Full Blown Depression

[sugarssweetpea]

I started taking Effexor 75mg about 12 wks ago. Things were going well, now all of a sudden I am in a full blown depression. I have no motivation to do anything, yet hate who I am & want to change, my sugar cravings are back stronger than they have ever been, I have been thinking that my family especially my children would be better off without me, I am sad, oh so sad, my anger is back, anxiety as well. I don't know what is going on. I thought things were going to be better for the first time in a long time. I have even had thoughts of cutting & I have not done that in 7 years. Never sober either. Now I am really having to talk myself out of it. I did not think this was supposed to happen on meds. Especially when it started out so good.

[suki44883]

Sugar, sometimes it takes several tries before the correct medication is found that will work for you. Perhaps Effexor isn't right for you and you need something else. I'd call my doctor and explain how you are feeling and ask him what he thinks.

[nandm]

Call your doctor today!!

If an anti-depressant has stopped working for you then he can get you started on something else or fix why it isn't working or change your dose. But what ever is needed you need it ASAP from the sound of things. I have had AD's stop working for me as well. I have been on about 5 different AD's So far (crossing my fingers) Cymbalta is lasting longer than any of them as I have been taking 3 years now.

Please let us know how it goes.

[Toomutch]

Please see your doctor and don't hesitate.

[historyteach]

I agree, SSP,
It's clear you need to discuss this with your doctor.
Your symptoms are worse, not better.
So, the meds are not doing what they are supposed to be doing.

Please call, and let us know how you're doing.
We really do care.

Shalom!

[shutterbug]

i don't know what other meds you are on, but it could also be that if you are bipolar, that you have dropped into a depression lower than you were in when you started on meds.

A GIANT WORD OF CAUTION: No medication can cure clinical depression. Meds , and other depression treatments, can only help us get through the depressions for a while. We can't look at meds like they are any kind of "knight and shining armor" in the blackness of our lives where mental illness is concerned, because if we do...then we will always be disappointed.

Regardless, i agree with the others, it is imperative that you see your psychiatrist ASAP. There are meds he/she can add and doses he/she can change, etc.

And if you are seriously thinking of doing something that could permanently harm yourself then please go the the emergency room. I know that's not what any of us want to do when we are in those mind frames, but you owe it, not only to yourself, but also to your family to do so.

Giantest Hugs,
Jenna

[shutterbug]

oh....and this also could mean that you have gone into a major depressive episode.

[sugarssweetpea]

I cried a whole lot yesterday. All at once. Let it out. Talked to my husband. Made myself interact with my children. My mood started to get better. Today has been really good.

Jenna - I am not on any other meds & I did not get the Effexor prescribed by a psychiatrist, but my gynecologist. I know he has the ability to change the meds as well, but I am not ready for that. As far as the bipolar, it is something that I have wondered about before. My sister has it & I do have mood swings, but quite a few of the other symptoms I do not have. I do not rapid cycle, I do not have bouts of insomnia or needing very little sleep. I am either very up or very down. There really isn't an inbetween. Which I did some investigating on borderline personality disorder yesterday online after reading another post on here about it & I actually have almost ALL of those symptoms. That as well made me feel better. Just knowing that I am not alone I guess. I am going to start seeing a counselor. My doc told me that it would be a good idea b/c the meds alone would not cure everything. I just have not gotten to it. Have been busy, have to figure out what to do with the kids & such. I am going to start seeing someone soon though. Want to tell them what I feel is going on & see what they think.

I thank you all for your encouraging words & for your concern. You are all greatly appreciated.

[Toomutch]

Glad you're feeling better today sugar. It sounds like you have a good plan.

[sugarssweetpea]

Oh yea, I forgot to mention that it also might be the beloved PMS. I never know when that is going to hit me if it even is. Some months it is during, sometimes a week before, sometimes two weeks before & then sometimes not at all. I dance for joy at the latter of the choices. I realized that it was somewhere in that time frame yesterday after I calmed down a bit.

[shutterbug]

sweetpea, thank you for sharing the update with us. It sounds like you have a good plan in motion. However, I'd like to add a bit of a push for you to see a real psychiatrist for ANY and ALL head meds.

It has taken me 5 years just to even find one THOSE that I trust to know enough about which meds to prescribe and such!! There is just absolutely no way i would trust ANY physical doc to also know enough about my mental health issues to prescribe meds like that to me.

Honestly, i TOTALLY think that physical health docs should NOT even be allowed to prescribe head meds....period! I mean, it's a LOT to keep up with even for a psychiatrist!

---

Sorry.....i had to give my little 'spill' on that issue.

Oh, and i too know how our monthly cycles can affect our moods, BUT if you are going so far down that you are thinking of suicide....there is definetly something more going on.

However, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a general physcian check your hormone levels of estrigen and testosterone and all that....actually, it would be a great idea to have a full-blown physical check-up if you haven't done one in a while.

Also, simply spending more time in the sun can help depression a bit b/c it produces vitamin D (which our bodies don't/can't produce enough of) and it raises our seratonin levels, which have a direct influence on depression levels. (Actually, my therapist repeated to me that her dermatologist said it only takes the average person 5 minutes in the sun each day to get enough vit. D for the day, but most of us don't even get 5 minutes without purposely making it a goal).

just some thoughts....

i'm really glad you are doing better!

Hugs,
Jenna

[reader]

IMHO 75mg is usually a starter dose. I would follow up with ur dr. Before my hysterectomy my cycle made me so depressed thats when I stared meds. I would make an appt. asap. Life can get better, pms can be life altering. Personally, I would not give suffer without trying everying possible.

[mizztake33]

Sweat Pea - thanks for sharing this. I too suffer from sever depression. It has taken me so far 8 months of therapy (3 days a week for first 4 months, now down to once weekly) plus 3 different meds together to make me start feeling 'normal' again.

Please see a real psychiatrist - that would be my only advice to you!! I put this off for so long because I was scared of what others would think - until I could not function at all. Psychiatrists are specialized to know exactly what meds work which ways in the brain; be open and honest regarding drinking, etc. and see a psychologist or counselor to talk. Group therapy worked great.

I wish you luck - I know how hard this is. . . . keep your chin up and call your doc!

[RedLady]

Maybe you have PMDD? That diagnosis changed my life, as I feel normal, then swing into a psychotic mixed episode that normalizes when my cycle completes. I, too, have a haphazard start date, so I understand your confusion. Maybe you could get some hormone tests, as recommended above, or at least let a doctor in on your problem so that they could refer you to a specialist.

[Live]

There are quite a few of us here who struggle with depression and my strong feeling are to repeat what others have already said....please see a psychiatrist, mental illnesses are complicated and the meds even moreso. For most of us, it has taken a combination of medications.....and it is trial and error...but too often our biggest mistake is to put off calling in and making an appoinment as soon as we are aware things aren't right.

You are not alone in struggling with suicidal thoughts. Last October mine became obsessive thoughts and I admitted myself into the ER.