![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pretty_paints on June 10, 2004, at 9:50:48
Hiya guys, wondering if any of you can help...
I live in the UK and suffer from major depression, anxiety and mild OCD. In January I had a kind of break down, had to leave Uni and ever since, Iv been at home. Iv tried Prozac, but that didnt do enough, so now I'm on Efexor. I was on 75mg for a month and then 150mg for nearly two. My GP refered me to a mental health clinic a while back, it took a long time to all go through though, and then I had to be interviewed and blah blah, but finally today I got to see a psychiatrist. She was really nice and I was in there for nearly an hour and a half. She seemed to have no problem at all with increasing the dose, 225mg for one month and then up to 300mg if I still am not feeling right. And then maybe add something to it after that, if needed. This surprised me as my GP seemed wary of going over 150mg.
Aaanyway, the point of this email is that the pyschiatrist said that I had a really clear biological illness, basically brain misfunction if you like. Theres nothing obvious in my past which could have caused all this really. Happy childhood etc. However the last few years have been miserable, and then the stresses of starting Uni and everything pushed me to breaking point. I am having pyschotherapy though as I know that there are still quite a few issues that need to be resolved (well, I think, I dont feel like I *know* anything for sure right now!).
HOWEVER the thing that really worries me is that because its biological, it means I'm prone to the depression returning in the future. I'm so upset, I can't believe this. I feel like I only just survived THIS episode. No way could I go through all that again. The only people who have really stuck by me and been wonderful are my parents, and its been a huge stress for them I'm sure. In terms of my friends, they either didnt understand it, or they didnt want to know, or they wanted to help but couldnt. Oh I dunno, I just feel like Iv lost so many people through having this depression. You push everyone away dont you, when really you need people more than ever. And I think that only those people who love you unconditionally stick around...
So now I'm just really worried. Im not in a relationship right now, but I cant imagine myself ever being in one now because I just cant believe that anyone would put up with me and stick around if I had another episode. What if my parents arnt around next time to help?
And in terms of the meds, what if I come off them after 6 months, wont I just go back to being depressed again? What if I get depressed at another point, but this time the meds dont work at all and I end up forever depressed??!! Argh its so hard. I cant think. Should I stay on the meds continually?? What does that do? Or is it better to keep coming off and going back on?
I feel so worried. Has anyone been in my situation? What did u do, in terms of meds? The psychiatrist said it probably wouldnt be like that, coz I'd recognise symptoms and learn to live with it... :o( I'm worried that I wont... And also, why did it come around at about age 18? Is that normal?
Help! I have no clue about these things anymore! I used to, but now I realise that I dont :o(
Thanks anyone xxxxxx
Posted by Charm on June 10, 2004, at 11:40:47
In reply to PLEASE READ!!, posted by pretty_paints on June 10, 2004, at 9:50:48
> Hiya guys, wondering if any of you can help...
>
> I live in the UK and suffer from major depression, anxiety and mild OCD. In January I had a kind of break down, had to leave Uni and ever since, Iv been at home. Iv tried Prozac, but that didnt do enough, so now I'm on Efexor. I was on 75mg for a month and then 150mg for nearly two. My GP refered me to a mental health clinic a while back, it took a long time to all go through though, and then I had to be interviewed and blah blah, but finally today I got to see a psychiatrist. She was really nice and I was in there for nearly an hour and a half. She seemed to have no problem at all with increasing the dose, 225mg for one month and then up to 300mg if I still am not feeling right. And then maybe add something to it after that, if needed. This surprised me as my GP seemed wary of going over 150mg.
>
> Aaanyway, the point of this email is that the pyschiatrist said that I had a really clear biological illness, basically brain misfunction if you like. Theres nothing obvious in my past which could have caused all this really. Happy childhood etc. However the last few years have been miserable, and then the stresses of starting Uni and everything pushed me to breaking point. I am having pyschotherapy though as I know that there are still quite a few issues that need to be resolved (well, I think, I dont feel like I *know* anything for sure right now!).
>
> HOWEVER the thing that really worries me is that because its biological, it means I'm prone to the depression returning in the future. I'm so upset, I can't believe this. I feel like I only just survived THIS episode. No way could I go through all that again. The only people who have really stuck by me and been wonderful are my parents, and its been a huge stress for them I'm sure. In terms of my friends, they either didnt understand it, or they didnt want to know, or they wanted to help but couldnt. Oh I dunno, I just feel like Iv lost so many people through having this depression. You push everyone away dont you, when really you need people more than ever. And I think that only those people who love you unconditionally stick around...
>
> So now I'm just really worried. Im not in a relationship right now, but I cant imagine myself ever being in one now because I just cant believe that anyone would put up with me and stick around if I had another episode. What if my parents arnt around next time to help?
>
> And in terms of the meds, what if I come off them after 6 months, wont I just go back to being depressed again? What if I get depressed at another point, but this time the meds dont work at all and I end up forever depressed??!! Argh its so hard. I cant think. Should I stay on the meds continually?? What does that do? Or is it better to keep coming off and going back on?
>
> I feel so worried. Has anyone been in my situation? What did u do, in terms of meds? The psychiatrist said it probably wouldnt be like that, coz I'd recognise symptoms and learn to live with it... :o( I'm worried that I wont... And also, why did it come around at about age 18? Is that normal?
>
> Help! I have no clue about these things anymore! I used to, but now I realise that I dont :o(
>
> Thanks anyone xxxxxx
Hi Pretty Paints!Chances are that after finding a regeim of psych meds that work for you any lapses that you have back to a depressed state won't be as bad as before you started medication. Taking meds for the rest of your life isn't such a bad thing, especially when compared to all the suffering that depression causes. It's also good news that you have a doctor now who is willing to aggressively treat your condition. Under treatment is a common problem and keeps so many of us from getting the improvement we need.
Please wait till you've had a chance to stabilize with your new medications before making a rash decision regarding relationships. My husband just takes my "downs" in stride and doesn't under or over-react to them. I think once your meds kick in and you have more confidence you'll want to start creating/maintining relationships again.
On your GP, my guess is that your general practitioner was just uncomfortable with his knowledge of psychiatric medications hence his hesitency to increase your dose.
Good Luck, gal!
Charm
Posted by Sebastian on June 10, 2004, at 11:48:20
In reply to PLEASE READ!!, posted by pretty_paints on June 10, 2004, at 9:50:48
I time you will learn to live with the illness, understand it even though now you don't think it is posible. Just look to good freinds who will support you, ignore the rest. You might have to take the meds for life, or might not, no one knows. Listen to your doctor, and tell them everything. The meds will always work, they just take a while to start working, the first time and the next times. Stoping meds is not recomended, it usualy just brings back problems, till you have been back on them again for a while. But every thing goes back to normal. Think highly of your self, talk as much as posible, don't worry what others think, as long as you are nice. Every time you change your meds (dose or type) things will change (your personality), look for the results (bad or good) if they are too bad, reverse the change (tell the doctor).
Hope this helps
Ivan
Posted by asoiferman on June 10, 2004, at 11:51:24
In reply to PLEASE READ!!, posted by pretty_paints on June 10, 2004, at 9:50:48
regarding whether or not to stay on the meds, i say DEFINITELY stay on them. don't let it worry you if you have to take them for several years or forever. i used to worry about the same things (i have OCD and depression) and i just recently realized, after going off my meds because i thought i could live without them, that having to take them isn't a bad thing. if you had diabetes, you'd have to treat that forever; look at depression the same way.
now, going totally against what i just said, after you finish school you might want to try lowering your dose or going off, but that would depend on how you've been, what your doctor thinks, etc. the stresses of school and everyday life could have brought this depression on. it could be a one-time event or it could be recurring.
i know how you feel about losing friends because you're depressed. right now i'm dealing with a depression and i don't want to do anything, especially during the day. i'm close to "normal" at night, but once i wake up, everything starts all over again. people who haven't been depressed themselves have a hard time understanding what we're dealing with. they think we can just snap out of it and get on with life. i don't tell everyone around me what's happening when i'm feeling this way, only the people closest to me. not everyone is going to understand and the people that desert you when you're down, well....you probably don't want them around when you're feeling terrific.
i hope you feel better soon! take care!
Posted by pretty_paints on June 10, 2004, at 12:01:35
In reply to Re: PLEASE READ!!, posted by asoiferman on June 10, 2004, at 11:51:24
hi guys
thanks for all your posts! they're really great.
One thing though is that, I do in a way want to stay on the meds because I know they have no real major longterm effects, etc etc. Its more to do with whether the doctors will allow me, I dont understand it all really. My GP told me that being on AD's can "numb" you. I dont really understand that either - I mean, arnt they meant to denumb you?! I always thought they were the things that made you laugh again and actually feel things!
aaanyway, maybe yeh, the GP isnt the specialist is he.
xx
Posted by cherylann on June 10, 2004, at 12:19:04
In reply to PLEASE READ!!, posted by pretty_paints on June 10, 2004, at 9:50:48
I think the first person who figures out WHY we get hit with these problems will be a super millionaire!
In the meantime, once you get stabilized on some meds your outlook will be better. You'll be able to step aside and look at the depression and say "wow, that sucked, but I feel so much better now."
For me I've always been depressed and anxious, but wasn't aware of it. When I hit my 30's severe panic and depression set in. Nothing bad was happening in my life, so can't say what triggered it.
I've been on meds since and recently tried to go off. I'm still off them and have found that I've changed quite a bit (I'm 41 now). I recognize the feelings when they're coming on, which is good in a way. I'm not afraid of them anymore. BUT, I'm also alienating people around me, just as you mentioned in your post. This is not the life we're meant to live. I'll probably go back on something soon.
When the meds start working, stay on them. You're too young to be battling such a thing at this point in your life. This is the time when you should be grabbing life and enjoying it with good friends and family. Relationships will come your way. My husband and I didn't realize how depressed I was til after we were married, which was a bummer because he was not prepared for it. Now he's educated on it and deals with it just fine. And really, if you think about it, it's not leprosy or anything.
Remember when you're feeling down that there are MANY of us just like you living our lives and thinking the same thoughts as you.
Sorry if I've rambled, and I hope I've said something useful. Please take care of your self and post here often if it helps.
Best wishes,
cherylann
Posted by Sebastian on June 11, 2004, at 20:57:38
In reply to Re: PLEASE READ!!, posted by pretty_paints on June 10, 2004, at 12:01:35
If you tell the doctor they work, etc, etc. They will let you take them. I use to worry the same thing. Told my doctor how great the meds were. And my worry. And I take as much, long, as I want. Said I could take them for life, made a note of it, so other doctor could know, if I ever got a new doctor, I guess.
The meds create a sense of uphoria in the brain, which makes you happy. You will feel numb if you only depend on the meds for happy. Because your life is not as satisfying, you don't *feel* things the way you do without meds. And can have a numbing effect. The meds are meant to get the pain that prevents you from being happy out, till you are better. Yes you will feel better even after a while, because you are taking the meds. Then you might think to stop the meds and find you don't feel as well agian. Your life needs new meaning and better *real* things, to slowly decrease the meds, one step at a time, till you can handle life without meds. Who knows maybe you will need them for life, maybe not, the doctor won't know till it happens, which will depend on you. That is why it is so important to talk to your doctor as honistly as posible, which is easy. That way they can help the best.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.