eat healthy and attend the gym. However, I cannot shake the sadness.

FWIW, I’ve managed this through many outlets. And I think it’s time I look into alternatives.

I’m afraid of any adverse reactions, I’m scared not to be the person I am capable of being when I’m “normal”.

Any insights or recommendations?

Sounds more like Bi-Polar disorder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been experiencing waves of depression for about a solid year now. There are highs and lows, mainly I have absolutely zero desire to engage in daily tasks.

I function as a mother, attend work, eat healthy and attend the gym. However, I cannot shake the sadness.

FWIW, I’ve managed this through many outlets. And I think it’s time I look into alternatives.

I’m afraid of any adverse reactions, I’m scared not to be the person I am capable of being when I’m “normal”.

Any insights or recommendations?

Sounds more like Bi-Polar disorder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start with your PCP. As someone who has been on an SSRI for 20 years, my experience has been life changing. I can’t believe I suffered so much before. I’m glad to live in a time when we have effective medications for this. No real side effects, they’re just part of my normal life now.

This is me too, how I feel now except my antidepressant has side effects.

Primarily weight gain.
I am on Zoloft right now which helps my depression - - I started off on Paxil which I strongly discourage as getting off of it can be hell.

[Anonymous]

I am 42 and going through a lot of this. Some days it is extreme anger or rage and other days lack of motivation to do anything or go to work or school (yes, I just enrolled myself for advance degree). I am on lexapro for a while and not sure if that is helping much. I also have other hormonal issues going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 42 and going through a lot of this. Some days it is extreme anger or rage and other days lack of motivation to do anything or go to work or school (yes, I just enrolled myself for advance degree). I am on lexapro for a while and not sure if that is helping much. I also have other hormonal issues going on.

Tried drinking chamomile tea daily?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 42 and going through a lot of this. Some days it is extreme anger or rage and other days lack of motivation to do anything or go to work or school (yes, I just enrolled myself for advance degree). I am on lexapro for a while and not sure if that is helping much. I also have other hormonal issues going on.

Tried drinking chamomile tea daily?

yes and did all kinds of remedies but not sure it suddenly goes to level 10.

[Anonymous]

Always amuses me when people take dangerous and harmful pharmaceuticals they know nothing about, then complain about their declining mental health and cannot fathom what's causing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds more like dysthymia and research shows meds are not always overly effective for persistant mild depression. Are you exercising regularly? Regular exercise can have a similar effect on neurotransmitters and be as effective for mild depression as medication.

Definitely worth a conversation with your PCP to see what they think might be most useful for you.

Antidepressants only help to manage symptoms and they don't work for everyone - going to therapy to also discuss what potential psychosocial factors or cognitive emotional factors might also be contributing can also be helpful.

Not, OP, but PP who is following. Yes, I exercise daily - strength training 3x / week, yoga 3-5x / week, and I try to throw in some cardio. I plan to take salsa lessons in the new year. Tried therapy, but the therapist didn't work for me. I know I should I try another one, but it is so discouraging because of the lack of availability. I also have a pet, and he's not helping. He's not hurting, either, but I don't get the warm fuzzies that others seem to get from their pets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds more like dysthymia and research shows meds are not always overly effective for persistant mild depression. Are you exercising regularly? Regular exercise can have a similar effect on neurotransmitters and be as effective for mild depression as medication.

Definitely worth a conversation with your PCP to see what they think might be most useful for you.

Antidepressants only help to manage symptoms and they don't work for everyone - going to therapy to also discuss what potential psychosocial factors or cognitive emotional factors might also be contributing can also be helpful.

Not, OP, but PP who is following. Yes, I exercise daily - strength training 3x / week, yoga 3-5x / week, and I try to throw in some cardio. I plan to take salsa lessons in the new year. Tried therapy, but the therapist didn't work for me. I know I should I try another one, but it is so discouraging because of the lack of availability. I also have a pet, and he's not helping. He's not hurting, either, but I don't get the warm fuzzies that others seem to get from their pets.

How old are you PP?

[Anonymous]

Depending on sex and age, pop over to the perimenopause forum! Addressing hormone issues might help.

Counseling and exercise also great.

I do think you have to be prepared for trial and error. I’m finally in one that helps after two others that helped but had life impacting side effects (sleep, digestive issues). But for some people the first med does help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm following this, too, and would like to know what works for people. I was on Zoloft for a while, but it just made me numb. I wasn't depressed anymore, but I also didn't care about anything.

See a psychiatrist. They know all of the options very well so can tailor it to your specific needs.

[Anonymous]

Go to a psychiatrist and talk about your symptoms. They will prescribe something and follow up.to see how and if it's working. You may change medications if one doesn't work, or change dosages. Also do talk therapy if you need it. I have been talking to a therapist once a week and then once a month for about 18 months. This helps me with my anxiety and I don't think I will need it forever but meds have kept me sane for many years. I think I was an extreme case but some of us are. I had really bad PMS also which SSRIs helped with tremendously.