i've been in a minor depression for a while now, along with paranoia, anxiety and quite extreme anger. my mood has been down but not particularly low, but i have had lack of energy, disturbed sleep, a return to self harm after a year without, problems with communicating, difficulties leaving the house, lack of motivation, poor diet etc.

this started with a reduced thyroid function, and then, on fixing that, lowered lithium levels. both these things have been dealt with, but the depression has continued. until a day or two ago it was worsening almost daily, but in the last couple of days the actual depressive part has lifted a little, although i'm still anxious and paranoid most of the time, and have issues with leaving my house.

i have been seeing my pdoc and a few sessions ago he suggested that if my depression worsened he might consider starting me on lamotrigine and an anti depressant. he was wanting to put the lamotrigine in because anti depressants usually send me to mania, and he was hoping the lam. would help stabilise me further. however he seemed to dismiss this idea at later appointments.

i have a holiday i'm due to go on in 5 weeks and i am really looking forward to it and don't want to do anything to risk it, so i'm wary of antidepressants. however, the way i'm feeling at the moment it won't be much fun. i have done some research myself (he doesn't call me the expert patient for nothing!) and i read that lamotrigine is not only a mood stabiliser but has anti depressant properties too. if this is the case, i think it might be useful for me because i obviously am not stable and need further stabilising, but an anti depressant may be too much.

i'm currently on lithium, seroquel and thyroxine, can anyone offer any advice/thoughts, please?