to ask for your experiences/advice on taking anti-depressants

[WhoahThere]

It seems I'm suffering from mild depression; feeling pretty sad, very tearful, absolutely knackered and not quite able to pull myself out of this mental hole. However, to all intents and purposes I am functioning fine - getting up and going about my day, visiting people, exercising, and avoiding (most of the time) bursting into tears in inappropriate places.

I've been to the GP today who was very nice, listened and asked questions, and then gave me the number of the counselling people and also prescribed me anti-depressants. She said - and I agree - that the depression is not strictly post-natal (dd is 6mo) but also situational; I find it hard being on my own and always have done, and whilst I love dd and wouldn't have it any other way, maternity leave is proving a challenge to say the least!

I am totally in two minds about taking anti-depressants. On one hand it seems a rather radical step to start taking something that will 'mess with my mind' when I am fairly confident that when I go back to work in 4 months mental order will be restored, and I think there are strategies I can put in place to help me get through this. On the other hand, I am definitely not happy or coping very well, so should I just take them to give me the kick I need to get back on track so I can get on with being a mum and enjoying the rest of my time at home with dd?

And finally, having taken the step and talked to my GP, I find that I'm actually feeling much much better - whether it's having the option of taking the pills that's helping, or just having talked about the problem. So maybe a counsellor would help - I had previously thought this wasn't really an option for me, but maybe I'm wrong.

So this has turned into a bit of a (lengthy, sorry) WWYD, but what I originally was thinking was that I might benefit from the wisdom of anyone out there who has experience of this sort of thing.

I could have written QueenStromba's post. In fact that's exactly what I was going to say!

I've previously been on Prozac and I hated it. I wandered around not feeling depressed, but not really feeling very much of anything. I doubted the way I felt about things, because I felt pretty much the same about everything.

However, I've been on Citalopram for the past 2 months and it's great. I feel like I've refound me. I still worry about things, but it's not crippling and I only worry about stuff I should be worrying about, but it's not keeping me up at night like it used to. I get happy, I get sad, I feel proud, I feel excited.

I also feel like myself, just less depressed.

My GP said it wasn't about dulling my senses, just about taking the edge off the worst feelings so that I could cope with them.

Since being on them, I'm finding work easier, I've made friends, I've taken on new challenges and I'm a much better and happier mother and wife.

I hope you find a solution that works for you.

oh anti-d's are a miracle. They saved my life, no question (PND). I would take them OP.

However PLEASE don't come off them suddenly! take your time to come off them. They are marvellous, get your feelgood brain chemicals firing again, but they shouldn't be stopped suddenly.

Sorry, had to get that in.

I agree that having someone in your corner can really help you to feel you can face life again but I would keep an eye on how you feel and, really, don't hesitate if you slip again. There's no point struggling when these marvellous drugs get you back on your feet, back to yourself, back to being able to face and enjoy your life. I know people reacte differently but, generally, the results are very positive.

They're quite literally a lifesaver. They're the difference between existing and living.

I must say, I've never had that flat feeling some posters have described. I've felt emotionally appropriate - sad when I should be feeling sad, happy and laughing when I should be. It took about 2 weeks for the medication to really kick in, however, I did feel the most overwhelming relief at having sought help, which brought with it enough calm to get through that period.

I had antidepressants after both my children, I tried ssri first which didn't help me, and because I was anxious and not sleeping, so they gave me the tca type which worked wonders. I actually felt calm and happy for the first time in months. I was on them for around a year both times before i felt ready to face the world without them.
Now I have a permanent non medical antidepressant called God, but that's not everyone's cup of tea.
I would try them for a few weeks and see how you get on. I had no problems coming off either ssris or the more addictive tca.