[sadeyesr4ever]

I have been looking into possibly getting on a AD so I have been checking out different ones that might be what I am looking for and their side effects and so on and so on. But for the most part as I have been watching people who are on AD's I see no difference. They still seem to have more down days than anything. I don't know if AD's at this point are even worth it??? Maybe I will just check out anxiety meds and just try to deal with the depression on my own

[psisci]

This is a very good observation. Actually AD's aren't really that effective for most conditions improperly diagnosed as depression (sadness, guilt, grieving etc..), and really only help the physical manifestations of major depression the most. For someone who really has major depression this can be a godsend, but 80% of people who take AD's don't have major depression. AD's cannot cure a crappy life (so to speak). Come to my chat on Friday at 12.30 MTN, I would like to address this topic.

Dr.S.

[drunksunflower]

Errr

I think most people know that ADs don't 'fix' your life if your life is crap?

It would be naive to assume otherwise, wouldn't it?

Working on the chemicals in your brain hardly fixes things that are situations ... althought it may give you more resources to cope?

[sadeyesr4ever]

Thanks Dr. S. for the reply. I will try to get into your chat this Friday, hopefully it will work this time.

[(JD)]

sadeyes if you can find a therapist and work on your depression, studies show that you will have similar effects as taking an AD after six months...(as if the AD worked, that is ) If you combine the two, the results are even more impressive! TC!

[sadeyesr4ever]

I am curious what is the difference between major depression and other conditions such as guilt, sadness, grieving... wouldn't that be the same thing as having depression?

Well speaking for myself-- there is a huge difference between sadness and clinical depression.

I was grief stricken and sad when my dad passed away years ago and when a sister passed away--- but it felt much different than the clincial depression I went through recently.

I've been diagnosed with major depression recurrent-moderate.(I think those are the right words...??) And yes, like "psisci" said-- ADs were a godsend for me at that time! Within a month my life and my body had improved so much I couldn't believe it.
My current T. argues with me that depression is all mental/environmental-- but I know for me it was so much more than that. My concentration and coping skills were totally gone-- my appetite was gone (lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks-- and I'm already underweight-- surely wasn't trying to lose and didnt' even realize I had-- people had to tell me as I was that out of touch with things) I couldn't sleep either. I felt like I was hanging on by just a thread.... couldn't reason or rationalize anything.

I can see where ADs wouldn't help sadness-- that's more of a coping issue. But in clinical depression, it can make a huge difference for many people. It helped me in a great time of disppear.

I haven't tried any, but I've heard that some herbs can be helpful as "mood" lifters. (If you think that's what may be going on.) Might be worth checking into-- like SamE or ..... St.Johnswort-- I think that's the name.

Hope you find the path that works best for you.

mandy

[sadeyesr4ever]

Mandy I am so glad that AD's helped you through such a terrible time. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences with me to help explain the differences. (((hugs)))

[zombiette]

What i found was taking AD's definitely propped be up and put me in a space where i was better able to cope with the issues behind my depression. while the underlying issues must be fixed, AD's can help u get out of a runt...seriously, why do things the hard way? the physiological side of depression is that is caused by a chemical imbalancein ur brain, and fo me, it did stuff such as improve my concentration and ease the obsessive urges i was having to harm myself.

[sadeyesr4ever]

Wow! I am glad to hear that the AD worked well for you! I had heard that if a person was suicidal that taking an AD can make those thoughts worse.

[Hopefull]

I found that my anti-depressant helped re-store my sleeping pattern. Also when my T would suggest to me a more positive way to see something, I couldn't seem to process it when I didn't have the anti-depressant. I would sit there and stare at her with a blank look. I had to fight like crazy to get my mind to even produce a positive thought. My inner-T that was taught to me by a psychologist in my college days went off-line. I could force it to work some. But, I couldn't get a reality test off the ground while at work once. I knew that the negative thinking was distorted and couldn't argue with it and cried. I would see that it is beutiful out and tell myself so. I'd respond with "who cares." This irritated me. It was like, "Tracy, look at the sunny sky. It's a wonderful day." But I couldn't get myself to enjoy it. I sometimes felt like I had the job of caring for a two year old-namely me. I was like a two year old. "Mommy, give me something to do." "Hey, stop starring at the wall. It's time to do the dishes." "Okey, can you like move?" "Sure. I'll blink my eyes." The sleeping problem is horrible. "AAAA. Why can't I go back to sleep? Why won't you shut up mind?" "Yak. Yak. Yak..."
Grief includes sleeping problems at times too. I suspect the starring at the wall or ceiling is different. I have also seen some interesting pictures of a much less active brain when depressed. Frankly, I believe it. When I stared at the walls, it seemed like my brain was working really weird. The only thing weirder was when I was trying to answer a costumer's question and had to stop talking to let my brain catch up with my mouth. It made me think of my thoughts passing through quick sand. It seemed like something was slowing my thinking process down. It scared me. In the middle of the night, I'd wake up and have some pretty strange fears. I don't know if that is related but depression is not just crying a lot. It is trouble sleeping, crying, starring at the wall or ceiling when you should be moving you butt somewhere, anywhere. The lack of energy is just terrible. I cried at the end of the night from mental exhaustion. I like my anti-depressant. I tried to fight taking an anti-depressant. But, my T hen pecked me to peices about it. I am glad she did because I was resolving issues and still starring at the walls. I don't think I would have been able to get through this quarter without the extra energy and focus that the anti-depressant gives me. I suspect that anti-depressants are over used. However, in my case, I think it was the right move because I tried therapy for atleast six months before even talking to a pyschiatrist. (I AM SCARED OF DRUGS.) But, I must admit, I like sleeping for four hours and then waking up to go to bathroom. Then waking up a little before the alarm goes off with no "yak yak Yak..." from my noising brain. I also like the feeling of being able to connect with my counselor and others. It is hard to talk to a counselor for an hour sometimes when your focus wants to go whereever it goes. I had that if I went for a month without seeing the counselor. So I ruined a session by trying to focus on her while she talked. "I can't seem to focus." It made me think of a clif between us. She was on one side and I was on the other side. I couldn't seem to focus on this distant figure talking to me. I like my time with T better with an anti-depressant.

[sadeyesr4ever]

Oh my goodness I hear you on just laying there at night and not being able to fall asleep. That is when everything that is bothering me decides to make it's presence known. I start thinking about bills, kids so on and so on. I can't get my brain to wind down enough to go to sleep or stay asleep.

Thanks for your reply, I am glad that your AD is working for you!