Depression support thread!!!

[spookycharlotte121]

Just thought this might be useful as there seem to be lots of people who have depression on here. We could check in with oneanother and help each other through the bad days.

not sure if this has been done before but I thought it might be helpful.

[Faigle]

Hi spookycharlotte121,
I have finally admitted to myself that I have depression and am not just feeling fed up.
There are
many reasonsfor my "depression",but all the same I have it and it is bloody awful!
I have started taking some ADs, and am on the waiting list at my GPs for counsellng/psychotherapy.
The Ads so far-3 days in-have made me feel very spaced out and at one point today I had a sort of panic attack. I phoned a friend who is a nurse who managed to calm me down.
I think this support thread is a great idea, because I generally don't like talking to friends/family when I am in a really bad way,as I don't think they can really understand and I feel so weak and burdensome.
I made an exception today though when I phoned my friend.

So, yeah....a great idea, we can support eachother.

Sorry if I seem incoherent, it's partly the ADs, partly the red wine but so good not to feel so alone in this dark tunnel.

[wheresclaire]

Its nice to talk to others who know what you are going through. I still find it hard to talk to others about it. Scared of the "go and take a chill pill" attitude. Somedays are bad so it will be nice to have a whinge!

[spookycharlotte121]

I know that spaced out feeling very well Faigle. I had a panic attack in tesco the other day. I finally told my mum how I had been feeling which was anxious and fidgety (she is a nurse) and she said the the AD's were wrong for me. When I saw the dr he explained my dose was too high and lowerd it. Its only been a few days but Im already feeling better so perhaps this could also be the case for you?
It is bloody awful and I think people can only really understand it if they have been through it. My sister tells me to stop feeling so sorry for myself.

It really does help to talk to people, be it on here or someone in rl.

wheresclaire some people dont get what its like, hence the take a chill pill comments.

Anywho we are all in the same boat here so we can help each other through the bad times and give tips when we find something that helps us.

I havent had too bad of a day today. Im trying to get on top of the housework and uni assignments that I hav outstanding.
Dont feel like Im a very good mum atm but im all the kids have so kinda have to get on with it.

Hope your all ok.

Charlotte x

[Faigle]

The morning is usually the worst time for me. I woke up ok and got my son off to school,but now I'm at home I feel dreadful-scared, anxious,sick,hopeless....I could go and on.
I have so many problems at the moment (hence why i am depressed)and I just can't see anyway out. I really feel like I am at the bottom of a dark empty pit.

I want to scream so hard to try and get rid of all the pain.

Idon't know how much more of this I can tolerate.

[bakerslovecakes]

Sorry to hear your feeling so bad Faigle. Good idea Spookycharlotte. The last time i tried to talk to someone about how depressed i was feeling she said (in a round-about way) that people suffering from depression were selfish and think only of their own feelings which wasnt the response i was expecting from one of my closest friends and at the time really needed support, I was already feeling really guilty that maybe i wasnt being a good enough parent to my dd even though i tried really hard to hide how i was feeling. My doctor did prescribe AD but when i read the side-effects i decided not to take them, this was about 6 years ago. What are the most common side-effects?

[TheChilliMooseisOnTheLoose]

Hello. I hope you don't mind me joining in. I'm really struggling at the moment. I have started a couple of threads on here recently but then asked them to be deleted straight away as I didn't really know what to do.
I have just sent this email to HomeStart to ask for help:
Hello,
I was just wondering if you would be able to let me know what sort of help you can offer to families.
I live in *** with my partner, and our son, who is 2. I am currently suffering from depression, and although it was getting a lot better, I am rapidly going downhill and now avoid leaving the house as much as I can.
I really feel like I am doing my son an injustice and would like some help.
I don't have any family around her and feel quite isolated.
I look forward to hearing from you.

My head is all muddled so sorry if I am not making a lot of sense.

[Faigle]

I think that it's great that you posted here TheChilliMooseisOnTheLoose, the more people involved the the better.
I hope Homestart get back to you ASAP...it was a brilliant email.

I know what you mean about feeling scared of the side effects of ADs bakerslovecakes. I had a terrible time on Citaltrapam-nausea,panic/paranoia, dizziness etc. Had to stop after just taking 2.
It put me off trying again but recently things have been so bad I felt I couldn't cope without some medication. I have been taking Mirtazipam for 4 days now and have experienced very few side effects in comparison.The first day i was a bit dizzy and had a mild panic attack-but nothing else since then. I'm just waiting/hoping they will start to make me feel more positive soon so that i can start to live my life-not just exist and allow me to deal with some of my problems.
So,maybe give it a try...you can always stop if it is awful.

[Faigle]

Have just re-read my morning post bakerslovecakes, and I think that that what I wrote sounds a bit of a coradiction about side effects! To clarify,
the feelngs I had this morning were my usual early morning depressed state of mind-which are more mental than physical,therefore not what I'd call AD side effects as such. They are usually less intense by the evening-probably due to the soothing effect of a glass of red wine, and the relief that I have survived another day of this hellish depression.

Physically,the Ads have not really been at all bad so far, so intend to continue for time being.

I fully understand your reservations though....

[Faigle]

Half the keys are missing on my laptop-hence the mistakes....I meant contradiction, not
coradiction!

[Faigle]

How is everyone today?
This thread seems to have gone a bit quiet.

[LateShift]

hi - jumping in here. how is everyone ATM? I'm a week into citalopram and the side effects are starting to fade. I was very worried about taking them as they really made it hit home that there is something wrong with me. In my case, probably PND spiralled into a more generalised depression.

[wrinklytum]

I hope you do not mind me posting on here as I am seeking insight into dp depression.In a lot of ways I can totally understand it as he has been through shite most people couldn't dream of and was seriously poorly and is still struggling with health.He has beenon anti d (Sertraline) for 4 months and seems little better.He is awaiting cbt.He cannot really function properly atm,is spending 24/7 in front of tv.Is also onstrong opiate painkillers,having anxiety issues but I am finding his total disinterest in the dcs very hard.I will watch this thread wuith interest.

[spookycharlotte121]

How is everyone today. Woke up feeling very positive but that soon faded. I dont feel as bad as I used to but I cuold really do with a break from real life. Got some of my degree results through but havent a clue what they mean.
Am stressing also as I still have ltos of work to get done and hand it. feel like one of you said, im not living im just existing, dad to day to provide for the needs of my kids.

On a lighter note i got my hair cut yesterday and it really made a difference to the way I feel.... dont feel so ugly at the mo.

Getting out of the house works wonders too. Hope your dp is ok wrinkly.... its horrible having depression so its good your trying to understand it. Im sure he will really appreciate that.
On the topic of AD'S i cam on citalopram.... the side efects were horrendous but at the moment they do seem to be helping. Im not as bad as I was. Am hoping to start counciling soon too.

[Faigle]

I have been takng the ADs for a week now and feel no better all-just spaced out..
I have never felt as desperate and that everything is so totally empty and futile as I do at the moment.

I am in constant mental pain.
Please tell me someone that the pain will go away and I will be able to live something of a normal life again?

It feels like a living hell at the moment.

Sorry, it's such a crap post.....but I really feel just terrible

The problems are mainly to do with my son-very complicated, and the fact that I lve with him on our own means everyday is a reminder and I can't get away to deal with all the problems

[pulapula]

Faigle- i was like that when i started ADs 2 weeks ago, but after about 10 days i started to feel more "normal" so just give your body time to adjust, and go back to your GP if you don't feel better.

I'd like to join the thread please.

I am suffering from PND - I have been finding life hard with 3 kids under 5 including a colicky unsettled newborn (now 10 weeks old). And then a few weeks ago my dad was diagnosed with skin cancer which knocked me for six. I spoke to my HV as i was worried about my mood and how it was affecting home life, and she suggested i see my GP which i did. I have been on Sertraline for 2 weeks now. Only my DH knows as I don't feel i can tell any friends/family. So its nice to "chat" to other people about it.

[LateShift]

Ah Faigle - where are you? If you're feeling lonely you're not alone - we are all here too for you.

What has helped me in the last week or 2 is feeling I have taken a big positive step in getting help, so you should be proud of yourself for doing that.

Also finally confiding in a couple of close friends and feeling like it is not admitting failure.

Dr also sent the health visitor round for a chat who is lovely (although I realise they are not all like her!)

Yes the ADs are whacking me out but now I take them at night time I am fine in the day to look after my DS.

[bakerslovecakes]

havent been on for a while, hope everyones feeling a little better, I've felt a bit better myself maybe its because its the holidays now. Has anyone tried a natural way of dealing with their depression? When i first started having panic attacks at the age of 18 I got Bach Rescue Remedy, I found that worked with my panic attacks. I wanted to try something more natural before considering AD.

[LateShift]

Hi Bakers. I have heard St John's Wort is supposed to work in same way as ADs...

However how the doctor pitched the ADs to me was that the ADs will start to lift my mood and give me a "window" in which to find ways to cope with the causes of the depression and enable talking treatment to take place. They are not a "cure" in themselves.

I was scared at first especially when they were making me feel so spaced out as I have always disliked mind altering substances. But I can feel that effect fading already, just hard to get through the first few days.

So, if you're feeling pretty bad why not think again about them?

[FouxDuFaFa]

Hi, can I join in?
As I said on my thread, I'm starting citalopram tomorrow. Slightly worried as I've been on fluoxetine and paroxetine in the past and the side effects were hard to deal with.

But in all honesty, my ds needs a proper mum and if dealing with side effects is what I have to do... then so be it.

Feeling hopeful

[bakerslovecakes]

If you suddenly stop taking AD is it true that the depression can get worse, the pharmacist told me that if you decide to stop taking them you have to wean yourself of gradually over a couple of weeks.

[pulapula]

My GP advised me that they like to control when and how you come off ADs so i wouldn't advise anyone to stop taking them without medical advice/support. You can also get quite bad side effects too, similar to when you start them.

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

Faigle - you and me both.
I am 2 days in to Citalopram and side effects are dreadful - just want to crawl in to bed but its summer hols and DCs are home, with friends.
Running away feels like a real option today.

We can get through this.

[pulapula]

Hi, does anyone else have a loss of appetite? I rarely eat breakfast or lunch, and snack in the day. As i am breastfeeding, I should be eating extra but just can't find things appealing. In the last 3 weeks i've lost half a stone in weight.

Saw my GP this morning. Back again in 2 weeks and depending on how things are going, she might increase my dose.

[equinox]

I am living with depression too not helped by a depressing job.

I am awaiting counselling at the local womens centre and can only hope that will help. I hope the counsellor is competent as I have tried some really crap ones in the past.

Having said that though talking is most definitely the cure for depression and the ADs merely keep the worst of it at bay pending corrective treatment.

I have managed to successfully come off ADs in the past once the counselling/circumstances picked up so am looking forward to a similar outcome this time.

However I can safely say I have been living with depression ever since the past 4 years when I became a single parent!

Glad we have this thread anyhow.

[BintOfBohemia]

Hello everyone, just wanted to say hello and mark my place if I can? Really glad to see this thread here as have also recently started on Citalopram and have found it a bit rough. Will come and post more in a bit...