Been prescribed anti-depressants. Why does it feel like admitting defeat?

[Dragonbutter]

Have all the symptoms of depression...tearfulness, lack of confidence, insomnia, anxiety, constant worrying, irritability.

I've been trying to 'snap out of it' for a while by forcing myself to get out and be sociable. I've even taken a part time job to get me out of the house, but nothing is helping and i'm getting worse and i'm not functioning as i need to.

Finally i went to the GP yesterday who prescribed 20mg Citalopram. Took first one last night and woke this morning feeling nauseous and have a bad headache.

I'm doing the right thing in taking them aren't I?

[willtryharder]

well done platesmasher. Good to hear your feeling better.

I am going to the GP tomorrow. I thought I would never take anti depressants as I don't like to take any type of medication. He suggested it a few months back but I said no.

I will give it 6 months.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

That's good to know that you're doing better.

[Platesmasher]

bumping for anybody who's in a similar position now. I was dragonbutter.

Note the date is Sep 08.

I stayed on the AD's for 8 months. Felt very tired on them, but much less tearful, anxious etc. I managed to improve my sleep patterns. I got my old professional job back part time. I then applied for a job nearer family so we could have family support and last month we moved.

Things feel right now. I work, I enjoy my job, I exercise regularly, I am enthusiastic about my hobbies, the kids don't get on my nerves (so much), and I feel HAPPY!

So anyone reading this who is in the same place i was nearly a year ago, know that things can get better and you can feel well again.

[Dragonbutter]

i know i banned myself from mumsnetting for a while but thought you guys might like to hear how much better i'm feeling. i think the AD's have started to kick in, about 3 weeks in.
Am now feeling much more motivated to make the changes i need to make to be happy again.
hope you are all doing well.
(you didn't see me right )

[Dragonbutter]

thanks everyone for your support and advice.
i've decided to take a few weeks off mumsnet as really do have other RL issues to get on and deal with.
guess this means i'm feeling a bit better. my sleep has definitely improved.
good luck to everyone else.
i'll be back but not sure when, i'll check in here when i do.

thanks

[red962]

Hi DB
I have felt a bit better over the weekend and went out for the evening on Sat night, felt better being in company and forgetting the bad week I have had!
Back to work today, had a sore head and felt a bit sick this afternoon but was OK I suppose.
Its dds 1st birthday tomorrow and had a small party for her yesterday which was nice.
We are heading away on Thurs for a weekend away so looking forward to that.
Would say I still let things get on top of me and think negative thoughts (e.g.was in toys r us getting party stuff and got some that I didn't like as much as others I had seen but hadn't bought-started to think no-one would like them and they would laugh at me for having a rubbish party but I at least recognised it and told myself that it didn't matter, managed to bring myself round eventually!).
Glad your feeling better, I think once you've admitted there is a problem you can feel a bit better about things already and not let things get to you as easily.
Hope things continue getting better for us, thnigs don't look so bad at the minute!
red

[Dragonbutter]

how are you lot doing then?
i'm sleeping a lot better and the tiredness in lifting. definitely feeling more tolerant of the kids but it may be more to do with accepting 'my problems' rather than just getting annoyed with them.

[Dragonbutter]

somebody send me to bed please.

[Dragonbutter]

i had the headache for the first few days. it's now only occasional really. still unbelievably tired. but actually found myself laughing at stuff the kids were doing today instead of just feeling irritated by the noise.
red, i think there's something about getting to the first birthday's that affects me. whether it's the cumulative effect of the stress for so long, or just that it takes me that long to admit i'm depressed but the one year mark has been difficult for me with both kids.

anyway, i got my hair done today so that's helping me feel better too.

misschief, could you up your dose?

[red962]

Hiya
Slept a bit better last night but nauseous this morning with a splitting sore head-is this normal? Didn't go into work couldn't face it and not sure about tomorrow either if I feel the same, hopefully I will feel a bit better by Monday. Its my little girls 1st birthday on Tues so want to be able to enjoy the day with her.
Felt bad this morning for not going to work and not paying much attention to the baby before she went to nursery because I felt sick and was so tired-looking forward to a time when I can devote more of myself to being a better mum.
How are you today-still improving I hope?
red

[MissChief]

well, I@m on citalopram, have been comfortably for a few months but the first few weeks were horrible - nausea, headahces, mood swings, insomnia. I was fine after that though. Ithink it depends on the person, another AD I tried made me feel like a zombie (not a likely side-effect with citalopram, ime!) and I couldn't stand that.
Stick it out for a bit but if it really gets too much, ask to change.
A few months on though I don't feel magically better and feel I'm slipping again. GP says to carry on but not sure why when they don't have enough of a benefit.

[Dragonbutter]

how are you today?

[red962]

Hi DB

I got changed onto Citalopram and have took my first one tonight so fingers crossed they don't affect me as badly! Will see how I feel tomorrow and if I need time off can get signed off for a few days.
My Health Vis advised me to be honest about it at work as it would help if they understood so I did and at least when I was off work they knew why but I guess its whatever you feel comfortable with. I told a couple of friends too and like you felt it helped.
The other ADs scared me a bit so am going to bed a bit apprehensive tonight in case I wake up feeling bad, hopefully it'll pass like yours and I will start to feel better soon-glad to hear you are feeling more positive.
Will keep in touch
Red

[Dragonbutter]

thanks pc

[piratecat]

hi db,

I 'gave in ' to anti's after struggling for absolutely years. I think you are doing the right thing.

If you feellike they are not settling or yo arenot feeling good after few weeks, go back and get a differentone.

I 'lost ' about 2-3 yrs of my life on seroxat. I did nothing, my career went to pot etc...

I have struggled with the feeling that i am weak, to give in to them, and took a nervous breakdown, and some huge sould searching, to fianlyy get to grips that that was how it was.

I will read this thread when i gt back from school run. When you start to feel more like a human, and feel less like your emotions are on a roller coaster ride, it will centre and ground you.

good luck, i truly know how it feels.

[Dragonbutter]

Hi Red, how are you feeling now?
I think most of the side effects seem to have settled down for me now. I'm just left with an overwhelming tiredness.

I haven't told my boss because i think i might be able to hold it together long enough for them to start working. But i'm sure they're thinking i'm a miserable cow and i wonder if telling them might help.

I'm sure if you wanted some time off work your GP would sign you off til you get used to the meds. But it would of course mean telling work exactly what is going on.

I've finally told some close friends how i've been feeling and had a lovely chat with one yesterday who was very positive and supportive. And i didn't fall to pieces either, so maybe the AD's are starting to work.

[red962]

Hi Dragon
I totally know where you are coming from, feel exactly the same and wary of the ADs. I also have issues with my parents and am being referred to a psychologist for CBT.
Have an 11 mth old daughter and was just diagnosed with PND last week and started on ADs last night (50mg Setraline). Didn't sleep well at all and felt very nauseous and anxious/panicky early this morning-quite scared really! Waiting for the doctor to ring me back to check if I should keep taking them or change. Couldn't go to work today and am worried I will need more time off to get used to meds.
A friend recommended Mumsnet at the weekend when I told her about PND and just wanted to say Hi after reading all the posts in this thread as I really relate to them and feel slightly better that I am not going mad on my own!
Thx for listening!

[mummyhill]

I have been on ad's for nearly three years now and am slowly coming off them. I have tried coming off at various stages but have not managed well until now.

[mummyhill]

Don't take st Johns wort with prescribed ad's without checking with the GP first or if you are on the pill unless you are prepared to use condoms it reduces the effectiveness of the pill.

[Iworryalot]

thank you both so much ,helps a great deal knowing other
s are or have felt the same way ..

[mou]

absolutely NOT admitting defeat. if any other part of the body needed medication we readily get it sorted, AD'S are just a sort of mental crutch. some of us need them for longer than others, depends on circumstances. but they can give you the mental breathing space to put other things in place.
i've been on them in the past, and had counselling, both gave me the confidence to slowly take control back of my own life, and i've been in some really bad places in my head.
the importance of exercise thing can't be stressed enough, epecially if you can get out in the fresh air, for something like hard walking, if you have the opportunity. if its making you
that tired could you have something like fibromyalgia? (also don't know how to put in links, but lots of info on net).
seriously wish i'd found mumsnet when i was depressed.....
best wishes and hugs to Iworryalot and Dragonbutter, xx

[Dragonbutter]

has your GP suggested anything else like counselling? or herbal remedies like st johns wort?
i'll keep you posted here on how i get on. if i'm suddenly full of the joys in a couple of weeks, maybe you'll feel inspired.

chin up.

[Iworryalot]

your 4 days ahead of me dragon but thankyou for the offer.denial is a big factor and wishing i could sort this out myself without pills i guess ,but as you know it isnt that easy .....silly i know ..

[moodlumthehoodlum]

Honestly, I feel much better on them. It was a big deal, but now I'm so glad I took them.

[Dragonbutter]

are you waiting to see what happens to me?
go on, we could do this together.