How bad does it have to be?

[PrettyCandles]

Having been told for the third time this year - by three different HCPs - that I may have depression, I now begin to doubt myself. Only one said definitely and advised me to take anti-depressants. But the others said to think about it.

I recovered from a far worse depression without a-ds some years ago. I am afraid of a-ds. I don't want to take them.

When do I give up and take them?

My health visitor badgered me into seeing my GP. Seven years ago health visitors were quite pro active in looking after the health of mothers.

I think a lot depends on quite how ill you are the frequency that a GP will see you. My GP just talked to me about life and the universe. If he thought my mood was improving he reduced the meds, and if he thought I was getting worse he increased the dose. He also increased the time intervals between appointments so I did not develop any kind of dependence on seeing him.

I was on a medication called Fluxanol for about a year. However my GP changed it to sertaline as he felt the improvement was not fast enough. He gradually reduced the dose until I no longer needed it.

How are you feeling today?

Fairly evil, thanks for asking Erika

It does sound good, RT. The first time around I refused ads, and ended up with regular home visits from an OT, plus, eventually, talk-it-out-therapy. Plenty of self-help, too. I am afraid that if I do take ads, I will simply be left to get on with it. "Right, she's sorted. Next!"

I also can't rid myself of the more-than-niggling feeling that unless you're totally bed-ridden or nuts depression is laziness, and taking medication for it is basically admitting to being a complete failure in life.

I'm sorry if I offend you, I don't mean to denigrate your experiences and choices. It's only how I feel about myself. I'm in no position to judge you.

I'#ve booked appt with the GP. But it's not for 3w because she's going on hols. I suppose I could see someone else, but I feel comfortable with her. I think I shall write her a letter to give her at the appointment, because otherwise I don't think I'll be able to say the thruth.

I think its a great idea to see your GP. You can ask questions about anti depressants and how often your GP will monitor your medication. Maybe you should write a list of questions.

like

How long would you expect me to need medication?

How often would you review my meds?

What side affects can I expect?

Is there any other kind of help available?

"I also can't rid myself of the more-than-niggling feeling that unless you're totally bed-ridden or nuts depression is laziness, and taking medication for it is basically admitting to being a complete failure in life."

You have a right to that opinon, a lot of the British population have that prejudice.

I have a the quiet confidence that I am not a failure in life. I know that I suffered a horrendous illness, but I have recovered. Depressant affects people of all social classes and levels of intelligence.

I have experienced the odd niggle with the birth of my second child, and if it gets worse I would take anti depressants like a shot.

I think writing a letter to take with you when you go to see your GP is an excellent idea.

"I also can't rid myself of the more-than-niggling feeling that unless you're totally bed-ridden or nuts depression is laziness, and taking medication for it is basically admitting to being a complete failure in life."

Like ReallyTired, I think you have every right to hold that opinion; but I strongly disagree with it.

I don't understand why so many people are so hellbent on punishing themselves for feeling bad, to be honest - I don't know where the idea that the kind of suffering that depression involves is somehow deserved comes from.

I also feel that while some cases of depression pass without intervention, others don't, and just get worse and worse until you are bedridden or "nuts," at which point getting better is a hell of a lot harder. And a bout of serious depression can have long-lasting effects on your life: I had a breakdown when I was in my third year at university and it was 3 years before I was well enough to go back and do my finals. If I'd sought help earlier, who knows? Maybe I wouldn't have a gaping 3-year hole in my CV.

Personally, I think that nipping it in the bud is a better idea than trying to tough it out and taking the risk that you will end up extremely sick. And while many people see that as weak-willed, I see the ability to admit that you need help as a sign of strength and maturity.

I don't really know if I can add anything else to what the others have said. I have been depressed before and was on citalopram for 3 years. I have now been off it for just over a month and am fine.

To offer a slightly different viewpoint when I suggested I wasn't depressed just lazy and a failure I was told (quite forcibly) by my gp and a friend that it was the depression talking and not me.

I found that the ad's gave me the ability to make the changes in my life which I needed to make, I certainly wouldn't have learnt anything through counselling if I hadn't taken them.

Even people in my family who didn't approve of ad's almost immediately noticed the change in me and quite a few came out of the woodwork and mentioned that they had taken ad's for a short while.

I've had a fairly weird few days. I reread some stuff from when I had PND, stuff about behaviour pattterns and quality of life, and about symbolically discarding stresses. It must have helped, because the following day was so good. Yes, I got angry with the dc, but I didn't lose my rag at all. I didn't get overwhelmed by my feelings, didn't get lost in the physical sensations of rage. And, best of all, I found myself singing with the dc while we prepared dinner together.

Suddenly I recognised myself. Suddenly what's going on now was thrown into perspective. Things are not right! I am a different person. This misery guts is not me. I've got to find the real me again, find my way back to her and hold on to her. She's quite a nice person, really.

But then the following day I was back to, well, I don't like to call it this any more, but back to what has become 'normal'.

I wonder whether I have a tendency to depression, and it doesn't take much to just push me over the edge. Another reason to fear I won't ever come off ads if I start.

Oh, and I was idly flicking through the information sheet that came with the Mirena, and find that depression is a common side-effect. ?