[squirrel]

This is my first time here. I am sufferering from depression. I feel so down I don't know what to do right now. I feel like I fell in a black pit today and have been feeling worse every day. I am thinking of going to the doctor for antidepressants.

[wisewoman]

going to the doctor is a good first step and I am glad you found us here.
Please ket us know how it goes and what your plan is. take care of yourself. Wisewoman

[squirrel]

Not sure yet if I want to get the antidepressants or not. Trying to make up my mind. I'll let you know and thanks.

[dexter]

Have you had antidepressants before?

There is no reason to keep suffering when help is available, whether that help is in the form of medication or something else.

I think you should call your doctor and discuss it... if you decide that medication is not right for you, you can make that decision based on information that you discuss with the doc. He may be able to recommend other alternatives as well.

Not doing anything isn't going to help the situation. Do you have a therapist? If you are reluctant to call the doctor maybe speak with your T instead and see what he thinks?

Good luck

And welcome to the forums.

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--http://www.idexter.com

[itsjustme111]

squirrel; its good that you are making plans to get some help. Discuss all of this with your doctor and together you can make a decision. Its positive that you are in this forum; its wonderful in here with so much support. Keep posting, I think it will be helpful. Good luck and please let us know. Take care and be well.

justy

Squirrel - The reason we start off my going to the doc is to make sure there that there is nothing else going on first, like say a thyroid problem. Once the doc rules out other medical conditions, you can talk about whether you want to try ADs or not. You may want to ask for a referral to a therapist instead. Sometimes talk therapy is enough to get you through depressive phases. A good psychologist will be able to help you decide whether meds will be needed in addition to talk therapy.

The biggest studies done (if you want I'll look it up, but I don't feel like doing it right now, too sleepy...see National Institutes of Mental Health www.nimh.gov I think) say that the best cures for moderate to severe depression combine both meds and talk therapy.

So, whatever you decide - good luck, and keep us posted!! Emmy

[darkeyes]

I agree you should seek mental health professional, there is no reason you should have to suffer with depression, if there is something a pdoc can do for you, and there are many different meds that can help, I prefer to advise people with any mental health issues to see a pdoc vs a gp, they can better regulate your meds, that is their specialty, I did much better with obtaining treatment and proper meds than I did from my family doctors, my personal feeling and may not apply to others, is you need to see the doc for the right ailment/condition, you wouldn't go to a dentist for a heart condition right?
BTW Have you spoke at all with a talk therapist? They can refer you to a pdoc if you so need to see one.

Good luck, I know what depression is about, I lived it most of my life, sought help and have kept things pretty much together, not perfectly but much better than trying to do it alone.

Please take care,
DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

[Wants2Fly]

Welcome,Squirrel.

Do keep us posted on your situation. It can be difficult to come to terms with the idea that depression is a disease -- like a virus or cancer -- and not just as temporary mood or a character flaw.

Some of us have to go through many meds before we find one that is right for our body chemistry. It's worth a try. Good luck. And Keep coming back.