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Are these side effects of the AD or is my depression getting worse?

5 replies

mumsnutty · 17/09/2012 11:01

I've created a new thread from my previous one about coming off ADs as I feel like I'm in a bit of a mess. I'm glad I can talk freely on here as I feel like when I discuss with friends/ family I'm boring and depressing them with my moaning about this, people have far worse things in their life than me and here's me off work and not seeing anyone because I feel 'sad'.

Yesterday I managed to get out. I went to a food market fair with DH to support a friend, who I met previously at an evening class (not a close friend ifywim). She doesn't know about my condition so I acted 'normal'. I've become good at hiding my dark/unhappy self, but anyways I enjoyed it and it was nice being outside the house seeing people other than family who don't know about my depression.

On the way back, DH and I were discussing what a nice afternoon we'd had and how pleased he was that I was out. This is so hard to explain, but from feeling slightly positive and 'happy', as we were driving back home, I started to feel a dark cloud of sadness come back again over me - except it was even worse than before. I didn't tell DH how I was now feeling but when we got home, I said I was just going to pop to the shops and drove off. After about 30 minutes, I pulled up in a car park and debated with myself whether I should go home or kill myself. I won't go into what happened after as this post is already too long but after about 2 hours, I finally headed home to my frantic and worried DH, parents and children. I think they were so relieved to have me home, they just put me to bed. I woke up this morning after a very deep sleep and went into parent/'normal' mode, getting DC off to school and sending everyone on their way. Now I'm sat here typing this thread on my own asking you for help.

I'm not sure if this is the ADs or my depression getting worse? I'm on sertraline - it's now week 3, having started on citalopram for 5/6 weeeks which gave me anxiety. I know I won't actually kill myself, but I feel so much despair and sadness now despite that flicker of enjoyment yesterday. I feel such a burden to everyone and to myself. I can't do the simplest things other than type on here, try to sleep and watch tv. As well as the depression, my mind is racing with all sorts of confusing and anxious thoughts, I feel like I need to be put to sleep.

I've written everything down as best as I can, I will talk to my GP and counsellor about this but I'd be grateful if once again, any MNers out there can offer me any comforting words. Thanks.

OP posts:
GRW · 17/09/2012 11:55

I am sorry this is so hard for you. The feeling that you are a burden to people is a part of your depression, and should change when you start to feel a bit better. I am sure that no one in your family see you as a burden- they were obviously concerned for you yesterday when you went out by yourself.

It's positive that you did feel a flicker of enjoyment yesterday, so hold onto that. It is normal to have ups and downs in how you are feeling, but with time the better days should happen more often. If you feels it helps you to make yourself go out and be with people try that, but don't feel bad if all you can do is curl up and watch TV.

It's good that you are getting support from a counsellor and your GP. Keep talking to us on here if it's helping. Take care and look after yourself x

mumsnutty · 17/09/2012 12:18

Thanks for your reply and help GRW.

I just don't feel like doing anything - the house is a tip but I don't have the energy to do it. All I do now is sit in bed watching tv and browsing websites. As I've said in previous threads I want to be normal again, whatever normal is.

Nothing is going right for me at the moment. The ADs don't seem to be helping either.

OP posts:
GRW · 17/09/2012 12:51

If it's only week 3 of sertraline it won't have kicked in properly yet, so don't give up on it. Feeling like this is so hard I know, but it won't last forever, and you will get back to a sense of normality.
I am not sure when you are due to see your GP to be reviewed, but it might be worth seeing if she wants to increase the dose of AD. Take care x

mumsnutty · 19/09/2012 22:06

Went to doctors yesterday and she has told me to stop taking sertraline immediately, so I'm doing cold turkey.

Felt woozy and headachy but can't be any worse than this awful depressive feeling.

OP posts:
cupcake78 · 20/09/2012 06:47

Ads work but take a while and some of the side effects can be very severe and debilitating. One thing that I feel is misunderstood is that you will still experience dips or black moments, some days will be better than others and some weeks will be better than others. It's all part of getting better slowly over time.

Good luck op, it doesn't always have to be this way and you can still enjoy the odd thing so hold onto that feeling when it happens.

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