How did you know it was time for antidepressants?

[wintersdays]

Hi all,

Just wondering when you all knew, if you’re on antidepressants, when it was “time”?

I feel down every day and have been prescribed them but just don’t know if my sadness is “bad enough”?

Thank you in advance.

I didn't at first and just thought my sadness would blow over.
A friend asked me a question 'can you concentrate on reading or tv etc', after seeing me a bit weepy.
The answer was no and she said that she thought I may be depressed and suggested I google it, which I adamantly said I wasn't, just down.
She made me think and look up concentration and depression. 2 days later I called the doctor and started on fluoxetine, it was life changing.
I can never thank her enough.
Depression scared me, I'd got to 60 and never felt so sad.
OP, take the pills, you'll know within a few days if it's the right decision.
All the best x

Thank you so much @bluesugar and for the well wishes.

I’ve tried sertraline 18 months ago but had to stop as it made my anxiety unbearable- but have been prescribed a different kind this time.

It’s so hard as I know I’m not myself right now, and haven’t been for about 6 months off and on. I feel scared for th future, not joyful, and take little pleasure in anything which is so hard as I feel like a different person xx

''It’s so hard as I know I’m not myself right now, and haven’t been for about 6 months off and on. I feel scared for th future, not joyful, and take little pleasure in anything which is so hard as I feel like a different person xx''

@wintersdays
Your final paragraph is exactly what I said 4 months ago. I just didn't recognize myself or felt that I could climb out of the sadness, despite trying. I don't even know how it started. Maybe you feel that too?
Try the tablets, give yourself a week and see how you feel. Taking a positive step forward can help.

@bluesugar thank you so much for the kindness. I’m going to try them - will need to wait for a weekend though as my ones apparently cause extreme tiredness at first so don’t want to sleep through my alarm!

Thank you again, glad to hear it’s worked for you. ❤️

All the best @wintersdays .
I'm sure some wiser folks than me will be along to help and support you.

I left it far too long. Until I fell apart and couldn’t function any more. I wish I hadn’t.
I’m now happily taking my meds each day and I’m so so so much better. I also did CBT but wouldn’t have been able to cope doing that without my fluoxetine.
Good luck OP.

After a week long panic attack

I had Valium for a week and then AD’s

I was so, so tired of feeling the way I did. I had plodded along for years minimising my anxiety. I was prescribed fluoxetine, and it was honestly like a cloud lifted. I stopped taking them about 10 months ago, and have mostly been ok but am pregnant with my second. I suspect I will need to start taking them again once baby arrives as that is a huge anxiety trigger for me. I certainly won't leave it as long next time.

Thanks @Wolfiefan and @ifellintoarabbithole glad you found it helped.

@Woodlandarchitect that sounds so scary, sorry you went through that. So glad you found relief.

It did take a while to find the right one. Citalopram numbed me a bit and setraline upset my stomach. We are all different. But the right meds can really help.

When my mental health affected my physical health. I finally made a GP appointment and am starting meds today.
The fatigue, inability to settle to read a book, or write documents for work, it took over and I didn’t want to be as unwell as I have been previously.

Dreading starting the meds but I know I need them at the moment.

It isn’t about being sad enough OP. If you feel unwell enough to have had a chat and been prescribed meds please, give them a go. Alongside some form of talking therapy, which can really help.

Thanks @Shallysally hope they kick in quickly- are you starting an SSRI?

You’re right on the sadness, it’s about feeling unwell and I really do feel unwell and not me. Although, I don’t really know who I am anymore if that makes sense xx

Thank you @wintersdays. Yes I am on an SSRI.
I do know what you mean. Is that due to your thought process being different?
I have thoughts and reactions and just think, where did that come from? It’s horrible isn’t it

Just wondering how you are today, @wintersdays ?

Thanks for checking in @bluesugar - it’s been a more positive few days, starting my antidepressants tomorrow in case they make me feel a bit poorly, at least I won’t be working if so. Hope you’re having a good week 😊

Good luck tomorrow.

Thank you @Wolfiefan

When every day I kept thinking what's the point of life and those those would invade me constantly throughout the day to the point where it was affecting my job.

Enough was enough and I started taking them about six months ago. It's change my life, seriously transformed it.

I am now,mentally,feeling pretty normal.

And probably should have taken them many years ago.

I only take very small 25 mcg sertraline.

There are no medals to be won for suffering OP

Your doc has probably said this but if the meds make you sleepy, try taking them in the evening. It doesn’t have to be in the morning.

How did you get on last weekend? @wintersdays

Hey @bluesugar thanks for checking in, I’m feeling okay thank you, I’ve not had any side effects so far aside from a bit of a headache. It’s early days and I know it’ll take time to build up in my brain but feeling a bit more in control now I’ve bitten the bullet and have begun. Thank you and I hope you had a great weekend.

How are you all, now we're three weeks in? I'm interested to know!

Hey @PennyFleck, I’m personally getting on really well with my medication! Since I last posted I actually had a horrible stomach bug, obviously unrelated but it didn’t last long and feeling better physically now and today I thought to myself… I’m not feeling down, I’ve not had anxiety, I’ve not felt like I just want to sleep and not wake up! So it’s still early days but I’m so glad I bit the bullet! I caught myself singing to myself today which, sounds strange I know, I hadn’t done for ages, so maybe I’m slowly getting a little more back to “me”.
Thanks for checking in and have a great weekend.

Great to hear. Is it fluoxetine?