Chronic depression-meds don't work well

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2004
Chronic depression-meds don't work well
7
Fri, 04-09-2004 - 10:18am
I am new to the message boards. Have wanted to try to link up with others who may be experiencing what I have been for a long time. I have what doctors call "treatment resistant depression". I have battled with depression since my adolescence. I have gone through periods that I have functioned pretty well, however I have been on medication consistently and I also self-medicated with food. I have always had a weight problem. Within the past several years, I've been able to conquer my weight problem (have lost and kept off a significant number of pounds), however the depression has gotten much worse.

I have tried so many different medications...I'm at wits end and the hopelessness is incredibly incapacitating. Each day, I have to talk myself into trying to make it one more day. I just want it to end...I feel so incredibly stuck with no where to turn.

Any one else struggling like this? I would like to have someone to talk with.

Thanks,

Sharon
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-10-2004
Fri, 04-09-2004 - 11:08am
Sharon

welcome, and I am glad you found this board. There are a lot of wonderful people here who really care.

I am sending Hugs and Support, hon. I think you should be proud of yourself for acknowledging and addressing your weight problem. That is a great start. I didn't see anything about counselling or therapy in your post. Do you go to a counsellor at all? In my situation, the meds only help keep me "up" enough that I can work on things with the counsellor. Maybe that would help you. For me, dealing with my depression is more about learning how to change the way I think than the medicine. The meds are important, but they don't fix everything.

I know how hard it can be to just get through every day as it comes. All I can say is to keep trying. I try to remind myself that the really bad days can't last forever. If I can just keep getting through, eventually the days will get better again.

I hope you continue to post here when you need a little support. This board has helped me so much, just knowing there are people out there who know how I feel. I hope you feel this way, too.

Good luck, and let us know how things are going

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2003
Fri, 04-09-2004 - 11:12am

I just want to offer you some cyberhugs.


Have you ever tried Bach Flower Remedies? They're homeopathic remedies that are supposed to help with moods. They certainly can't hurt!


Here are some links with more info: http://www.rainbowcrystal.com/bach/bach1.html

Ruth, Single Mom to

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Avatar for luv5monkeys
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2003
Fri, 04-09-2004 - 5:51pm
Sharon,

I had chronic depression for 30 years (and I'm only 34)!

THe reason that your meds might not work is because they only help people with low serotonin. If your problem is nutritional - how could a serotonin pill help? It doesn't make sense.

From your comments about weight, I think changing your diet may be contributing to your depression. Changing what I eat has helped me and my family enormously. In fact I eat more now & have lost weight. I stopped the sugars & carbs & coffee & added organic foods. Check out some books for overcoming depression naturally that relates to diet.


Good Luck!

Linda (Antidepressant free for 2 weeks)

weaverll@yahoo.com

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2004
Fri, 04-09-2004 - 8:49pm

Hi, Sharon!

AcornLeaves
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Sat, 04-10-2004 - 7:08am
Hello and welcome Sharon,

I'm new here as well and can relate to your frustration with meds. I've tried 5 different kinds and had negative reactions to all of them. My only recourse at this time is to try Cognitive Thinking with my therapist. I'm only in my 4th week and I've had a hard time applying my situation to the whole thinking concept. It's actually a 12 week program with follow ups if required. I'm remaining optamistic that this will help. It may be something you would like to explore? I had to purchase the workbook and have homework after every session (like being back in school..LOL) but if it helps in the end it will be worth it.

BTW I'm not saying quit your meds and try this, I'm mearly suggesting that perhaps introducing this method as well might help. Keep searching there is something out there that will help you. I know a lady who just purchased the book "Mind Over Mood" and worked through it on her own and had some positive results.

Thoughts and prayers for you,

Tam

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2004
Sat, 04-10-2004 - 10:53am

Hi again, Sharon!

AcornLeaves
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2004
Mon, 04-12-2004 - 10:07am
Thank you all for your responses and suggestions. It helps to know that others care.

In answer to some of the questions...I have been in psychotherapy for as long as I can remember. I have a lot of early childhood issues that I've been dealing with and I know this contributes to the severity of the depression. I just feel like something has got to "click" pretty soon. I have tried some of the cognitive/behavioral techniques to get me through some really tough times, however I have not done any serious work in this area.

What has gotten me feeling so darn hopeless is the "physical/biochemical whatever you call it funk" I often feel incredibly disconnected and often have mini-panic attacks.

I'm stumped at this point. I work in the mental health field (ironic) so I know a lot about medications, therapy, etc. and I can't seem to identify anything else for me to do. I will consider more natural means of dealing, especially since I would like to get off all of my meds and see what happens.

Thanks again for all of your support!

Sharon