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Two types of depression: Endogenous = comes from within for no apparent reason.
Causal = has a specific cause and has triggered a bout of depression.

Visit GP and yes, Claire Weeks books are brilliant, I had the irrational/intrusive thoughts when I had pnd, I read Claire Weeks and it was such a relief to find out that it is in fact surprisingly common.
Good luck.

Thanks Marmite. Sometimes every bad thing seems to come at once doesn't it? It's a horrible feeling.

I've been thinking today about options. I'm going to try exercise first, if I can get the ball rolling it might make me feel more in control of things.

Dh laughed when I told him... That might motivate me to do it just to show him!

Thanks to those who have posted to say they have felt like this too. Let's hope better days are to come.

First time poster,but I am feeling the same as you,spent yesterday in bed crying.Also have a lot of stressful situations happening at the moment,finding it hard to cope.Hope you feel more positive soon.

Think Sertraline is the preferred option

I took both Sertraline and Fluoxetine when bfing.

I know sleep is v hard with tinies but do try and grab as much as you can.

One thing that a lot of people do in error is, stop taking them after only a few days due to side effects and stop taking them once they begin to feel better. You need to stay on them for at least six months then see how you want to proceed. Some people take them long term and other people want to be off them, but then relapse. Some are fine and get on with their lives without them.

I think you can take Sertraline whilst pregnant and bfing, but your prescriber would know for sure.

yes, sertraline
Well researched and licensed for bfing mothers.

In fact, could you take anti-depressants while breast feeding? Probably not?

yes see your gp

I am also suffering owing to an event, and have very recently started taking ADs. They are giving me a small lift to turn things round a bit, feel less overwhelmed and get back to being able to deal with the stresses and real life situations which are not going to disappear any time soon. No zombieness here either, and it's not taking the feeling of anything away - just getting me back to being in a position to use my brain properly. No sticking plasters whatsoever. Have also had support from counselling organisation locally, it all helps.

That book looks interesting, it has lots of great reviews.

I know sleep is a big help too but I've never been the best sleeper and have a very small baby to look after so that one will have to go on the back burner for now. Although it is late and here I am on mn so not really helping myself am I?

Thank you again.

Antidepressants have helped me to totally turn my life around and I have honestly never managed so well or been happier. I also had CBT several months after starting the anti-ds and that has helped as well.

Anti-ds definitely aren't a sticking plaster for me, they are not covering up problems or making me a zombie either (common misconceptions)

Just a tip - if you're prescribed one and the box tells you to take it in the morning, but you find it makes you feel a bit tired, then take at night instead. The side effects wear off after a little while, so don't freak out if you suddenly feel the anxiety is worse or you feel a bit headachey etc. Just stick with them and your system will soon get used to them.

Steer clear or Seroxat - although I don't think it's prescribed anymore.

I really depends on you.

I personally might not for something that you describe (I say this as someone with long term clinical depression) at least not before trying some other options eg. Talking therapy/CBT/Exercise/Lifestyle changes etc.

Thats because i personally feel that :

a. You need to address the root cause and sometimes it is a chemical problem sometimes it is not.

b. ADs time up to 8 weeks to fully be effective

c. They often have side effect of their own that can be unpleasant or problematic

and

d. They can take a long time to wean yourself off of and it you think it may be a short term problem months of medication might not be the best solution

However that is me. I am not you and i cannot know how you feel so you might want to make a different choice. Do what feels best for you, go talk to your GP. You dont have to agree to anything. Go and see them any maybe agree to go back and try xyz when you feel ready.

I think it's worth having a chat to the GP - as other people have said, I thought ADs were very useful (combined with some counselling sessions). Absolutely not a sticking plaster for me, and I also found they kicked in after two days rather than the normal two weeks or so.

You could also take a look at MindGym which is a very reputable online CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) programme, provided free by an Australian University.

Try "self help for your nerves".

I think the authour is Dr Claire Weeks? Its on Amazon. Its not a magic bullet but will help you hugely xxx

Do go and chat to your GP OP and see what they have to say. You aren't committing to anything beyond that first chat at this stage. I found it immensely helpful just to pinpoint what was wrong with me tbh. I also found anti-ds pretty useful too (but that's just my experience) - I saw them as more of a leg-up rather than a sticking plaster iyswim?

Hope you feel a little better very soon.

Thank you for your responses. Just this is enough to set me off feeling tearful. Such kindness and understanding from strangers.

I should talk about it but I think writing it down is part of it becoming real and that frightens me.

Diet and exercise should help, I just need to find the will to get started but at the moment it's a bit beyond me. I'm stuck in the viscous cycle of chocolate consumption just now!

I will give the gp serious consideration. It's the 'sticking plaster' idea that puts me off but they may have other suggestions.

Thank you.

Current thinking is that for this sort of reactive depression, regular exercise, sleep and a good diet are just as beneficial as ADs, with the obvious requirement to change whatever it is that is causing the stress/anxiety and/or finding a way to deal with the consequences. However, where ADs come into their own is when you feel so overwhelmed that you don't know where to start. Then they can provide you with enough distance to see things more objectively and so be more likely to devise a realistic and workable coping strategy.

Just be aware that in many cases ADs can take several weeks to build up to the extent where they start working, and for many people this is the same timeframe where people start naturally mounting a defence anyway. If you're suffering from anxiety, other medication may actually be more appropriate for you.

Hope you feel better soon.

I had all of those signs as well as feeling low, panicky, stressed out of my control

Gp got me to do a test - I think 30 odd questions saying on a scale of one to five...and I scored very high on lot of issues so was given anti depressants and was asked to come in in two weeks but I could make an appt and say its an emergency to see my doctor if I felt worse then I did

Hope your ok - please feel free to pm me if you want to talk - take care of yourself

Well, I suspect many (not all, just many) of the people prescribed ADs are having an understandable response to a situation. It's just that that response impedes their/our ability to get on and live through it, or even sometimes make things better.

I know that there is a narrative that says that ADs are a pharmaceutical cosh that disguises the awfulness to which the symptoms are a legitimate response, and that, not only are ADs a sticking plaster on a gaping wound, but also are politically wrong (they help "hide" things, and medicalise political problems, for example) BUT it has to be said that ADs really can help you get out of a hole. They can be a sort of step ladder, to help you up, and then you won't necessarily need them any more.

So, I'd say, go see the GP. S/he will probably be very useful. And will probably refer you for other "talking" therapies too. Depending on what's available in your area.

Do you want to talk about what's been going on with you?

I suffer social anxiety disorder. Im on medication and have been referred to CBT.

CBT would probably help you.

Time to visit your GP. If necessary write out your feelings before you go

Good luck and remember asking for help is a sign of strength

If you are experiencing a lot of stress and worry due to circumstances beyond your control, and it is getting to you, are anti-depressants appropriate?

Feelings of helplessness, unwelcome intrusive thoughts, moments of fear and panic would be examples of daily symptoms.

These are things I would consider to be signs of anxiety or depression. However, they have been triggered by an event. I know why I am feeling like this and it is an understandable response to the situation I find myself in.

Reading this through, I realise I should go to see my gp. But I would appreciate advice from anyone with experience in this area too.