The Depression Thread #2

[Carapop]

This thread hasn’t been active for a while, hopefully this means everyone on here is doing better than before

I’m back on fluoxetine. Never thought I’d be happy about it but I am, the last time I used it it sorted me out like nothing else. Really not looking forward to side effects though…Any words of wisdom for me? I have been off meds for 2 years so I must have forgotten a lot. I got two packs, one is Prozac and the other is just called Fluoxetine, I think, I was told it’s essentially the same thing (a generic)? Is it okay to start taking brand-name medication and then switch to generics, or will there be a difference?

I’ve only just seen it but please absolutely go and get help. It’s not as scary as it sounds and can really change your life for the better I haven’t had any issues with insurances or any other documents since being diagnosed.

I had always taken branded and then a new pharmacist gave me generics and I had no issues and half the price. See how you fare. Some may have fillers that cause (minor) side effects so you may prefer the branded. I know I was getting headaches with previous generic

 

[ilovepizza21]

Hey lovely xx

It’s never too late to report. If you feel it’s right for you then you should absolutely do it xx

I think I'm going to need to my son has got worse, I keep asking for help no one is helping his dad Has refused. Yesterday police were called not by myself this time because he kicked off. I'm an idiot and didn't press chargers this time I know I should off but I just couldn't. While the police where here I explained the last few years and the women said did you report the abuse from dad. She said maybe you should. So I think maybe the time is right because his son is becoming him. I am looking into getting a section 20 on my son (he basically goes into care). I won't lie police where brilliant last night when I mentioned to dad my plans for our son and presses chargers on him I was told I need to grow up, I'm and idiot & look in a mirror and how I turn everything round onto him. I'm at my witsend I really am. I feel so alone and just wish I wasn't here tbh

 

[ATV2021]

I think most of us really don't want to be on medication, there's no shame in it, if it helps you then you do it, don't worry about what others think, look after yourself x

I've been on and off medication and I really don't want to take it but I think I'm at a point where I need it back.

I've had Sertraline/Fluoexetine and didn't like either of those. Escitalopram I think was OK but just wondering what else I could maybe suggest?

 

[candyland_]

You're right having a cuddle with my boy right now and that is helping


omg... I'm sorry your friends are like that... I had something similar happen to me at the start of the year... Long story short I had a breakdown and was in hospital about 10 years ago and my oldest friend would frequently shame me about it in front of people. I made the painful decision to cut ties because of the emotional fall out every time we spent time together. Relationships can be so complicated. I'm sorry you have had those experiences.

Thank you.. I’m sorry your friend shamed you like that
Sometimes I find it helps writing stuff down in the notes on my phone, it helps get things off my chest a little.

 

[JellyWobbles]

TW. SH.

Guys I’m really struggling and I don’t know what to do. I was on aripiprazole for a week and they took me off it, I asked to be put on an alternative (was taken off it bc it was making my tongue twitch involuntarily/couldn’t sleep) I called Friday and they said they’d call back but haven’t I can’t call again anxiety is crippling me. I feel so low, I’ve SH, I feel like a dick. I want to reach out but I just can’t. I just want to not be a ghost. I want to be well. I hate this.

 

[Maid22]

@Jwren, I've been reading the Nicole Bulley thread, haven't commented on it, but wanted to wish you and @LennyBriscoe all the best and thank you for sharing, that must have taken alot xx

 

[Sideboard Bob]

Sending you love
Keep talking to us x

Thank you, I really appreciate it x

 

[MillionDollarBaby]

Sending you love xx

Hello lovely. I hope you’re ok. Someone once said to me antidepressants are great cause they stop you feeling sad. But they also stop you feeling anything. I wholeheartedly agree.
I understand what you’re going through though I really do and you know I’m here if you need xx

 

[Pollyanna263]

Guys, changing meds this week , went to the chemist to collect 3 months E260 , Phenergan, citalopram and zyban , to say I nearly collapsed when she asked me for the money. They better work at that price !!!

Are you in the UK? I do the prescription prepayment, it works out so much cheaper x

 

[Carapop]

Thank you so much for sharing that

I have actually had acupuncture but with my osteopath alongside treatment for a back problem. She knows bits of the birth story and we do touch on it lightly as it’s relevant to my back issues. I’ve had acupuncture 4x with her so far and once afterwards I felt full of emotion and then fell into a really deep sleep with awful dreams - like it was all coming out!

A big part of my problem is I can’t tell my story. No matter how I try the words don’t come. It’s like I completely freeze, my brain won’t even form a thought.
I have managed once to write it down for my therapist so she knows, but I have no idea what I wrote as I cannot read it back

You poor darling. I was listening to Joe Tracini in a podcast this morning. You might know of him? Joe Pasquaile’s son and has been VERY vocal about his mental health. He mentioned that it’s impossible to let go of something you’re not able to hold. He’s recently written a book with that very motivation. To get it all out of his head and into something physical that he can then dispose. Akin to writing letters that we can burn. You will get there. Be patient and kind and compassionate. You’re doing all the right things. There’s no hurry. x

 

[Bubbledoggyyeah]

I will be interested to see how you get on with these. I only took one and slept for 24 hours!

I took the first one last night and it did make me drowsy but I woke up several times in the night unfortunately and had quite disturbed sleep so opposite of your experience.

I’m also starting private therapy next week. Worried about how it’ll go as I couldn’t even get through the phone call with the doctor yesterday without crying.

 

[Quarrantinemadness]

I’m being evicted in three months time as our landlord is selling, my mental health was bad before we got told this but now it’s at rock bottom. I’m only here because my 2 year old needs me, or does he? I don’t know how much longer I can stand feeling this way.

Yes he definitely needs you xx
Is there anywhere else you could rent? X

 

[Eeyore147]

Hi
I was put on aripiprazole to help with my depression I’m also on five other meds for it but I had to stop taking this as I was getting tardive dyskinesia and couldn’t sleep the issue I have is that was the first med to really help me! I have a review on Friday I just wondered if anyone else was on mood stabilisers/anti psychotics that work and don’t have that side effect so I can ask to trial it. I really haven’t felt so well in a long time that when I was on it… so frustrating

I take Aripiprazole, luckily no side effects, I have taken several other Anti Psychotics and they have all caused extreme weight gain. A good mood stabiliser for me was Lamotrigine. I came off it last year when I started a different med as they contra indicated.

 

[Pollyanna263]

I really appreciate your response, the whole thing. I’m the kind of person who just pushes everything to the back of my mind and then a switch goes off in my head one day and it all comes tumbling out. It’s such an exhausting feeling. I’m trying to change a few things in my life which will hopefully help but I’m going to have a chat with the doctors next time I’m in and just get some advice.

Thank you for being kind.

I’m that person too do I understand the feeling x

 

[Fanny Muchmore]

Have only been on a half dose of Zoloft for almost 3 weeks (was too scared to take the full dose yet) and I've already gained 5lbs. I know that probably sounds really fucking vapid and vain but I have Body dysmorphia and I have always had a lot of issues with my weight (plus being heavier isn't good for my joints)

Feeling pissed off that if I want to try and ease my depression one way, I'm gonna end up feeling like shite about myself another way and hating myself.

 

[Pollyanna263]

Part of why I came off lexapro (an SSRI) was that numbing. It killed all the joy from life along with dampening the despair. I still felt utterly lost and deeply sad but just didn’t cry anymore. I’ve never been through child birth so I can’t ever understand that, but I did have a rather traumatic medical experience a few years ago resulting in emergency life saving surgery (after days of my basically dying and wracked in pain as doctors kept sending me with prescriptions…). It’s not something I talk about with any real emotion. It feels like it all happened to someone else.

During the week, I went to an acupuncturist for the first time ever. We had a chat and I basically told her my life story, she stuck in the needles and left me along for twenty mins. There, out of nowhere, I just starting sobbing in a way I haven’t since I lost my grandmother a decade ago. Big world ending sobs and flooded with tears. And I was very emotional for the rest of the day. A book made me cry that evening and that’s not happened for a very long time.

i think a part of me was frightened that if I started crying I’d never stop, but I’ve been ok again since - I feel this is important to tell you! You don’t have to fear connecting with the emotion. It won’t end you. You’ve endured much worse. The emotion will never ever be as painful as the trauma itself. You got through the trauma, you’ll get through the feelings.

now, I don’t know if it was because I told my little story to someone who treated it with such intense kindness and compassion, or if there is actually something to the eastern practice of acupuncture, but it’s not very expensive and it’s entirely free of risk, so might be worth a try?

Thank you so much for sharing that

I have actually had acupuncture but with my osteopath alongside treatment for a back problem. She knows bits of the birth story and we do touch on it lightly as it’s relevant to my back issues. I’ve had acupuncture 4x with her so far and once afterwards I felt full of emotion and then fell into a really deep sleep with awful dreams - like it was all coming out!

A big part of my problem is I can’t tell my story. No matter how I try the words don’t come. It’s like I completely freeze, my brain won’t even form a thought.
I have managed once to write it down for my therapist so she knows, but I have no idea what I wrote as I cannot read it back

 

[Buffy]

My anxiety is really bad today. I feel sick dizzy and shaky. I think the heat is making me feel this way and making this worse.

I feel you, my youngest finished nursery last week after 4 years there (ready to start school Sep) and it’s been a huge trigger for me that I wasn’t expecting

That’s exactly how I feel this morning.

 

[tattiecats]

Has anyone heard of Zyban/Wellbutrin (bupropion)? It’s got rave reviews and I’m really keen to try it especially as I have an addictive personality and quit smoking not long ago, which it’s supposed to be good for (nicotine addiction has translated to vaping which I also want to quit). It’s prescribed off label for depression here but primarily is issued as a smoking cessation aid so I’m thinking to try to get it

I took bupropion for a couple of months and it did help me get out of a rut! I had nausea for a couple of days but that's the only side effect I got from it as far as I can remember (unfortunately, none of the weight loss that it gets a lot of praise for! but no gain either.) It was less of a noticeable mood boost and more of a "I did things today" boost. I could do normal things without thinking about the mountain of effort every tiny thing seemed to need from me. I didn't get overwhelmed and want to cry at every little thing anymore. (This is after sertraline and citalopram didn't work for me personally)

I stopped taking it after a few months as I didn't feel like a needed it as much (I felt like I had been pulled out of the black hole) and I was worried about taking it too long and starting to lose my hair. There are a lot of stories of the hair loss side effect not stopping once it kicks in and that it generally starts at 3-4mo from what I read. Sounds a bit vain but losing half of my hair was not worth the risk and if I'd stayed on it I'd have been massively paranoid and obsessively checking my brush to the point of worrying myself bald

 

[elliebee27]

I haven't posted on this thread for a long time, because well I couldn't face it. But I just wanted to ask if anyone has reported DV a few years after it's happened?

Not me and I don't know what country you are in but I know women who have done this.

Look after yourself xoxoxo

 

[Maid22]

@Pollyanna263 haven't seen for a while, hope you're ok, sending