surviving depression
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| Sun, 12-21-2003 - 4:56pm |
My depression started two years ago when my daughter was in and out of hospital for three months with a mystery virus that no one could identify. I felt that suddenly I had no control. During her year of slow recovery I also was told that my mother was suffering from Cancer. This sent me into a declining spiral as I again had no control (don't get me wrong, I am not a control freak, I just lead a very organised life). My GP put me on anti depressants for 6 months which were great and I pulled myself together again - or so I thought.
This year the depression came back with avengance but I can't realy identify why, my husband was working long hours, my job is very demanding and it all got too much with juggling working shifts and running a home. Anyway I went back on the anti depressants. I admit that I have been awful to live with. I even asked my husband twice to leave (luckily he did not take me seriously).
I have now just weaned myself off the anti depressants again with the help of my GP but am suffering nasty side effects. I reduced the tablets to 5mg every other day and my GP said that when I got to that dose I should stop taking them as they were not worth taking. I now know he was very wrong as I have suffered dizzy spells, headaches, night mares, been very irritable and again I am hell to live with.I have only been off them three weeks.
I have started taking St Johns Wart which was recommended on many of the internet sites for depression and am battling with getting through the side effects. I don't want to go back to the GP as I think he will put me back on them.
Has anyone any advise. Sometimes I just feel like throwing everything away (marriage etc) as I feel I am not the person I once was.

First off, PLEASE don't take ST John's Wort if you are still on that anti-depressant! This is extremely dangerous!! I take Paxil, and it works well for me. I tried to go off of it this summer, and I was SOOOOOooooooo sick. It takes a really long time to get completely out of your system. You must wean yourself off REALLY slowly. The funny things is, well it's not really funny, is that my doctor told me it would only take two or three weeks. He was entirely wrong. I felt like I had a terrible flu, I was cold all the time, grouchy. Terrible!
Have you done any research on depression? It is a fact that once you have had one bout with depression, you are more likely to have another. Depression is an inbalance in your brain; the neurotransmitters in the brain are all messed up.
Anyway, I hope to learn more about you. Take care. Sending you some (((((hugs)))))
Pamela
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