HOPE PLEASE: Positive stories about depression recovery

[Trying2StaySane]

Hi everyone, hope you are keeping well. I have had depression (& anxiety) on and off since was 15. Sometimes I went many years with being well. I was treated on and off with Prozac which worked. After i had my 2 chilldren I stayed on it longer term. (lots of misscarriages & IVF so helped me be stable). When I turned 45 , 3 years ago Prozac stopped working. It was around the same time as I got the coil in for adenomyosis. I am high doeses of HRT and have tried 7 different anti depressants. I have been on: Prozac; Mirtazapine; Venlablue; Lexapro; Strethaline; Lithium; and now Lofepramine. I started Lofepramine in September and finally thought it was working but have had 2 episdoes over the past month. I am honestly at my wits end oscialating between ending it all, giving up all medication or getting a new physciatriast. I hontestly can't do another year like this one. Apoloiges my thoughts are so negative. I am tired of seeing my partner, kids and wider family worry although I mask it a lot i just cant this time. I wish I could just flip a switch and get over myself and my bad thoughts. Any help or hope would be hugely appreciated.

Hi I’m sorry you have been having such a bad time. Is your psychiatrist NHS or private? Are you in UK? I’m kind of similar to you in the being off and on antidepressants over the years. I have just gone private and am coming off my 2 antidepressants (Vortioxetine which I’ve been on 5 months and Trazodone I’ve been on 6 weeks to try and counteract the side effects of the Vortioxetine). My mood has never quite got back to normal but the psychiatrist has advised it’s worth just coming off them really slowly and seeing what that looks like. If you have been constantly switch between different ones then that’s probably not done you much good for starters! Also do you need mega high HRT or could that go down a bit? X

Ur hrt might be too high it can happen if go see ur dr about it maybe reduce the hrt a bit n see what happens …. U could try propandrol for the anxiety less caffeine more water intake meditation also the progesterone part of hrt can sometimes be too much i use mini pill and gel and Citalopram

@MarmadukeM thanks so much for your reply. I am private. Sorry to hear about your journey and hope your slow taper is successful. You are very right it is hard to tell the wood from the trees with so many meds trialed and HRT. I self admitted on Tue to a psychiatric hosptial for the first time under the care of my psychiatrist. I was apprenhensive but not at least I have a full cross funcational team to support me on my taper. I had hoped to avoid admittance and was fearful but it actually a great relief to have all my blood work and everything in one place and all stressors removed. @Kellbell14 That is very helpful thank you. I havent had my HRT changed in a year becuase was trying so many ADs I think you are right I might actually be on too high a dose. I got my bloods done today and am hoping to get my mirena coil out next week. Although it really is a dark art balancing HRT. I have given up caffeine but more water a good idea. Best of luck with everything

@Trying2StaySane ah that’s great that you have been able to get in and get specialist support now you can and focus solely on recovery. Let us know how you get on 💕

@Trying2StaySane literally could have written your post…

@Depressedandthensome I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. It is very hard and complex. Hope you can get the support you need. I am finally getting Psychiatrist and Gynaecologist to chat next week and agree treatment plan. Has been years literally. Take care x

@Trying2StaySane how you doing? X