Hi Fuzzy. I'm not a pharmacologist nor a doctor but have done a lot of layman's reading on various meds. I was prescribed Seroquel a few years back at 5 mg to start with a graduated dosage up to 150 mg. Within five minutes of the first 5 mg dose my stomach became distended and hard, my left leg began to jerk uncontrollably and my head felt like I was on an amphetamine. I threw the bottle across the room and had to wait 48 hours before I returned to 'normal'. Needless to say the psychiatrist is no longer in the metro area. This med has been prominently displayed along with the brochures at several doctor's offices I have visited. One doctor had a Seroquel sales display inside his office staring me in the face. Even though I told this doctor my experience with the med, five minutes later he suggested it. Many of these meds interfere with the chemical and electrical activities of the brain. Many anti-depression meds went on the market for anti-convulsive or epileptics but were found to have 'positive' side effects for depression. The pharmacology addendums that comes with the bottle clearly state that THEY DO NOT KNOW THE MECHANISM on how the med works to combat depression.
This is not science but quackery!

I have tried various SSRI's, SNRI's and other anxiety/depression meds and they all alter my state of mind. Over the long term this change could be permanent. I go into deep depressions for several days, return to a baseline(a baseline I set not some doctor who doesn't know me) and at other times I'll have anxiety brought on by leaving my apartment or social interaction. I meet all the criteria for major depressive disorder and GAD exasperated by insomnia.

I'm 59 and have learned to live with my failures, fears and hopelessness. I use Ambien for sleep and Xanax when the anxiety interferes with sleep or focus. When my anxiety gets too out of control I don't even take the Xanax because it won't work so I hunker down and wait. When a certain level is reached a .25 mg Xanax brings me down to my baseline. My depression opens up my love of beauty and offers me a deeper insight into the world. The anxiety makes me start and finish tasks efficiently. Of course both of these problems can be debilitating and I can't explain how over so many years they have affected me(it would take too many pages & some would scoff).

For me taking an SSRI, SNRI or similar med will turn me into someone I don't know and could lose those things that give my life meaning. I do not want to be carefree and a fake happy.

Keep looking Fuzzy. Keep those thoughts which contain within them beauty. Don't let some doctor lump you into a catch-all category of depression. You're sensitive which is a WONDERFUL trait! I know you hurt. I care. You're the Fuzzybear!

With compassion, M Poirot