depression - need some positive thoughts

jimi5

New Member

Joined : Apr 2005

Posts : 5

Posted 5/7/2005 5:52 PM (GMT -7)

I was diagnosed with depression about a month and a half ago although i have probably had it for about 2/3 years.
Since I have been taking prozac for about a month i have seemingly got worse. My mood is all over the place,
I still feel suicidal, want to self-harm, hopeless, tired and have no control over my thoughts. My doctor has said
to give it 2 more weeks. How can i tell if the medication is working. Is there anybody out there who's
got through depression and can give me some ways to deal with it or some positive advice.
I cant seem to think about anything else or muster the mental strength to even get out of bed.

AlwaysRosie

Veteran Member

Joined : Jan 2005

Posts : 8616

Posted 5/7/2005 7:02 PM (GMT -7)

Welcome Jim!!!

So happy to hear that you are getting some help!! Are you in counseling as well as taking meds?? If not, it would be a good idea so that you can work through some of your feelings.

I have been taking anti-d's for several years and I am now taking Lexapro. I have also tried 3 other anti-d's. Each person is different, but Lexapro has been the best for me. I feel like "me" again. I also have a chronic illness and depression just seems to go hand in hand with lengthy illness.

Prozac, like Lexapro, is an SSRI . . . this class of drugs helps your brain to retain seratonin (which has probably been spilling from your body too quickly to be used properly by your brain). That's why the meds take as long as 3-6 weeks or more to kick in fully. YOUR BODY HAS TO ACCUMULATE ENOUGH SERATONIN to make a difference to your brain. The anti-d doesn't 'give' you seratonin, it just helps your body to retain what you get from exercise, the sun, laughing (yes laughing and smiling cause an increase in 'feel good' chemicals) etc. These kinds of brain chemicals help you to think rationally and receive information correctly.

Each of the other three anti-d's which I tried (paxil, zoloft, celexa) worked very well as far as helping with my depression, but they had some side effects which the doctor and I wanted to get rid of if we could.

I knew my first anti-d was working when I started thinking that some people were being extremely nice to me. I thought my kids were behaving exceptionally well and the clients at work seemed less agitated and more appreciative. It took me a while to realize that everyone else did NOT change. I DID. I was finally receiving information correctly. Prior to taking meds, I felt like people were picking at me, yelling, disrespectfull, etc. , when in fact, I was misinterpretting their intentions.

I really knew the meds were working when I started to 'forget' to take them occassionally.

I hope you'll post often to update us on your progress.

Blessings!

In His Grip,

AlwaysRosie

Psalms 139

_UCTD _{(Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease),}_Hashimoto's,_{High BP,}_{GI Inflamation,}_{Diverticuloses}

_{Plaquenil, RX Motrin, Lexapro, Amitriptylene, Salagen, Lotrel}

_{Please help HealingWell help others. Donate today:}_{https://www.healingwell.com/donate/}

Never Alone

Regular Member

Joined : Apr 2005

Posts : 23

Posted 5/7/2005 8:51 PM (GMT -7)

jimi 5 ive been envolved with depression for 6 years now and when it comes to meds it takes time to "level out" the chemicals in your brain need time to balance but it does get better until then keep chin up stay with the docs and you are always welcome here
ps chat is a good place for first hand experience to

I have walked the road of recovery

for sometime now

I look behind and see progress

though slow and alone it was

I look foward and see no end

I am alone.......

then a hand touched each shoulder so tender

so I looked to both sides and I found friends

who dont walk behind nor ahead

but by my side

I am not alone.......

and through my endless journey

I hope to see them reach

the end of thier road of recovery

I will always be here

but NEVER ALONE

I walk with my friends

Having2LeftFeet

Regular Member

Joined : Feb 2005

Posts : 472

Posted 5/7/2005 10:00 PM (GMT -7)

Welcome to our group. I hope you will find peace here. You will definately find understanding and comfort. Depression is such a complex illness and it is a real problem. People who don't understand why we have depression think it's all in our heads. Some are even in denial thinking they don't have it or wouldn't admit it if they were.

From personal experience, I can tell you that it took a lot of anti-depressants for me to get the right one and I am talking years. I just got one changed again. We are given the prescriptions, fill them and then tell the Doc that it didn't help. Then we get another script, more money, and, until they find the one that's best suited for us, it's a vicious cycle. It takes about a month or two to get the meds absorbed into the system and then tell the brain to change the way we think and act. It's amazing that our brains control our hearing, speech, sight, movement, mobility and our ability to learn. I would say that if you don't feel better in another few weeks, go back to the doc and ask for a change. I am on Prozac, elevil and xanax have come of celext about 3 month's ago. Didn't think it was doing any good.

Please don't feel out of place. You will be just fine and everyone will be supportive. Gos bless!

"Lefty"

There is no such word as can't. Can't simply means wouln't. Grab as much as life as you can. Future is a long way away for those who don't believe. Don't build a foundation of life on sand. It will take it away with the tide. Love a little more, be unkind a lot less.

CheerDad

Veteran Member

Joined : Apr 2004

Posts : 2284

Posted 5/7/2005 10:27 PM (GMT -7)

Hey, just wanted to add my welcome. Give the med a bit more of a chance. I know that it took a little for the anti-d med to kick in for me, but once it did, wooo hooo did I feel better.

Pain is enevitable, misery is optional.

Randy

Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating: https://www.healingwell.com/donate/

Akram

Veteran Member

Joined : Feb 2005

Posts : 616

Posted 5/8/2005 7:06 AM (GMT -7)

hi jimi, like everyone says give the meds some chance and while your doing that work on your self and life do something difirent like excersize if u haven't done it before or travel somewhere, take a nice vacation. it really helps to put things intp perspective sometimes.

then after 1 month assess your situation and decide what u gona do , good luck to u :)

To be or not to Be

jimi5

New Member

Joined : Apr 2005

Posts : 5

Posted 5/8/2005 4:23 PM (GMT -7)

thanks to all you guys for the positive and informative messages. Its good to know that there are others who
take the time to reply and offer advice and assistance. I am gratefull for your warm welcome to the group
and your kind words. Good luck to you all.

jimi

p.s. had a good day today

CheerDad

Veteran Member

Joined : Apr 2004

Posts : 2284

Posted 5/8/2005 5:47 PM (GMT -7)

Glad today was better>
.

Pain is enevitable, misery is optional.

Randy

Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating: https://www.healingwell.com/donate/

AlwaysRosie

Veteran Member

Joined : Jan 2005

Posts : 8616

Posted 5/8/2005 7:09 PM (GMT -7)

Thanks for sharing that good news Jim (and you are welcome)!!

In His Grip,

AlwaysRosie

Psalms 139

_UCTD _{(Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease),}_Hashimoto's,_{High BP,}_{GI Inflamation,}_{Diverticuloses}

_{Plaquenil, RX Motrin, Lexapro, Amitriptylene, Salagen, Lotrel}

_{Please help HealingWell help others. Donate today:}_{https://www.healingwell.com/donate/}

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