Major Depression

I had been on Celexa forever and it had gotten to there I don't feel bad anymore, I just don't feel anything. -=db=-

Dee, That's just not right. You can't go through life feeling miserable or feeling nothing. There are other alternatives. Don't give up hope. You need to get something going before you move. You will need the meds while you udertake that big project. Call you DR. tomorrow morning. Please. Kath

db, I'm so sorry you're going thru such a rough time. I agree that getting back on the meds asap sound right to me. I hope you're feeling better soon! Tracy B

Usually I say something funny and jackass like but I will hold off on this one. Depression is nothing to mess around with and unfortunately the symptoms of depression make you not want to react to it.... Get what I mean? It feeds itself. It's a real deal and is more often then not a chemical imbalance that can be treated easily with the right medication. I don't suffer from depression but I have a psych background and fully understand what takes place. Obviously you are smart enough to recognise the problem and are getting it taken care of. Just remember to follow through, right? Take care. Positive vibes for you. kp

Deb, please see your MD as soon as possible. I feel such heartache for you. I also suffer from a major chemical imbalance for much of my adult life. The right medication in the right dosage I promise you, will turn your life around. It feels hopeless when we are off or not on the correct med. There are so many excellent DRS to be found at a major medical university, they all have departments that specialize in this, after you get immediate care, and are not completly satisfied. Hugs, Linda

Hey DB, I went through a few rough years with an abusive NEW husband, inherited his ADD/ADHD and Distachment disorder 4 year old child, his lying wedge driving alcoholic ex-wife, his medling parents and a new baby with him all at once. It was too much for me to handle. My Dr. put me on anti-depr/anxiety meds and I was SOOOO much better. It gave me time to slow down and figure out what the problems were, put them in priority and make necessary adjustments and changes. The initial anti-dep was HORRIBLE, it made me "drunk"-couldn't even see straight...the second, Effexor XR was awesome. It worked like a charm. I felt like I was me again, without feeling like there was any "drug" evening out my chemical imbalance. After a year, I decided I didn't need them anymore (didn't feel like they were doing anything, as I felt NORMAL and not drugged) HUGE MISTAKE...I stopped cold turkey without telling my Dr. I CRASHED and BURNED...to the point that I wanted to crash my car intentionally driving home from work on the 3rd day. I picked up my cell, called my dr and she had me go STRAIGHT to her office. She got me back on them immediately. I was on them for an additional 6 months, in the meantime, I seperated from my husband, no longer had to deal with my step son, didn't have to deal with his ex-wife, didn't have to deal with his meddling parents...and I really felt soooo much happier. I talked with my doc and she weaned me off them over 3 weeks. I never had an issue-not an inkling. I felt like there was no adjustment to coming off them. I will NEVER hesitate to tell the doc if I need them again. Please don't be ashamed or embarrassed to need the help again. Your life is worth the visit to the doctor. You are oviously a strong person to have gone through all the issues you have to date. If you need to talk confidentially, you can email me privately. Good luck!!! Laurie

Go back on the meds. No one should have to go through all of that.

Thanls everyone for all your help and words. It's nice to know there is somewhere I can go and express how I feel without being judged. I will be going back on the meds but I need to talk to my shrink first, and that appointment is on Thursday. I've held out this long I can hold out for two more days. thanks -=db=-

Dear friend, I too suffer from depression; have taken myself off of the meds only to find myself miserable and hopeless. As a RN, I know there is no shame in being on med's for depression, but I thought I could do it without them and found out otherwise. I now make it a goal to let folks know that I am on Lexapro, and a double dose at that. I am a charge nurse of an outpatient clinic, and my staff looks to me for support, guidance, love and supervision; I found that by my being honest about being human (which is what we all are after all) has brought me closer to them as a boss, as a friend and as a confidante. It took me years of abuse at my mothers hands and emotional abuse from her words, feeling hopeless and unloved because I was overweight and I felt as if I was not worthy of being loved by anyone. Once my mom died, I lost the weight and my self esteem improved, I thought I would be fine....guess what: I WASN'T. One of the doc's I work for told me that I will be on Lexapro for the rest of my life, and that he feels that this is the best thing for me, and that as a friend of mine, and as a doctor, he will not ever let me go off of it for my own good. I can tell he's right too; it is in little things like being able to look at my desk overflowing with work and knowing that it will be alright instead of panicking and feeling like I am worthless because I can't get it all done in one day. It is in things like hearing a compliment and being able to admit in the smallest way to myself that maybe it is deserved; it is by looking in the mirror and being okay with what I see instead of wishing I had longer hair, or whiter teeth or a prettier smile.....It didn't happen overnight, and I still have days when it is worse than others. Overall though, it is worse when I am not on the meds. Please take care of yourself by getting in to the doctor, and if he prescribes meds: TAKE THEM and realize you are doing the best thing for yourself and you deserve it..... Best of luck. A friend, Kim