Ive heard it is like putting my emotions on a shelf, which worries me, can anyone tell me their experience on anti depressant medication?
132142
I take anti depressants.  I know a lot of people do too.  You still have emotions but, there not as bad and it is a lot easier to cope.  Just listen to your doctor.  You'll be able to handle stress and depression mush better.  Just don't suddenly stop taking the since, the side effects are terrible.
546025
I feel for you. I have the same problem you have and I have refused to use medication. I've got a great husband, great kids and no reason to be depressed but I am. I've been taking fish oil and I am reading a book that comes with a workbook called battle of the mind. Great book. It's been working and I actaully feel motivated and I have been feeling less depressed.
556136
Hello,\n\n  I have taken many anti-dep and have taken along time to find one that fits all my needs. I had a really hard time sexually when on prozac and zoloft, etc. I let my new doc know the problem was affecting my life and he suggested Wellbutrin. So I take a smaller dose of lexapro for the depression because you can only take so much wellbutrin. Then I take a dosage of Wellbutrin to help take the sexual side affects away, which also helps with depression. That changed my life taking both drugs together!!! Been taken them for over 4 yrs. now and I thank my doc all the time! My sex drive is actually usually in over drive now :)
331593
the best advice i can give you is to calm down. i go through the same hings sometimes. you should know that it is okay tto get by yourself and cry, but dont leave home without your mother knowing where you are. I hurt, I cry, but since I cant afford antidepressent medications I have to deal with it. I get on my knees and pray and ask God and Jesus to help me get through the bad times. I know you are not suppose to question God but sometimes I ask him why do I suffer so much. Talk to God he hears you. keep praying. try to wheen yourself from the medication. I used to have then when I could afford them but since I cannot afford them now I deal with the pain and agony alone. AND BELIEVE ME WHATEVA IT IS THAT YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT IS MOST LIKELY NOT TRUE! Pray.
487581
Yep - I've got it too.\n\nI used to take Effexor, but it killed my libido and the withdrawal effects are super-awful (I now kind of understand drug addiction - vomiting, dizziness, the whole she-bang) I took a lot, though, 150mg so that didn't help.  The med helped the anxiety a ton, though. So much that I thought I was better and decided to wean myself (bad idea - don't do it - you will be sorry 3 months later and have to spend another 3 months getting something new into your system)\n\nI am now starting Prozac.  So far the only bad side effect is I can't take it before bed or I don't sleep well.  It is too soon to tell if it is working - so it isn't helping much yet.  Hopefully soon.  \n\nGood luck.  Go to a psychiatrist - they can prescribe meds and have much more background than a family physician so they will have experience with lots of meds.
146945
Many people feel this way.  First you might try to find out what is depressing you?  (Harder than it sounds)  Why aren't you happy?  I happen to be a person that loves change, and when I'm not getting change (at least every once in a while), I get very unhappy and depressed.  Medications don't always help...I tried them once...didn't work!  It's good that you have a boyfriend who is supportive...that's very important.  Having someone there to support you is something a lot of depressed people don't have.  If you'd like to talk details, feel free to contact me; I'd be happy to help with anything I can.
315363
it's suppose to help you feel better but it takes time. chemical imbalance is a hard thing to fix and people are miserable because of it. suicidal thoughts and depression are just a way for your brain to try to figure out the best possible solution to get out of the feeling. instead of taking Prozac, try instead St. John's Wort.  it's more natural because it's a weed so you have less man-made crap in your system. and St. John's works faster because it is natural your body can "soak" it up better.  I was on Prozac 15 years ago and found that I only felt "blah" so I didn't take them for long.  the St. John's you feel better and don't get the "blah" existence going.
428141
I have also suffered severe depression on and off for quite a while, and am currently battling post-natal psychosis.\nAnti-depressants aren't any good for me either. If medication isn't working for you, then more medication probably isn't going to achieve much.\nSelf-confidence comes with self-esteem, which cannot be provided by any drug. I'm not sure feeling elated all day is exactly normal, either.\nI am currently being treated by a natural therapist and an excellent psychologist, and have come further in the past eight weeks than in the past four years.\nYou need to check things like your hormone levels (these will most likely be out of whack with the depression), there are nutritional factors to consider (depression, anxiety and stress deplete the body of many many nutrients), cognitive behavioural therapy is brilliant, as is learning relaxation techniques. There are probably past issues you need to deal with (psychologist), and good regular exercise is suprisingly helpful (I hate it but I do it!).\nI honestly think you'd be better off exploring other treatment methods than putting your poor mind and body through another horrible experience with medication.\nWhatever you do, I hope it works for you :)
451854
Celexa is a newer SSRI (serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) and I think it works quite well within a certain population of people.  These types of medicines work well about 50% of the time (one doc quoted to me) when prescribed, which is pretty good, considering you might benefit from easing your symptoms of depression. (which can certainly be debilitating) If you do decide to take the med, make sure to discuss the side effects with your doctor. You can never know if it's right for you unless you try it, and the good effects can take up to 3 weeks to start working. When you first start you may feel a bit odd, as the medicine is working within your own chemicals. This feeling can occur and usually goes away within a few weeks. Anything beyond that may signal this may not be the right med for you. I am psychiatric nurse by profession, and also I have a friend who swears by Celexa as it's changed her life (as she says). Either way, you should address your symptoms until you find something that works. Depression can't be ignored because it can be a downward spiral. I also suggest therapy, as those combined, we have seen the greatest amount of efficacy for the treatment of depression. Good luck and I hope I've been helpful.
202626
I was diagnosed with Bipolar a couple years ago. I've been put on different medications ,ect. None of which truely worked for me. Side effects :( either was zoned out, uber hyper, or had tremors. I actually have done better with out pills then with them. I think it depends on the case. I used to cry almost everyday, mood swings within minutes, suicidal thoughts. Now im fine.Though, i still have my moodiness, from extremely happy to depressed from time to time. You never know if its just Hormones , a phase. If you go to a psychiatrist, of course they are gonna put you on anti depressants. Try relying on yourself, and if you get suicidal thoughts,know that there are people who care about you  and would be extremely disappointed if you were gone.Try talking to a regular counselor about this or a doctor.
297778
Ummm I definitely know people who have gained weight on it.  Most anti-depressants have that side effect.  It depends on who you are...it doesn't affect everyone.
222865
I really felt like I should respond to you.  If you have\nbeen feeling down for over a year, why are you waiting so\nlong for meds?  Yes, I understand there can be lots of reasons. But, you may have some unresolved issues that you\n1. either are not aware of, or 2. you are stuffing inside.\n\nListen, I too am shy.  I became depressed after losing a\nhusband and a job.  Boom!  I sat on the edge of my bed with\na loaded gun, & was going to end it. But my belief in Jesus\ntold me I really can't do that, so I entered the hospital &\nwas put on meds.  I really needed to talk to someone.  I\nhad to go on meds.  I couldn't handle the crap I was getting\nfrom others.  I went to a local Mental Health facility.  They are probably the best for you, because most of them work on a "sliding fee scale" they have Psychiatrists and also Counselors.  You cannot go on antidepressants without\na Doctor.  Are you sleeping? Waking up too early?  Or are\nyou sleeping too much?  and too late in the day?  I also\nfound it difficult to relay my feelings. Know what I did?\nI kept a journal.  And also, I write poetry.  That really\nhelps you relate what you want to say.  If you don't have\nthe gift of rhyme like I do, then just write down what you\nare feeling in a journal.  I went through 3 Counselors before I found the woman I now see every week.  She is a\nGodsend!!! :)  Listen I was so shy I couldn't even go into\nmy church without someone with me, so I know where you are.\nBut, if you find a good counselor, & believe me if you are\nshy, it is gonna take some time before you are comfortable\nenough to relay your feelings.  But do you see that that\nis because you may be dealing with self-esteem issues.  You\nare worth it!  I believe in you!  Jesus loves you!  You just\nneed a little time in a setting with a counselor, and donot\nlet them put you into a "group" setting - put your foot down\nif your shy, insist on a one on one setting. That will help\nyou.  They are bound by law not to judge you or to reveal\nwhat you say to anyone.  Please! Tell me you will at least\ntry!  You'll find it worth it.  And don't think what you\nwill say is the 1st time they have heard it - nope!  They\nhave heard it all my friend, so its no surprise!  And if you\nfeel like raising your voice, do it!  Get it out!  just \ndon't scream like a goofball!  do it within reason.  You\ncan make yourself known - believe me.  Do you drive??  If\nyou often feel like you can't take this crap anymore - know\nwhat I do?  I get in the car and I scream until I feel a\nrelief!  (on the freeway of course!) I know no one will be\naround so what the heck??  You gotta get the focus off of\n"you"  I'm not saying that's bad, cause it isn't.  Do you\nhave a hobby?  I take pictures. I go to the park and I have\na nice time. I also am making a scrapbook, so I display my\npictures.  Creative Memories.com - go there they are great!\nIf you need some advice, they can hook you up with a great\nconsultant who can invite you to a "crop" where you work on\nyour scrapbook & you have fun!  I do it the 1st Fri. of the\nmonth.  I am doing one on my life right now!  :)\n\nBut, if you still find it difficult, I am told that there\nis a herb called St. John's Wart that is supposed to help in\ndepression.  I don't know.  You can't take a antidepressant\nand this at the same time.  It isn't safe.  This one is the\nmost widely used herb in this area.  I am not aware of any\nothers.  Go to Mayo Clinic.com - they have searches on this\ntype of thing.  Good luck!
337313
Go back to your doctor, it sounds like you need a different anti-depressant...  You're having too many side-effects...  Good luck and i hope you feel better soon...
136175
Hi, not many people on here been there I guess.\nI went through a long stage of what I would call madness, but the Doc's called depression.\nSome of that was drug induced, but I'm not sure if that made a difference.\nAfter some challenges in my life I had lost it all, forever, it felt, and found myself alone, weak, and angry.\nI blamed myself for everything, though of course there were other factors to my problems than myself.\nI have at times been very angry with myself and found the only person I could hurt was me.\nIt's true that the first cut it the hardest, it's certainly not the deepest.\nYour not a pansy, and if your down, do something about it.\nBut that's another question and answer.\nBe good.
302749
you really need to get off quick as posible!! how long have you been taking it this time? if only a couple of weeks just stop now and tell your doctor your stopping even if you can't get hold of him. if it's been a while just start to lower it!! YOUR HAVING THE BLACK BOX EFFECT WHERE THE ZOLOFT IS WORKING AGAINST YOU! REMEMBER NEVER GO BACK TO AN ANTIDEPRESSANT YOU'VE TAKEN BEFORE BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME IT WON'T WORK. SO BE CALM NO ONE IS TRYING TO KILL YOU I PROMISE YOU THAT!! NOW, CALL THE DOCTOR AND IF YOU CAN'T REACH HIM CALL A RELATIVE AND EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR MEDS. BUT, LOWER IT AS LOW AS YOU FEEL COMFERTABLE WITH AND IF IT'S ONLY BEEN A WEEK JUST STOP! GOOD LUCK!!
342215
I was on edge at all time and really didn't help w/depression. It made me shakey and like I was on a caffeine rush at all times.\nEveryone is different though.\nGood luck.
571003
I've heard that it works but don't actually know anyone who has taken it. I do know that if you are already on anti-depressants, you need to avoid St John's Wort as it has a bad interaction with them.\n\nAlthough I've been on anti-depressants myself for the past 7 years, I don't consider them a cure or a treatment in themself. I think we are often too hasty to pop pills for everything and expect the pills to do all the work. I think of my anti-depressants as an "assistant" in my healing from / dealing with my depression. \n\nEven if depression is caused by biological or chemical imbalances, there are a lot of personal and environmental things we can, and ought, to do to ease the symptoms. \n\nExercise is one of the best natural anti-depressants. Even if all you can manage is a five or ten minute walk in the fresh air, that's a good start. If you can walk in a pleasant environment like a garden or park or under an open sky (I sometimes go up on the roof of my building and walk there, it's beautiful to be among the clouds and the blue sky, I walk, think, talk to myself and sometimes even sing up there!)\n\nDrinking plenty of water helps, mainly because it's good for your health and fights fatigue - and when you're tired AND depressed it just feels worse. I drink 3 litres a day (it's also great for your skin,  and compliments about how fresh/young you look are VERY anti-depressing!!)\n\nDealing with your stress of course will make a difference - talking to a counselor or joining a support group can give you more comfort and confidence. \n\nAnd oddly enough, I find that de-cluttering, even just one drawer or shelf at a time, has a hugely uplifting effect. My favourite book on the subject is "Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui" by Karen Kingston. It's an amazing book and is more about why we clutter things up, the effects of clutter, and how to get over our psychological obstacles to de-cluttering. (It's not so much about wind-chimes and ceramic animals, in spite of the misleading name which might put some people off.) It's actually been the most impactful book I've read in the last two years (and I read a LOT) and de-cluttering my home has really had an amazing effect on how I feel about my self and my life. I really do recommend it. \n\nIf you're willing to make a holistic commitment to helping yourself in these simple ways, you can make a huge difference in how depression impacts your life. Good luck!