Depression

[RunkidsKID]

Hi All
Finally I went to the doctors to ask for help with depression which if I'm honest I didn't really recover from the first time it just became easier to live with.
I have been perscribed Sertraline but I am to scared to take it as I live alone with my little boy. There seem to be so many side effects:(

I think the problem is that it is all "trial and error" with ADs and what suits one doesn't suit another, and then of course you have to wait around 2/3 weeks for the meds to kick in. Many people (including myself) found that they felt worse when they first started taking the meds, but then felt much better.

Have you been consulting Dr Google by any chance? There are loads of side effects for all drugs and the drug companies have to cover themselves by mentioning everything that could possibly be a side effect. It is best not to look at the side effects because you will have no idea whether any of them will affect you.

You mention you have had depression before and am wondering if you had ADs then, although it sounds like it just continued but at a much lower level and it has now got worse. Is that right? You are between a rock and a hard place really, but I think you should take them as they can be life savers. When you say you live alone with your little boy - you are having to do this with depression which is bad enough for the GP to prescribe meds, so I think taking something to make yourself better is the only way forward.

Do you have any RL family/friends who yu can call on for support. How old is your little boy - could this be PND.

My boy is nearly 8 I had PND and reactive depression just after he was born.
I refused meds and had counseling when I could function I stopped going.
The last 10 years have been so difficult I put my moods and tiredness and lack of interest and energy down to my life but actually I just think it was the depression. I cry at the drop of a hat and have no get up and go only at work as I need my job and don't want to be judged.
No family to help either.

It certainly sounds like you have been suffering from a low level chronic depression for many years, and have never tried ADs before. You plucked up courage to go to GP and I think you have to give yourself the chance of getting better by taking the meds. Do you have anyone in RL who can suport you.

I know how you feel. I live alone with my son and I'm contemplating ads too. I agree, don't read the list of side effects- they are petrifying!

I don't really have any close friends any more.
I should have asked for help much earlier as now I have problems that I need not have if my head was together:(
Thank you for understanding I appreciate it!!

SO will you take the meds - I do hope so, but do remember that they can somtimes make you feel worse to begin with, or because the dose is too low, and they don't kick into your system for around 2/3 weeks. BUT they can be life savers.

hey runkidsrun came across this thread looking for some answers to my behaviour.

it worried me as i could of wrote your op! i suffered pnd after birth of ds2, lasted good part of 18mths, then seperated with his dad when he just turned 2 (7 now) i suffered depression but as you say- it didnt go but thought i got over it/got easier. since then i sound just like you decribed, i know i can feel incredibly down some times and did burst into tears earlier because i couldnt hang a shelf!! thats just one example.....

i am always tired, mood can change in split 2nd, zero interests, zero energy or effort, got no go, dont like going out... its worrying as ive been feeling like this for yrs and have always put it down to just being plain boring! and my lack of social life since kids. i also dont have no family support.

thankyou, think i need to visit my gp.
hope your feeling better soon. x

Anotherload- definitely go to your GP this is not living its existing and I'm not the person I used to be.
I hope you get sorted life's to short x

Hi, I am trying to help my dd deal with her depression. First diagnosed with pnd when dgs was about 6mths given fluoxetine worked well came off them fine for many months then depression came back, went back on same ads again worked well and able to come off them. Dgs now 3.6 and few months ago depression returned back on fluoxetine but last week dd broke down and confided that she was getting worse. I visited her Dr (dd refused to see dr at that point felt they couldn't help) who was lovely reassured me I was doing right things and suggested dd may need different ad, also said if she has to stay on ads long term/forever that is ok.

DD then saw dr who changed ads to sertraline (she also takes amitriptyline at night for nerve damage to ribs). DD very upset today been taking new ads for 1 week and she can't stay awake, can't be bothered to do anything, back to dr today who says its side effects try to persevere and to cut amitriptyline to 1 tablet.

Basically I want to know if these side effects last long does sertraline work - silly question everyones different.

I just want to help my wonderful dd get back to feeling herself again. She asked me today why me? breaks my heart that I can't make her better that's what mums are supposed to do.

posted on another thread but no-one seems to be on at the moment.

Wow RunKids and Another, you've very bravely made the first step to getting better. On a different thread the consensus is take Sertraline in the morning. It can take anything from 2-6 weeks to kick in properly, so stick with it. There are side effects, but they can be managed.

Another, get to your GP and talk. Write your symptoms down just in case you forget something or find you can't talk. It happens.

Adoremy I've replied on t'other thread. I want to add here that I think you're amazing.

Nananina-I'm just to scared to take them living alone and it's seems that sertraline don't make you feel great. I have to go back to the doctors so I will talk to her. This is why I have done nothing before silly I no but the thought of taking them makes me panic :(

i knew i wasnt right after ds2, i refused to accept i had pnd or depression after split. didnt want to tell people i wasnt coping incase DS's where taken away.

i lost my confidence, self esteem, friends moved away so had no one to confide in. parents have no interest. became with drawn and just shut my self away, and i just learned to cope with having nothing but a daily DC routine of get up, cook clean and wear a smile.

met new dp, he bought life and soul into me. we had DD (2 now) i did find it hard going back to being stuck in with a baby while he continues a normal life. just thought cos id lost my friends i aint got nothing to do. but now i think i have to admit the pnd came back or something?? im not sure?

on tues i told dp to go cos my life is so dull and i cant compare to his busy social life and it was making me sad. now i havent stopped crying cos ive lost him too. its hard trying to be so happy on the out side with 3dc's to keep going :(

im nothing of my old self since having kids. just a recluse.

i never went to docs for depression in fear of dc's being taken away and i didnt want to take ad's because ive always thought they just cover up the problems, underneath they are still there and i will never be free of taking it.

so will go to gp but dont know if i want ad's. tried counselling, before too but she just didnt understand.

RunKids panicking about taking ADs is pretty common. Do discuss your concerns with your GP, then give them time to work properly.

Good stuff Another, go to your doc. They won't take the kids away. The first time you discuss this with your GP can be bloody hard, so write everything down in case you forget or suddenly can't open up. Trust me it helps.

Then get a message to your dp explaining how your illness made you push him away.

On the subject of ADs, just view them as medicine. If you had an infection you'd take antibiotics. Your brain has an imbalance, ADs are designed to cure that.

Hi OP,

If you are concerned (and we all are at taking ad's, so your fear is normal) could you not start at a verylow dose and build up gradually. I know this would delay the cure, but it would minimise any side effects.

FWIW. I had to take sertraline when I was a single parent, but I did cope, althoiugh it seemed to cause very fewside effects at that time. x