Positive experiences of antidepressants please

[LethargyApathy]

I have sank into such a deep hole of depression, I'm not even living.. merely existing. Expecting a baby in October so I need get better - quickly. I don't think I can survive another year like this anyway.

I do the bare minimum required of me in the day (taking care of DC - they are not suffering) but other than that I'm stuck on the sofa, willing the day to end on the verge of tears. Rinse and repeat. I'm not a lazy person by nature. The depression has me feeling so fatigued and lethargic I just can't function.

I put on a brave face when OH has a day off work so he doesn't see just how my days are really spent. I'm ashamed.

I need help and I'm going to ask for it this week in the form of AD's, I have already self referred for talking therapy but it's a long waiting list and I just can't hang on that long.

Can you tell me some positive experiences of how antidepressants have helped you (some anecdotes about having minimal side effects would also be very helpful because I seem to react badly to most medications which is why I've let it get to this stage)

Thank you

I went on citalopram and had a very good experience. The difference was like night and day for me, I felt like an entirely different person. I was cheery, had motivation to do things I’d struggled with before (even basic tasks) far far less anxious, and they helped me to see how bad I really had become.

DH also on Citalopram for anxiety. Was literally life saving for him, he was told to take them for life, no need to ever consider coming off them.
Took one month to see a slight improvement, another couple for the full effects. So I’d say get on them ASAP.

I'm on Prozac (Fluoxetine) and it has made a huge difference to me. I honestly wish I had gone on them sooner! I didn't really have any side effects at all and they started working quickly for me. Hope you get something that helps

Have had a few bouts of taking antidepressants.
Citalopram for me too, really helps. No side effects except possibly some deeper sleep, though coming off them again was a different story (tbh I don't think I'll try again as I am way better on than off them). I hope you feel better soon, well done reaching out to get some help, it's really hard when you feel that defeated and depression is just so exhausting.

When I was suicidally depressed Citalopram, together with CBT, saved my life & the only
side effect I had was heavy periods. If I needed it again I’d go back on it in a heartbeat.

I went on Sertraline, took a good 6 weeks for me to start feeling emotions (in a good way). It was what I needed at that time. Honestly don't know if I would still be alive if it wasn't for the doctors that helped and the pills.

I'm on Prozac and it's been amazing as I usually slump every winter and struggle all year round. Since starting it I've felt much better and haven't had the crippling fatigue I usually suffer from.

Many years ago I was on AD’s, it took a few goes to get the right one, they worked and enabled me to live my life. I also had therapy from a psychologist who explained it this way. The AD’s won’t make me well but they will take the edge of the depression allowing me to cope and work at being well again. She said if I had an interview one day but had bad toothache and couldn’t concentrate I would take painkillers, they wouldn’t get me the job but they would take the pain away so I could cope with the interview, and maybe get the job.

I may not have explained that very well but it made perfect sense to me, and I definitely experienced physical pain with depression.

The NICE guidelines for depression are anti depressants and therapy

I'm the therapist part - and everyone that has come to me with severe depressive symptoms like you are describing has done better, quicker with both

For various reasons I meet people who don't want the drugs and just want to do the therapy. In my experience I've still had success with people but it has been much slower.

The anti depressants lift up the very worst excesses of feeling so that people can do the processing they need to of what's gone wrong. Without the anti depressants there is an excess of feeling the feelings meaning we need to collaboratively work slower so it's not too painful.

Though you may need to try a few different types to get the right one

I started mitrazepine 6 months ago and they got me out of that dark hole. Good luck

Thank you all so much, you have no idea how much I needed to hear this things.

It's the pits isn't it?

I've been here before but not quite as bad.

Like you said Laurie, I wanted the therapy but not the drugs last time I was struggling. The therapy was trauma focussed and whilst it certainly helped me process something specific, once that came to an end I was still left with low level depression.

I plodded on ok for a couple of years but this pregnancy (and I presume the hormone changes) have really done it this time.

Unsurprisingly there is an anxiety element too and it is that which has been the driving factor in avoiding meds, I went down a rabbit hole of reading about side effects and withdrawals and convinced myself I was better off without.

I'm going to take the leap now, I have to do it.

Had previously had two short bouts of depression following family bereavements. Citalopram sorted me.
Then realised I had depression again after having gall bladder out and later complications (all sorted). Knew the signs and asked GP for ADs, citalopram, as before. GP fine with that. At times I've needed a higher dose, at times lower. GP knows me well and trusts that I know what I need. As far as she and I are concerned, the tablets balance the chemicals in my brain. No different from a diabetic topping up with insulin. Tried coming off last year, to see what happened. Not a good move.
So it looks as if I'll be on them for the rest of my life. That's fine by me and by my GP.

By the way, it was in autumn 2005 the depression started, so I've been taking them for almost 16 years. Same GP all that time.

I'd say go for it. Why struggle when something can be done? Wish you well, @LethargyApathy. x

Citalopram helped me out of a hole when I was really depressed. It definitely worked. I then had therapy which helped me on a longer term basis.
The side effects were not too bad - after two or three weeks they were minimal. Coming off antidepressants was not so much fun, so get plenty of support with that and do it slowly, when it comes to that.
OP - can you make sure you have told your talking therapy service you are pregnant? in the service I work for pregnant women and parents of very young children are prioritised (this is in England). So the wait is minimal.
Good luck.

Sertraline changed my life. I was an anxious shell of a person. Combined with cbt it helped me so much

I took sertraline for postnatal depression and it literally saved my life. The first few weeks are hard, it gets a bit worse before it gets better but then I felt like my old self again. I came off without any issues after 6 months.

Pregnant again, the depression has kicked in and I’m referred to the perinatal mental health team. Anticipating antidepressants being suggested and I would absolutely take them if this carries on.

Good luck, I hope you can get the help you deserve soon

Thank you ladies, it's really encouraging to read these posts and know people have had alot of success with AD's.

The service I self referred to was IAPT and I made sure to tell them I'm pregnant. I made the referral about 5-6 weeks ago, then had a brief telephone call 2 weeks ago confirming my details and was given an appointment for a telephone assessment on 14th September - then however long a wait until I'm seen in person and get any therapy.

That's probably alot quicker than it would be if I weren't pregnant, but as I'm at crisis point now I'm going to really struggle to wait much longer hence the decision to ask for AD's in the interim iyswim.

I have taken citalopram on and off for nearly 7 years, had no side effects either going on it or coming off it. It vastly improves both depression symptoms and anxiety for me.

@Glowinthedarkskeleton

I took sertraline for postnatal depression and it literally saved my life. The first few weeks are hard, it gets a bit worse before it gets better but then I felt like my old self again. I came off without any issues after 6 months.

Pregnant again, the depression has kicked in and I’m referred to the perinatal mental health team. Anticipating antidepressants being suggested and I would absolutely take them if this carries on.

Good luck, I hope you can get the help you deserve soon

I'm sorry to read that you're struggling at the moment too. Hormones have alot to answer for don't they?

Do you have any experience of dealing with the perinatal MH team in the past and know what to expect?

I haven't told my midwife how I'm feeling just yet as i was worried it might trigger referrals that I didn't want, IE social services. I'm sure they're wonderful for some people but having to deal with them would only make me feel worse.

I become depressed when I had two under 2. I started on fluoxetine (Prozac) - what a difference it made! I did actually feel worse for a few days but picked up very quickly. I was off and on them for about 3 years and I will be forever pleased I took that step.

I wouldn't think it's likely that SS would get involved? As long as your child is being taken care of, I can't see why that would happen.

I can only echo the positive experiences with Citalopram. I’ve been on it for 7 years, no real side effects at all.

In December I was having real plans of suicide but was put in sertraline 100mg. First time I have taken antidepressants in my life and I am 30. First couple of weeks were a bit wacky but they honestly saved my life. I have gone down to 50mg now and hope to half that again and then be off them completely by December.

I am on Prozac too. Zero side effects apart from not feeling depressed and anxious. It’s been a life saver. I tried a few different ones before finding it though. Good luck!

DC is definitely well loved and cared for, I think I've just read one too many horror stories of SS being brutal with mum's who have MH problems.

A question is raised as to whether somebody is coping, next thing you know SS are at the door.

Just another one of the many probably irrational worries I have lately

I think SS would be involved where a parent was actively abusing or seriously neglecting their kids due to MH issues. They won’t want to interfere with a parent who recognises a problem and gets treatment for it.