Hi Liz, I'm Mary. I'm new here too.

Congratulations on making one of the biggest and best steps in your life. I know that sounds silly and overly positive. But admitting what you're going through to someone is like opening your window just a tiny bit. That caring response that you received and the medication are like a tiny bit of fresh air. You will probably find that this is the beginning of a long journey to open all the windows and feel more alive.

I'm not saying the issues will go away, but I have found that being honest about them and seeking help is life-affirming and comforting. It's better than hiding.

I started this journey the way that you did -with my GP trying a medication. That one ended up not working (stomach SICK!), so I tried another (JITTERS!). At that point, he suggested I see a psychiatrist, which is a really good idea. They know the medications and side effects very well. They also know what to expect if you need to get off one medication and transition to another one. A GP might tell you to just stop taking it, but a psych will know if it's a med that you should gradually stop.

If you have insomnia (I do), then taking a medication for depression that tends to hype you up or cause sleep problems may not be the best thing for you. I have found that dealing with a psychiatrist gives me a better chance at finding a medication or a mix of medications that play to my personal strengths and weaknesses. I need at least one medication with a sleepy side effect that I can take at night. If I take anything that keeps me awake, it has to be one that I can take before 2pm everyday, otherwise it makes my sleep problems even worse. Also, my stomach tends to be really sensitive to meds, so we were able to rule out a few of the ones that tend to cause stomach upset pretty quickly.

I have had success with just plain old cognitive therapy, in which a therapist asked questions, listened with care, and occasionally offered an idea or a different way to see the same situation. It really opened my eyes to say my thoughts out loud and to hear myself say them. Sometimes the therapist would just repeat my thought out loud so I could really hear what I said (and hear the judgment or the strange logic I was using without feeling criticized). A good therapist will hear you and help you to help yourself.

I have also done some CBT stuff on my own, and I like that approach too. CBT can be a bit harsh..or maybe blunt if it's your first experience of therapy...it's kind of cut-and-dried. That works well for people who need tools and skills that still start helping immediately. I definitely needed those, but in the beginning I also just needed to sort some things out, to tell my story, and talking openly really helped. There were a lot of pent-up thoughts and feelings in my head the first time I saw a therapist. I think I cried through several sessions, just talking and feeling relieved to be heard. So you might want to see what type of therapy a therapist suggests based on your first visits.

Medication has been a critical part of my life for many years. None of them have been magic pills, but for me, a bit of help is better than nothing at all. With medication, I have been able to keep the worst days to a minimum. I think trying it for a while is a good idea, and if the first one doesn't work for you, know that you are not alone!

Feel free to write more about how you're feeling if it will help. How long have you been dealing with the symptom list you wrote?

Mary, 38
Depression/anxiety/insomnia