My mood is a 5 out of 10

[calmday]

Hi. I'm on mirtazapine 45mg and a few months ago the psychiatrist added citalopram 20mg. This addition saw me recover from my depressed episode.

The thing is, now my mood is probably 5 out of 10 ( 1 being very depressed and 10 being euphoric). I know it's great that I'm not a 1 or a 2 anymore but 5 doesn't feel good enough. I want to be a 7 out of 10.

My psychiatrist doesn't want to increase my dose of citalopram and he says that medication solves 60% of the depression, you have to conquer the other 40% yourself.

So how do I make myself better and feel as good as I would like? (apologies if this thread has offended anyone, I know some people would love to be a 5 out of 10 and feel a lot worse)

I found that the one of the first things depression robbed me of was the motivation to do things that would help me to get better. For me that includes excercise, keeping the house reasonably tidy, going for walks by myself, spending time with friends, eating properly, sleeping/waking at appropriate times, even having a shower and brushing my teeth. Medication helped by making me feel just about well enough to gradually reintroduce those things into my life, with the guidance of my therapist.

Medication also helped me get to a point where I could actually turn up to, and engage with appointments for various talking therapies.

Its been hard work at times but worth it. I think the main benefit of anti depressants is that they remove just enough of the depression to enable me to do the work of getting better.

IME much also depends on what's going on in your life. Eg I dislike my commute and job and have relationship problems, so 5/10 seems quite good!

Thanks for the replies. Loopytiles I appreciate that 5/10 is quite good. Sorry to hear you dislike your job and have relationship problems

Hatie I do find that antidepressants lift my mood enough to enable me to help myself. When my depression was really bad I couldn't shower and brushed my teeth less. The citalopram has enabled me to have a daily shower and brush my teeth twice a day, which is great.

Thanks for the flowers! I didn't mean it as a jibe at you at all - more that in some circumstances, or after feeling very bad, 5/10 might be OK ish, in others it's not.

Did your GP suggest ways you might feel better? I personally find exercise helps, but exercise I enjoy a lot, which when was unfit or low was walking and listening to music, swimming, and is now group classes.

Exercise is helpful I agree. I do struggle sometimes with getting out and about due to my anxiety which means I don't do much exercise, I should probably look at doing more.