CBT as alternative to ADs?

[IrianofWay]

I've been on ADs for most of the last 7 years. And before that from time to time. I don't expect to 'get better' now but am hoping to manage the depression.

I came off citalopram in march. I am coping OK but I know my mood is lower than normal - things can tip me over into a low mood but so far I have been able to handle this. However I am well aware that this is my best time of year, come October I will be struggling.

For a variety of reasons I would prefer not to go back to ADs but i am not foolish enough to think I can just go it entirely alone. Has anyone found the CBT was a sufficient substitute for ADs?

Yes, I have.

And there's really good evidence that it works for lots of people.

Ask your GP for a referral (but be prepared to wait), what have you got to lose?

Thanks tramp.

The thing that worries me is that if I have to wait too long I'll be into 'black dog' season before it has a chance to work. And beleive me I am terrified of that... but if I don't ask I don't get. I'll make an appointment with my GP asap.

you might get lucky, it varies from area to area. I had to wait 3 months.

Could you afford to pay for therapy? Then you'd be able to start immediately.

Or there's online resources such as MoodGYM or lots of self-help books like these here.

There is an online cbt called moodgym that drs often recommend. Its free and there is a link on the mh section. Also exercise is known to help. I am currently on citalopram and when I went to see doc for repeat he asked me if id considered stopping. My face did this .

Thanks for the advice. Have had a quick look at Mind Gym and registered. Fell asleep last night before I could do much though.

Hope it works as I am beginning to feel decidedly crap atm.

mood gym not mind gym!! Don't want to transform my performance at work thankyou very much!

Irian, can I ask what you were taking the ADs for, I.e., Depression, Anxiety, OCD etc?

I was put on Citalopram for OCD which was accompanied by GAD (generalised Anxiety), and found that they worked wonders for a while, but this feeling wore off, I felt I had just become immune to them

I underwent a course of CBT, which focused on the Anxiety, rather than my OCD, but if I'm honest, I really felt it done nothing I'd geared myself up over the course of being on the waiting list, but it was a total anti-climax. Saying that, a lot of people I know who have done it, seem to believe the opposite, they rate it. I am a fan of self help books, and would have a library full if I wasn't so busy with the kids!

Hi scouse, it started off with anxiety mainly. I was a jittery mess , couldn't sleep, couldn't relax, couldn't sit still. In the past this has always morphed over months into depression. The cit fixed both really quickly but as time went by the effects reduced as you say. Now I can feel the black dog pawing at the door to come in but oddly I am getting panicky feelings too.

Christ I hate this!

I know how you feel, it's awful and takes over your life. When my Anxiety is at its worse, I run through 'what if' scenario's in my head, and start to panic and my worries then spiral completely out of control Then the OCD kicks, with the rituals

Have you read any self help material? Have you heard of Richard Carlson? He was a very sought after DR in the us many years ago, I have one of his books, and what I love is it's not heavy reading, each page is a different chapter, giving insights to our usually irrational worries