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Mental health

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Original poster

Constantly miserable but don't want AD's as I'm scared they'll stop me feeling anyhing

13 replies

kekouan · 20/03/2008 09:16

Can anybody give me some advice please?

DS is 4 months old and everything is getting on top of me. DP and I are arguing constantly and the sleep deprivation is driving me insane.

I know i'm depressed, but have been telling everybody that I'm alright. I'm worried about taking anti-depressants though.

About 10 years ago I was on sertraline for a couple of years. I found it really really helped, but it took the extreme moods away - this was great as it stopped me feeling completely desperate and miserable, but they also took away the other end of the spectrum and stopped me enjoying life.

I don't want my first year with DS to pass in a haze, but I can't spend much longer feeling like this or I'll end up walking out.

OP posts:

Original poster

kekouan · 20/03/2008 12:13

anyone?

OP posts:

EllieG · 20/03/2008 12:28

Hey - don't have much advice but did't want you to feel alone -

I am on AD's and things aren't hazy. They get me to a base line from which I can function. I think there are a lot more on the market now, and you don't have to take masses. I think a lot depends on which ones you are taking, I have tried a couple, and am on prozac at moment, which seems to help me not have the lows but I still have energy and get up and go to enjoy life.

Go see your Gp and discuss options with him or her. I have also found therapy - CBT in particular, very useful for helping me deal with stresses better.

Tell someone how you are feeling, and don't be scared by it. It will pass, but you sound like you need some help.

ruthmollymummy · 20/03/2008 13:16

I'm so sorry you're feeling this way, when my dd was 4 months old I felt exactly the same as you. I'm on a prozac based drug - fluoxetine and I agree with ellieG, it takes away the lows but now I can actually have highs. Now I wake up most mornings (i'm not perfect yet...) with motivation and I feel proud of myself for making effort to do things I couldn't even consider before (going outside, tidying..) Explain your concerns to your GP and if you take AD's that you don't like try a different kind.

Original poster

kekouan · 20/03/2008 13:22

Thank you for your replies, was beginning to feel a bit ignored (yes, I know... sorry, bit paranoid atm!)

I'm just really worried that it'll decrease my mood spectrum (sorry if that sounds weird, but it's the only way I can explain it).

If I can take something that can take away the lows, but not affect the highs then I would be more willing..

The highs are so few and far between at the moment though.. not sure what I'm worried about!!

OP posts:

chickytwotimes · 20/03/2008 13:23

kekouan, I'd second what the others said. I've been on ads for years and they don't stop me feeling. There are so many to try now to find what suits you. They can help you to function so you feel able to help yourself, iykwim. Personally, I don't rate CBT, but some people do. There are other options like counselling, therapy, etc. if you feel that might help? Please don't hesitate to seek help. It's tough being a new Mum too, so don't beat yourself up about it not being "lovely"! I did that...
Also, I found being a Mum became much better with time and i love it so much now. ds is 19 mths, btw. Things improved for us after 6 mths, I think because it was then he slept properly at night and because he started being so much more responsive.

Sorry to have rambled on! Hope some of this helps?

chickytwotimes · 20/03/2008 13:23

kek, trust me, I still have "highs"! lol!

Original poster

kekouan · 20/03/2008 13:30

Thank you so much.. yes, it helps a lot.

In tears now, I can't seem to stop crying at the moment. Think it's time to make an appt with the GP (unfortunately my HV is a total bitch - she's supposed to have called me to check up on me and hasn't bothered)

OP posts:

chickytwotimes · 20/03/2008 13:35

Hope you get a quick appointment. Might be worth asking for a double appointment so you have time to talk to gp? I think most surgeries are happy enough to do this.

queenofthedumbquestion · 20/03/2008 13:36

I'm on ADs too, and have been on and off for the past 15 years. It's the only way I can function normally. I still feel the highs as you say, and the lows too, but now I can deal with them. In my case, it's more about taking the edge off, rather than blocking anything out. And HVs...what is the bloody point?!
Oh, and have a good cry, it'll make you feel better

allgonebellyup · 21/03/2008 19:16

im on ADS, and they certainly dont make me feel "numb" like i thought they would. i just feel more cheerful, thats all. i do still have down days where im tearful but i think thats PMT.

i agree its like taking the edge off the bad days..

keevamum · 21/03/2008 19:22

Hi I felt similar to you and wanted to stay off ADs if poss...In the end I was on them for about a year... definitely a very good thing for me and my ch. Before I went on them I was shouting at them constantly and became a lot calmer with AD's. I don't think the AD's dulled my senses I think it was the PND. I am now getting by without them and doing ok but I couldn't have got by without them a year ago.

gymgym10 · 21/03/2008 19:53

So know what you mean about not really being there! My dad is desperately ill at the mo & my immediate family keep on having bad luck - God knows why! Anyway have been on Prozac for over 6 months as basically couldn't cope with 3 kids but am now realising that I should have deeper emotions with my current problems & have booked back to see dr - don't want to steal your thread but would love to hear if other people on Prozac felt really detached from normal life.
Good Luck

EllieG · 21/03/2008 21:26

I think one of the things to remember with ADs is that they aren't going to take away emotion. If you have stuff that is making you sad, it will still be there. It will still need dealing with, and if, like you gymgym, you are going through some really hard stuff like your Dad being so ill, it will not make it go away. All ADs do is enable you (eventually) to be able to get up, get dressed, and take a look at the problems of the day. It means you aren't quite so overwhelmed by them, and might be able to still function despite them. You'll still feel bloody sad if you have stuff like that happening, and detachment is a natural coping mechanism.

ALso - I found that they take a while to settle. I have been on them 2 years and am good. When I first started my mood was all over the shop, took a good while to settle down. The first few weeks were a bit horrid to be honest, but I persevered, and gradually found that I could manage my shit a little better. They aren't a miracle cure, they just get you to a point where you can look at what is making you feel horrid and have a fighting chance of dealing with it.

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