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Dealing with depression medically
nexuscrawler
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Like an additions I think there's a point where depression simply has to be admitted. I've hit that point. I'm starting to concede that I simply do not have full control over my mood and that my external surrounding really don't effect it much either.
In retrospect it's easy to see I've had a pattern of severe depression going all the way back to my early teens. I often have bout of extreme laziness, low energy and near non-existent appetite. Like most people I've fought admitting it was a problem. It's hard to swallow one's pride and admit you aren't able to deal with a problem ourself. God knows I've tried nearly everything I could from extreme exercise to meditation to over the counter supplements. Some of it works but it never seems to last or I don't have the motivation to keep it up.
In short I've admitted to myself this may very well be a medical problem and I'm willing to tackle it as such. I currently don't have a doctor but plan on looking a GP up near me in the next week. I was wondering if anyone here has any advice, experience or insight into how to approach this. Any reading or research I could do on my own first would be great.
Also I should note I've been on anti-depressants (Prozac) in the past. it was for migraines I used to get as a teenager. t was a horrid experience for me and the meds nearly drove me over the edge. This is one of the reasons I've been so wary of going to doctors since.
Thanks in advance.
In retrospect it's easy to see I've had a pattern of severe depression going all the way back to my early teens. I often have bout of extreme laziness, low energy and near non-existent appetite. Like most people I've fought admitting it was a problem. It's hard to swallow one's pride and admit you aren't able to deal with a problem ourself. God knows I've tried nearly everything I could from extreme exercise to meditation to over the counter supplements. Some of it works but it never seems to last or I don't have the motivation to keep it up.
In short I've admitted to myself this may very well be a medical problem and I'm willing to tackle it as such. I currently don't have a doctor but plan on looking a GP up near me in the next week. I was wondering if anyone here has any advice, experience or insight into how to approach this. Any reading or research I could do on my own first would be great.
Also I should note I've been on anti-depressants (Prozac) in the past. it was for migraines I used to get as a teenager. t was a horrid experience for me and the meds nearly drove me over the edge. This is one of the reasons I've been so wary of going to doctors since.
Thanks in advance.
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However, depression meds typically hit the news when people who are suicidal use them, and that seems to have a tendency to make those suicidal thoughts stand out in stark contrast. As in, depressed people who have suicidal thoughts will "have the clouds cleared," and, no longer depressed, will suddenly be faced with those thoughts. Before, they were too depressed to really think about it.
From what I've read, that's where the trouble occurs. Which is also why it's best to see a psychiatrist or a therapist before going on such medicines, and why it's best to continue to see those therapists. Depression medication should be a temporary thing, a way for someone to conquer their problems so that they don't need medicine anymore. Without therapy and help, they only go part of the way.
Like you, I went for years dealing with serious and escalating bouts of depressions before I admitted I had a problem. I spent a while on Zoloft, which helped to stabilize my mood and balance, but the purpose of that is so that you can clearly and logically deal with the underlying issues; which can only be done through counseling and thereapy.
I don't know how long ago you were on the Prozac, but you did say you were a teen. The effect you stated is why Prozac and Zoloft, among other depression meds, are not recommended for use on teenagers. That change was made a handful of years ago after that unfortunate effect was realized due to the suicides of a number of teens. As Eggy said, it is because they have to now face those thoughts, and those teen years are hard enough and emotionally stressful enough as is. The new found clarity of those suicidal thoughts, when they think the meds should be getting rid of them, pushes some to believe that suicide must be what they really want/need.
Go to the doctor, but I would say don't do too much research ahead of time since it might bias your thoughts. Don't get discouraged if a doctor recommends trying alternatives before meds, such as diet and lifestyle changes.
To be honest, I gave up on meds and tried using pot recreationally. I've seen an instant improvement. Some people may disagree, but I feel its actually worked for me. I believe that you should try something like this before throwing away time/money on drugs and therapy. Am I entirely better? No. But can I get out of my bed most days, go to work, socialize, and go to school? Yes.
You will have relapses. My ex just contacted me today to tell me how much better life is without me, and how I was a waste of a year of her precious life. So currently I'm drunk on a 1/4 bottle of whiskey, and feeling like crap.
But unlike when I was not self-medicating; I can function. I'm currently planning a campus green party recruiting drive, and talking with a program counsellor about future plans for professional school. I have an awesome job as a TA lined up for the Fall, and I'm exercising more than ever (10-11 km runs every day).
What I'm basically trying to say in my drunken stupor: don't think that therapy is the be-all and end-all solution to your problem. It may help, it may not. But never give up. I hope you find a solution to your problem.
And hey, you always have the support of people on internet forums.
I'm hardly a shrink, but my personal experience is that the #1 thing to go for is really good friends who listen, and won't drop your ass for it or get fed up. After that, it's lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes help a lot. Shrinks should be really good, too, if you can find a good, but affordable one; they're basically friends-who-listen-for-hire.
But, yeah, pills are out there. But, before you use them, investigate them, and make a backup plan. I started taking zoloft for awhile, back before they announced the whole suicide thing. My parents loved it, because it DID reduce my mood swings. But it left me horribly, sickeningly numb, and I just really wasn't there. Worse, because my situation at the time was pretty crappy compared to what I was used to, I had no actual reason to be happy, so the zoloft just KEPT me depressed, 24/7, when I'd usually have periods of being manic to balance it out. That stuff FREEZES your mood.
So, if you start taking it, or anything like it, you need to make sure there are people who know the signs to look out for, who know how to get you out of it, and so on, and that you yourself know when to drop it, and how to, if you need to (hint: stopping suddenly is generally a baaaad idea).
Also, side-effects. There are soooo many side-effects. Do not be ignorant of them.
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But do keep in mind, if your problem is chemical, they SHOULD help.
Just make sure that, if you ARE an outlier, you're covered.
What I think you need to do is look at the side-effects of whatever drug they give you. I know of people utterly destroyed by medication, because they didn't understand what the risks might be. i'm not saying they're entirely damaging - there are more people I know of who've been helped. But understand the possible effects of what you'll be taking first.
Also, I find that getting regular excercise and plenty of sleep is important.
Different meds worked better or worse, with lessor or greater side effects. For me Wellbutrin worked the best. In the end I've been treating it more or less succesfully for a couple of years now by just forcing myself to get regular sleep (although I'm completely blowing that today, can't sleep at all), excercise, daily vitamin, and the occasional SAM-E (which also seems to help with my occasional joint pain during nasty weather).
At the risk of getting to the point, I'm glad to hear you've decided it's time to get help. There are ways of dealing with this that don't involve medication, and even if you (or your doctor) do decide medication is for you, there are many ways to go. If you had bad luck with Prozac in the past, then consider staying away from it and other SSRIs and go with something in a different class (like Wellbutrin). Your Doctor should know what other non-SSRI options are available. Even if you do go on medication, don't underestimate the difference that a regular sleep pattern and a better diet (or vitamins) can make. There's a reason that there's a strong correlation between depression and sleep disturbance.
Best of luck. Feel free to email me if you have any other questions.
Talk therapy.
It's the way to go.
Also, none of the doctors that I've had were forthcoming about the side effects of the meds they were giving me. So once they give you something, go to someplace like wikipedia, look it up, and find out what the side effects really are before you take it.
Wow, what a bitch!
That said, to the OP, be prepared for some potentially unpleasant side effects. When I went on Lexapro, it left me incredibly fatigued and nauseous. I basically spent the first week or two as a queasy zombie. I actually fell asleep briefly riding to work one day. Fortunately, I was able to use the fatigue to my advantage in treating my insomnia by taking the Lexapro at night.
Also, remember that you might have to try several meds before you find one that works. It's a very individual thing, you might get lucky with the first one, but probably not. Have patience. And let the medications do what they do best; stabilize you, allow you to deal with your life in a more effective manner. But you still have to deal with your life.
IOS Game Center ID: Isotope-X
Good books on depression are here and here. The first is especially good if sex roles, men, or masculinity issues have factored in. The second is just all around recommended by myself and other people I personally know that have been depressed. Try the library.
Best wishes to you on your journey through hell.
My fiance is currently on Zoloft and it's helped him a whole lot. One important thing, though, is that it's really decreased his sex drive. I would much rather that he be happy than have sex all the time, but if you're in a relationship this kind of stuff can be really important. Make sure you talk to a psychiatrist/therapist before you start any medication.
Good luck dude.
Hell yeah. Anyway, here is the suck about brain meds. Brain chemistry is so radically different for everyone, there's no telling what meds and what doses you should be on. It's literally trial and error. I've know people that have gone through months and months and a dozen different meds until they found what they needed. it's hard, it's sucks, but you can do it and it will get better, I swear to $diety.
PROTIP: avoid "should". As in "I should be better now" or "i shouldn't need to keep taking this". You are how you are, and rather than worry about "should", lets focus on what's really going on and taking everthing day by day.
So, make sure you want them, try to get as much support in that sense from friend/family (if they don't like anti-depressent for X reason, make them understand they don't have to tell you that, you took your decision and now just need support) and try to see a psy regularly.
We could quote this a dozen times and it would be worth repeating. Individual responses to antidepressants are extremely variable. If one drug doesn't work, try a different one. If that doesn't work, try a different one. There are a lot of good antidepressants out there and one of them is going to work for you. It takes a lot of people three or four tries to find a good drug... but they do eventually find one if they don't give up.
Exercise. 30 minutes of moderate intensity cardio or 20 minutes of high intensity cardio three times a week. It's very, very important, especially for people with depression. I know how hard it is to motivate yourself to exercise when you have depression, a condition which sabotages your motivation. It's a vicious cycle.
There is no combination of strategies more potent for breaking out of depression than cardio exercise + cognitive-behavioral therapy + a good antidepressant.
Luckily, if you do find yourself in one of those low-motivation cycles where you can't find the energy to do much of anything, let alone go for a swim or a jog, remember that's what the pills are for. They may not make you better all on their own, but they do give you the energy and willpower to break those cycles.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.