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Mental health

Am I depressed?

13 replies

saintshar · 21/06/2005 16:08

I have been depressed before, when I was a teenager, and had PND with DS1 and can feel myself slipping again.

I went to the doctors a few months ago, because I had been suffering from anxiety. I was also waking v early each morning and couldn't get back to sleep. The Doc said she wanted to put me on ad's, because she thought I was a little depressed as well. I didn't take the prescription for the ad's and to be honest, really questioned why the Doc would think I could possibly be depressed!

The anxiety has been getting worse, so I went back to see another Doctor. He said the same thing about putting me on ad's, tried telling me that some ad's can treat anxiety and depression. In the end he put me on betta-blockers. I am not on the betta-blockers any more as they didn't help at all TBH.

As time is going on I am starting to think that maybe I am depressed. I still feel the anxiety is much worse - but I look at myself and realise that I am just not bothered about things like I used to be. I don't play with the kids hardly any more, do the gardening, even go on the computer that much - all the little things in life that I used to enjoy, I just feel like I 'can't be bothered.'

Sleeping has got much worse. I have vivid dreams every night, and wake up and feel like a coiled spring. Even though I sleep well over 8Hrs sleep a night, I am constantly tired throughout the day.

I have booked an hypnotherapy session for next Week to try and help with the anxiety. I have no idea if it will help, but someone I know said it helped her a lot - and I am that way I willing try anything.

I think that reading back through what I have just wrote, I have answered my own question. But why am I so against and scared of taking ad's?

I have such a great life, I have a great DH and kids who I love a lot. I have no money worries - I do have a great life, there is no trigger for feeling like this at all, and in many ways that makes me feel worse.

Any help or comments would be much appreciated. x

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gothicmama · 21/06/2005 16:13

I think you are scared of taking ad's because you feel there is no reason for you to feel depressed - there may not be - sometimes once you have suffered from it it can return for no real reason sorry not much help but I would urge you to get help from gp

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lilaclotus · 21/06/2005 16:16

i'm not sure if you are depressed, but you certainly describe a lot of the symptoms. if you're not keen on the ad's, you could talk to your GP about taking john's wort, maybe. you could also try a good multivitamin (advised to me when i suffered from depression), which could help to get your energy levels up. maybe do some meditation or other relaxation for helping with the anxiety...
hth at all

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Lonelymum · 21/06/2005 16:25

I can understand you not wanting to take ads. I don't know much about this, but is your anxiety aimed at something specific or life in general? Is it possible for you to address the anxiety side of things so that you feel you are taking control of your situation?

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Sax · 21/06/2005 16:36

Hi Saintshar - I believe you have answered your own question and I do believe you are like me in that because you don't want to believe you are depressed you think that not taking the anti ds is the answer - MMMmmm I think we both know the real answer there too.

I think you need to dicuss this again with the GP and tbh sometimes this just creeps up from behind and bites us when we are least expecting - this is my experience anyway!!!!!

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saintshar · 21/06/2005 16:49

gothicmama, I think you are right in a way. I tend to feel that I shouldn't take ad's because I have no reason to be depressed, I am also scared of the side effects. I have never taked ad;s when I have had depression in the past, but I don't want to go on suffering and getting worse like I have in the past.

lilaclotus, I don't think I can take st. john's wort because I am on the pill. I also wonder if it would be effective. Although the idea of a more natural way of dealing with it appeals to me a lot. I wonder if you know how I could find out about meditation or other ways to relax - would my Doctor point me in the right direction?

Lonelymum, the anxiety has alyways been there in one form or another. I have no idea why only to say quite a few members of my family seem to suffer from anxiety and depression. But sometimes, like now, it really seems to get on top of me and I feel like I can't cope. Things like going to the Doctors, having a driving lesson, phoning someone up to sort something out - seem to make me get palpitations (sp) feel sick etc, etc. These are things that I normaly would cope with no problem. I don't want it to get that way that I can't go to the shops and other everyday things.

I agree that I need to address the anxiety side of things so that I feel I am taking control of your situation, but I just don't know how to go about doing it!

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Lonelymum · 21/06/2005 18:39

I just wondered if you could be referred to a CPN who might be able to help you cope with your anxieties. I was referred to a CPN recently for a phobia. She wasn't able to help me specifically, but I think she could help someone like you. Also, she gave me contact numbers which included people who can help you deal with anxiety. It might be a better way forward for you than taking the ads.

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lilaclotus · 21/06/2005 19:14

i see your point about john's wort, i did mean to mention that it would reduce the effectiveness of the pill.
you might find a local buddhist centre who does introductions to meditation. my dh and i did one and it really helped us both. i had panic attacks and hyperventilated, meditating calmed me down and made it easier to focus on my breathing when i had the attacks. there are plenty of books around about it, but i find it helped more to learn it with someone who's more experienced.
anyway, there's a list of the centres here . most will ask for a donation rather than a set fee, so you pay what you can. i'm sure there's other places where you could go too.
of course, there's some info online too. i quite liked these .
hth at all

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saintshar · 22/06/2005 12:29

Hi again.

Well I have just got back from the Doctors. I am really chuffed with myself for even getting there! The amount of times I have picked up the phone to ring for an appointment, and then put the phone down...

He has put me on citalopram - 20mg. If anyone had any experience of these, could you let me know please? The Doctor said he has put me on these because they help with anxiety as well as depression, and also the have less side effects than most ad's. Though I have just read the leaflet and think he might be telling porkies!

He said that it might take a few Weeks to start working, and if they don't work he might send me to someone who will help me work through my anxiety issues.

The main thing I am worried about is if it makes you drowsy /dizzy (altough I asked the Doc and he said they wont.) I have my driving lesson tomorrow and don't want to be all spaced out!

Anyone?

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jangly · 22/06/2005 12:56

Wouldn't hurt to wait till after your test to take the first one, would it. I mean, you're not going to get any benfit from that first tab and you might feel a little bit woozy to start with. I'd wait. Good luck with test and the tabs!

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jangly · 22/06/2005 12:58

Obviously, any slight side effects would soon wear off, and you might not get any. I'm just being on the safe side!

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sarah259 · 22/06/2005 15:50

SS - my dh has just been put on these ad's (for anxiety - 5mg). He's been on them for just over a week and has had a slight shaky feeling with them but that has now gone. Having reading your initial thread, I can relate to an awful lot of what you've said myself and am trying to get the courage to see my GP too. We've got to remember that depression/anxiety etc is down to our seretonin levels. And thats something we can't help so it makes absolute sense to do all we can to help ourselves 'get right'. Having said all that, it's easier said than done!

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TinyGang · 22/06/2005 16:14

Well done for going to the doctor Saintshar. I so know what you mean about hestitating to take ad's. I have a box of the very tablets you have been given and they've been in my drawer for two years and I haven't taken one of them!!

I am scared of possible side effects and also feel I should be able to manage without ad's as I feel I will be letting myself down by needing them. How daft is that? I'm really getting to the point when I'm going to have to address the way I feel though. I was scared ad's would make me feel drugged and everything - good and bad - would be flattened out. This still worries me, but I feel I really am starting to need something tbh

I wish you lots of luck. Hope you start to feel better soon. Please post how you get on, I'll be watching with interest

ps This is my first ever post under this topic I think!

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Sax · 22/06/2005 16:35

Saintshar - well done you - big step and one I couldn't do, I ended up opting for the writing a letter option and the dr had to ring me, so well done, its the first massive step.

This is exactly what I've been put on about 4 weeks ago. Initially I did feel a little spaced out but it was a huge relief from the wobbly, anxious feeling I was having and being all uptight and anxious. I am now loads calmer and I was starting to get very panicy which has reduced drastically.
Side effects - I felt nauseas at the beginning but that has subsided (although sometimes I drink far too much alcohol of an evening and then feel sick the next day, but then I don't think one should drink excessively on these so its just a warning I think LOL).
The spaced out feeling went in a acouple of days too.

My only concern now is that I'm not sure If my body is too use to them and maybe they arent strong enough for me - but thats just me! So I am going for a review tomorrow. however, I realise that they don't solve everything so really need to change my state of mind a little and also I may be told that I've not given them long enough - who knows.

All the best with them and i hope they instil the feeling of calm which is what we crave with the anxieties and stress which must have got you to this stage. Good luck.

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