I think it's time... (edited after seeing Dr)

Hi Roz, the depression plus the eating disorder has been the worse time of my life and I hate being controlled by it so it's time to get control of it. Thank you for your helpful input as always! 

I started Wellbutrin and Clonazapam a few months ago and my life is a 1000 times better!  No more violent mood swings and rage from hell!

I haven't experienced any weight gain.

Ok good to hear, and glad those are working out for you. I was thinking I might need to get on a combo of something besides Welbutrin for immediate results until the Welbutrin kicks in.

I actually took Wellbutrin to help lose weight one time with Adipex and it worked.  Food was the last thing on my mind.  I did not have any side effects from it.  I think it might cause some blood pressure issues in some people.  They watched mine very closely while I was on it.

I have taken Celexa for anxiety and I didn't gain weight with it either.  My DD has taken Prozac and had the weight gain side effect.

Good for you to know when you need the meds.  Nothing wrong with getting what ever kind of help you need!!  Remember we are here for you!!  Hope you feel better soon.

Linda

Thank you Linda, great to hear you didn't have side effects...I'm hoping it will do the same for me!

It is so brave to acknowledge that you are struggling and that you need some additional help.   Depression is an ugly beast and sometimes medications are what is needed to beat it down.  I have seen antidepressants work wonderfully in my work and in my family.   I wish you the best of luck and hopefully with the combination of meds and counseling you will be feeling so much better soon.

Good luck to you!!!!!




~~~Jennifer

Yeah,  I just can't take it anymore I need to get on something and see if it helps with the counsling. Thank you Jennifer!

 I battled depression for years (probably since high school) but didn't get help until my 30's. I've been on several different meds.  LIke everyone else has said, they take awhile to kick in so hang in there.

I had no appreciable weight gain with any of the meds.  I also took Wellbutrin for a long time, eventually coupled with Effexor.  I had good results with many but when I found the right one, my life turned around.  Eventually I stopped taking both and am now on just Effexor.  Can't take the extended release of course, so I take one in the morning and one at night.

For me the doctors now feel I probably have a strong genetic predisposition to depression so I may be on a low dose for life.  I can live with that.  I tried going without a few times but rebound depression is horrible.

You are on the right track to be considering meds.  It is really no different than any other physical illness.  If you needed insulin for diabetes you probably wouldn't even be questioning your decision.
You do what you need to do and feel better.

BTW-my daughter is bipolar (diagnosed at 9) and has a serious case which took a bazillion combinations before we found the right meds for her.  She now takes Lexapro and Abilify.  Unfortunately the Abilify does give her slight hand tremors, especially when she is tired.  But, as she is now stable and able to hold down a job, school and a relationship, even she says she'll take the tremors anyday over instability.

Best of luck.
Janet

Janet, it makes me feel much more comfortable taking the meds knowing that I'm not the only one. I also feel better knowing that I did try everything else for months before I considered medication and now it is time for it. I might look into the Lexapro and Abilify actually, that sounds like me (can't hold a job, school or a relationship.) Thank you Janet.

Good for you to get ahead of the issue. 
While I can't help you with any recommendations for anti-depressants, I can recommend some other coping mechanisms besides exercise, which sometimes you can't do (like in a meeting, at a family event, etc)

EMDR (aka "tapping") works for  many folks.  Also, you might want to consider visualization, the kind where you imagine a movie projector playing a movie of things that bother you.  A trained clinician can help you with these types of coping mechanisms.  There are many, these are only 2.  I use them to help me battle stress at work.  I also do the zoom in-zoom out technique, and I learned to breathe properly.  All four techniques even out my moods, which can swing wide.

Congrats on being proactive about healing depression.  Why some people don't recognize depression as an illness as dangerous as diabetes or high blood pressure is beyond me.
tracey