Prozac's difficult to dose, you might have been on too much, especially if it was say 15-10 years ago. Anyway, it's a common problem with drugs of that class. But great for you that you are so attuned to your own moods and can stop it before it goes too far.

I don't think this thread is depressing at all. People have recognized and sought treatment for an illness. That's quite the opposite of depressing. Lots of helpful suggestions. It's just that for some people it doesn't resolve with the snap of a finger.


For some people, pets are an excellent mood lifter. I find that my dog, despite her own craziness is great for that. And she needs a walk so I get exercise.

I had Prozac, it was dreadful, made me feel completely indifferent to everything. Tolvon made me terribly sleepy and Sertraline, Effexor and Deroxat had some unfortunate physical side-effects.

As mentioned in another thread, using a light box really helped with the SAD but it also made me realise that that is not all that is to it but that I put a lot of energy in maintaining "normality" and seem to be less able to do it in the darker months.

XKCD perfectly sums up the problem with clinical depression for those on the outside...

I'm interested to know honestly if you feel the drugs help your condition, or if they cloud your judgment and/or make it difficult to think clearly.

Interesting and important question.

I had 2 drugs. One was an antidepressant which helped me with my depressive syndrom but didn't have a strong effect on my fears.

People told me they felt that I become more self-fish.

I also had some unpleasant side-effects.

My actual drug is originally used to fight epilepsy (...) (remember I'm a social phobic guy)
For the moment I've got no side-effect but I feel I care less about other people.
It has no effect on my depressive state that I control with meditation, sports and going out (I'm such a social guy now)

I still have to boost my self-esteem, but for that, there's no medication...

Quite honestly, they do help a great deal. They help with focus and with thinking in my case. If they didn't, I wouldn't be taking them still.

ETA: I should mention that I tried several things - for example, prozac gave me tremors. One of the meds I take comes in a long acting form. Can't take that form.

I think if you don't see them as the only part of the solution AND have found the right ones for you, then yes, they help. I forgot to mention that I found Cymbalta very good, but other people reckon it's ruined their lives so there really is no one size fits all for the human brain.

I've never had any pharmaceutical anti-depressant, apart from MDMA with flashing lights and monotonous music, but it wasn't prescribed to me. That did wonders. Other than that, I've tried St. John's Wort when I felt like I needed something, though I'm not sure it did anything. Vitamins and rigorous exercises has pulled me through in the past.

St. John's Wort, highly recommended for mild depression, can give you a severe case of bad breath.

Never heard of this side effect- but serious medical studies have shown that it can be very effective. The main side effect is photosensitivity, if I remember correctly - so in strong sunshine a high PF factor and sunglasses required.

When I enjoyed a burn-out a few years ago, I was fortunate to have a doctor who preferred talking to prescribing (mind, the bills had some nasty side effects when they arrived), but when I had a panic attack in Zurich HB one day, he agreed to give me some mild tranquilisers which melt on the tongue, designed just to take the edge off the anxiety, rather than knock you out completely.

The great thing is that once I knew I'd got them, I hardly ever needed to use them. Just knowing they were in my bag was enough. I've still got half the packet in the bathroom, which I only pull out when I have to get in an aeroplane.

I think drugs can help break the cycle of hopelessness and inactivity, giving the person suffering from depression the chance to look at things through non-depressive eyes and begin to take rational steps to deal with it while they're able. Without that window of (relative) normality, it is difficult to even begin to think that recovery is possible, let alone think of ways to start that recovery.

I couldn't agree more. It's fine to talk about 'going out for a brisk walk in the fresh air will do you good' but when even thinking of dragging oneself out of bed seems an impossible task, the other 'advice' cannot even be contemplated. It's a black hole out there...

SAD, not great.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasona...ctive_disorder

I think whether you are down yourself or have to deal with somebody down, either with their anxieties or rage, physical activity won't hurt. I know it is banalizing the whole affair, but personally, if I felt things are out of control, me or stuff I couldn't control, physical activity, forcing myself out, bad weather or not, helped immensely. It won't cure all, and sorry if it sounds insensitive to those who have more to handle, but some people do respond to moving, so well. I know myself that we are not made to be stagnant, our bodies suffer if all we do is get up, eat, walk to work/school and then back. We are made to move ton, our chemicals are wired to an active lifestyle and what people live now is far from it. I think moving is a genious prevention to potential troubles, I agree with PPs. If one can make 30mins a day to run out, walk, breath fresh air, etc. it can somewhat bring the balance to all the missbehaving chemicals and hormons. It probably won't do much for a lot of people, but I know for sure it has helped a few. Good luck to all blues sufferers, though, it ain't fun, fo sho.

__________________
"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

Exercise is great but the problem with depression is that it is absolutely paralysing, making it quite different from having the blues or being in a rut, both of which are perfectly normal and often useful states. Depression hit me first at age 12, despite the fact that I was on the school track team and did long distance running, and otherwise rode my bike or rollerskated everywhere.

Exactly. Absolutely and utterly.

I totally agree, didn't mean to sound like people with blues just should become jocks, by no means..I only know some people's chemistry is actually disturbed by a lack of physical activity, the body weight/hormons/chemical production can be balanced with moderate sport, the self regulating processes do have a chance with some, that's all, it is a vicious circle for some blues. Others need a push by meds, fo sho. No intention to question that, I think it is the fastest help, actually, but cannot personally say, never tried. I worship my eliptical, since I do have to, anyways, due to some post op crap. It's amazing what endorphines can do. Needlework is a fab self esteem/stress relief, too, etc etc. But I never got into a serious state of the need for meds, though feel so much for those who did or do, I think it is a life altering experience and a difficult one. I do think society pushes for self destructive lifestyle, though. My comment was merely just to complete some of the therapy thoughts here.

__________________
"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

That is not an unusual situation. People with a caring nature can get so involved in helping others and trying to please. This can cause them to lose sight of looking after their own well-being. In turn this can lead to depression or similar problems.

As you begin to take back control of your own life and begin to put yourself first, it can appear to others that you are being selfish. This is not usually the case. Often it is the other people who have been selfish in the past and have taken you for granted.

There is nothing wrong with looking after number one.

I was told I became an egocentric maniac (or words to that effect) after taking anti-depressants.
Hmmmmm.......it's all a question of perspective, I think......
(Perhaps we get to focus on what's really important.)

Sorry MC, I was a little touchy from a severe case of public transportation rage when I wrote.

For a long time I blamed myself for my depression, even though I was a pretty nice, responsible and clever kid when it all started. I now look at it as something that chose me, much like diabetes chooses some kids, and I had to learn to deal with it, and I do believe that it's up to me to handle it (though for a long time i.e. up until a couple of years ago, I didn't understand what that meant).

Everything you say is totally on the ball, and all of those activities (even sewing on my little machine ) have been really important in ending my own personal 25-year journey with depression. After the meds (finished now) and talk therapy (ongoing), my doc spends a lot of his time getting me enthusiastic about making stuff, doing stuff, and otherwise teaching me how to keep myself grounded in a present that I really enjoy and contribute to in a meaningful way. I had two depressed parents who never knew how to teach me that. Anyway, it's like I'm creating a new, contented inner 'recording' to replace the old despairing one, and those happy moments (importantly, ones that I've created by myself, for myself) pull me up now. I must say it's really working, I mean I'm not deliriously happy (is that even possible?) but I can handle most of the stuff that's thrown at me these days. The next challenge will be to figure out how to transmit this key knowledge about how to live to the next generation, if I'm lucky enough to become a mother.

So if I get pregnant, expect me to start a thread entitled 'How do I NOT screw up my kid'...

And just to re-iterate the best advice I've read on this thread: If you feel depressed, get help. It's difficult to confront yourself, but you are really, really worth it.

__________________
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

Wow, perhaps everybody has a different experience of depression. When I get depressed, I find myself focusing too much and too long on my self - what I am thinking and feeling. One of the ways I work myself out of depression is by getting engrossed in something other than myself. Sometimes an urgent or delicate situation may present itself which requires my full attention. During such times, I am able to lose myself in an activity or objective. When I get my attention off of myself, I find I am not depressed. Also, adrenaline pulls me out of depression. I suspect one cause of depression is the shortage of adrenaline. I have always loved adrenaline. I think learning how to pump it out is better than anti-depressant pharmaceuticals.