bored of depression being an issue

[flowerpotty]

Has anyone had any experiences of coming off venlafaxine that they would be willing to share.
I halved my dose 6 weeks ago, and I'm feeling a bit low. I don't want to rush back to my Gp, as I'm not sure if this is just a bit of withdrawal. Also, don't like to admit that I'm not feeling so good as I'm so fed up of depression being part of my life. My GP would increase my dose in a flash if I said how I was feeling, but I just want to believe I can get off the ADs and get on with my life.
Any advice would be much appreciated.

I can't comment on the venlafaxine, but I think that what you need (which the GP is obviously not providing! ) is support in your decision. Have you any sort of 'talking' therapy - counselling, psychotherapy, OT, CBT? I found it vital when I had PND to be able to talk openly about what was going on, and whats more to have help in working out a strategy to cope with events and changes.

It's a big step you've taken. I can absolutely understand about you feeling fed up of depression being part of your life, and more power to you for trying to take control of it! The big thing really is support. Mumsnet is one tiny bit of that.

I wonder whether your GP would refer you for therapy?

I've never been offered any 'talking therapies' because there is no real cause for my depression...it's always been explained as a 'chemical imbalance'. I've never asked for any either as I didn't feel there was anything to talk about but maybe now would be a good time, as I could do with some support in getting off the drugs.
I don't know if my GP will refer me...there is always a long waiting list. Also a bit scared to admit to Gp that I'm struggling as he will want to put my dose back up.

I haven't come off Venlafaxine, I was prescribed it when I came off Citalopram, and wasn't happy to start taking the Venlafaxine.

When I came off the Citalopram, I felt as if my depression was coming back, and I became so snappy and irritable that I was beginning to think I was losing my mind. I wasn't - it's one of the side-effects of coming off the anti-depressants. Obviously your ad is different to mine, but it could be that the symptoms of withdrawal are similar and it's withdrawal that's doing it, not the depression returning. You'll only know that for sure once you've stopped the ads altogether.

Once I came off the ads, I was amazed at how much more clearly I was thinking. I hadn't realised how much they had clouded my mind, and how numb they had made me feel. I decided then that I would rather feel depressed than feel like a numb zombie - at least my feelings were real. That's not for everyone, and sometimes I think it might be easier to cope with the ads, but I just felt that they weren't addressing the real problem, they were just masking it with numbness.

Getting on with your life might be difficult if you're still suffering with the depression, but there may be other ways of treating it than ads. If you see your GP, you don't have to accept what he says about increasing your dose, you can ask for counselling or CBT instead. You may find there's a long waiting list, but do press to be added to it. Or if you can afford it, maybe you could ask the GP to recommend a counsellor to you and pay privately.

You could always try something like St John's Wort as well; I've been using the tincture, and I believe that it helps me to cope - it takes the edge off things without dulling the senses the way that ads did.

Once you come off the ads completely, you'll have a better idea of how you really feel, and can judge what your next step ought to be much better.

Oh that's rich! PMS is also caused by 'a chemical imbalance' but there are non-chemical things you can do to help cope with it. I think that puts an unfair burden on you. Maybe your depression has no obvious cause, maybe drugs do help, but it's not that simple. It seems that the very fact of being depressed is making you more depressed. Nothing chemical there - so other strategies might help.

Can you afford to pay for counselling yourself? I paid for a handful of sessions of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and although I didn't feel hugely comfortable with the trainer, the lessons I learned from him have helped enormously. Fortunately I was able to get psychotherapy through my GP.

Thanks...it's so helpful just to hear what other people have to say. i was sitting here feeling really tearful and 'in my own head'. Just hearing other people's views gets me thinking in a more constructive way (probably would make me an ideal candidate for a talking therapy!!).

www..I love the idea of coming off the ads and just dealing with it. Already(at half dose) I know that i'm not functioning as well as I should be...feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks, poor motivation, reduced energy etc etc.
I want so much to beat this and get off the drugs, but I just don't know if I'm strong enough to cope with the symptoms and not make life horrible for my dh and kids.

Are you taking a good multi-vitamins & minerals supplement? Or one formulated with fish oils or Evening Primrose oil? That can help as well. Your body needs physical boosting, as well as your spirit.

I haven't been taking good care of myself at all, and I am trying to do something about that this week. Last week, i wasn't even eating breakfast or lunch so it was no wonder I was feeling rough1
I don't know ehich comes first...feeling a bit down or not looking after myself, but I am trying to be a bit better this week. I bought some vitamins but haven't got round to taking them...will go and have one when I finish on here.

Thanks for listening , and for your advice. i'm always putting on a front at home and with friends because everyone worries about my depression, and I don't want to make things bad for anyone else..especially my daughters( 7 mo and 3).
It's such a relief to be able to 'chat' without worrying about what anyone thinks. Thankyou...and now for that vitamin.

hi guys. i have a horrid feeling i am slowly letting myself sink into depression. a month after the birth of our second child i foundout my hubby had played around behind my back while i was pregnant. it destroyed me. i know i have to get over it. stop looking back. its dumb of me but i love him and his faults, including this one i am trying to forgive. i know i am making his life hell. has anyone got over anything like this sucessfully. i want to stop my sadness. i hate it. i explained it to him the other day - i guess its depression or heartbreak, i dont know for certain, i get such a deep sadness and ache in my tummy and chest. can anyone offer a slight remedy? please dont think i'm dumb.

You need to look after yourself, because if you're missing out on vitamins, that could be adding to the problem - if I remember rightly, being short of some of the B vitamins can cause or increase depression.

Have you had any tests to rule out physical causes for your depression? Thyroid problems are notorious for causing depression, and in fact under-active thyroid is very commonly mis-diagnosed as depression.

Hi FP. I myself are on AD's & would love to come off them too. Ive been on & off them for over 7yrs. I find (like wigwambam says) that I become very irritable & snappy when I dont take them & find Im a nightmare to live with.
My AD's are LUSTRAL-I find they keep me on an even-no ups no downs, but I do think they have many side affects,the worst I find is the lack of a sex drive. My desire has gone completely!!!
St Johns Wort are supposed to work as WWB says again, but they do take a couple o months to kick in.
I would love to be normal minded & come off them. I may even try to ween myself off them as we speak as I feel so reliant, & i hate that.
I found my HV very helpful when I suffered from PND. I then went on to see a CPN, who came out to visit me at home, which was excellent.
Ive always found that counciling was just not enough time to talk about anything-An hour-once a week is just not enough for me anyway!
But depression is so different from other illnesses & very hard to describe & explain,especially when people have never suffered themselves. I hate it when people tell you to pull yourself together
I would deffo go back to your GP though. Good Luck

I take evening primrose & omega 3's fish oils(they help with brain development & function & concentration) I also take a multi vitamin. Ive been on these for about 10 months now,& deffo feel better for taking them. Although like the St Johns wort-they take about 2 months to kick in.

Gravity
Thats just so dis-loyal at such a personal time in your life.
I think forgiving maybe easy, but forgetting is not.
There are so many reasons for staying together & just patching it up, but 1 big reason for being apart. You have to way up what you really want & whats for the best.
Personally I think you can get over heartache, but not infidelity.
How sorry was he?

jenny, he was sorry. ashamed. he knows he f*ed up big time. i remind him enough, even though i dont mean to. i just sometimes want him to feel the same pain i do. how does it get to the point that the only thing you think you have the right to totally depend on can just fall away at your feet. i feel a great disappointment more than anything. i know this isn't him and some of the obstacles we have had thrown at us in the past twelve months just got too hard for him. and now it just feels too hard for me. god i hate this feeling

jenny, he was sorry. ashamed. he knows he f*ed up big time. i remind him enough, even though i dont mean to. i just sometimes want him to feel the same pain i do. how does it get to the point that the only thing you think you have the right to totally depend on can just fall away at your feet. i feel a great disappointment more than anything. i know this isn't him and some of the obstacles we have had thrown at us in the past twelve months just got too hard for him. and now it just feels too hard for me. god i hate this feeling