Depression

dAREN IM ON SEROXAT DOESNT WORK THAT WELL WOT ANTI ANXIETY AND AND ANTIDEPRESANTS WORKED FOR YOU FLOUREXTINE DIDNT WORK FOR ME

Hi I hate my depression... currently waiting for my meds to be changed as a new diagnosis has been given how do you guys manage to cope ? x Hope your all well. x

Hi @Jodzkhr , I hope you get some different medication sorted out , If the Sertraline isn't helping there are dozens of other things you could try . I don't know where you are located but here in Essex (UK) you can refer yourself for a number of groups , courses and counselling sessions . These things can only be of benefit . Best wishes .

Hi @heeler , I didn't get on well with Seroxat either ... Paroxetine is very similar to Lustral ( Sertraline) . Things that I have found helpful are Lyrica ( Pregabalin ) for anxiety , I do not get any side effects from this at all , just no anxiety . Antidepressants that I have found helpful have been Prothieden ( Dosulepin ) , Edronax ( Reboxetine ) , Manerix ( Moclobemide ) , Amitriptylene , Zispen ( Mirtazapine ) , Tofranil ( Imipramine ) , Anafranil ( Clomipramine ) .... These are the ones I have personally had the most success with . I have tried dozens of others that didn't agree with me including Gamanil , Molipaxin , Asendis , Valdoxan , Effexor , Duloxetine and Phenelzine ... Over the years I have tried almost every antidepressant there is ... very many I could not tolerate . Manerix helped me when I was at my lowest , but this has many side effects , sleep disturbances the most common . I was prescribed this along with a sleeping tablet , usually Nitrazepam ... This combination of medication is very extreme , there is no way you could take it and go to work , but at that time I was far too unwell to work anyway . Amitriptylene helped me in a different way , I used to take that to escape from depression as I knew within an hour and fifteen minutes of taking it tomorrow would be another day ... I would be unconscious and it would get me through another day .                                                                                                                  There is no miracle cure . To get well most of the answer is inside of yourself , not in tablet form . Antidepressants get your head above water so you have the capacity to think positive , no tablet will do the positive thinking for you . I have come to realize that depression can be managed if you are determined , very sensible and if you think right ...  the way you think is paramount and the key to your recovery . I am now doing very well and making the most of my life . I think of all those years I wasted feeling miserable and very much regret not having gotten well sooner . Best wishes :-)

Hi @Sophstar11  , I hope you get your new medication soon and it helps you . My diagnosis has been changed a number of times by different psychiatrists . I do not like labels , I do not think they are very helpful . We are all unique , we all have a different history that has moulded our individuality . Past events have a very strong relationship to the way we all feel . Unless there is a neurological defect , then our condition is just a consequence of our thinking patterns and the physical and psychological effects it has upon us . I understand what makes my depression , so I have learned to control it by redirecting my thoughts , distraction is a very helpful strategy . Also by helping someone who has yet to learn quite as much about their condition as I have . All of these things help . If you do all the little things that can do no harm , that could be of benefit then you will find it very hard to fail .  Best wishes to you :-) 

Daren :-)

I have taken antidepressants for over forty years I have taken various types of meds over this period, on one occasion I did unsuccessfully try to wean myself off my meds but unfortunately had to resume as I was having terrible withdrawal symptoms, I have suffered from agriphobia anxiety, panic attacks, post natal depression and depression at one stage my anxiety was unbearable and I attended a day hospital three days a week to help me take control of my life I had two children under the age of two at the time and was unable to venture outdoors without having an acute panic attack. I did with their help bring my anxiety levels down and learnt how to control them although the mental health team were very helpful I did have to help myself also and btween them and myself I was able to live a somewhat normal life. I have had counciling over the years which at the time I didn't think was doin any good but I tried it just the same as I was desperate to feel normal.  I still suffer from depression and im currently taking mirtazapine 45 mg they say depression isn't hereditary but three out of my five children suffer frm depression and are currently taking anti depressants so I would have to disagree with the drs

hi @crystal58 , depression is definitely hereditary , my Mum had it and her Dad had it (my Granddad ) . I am currently taking Mirtazapine too ... I was on 45mg , but reduced down to 30mg .. but I often only take 15mg because of getting up for work the following morning . I also take Promethazine 10mg and Fluoxetine 20mg and Pregabalin 300mgx2 ... I am doing great on that combination and I get no anxiety at all . best wishes

Daren :-)

hi xdarenx I have taken fluoxetine in the past and dotheipin 150 mg at night which I was on for sixteen years I had to come off those as there was a time I was thinking of harming myself and my gp was concerned they put me on mirtazapine which im currently taking ive taken Prozac and anifranil and saroxat sorry if my spelling is wrong they do keep changing the names of meds my anxiety is under control but I do get bouts of depression which I crnt shake off these bouts come and go I don't know which is worse the anxiety or the depression I asked my dr why I have depression she said I have a chemical inbalance in my brain which makes you feel down but also suffer frm depression which ive had since I was sixteen kind regards Christine

Hi @crystal58  , It sounds like you have had the A-Z of tablets like myself . I think there are two kinds of depression , the chemical imbalance and also the depression that comes about because of a sad event or a wrong decision . Tablets will help the imbalance but the second one you have to work at . Various different therapy has helped me and still is . Enjoy the rest of your day 

Daren x

Hi

I'm new to this so sorry if I get this wrong. I've suffered from depression for the past 5 years and currently on a downward spiral. Does anyone else feel like it's a roller coaster? And how do you pull yourself out of the black hole? 

Hi @Rayofhope , I am sorry you are having a rough time . The majority of my life I have been on that " Roller coaster hell ride " . Only in recent years have I managed to control my condition . I do feel I am on the right combination of medications and I know I am thinking right ... There is not anything more that I could do that I am not already doing . I have referred myself for one to one counselling and art psychotherapy , something that I think I will find interesting . I try to avoid all negativity . I do not argue with people , I just stop listening and walk away . The world is full of positive people and negative people , and pretty flowers and glorious sights and also full of dreadful things you would not wish to look at .... what you listen to and focus on becomes your reality .. If you can direct your energy in the right direction you will move forward , rather than firing rubber bullets into a brick wall . The answer is within you , tablets will help you on your journey , but seek the solution within yourself ... that is the best advice I can give you :-)

Daren

Thank you Daren. 

You sound so positive...that gives me a bit if hope. I'm not in a good place at all really. I'm on the full dose of meds and on a waiting list for dynamic psychotherapy...but it's an 18 month wait. 

Art therapy sounds interesting. How did you find out about that?