Big Big Forums - Coupons, Freebies, Deals & Discounts - View Single Post - It is scary that sooo many people in here have mental problems...I am one of them!

Peri · 02-20-2003, 05:51 AM

~giving you a tight close hug~ I was diagnosed with major clinical depression nine years ago, though I've had it much longer. Prozac is and always has been my miracle drug. I was started on Zoloft and all it did was make me sleep more and I asked to try Prozac and luckily it worked for me. I am not currently taking it and haven't been for about a year, and it's hell to fight the depression every day. I really do need to go back on it, but my situation with no car and not being near my doctor (we moved back in August) has made me extremely hesitant about finding another doc (the hassle of getting to know another doc, going to weekly appointments, all that jazz). Since the withdrawels from the Effexor is so bad, could you go back on the Prozac again? (You could always try a higher dose of Prozac if it wasn't enough.) Either way, if you're not able to find a way to dig yourself up out of the "funk" every day, I would definitely try new medications. Do you ever try aromatherapy? I use scented candles and incense a lot these days, and I find it helps immensely. I also have been taking a xanax now and again when I find myself feeling overwhelmed. ~shrugs and says quietly~ They weren't prescribed for me, my Mom gives them to me sometimes, I don't take them daily, only one when I really need it, but the relaxation I get from one helps me to get the much needed sleep I rarely get anymore. I have insomnia horribly bad. (Who'da thunk that, it's only 4:34am here.) I've also used Valerian Root tea, which is an herbal tea and is what valium is derived from. You have to be very careful with things like xanax and valerian root, but the conclusion I've come to is this. I've been under enormous stress in the last nine years. Normally, I'm okay, but when something big happens, it sets off my depression. The stress induces the depression, the depression wipes me out in every sense, physically, emotionally, mentally, and that in turn leads to health problems with my arthritis, migraines, etc. (In other words, when my mental state gets weak, my whole body does.) So, I have to get relaxed and dump some of the stress before I can even begin to fight the depression. So that's why I use the xanax occasionally, and the aromatherapy, etc.
Most importantly though, I want you to learn to stop being afraid of depression. Once you get over your fear of it, you will have a kind of power over it. (Not physically of course, because depression IS a chemical imbalance in the brain.) But emotionally you will and that will go a long way toward you fighting it off. Just try to embrace the fact you have it, accept it, but never give up on fighting it. If the new meds don't work, then try another. I wish you all the best, hon. If you need to talk, please PM me. (((( Jalex ))))

02-20-2003, 05:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
Peri BigBig Freebie Sleuth! Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Sitting here, trying to find myself. Posts: 921 iTrader: (1) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	~giving you a tight close hug~ I was diagnosed with major clinical depression nine years ago, though I've had it much longer. Prozac is and always has been my miracle drug. I was started on Zoloft and all it did was make me sleep more and I asked to try Prozac and luckily it worked for me. I am not currently taking it and haven't been for about a year, and it's hell to fight the depression every day. I really do need to go back on it, but my situation with no car and not being near my doctor (we moved back in August) has made me extremely hesitant about finding another doc (the hassle of getting to know another doc, going to weekly appointments, all that jazz). Since the withdrawels from the Effexor is so bad, could you go back on the Prozac again? (You could always try a higher dose of Prozac if it wasn't enough.) Either way, if you're not able to find a way to dig yourself up out of the "funk" every day, I would definitely try new medications. Do you ever try aromatherapy? I use scented candles and incense a lot these days, and I find it helps immensely. I also have been taking a xanax now and again when I find myself feeling overwhelmed. ~shrugs and says quietly~ They weren't prescribed for me, my Mom gives them to me sometimes, I don't take them daily, only one when I really need it, but the relaxation I get from one helps me to get the much needed sleep I rarely get anymore. I have insomnia horribly bad. (Who'da thunk that, it's only 4:34am here.) I've also used Valerian Root tea, which is an herbal tea and is what valium is derived from. You have to be very careful with things like xanax and valerian root, but the conclusion I've come to is this. I've been under enormous stress in the last nine years. Normally, I'm okay, but when something big happens, it sets off my depression. The stress induces the depression, the depression wipes me out in every sense, physically, emotionally, mentally, and that in turn leads to health problems with my arthritis, migraines, etc. (In other words, when my mental state gets weak, my whole body does.) So, I have to get relaxed and dump some of the stress before I can even begin to fight the depression. So that's why I use the xanax occasionally, and the aromatherapy, etc. Most importantly though, I want you to learn to stop being afraid of depression. Once you get over your fear of it, you will have a kind of power over it. (Not physically of course, because depression IS a chemical imbalance in the brain.) But emotionally you will and that will go a long way toward you fighting it off. Just try to embrace the fact you have it, accept it, but never give up on fighting it. If the new meds don't work, then try another. I wish you all the best, hon. If you need to talk, please PM me. (((( Jalex ))))