Been given anti-depressants today. Need some support

[StarsAreShining]

I'm really struggling. The almost complete breakdown of my relationship with my partner has made me accept that I am really, really not OK and haven't been for a long time. Finally made that visit to the doctor. I'm getting help now. It's just so hard to do all of this without the help of the one person I want support from. We've had a little bit of contact but I feel like I'm talking to a stranger and I can't tell him anything cos he's sick of hearing how bad I feel and has lost interest. It's so hard to deal with everything at once :(

These anti-depressants are just staring me in the face. I feel worried that they won't work. That I don't really have depression and so they'll have no effect and everyone will feel that I've let them down and wasted their time or lied to them about it all. That my life really is just completely shit. I've tried not to look at these pills as something which will make everything better, but something just to give me the energy to make the changes I need in my life. But it's so hard to do everything at once. Really struggling to cope with my son. I've always struggled, but I can't even be alone with him right now. I am really not ok on my own. This is the first time I've been alone all day and it's unbearable. I'm so lonely all of the time. I realised today that, some days, the 10 o'clock phone call I get from my boyfriend is the only time I talk to anybody that day. I hate my life so much :( I'm so unhappy. I keep trying to remind myself 'baby steps', but keep looking at the bigger picture and thinking ahead and really struggling with all of the things which are wrong and need to be changed. And how much work and time is going to have to go into doing all of that.

Everything just feels too hard :(

I'm sorry you are feeling this way, Can you resolve to start taking the meds tomorrow and get out of the house for a walk, even 10 mins.

Did the GP offer any therapy at all?

Sorry not got much in the way of advice there, but didnt want this to go unanswered.

I did take the tablet in the end. Feel really rough. Wasn't expecting it to knock me about so much. I have been getting out of the house, but still feel like I can't bear to be alone at all. Just stuck on my own with my son and my thoughts. Need some really positive and happy outside influences so I don't keep dragging myself back down, but don't have that many friends. Everything feels quite desperate and wrong and the moment. Don't feel like I'm coping very well. It's like I'm in a constant state of emergency. My mom's been coming around to shower and dress my son in the mornings and she's done some cleaning for me too cos I haven't really been able to do anything. Everything's hit me at once. The GP did offer therapy, but he wants me to take these for two weeks first instead of trying to do everything at once.

Is it normal to feel so knocked about by one tablet, though? I was on the phone to the samaritans for an hour and a half last night. Just struggling with my thoughts and struggling to get the courage to take the tablet. Did it in the end, but think I took it way too late. Feel groggy and weird now. Only had three hours sleep. Woke up and spent the rest of the night concentrating on not throwing up and trying to stop trembling. My heart was beating quite quickly and I was really shivering. I think I was just getting myself really worked up again. Just feel very heavy and tired today. It's awful. Because since my boyfriend distanced himself from me and said he needed some space to not think about our relationship anymore, I haven't been able to eat and I've felt very nauseaous. And now it's even worse. I've lost 5 pounds in a week! And I was only slim to begin with. Ugh. How long does it take for you to stop feeling sick?

Poor you:( What type of AD have you been given? It can take a little while for the tablets to kick in. Try and take it easy for a bit.

hi just wanted to let you know that you are not alone, i am 37 weeks pregnant and was hit by anxiety and depression about 3 weeks ago, my doctor gave me fluoxentine (prozac) 20mg, i didnt want to take them, esp with being pregnant but he said my mental state was too bad that i really needed to start taking them, i have been on these for 10 days now, the first 3 days i felt so sick, i was throwing up and feeling spaced out, the sickness stopped about day 4 but now i do sometimes still feel a bit sickly, i think it might be better if you take these with a bit of food, this helped me.

you are doing the right thing taking baby steps, i am also doing the same. i havent done much house work, but no big deal, for now- it can wait! i struggle with being alone, its when the thoughts dig at me the most, i completely get how that feels, the tablets take some time to work, even on day 10 i feel better than what i did pre-fluoxentine, so pls dont panic, i promise you, slowly it does get a little bit better day by day.

try not to bottle up your emotions either, if you need to talk about things, then do so, holding everything inside wont help you, if you need to cry then have a good cry. :)

I was given sertraline. Doctor told me that I should feel the effects of the pills after two weeks, so that's when I have my next appointment. I'm just a bit confused cos I thought a standard dose was 50mg. I've been started on 50mg and it's being upped to 100mg in a week. I actually feel physically ill. The glands in my throat are swollen. Really going to have to force myself to take the next tablet tonight. Was really shocked at the side effects. Never experienced side effects from medication before. Just didn't expect to feel like I'd been in a boxing ring. But I'm doing well. Made sure I was around lots of people again today. Lots more talking. But I'm alone right now and it's ok. My home just doesn't feel like a refuge to me. It feels like a big, empty prison. Don't really enjoy being here. But I'm coping without feeling desperate tonight. Might do a bit more of my jigsaw later. Went to my son's Christmas nativity this afternoon which put a big smile on my face.

hi how are you doing today? i hope you are having a good day- as good as it can be anyway. im not sure about the standard dose with different medications, im sure the doctor would have put you on the right one, however if you are still feeling really ill on them it might be worth making an early ap with your doctor and telling him/her how you feel, you know just to be on the safe side, i know i felt like rubbish at first but i didnt have any gland reactions, it was just the sickness mainly, everybody is different and most likely responds to them different too but just double check with your doctor, i would hate to tell you that its normal if you are not responding to them as you should. mail me later on, let me know how you are doing as i am thinking of you :)

Hello. Today was a better day. The sickness subsided a bit and I felt some hunger for the first time in over a week. Still woke up at three o'clock in the morning, but I didn't feel anywhere near as ill. Just very much awake. A friend of mine came round and spent the whole day with me. I know he meant well and was trying to help, but trying to think of things to talk about for 8 hours solid was actually quite difficult and tiring!

How are you feeling at the moment? Have you stopped feeling so spaced out at all? What effects have you felt? I'm quite concerned about feeling numbed or spaced out. I'm a single parent and can't really afford to be not quite with it!

You sound absolutely lovely! Just thought I would say that.

Always best to take Sertraline with a bit of food otherwise you will feel nauseaus. I took it in the morning with breakfast.
It really helped get me to a place where I could start to think rationally about life again. Deliberated for ages taking it first time. If I ever felt like that again I wouldn't hesitate to go back on them.
wishing you all the best. well done for managing the first 2 days :-)

I've heard quite a few people talking about taking it in the morning, but the doctor told me I needed to take it at night. Did your doctor tell you take it in the morning? Just feeling impatient. Want to feel some positive results. Keep waking up in the morning and trying to test how I'm feeling. And I know it's ridiculous. It's only been a few days. So scared that I'm going to be disappointed. How long were you on the tablets for? I'm scared that I'll find it difficult to stop once I've been taking them for a while. Don't want to be on them forever.

hey hun, i still feel quite spaced out to be honest, but i think that could be partly because i am 38 weeks pregnant and looking after a 3 year old who sleeps badly, its likely that's the reason i feel kinda tired. i also have diazapam 2mg in the late afternoon when my anxiety kicks in so that makes me a bit spaced too :)

Can't somebody come over to help? Sounds very difficult. You should be taking it easy! My mom's been popping in every morning on her way to work to help get my son washed and dressed. It's been such a relief. I'm no longer feeling any side effects except for waking in the night. Bit worried about increasing my dose on Wednesday, though. Think it might bring the side effects back.