Sobriety and Depression
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 17
Sobriety and Depression
I am new to the board and wanted others to share about how they coped with depression. Recently, I have gotten medical treatment and was wondering what to expect from an anti depressant. There seems to be so many different kinds of medication and was wondering what has helped others specifically. I have been clean for over six months, but the depression has become overwhelming.
For some reason I have a hard time talking about this subject with others. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
For some reason I have a hard time talking about this subject with others. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 33
Hi there. I too suffer from depression. I have been on a few different meds. I just recently switched to a new med called Vybriid. I was seeing a psychiatrist but had to switch to a new provider due to insurance. I now see a Psych Nurse Practitioner that is very knowledgable and awesome. If you don't already, I would suggest that you see someone that is an expert on psych meds and not just a general practitioner.
For my anxiety and depression, I used to drink but I have given that up thank god. Stupid to add a depressant such as alcohol to a depressed brain but I did it for years. I am on meds obviously. I go to therapy try to exercise regularly and I recently started seeing a minister for spiritual counselling as well as connecting and getting involved with a wonderful church. Next on my list, is to clean up my diet but I'm trying to just tackle limited things at a time.
At one visit with my Psych NP I had been having a lot of anxiety. She said it could be from coming off alcohol. I am only one month sober but think I will grieve for a while (as I had a relationship with alcohol, therefore it's a loss) not being able to drink so I think that can add to my depression somewhat.
Meds are tough as, as you noted, different things work for different people. It's trial and error often and it sometimes painstakingly takes time to find the right one(s). Again, the key is seeing someone who is really knowledgable about meds to best treat what symptoms you are having.
Do you feel safe? I, off and on, have not felt particularly safe. I have also utilized a local help line and found them to be incredibly kind and helpful. That's also an option for you if you don't feel safe or just need someone to talk to at any hour of the day.
I hope this helps. I wish you the best. Don't give up - depression is very treatable. Just takes time sometimes.
For my anxiety and depression, I used to drink but I have given that up thank god. Stupid to add a depressant such as alcohol to a depressed brain but I did it for years. I am on meds obviously. I go to therapy try to exercise regularly and I recently started seeing a minister for spiritual counselling as well as connecting and getting involved with a wonderful church. Next on my list, is to clean up my diet but I'm trying to just tackle limited things at a time.
At one visit with my Psych NP I had been having a lot of anxiety. She said it could be from coming off alcohol. I am only one month sober but think I will grieve for a while (as I had a relationship with alcohol, therefore it's a loss) not being able to drink so I think that can add to my depression somewhat.
Meds are tough as, as you noted, different things work for different people. It's trial and error often and it sometimes painstakingly takes time to find the right one(s). Again, the key is seeing someone who is really knowledgable about meds to best treat what symptoms you are having.
Do you feel safe? I, off and on, have not felt particularly safe. I have also utilized a local help line and found them to be incredibly kind and helpful. That's also an option for you if you don't feel safe or just need someone to talk to at any hour of the day.
I hope this helps. I wish you the best. Don't give up - depression is very treatable. Just takes time sometimes.
I wouldn't try to give medical advice, but i could tell you my experience (i think) anyways, I've tried anti-depressants at least two times, three different brands, I didn't like the ringing ears, it made me feel weird, and they put a serious dent in my sex life, creating a need for another drug to rely on, but i guess anti-depressants must work for some people. I don't think i coped with my depression very well, i just tried to stop making new mistakes and worked towards improving my situation, it took a very long time, once things started to improve, i started drinking again which was counter productive, sometimes it helps me to think about how worse things could be, I work downtown, so going to inner city AA meetings made me feel my problems weren't too bad, there were people with really really bad problems.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 65
Last year, I was diagnosed with depression and was given Seroxat (Paroxetine) and Xanax. My experience was that they helped me to get on my feets again, but after googling a little bit, I was scared to death about experiences of people who used them. It looked to me if you enter this circle, it is hard to get out and you are destined to take them all your life. My doctor thought I didn't need counseling, just to drink the meds.
However, since I know my adictive behavior and that I already have problems with alcohol which just increased with taking antidepresant-they didn't stop me to avoid alcohol although I knew I shouldn't drink while on meds, they just increased the influence of alcohol, but hungovers were less severe and while on them I just didn't care about anything, I was irresponsible...to make it short I stopped taking them on my own, gradually decreasing dosage (I don't recomend that, although I didn't have any problems, I read some bad experiences with withdrawal).
The point is, I don't know which led to wich, drinking to depresion or viceversa, but they are connected.
I know the part of my problem is not managing to cope with my feelings, so I would take whatever is necessary to numb the feelings.
After I quit seroxat I realized that when I don't drink, the depression is managable.
I still take xanax ocasionaly and in very small dosage, but I would realy like to get clean from both alcohol and pills.
I realized one thing, when I was taking antidepresants, my life was the same, the same life that I thought caused depression, only my perception was altered...so I said to my self if the perception is only that changed, you should try to do it on your own and not by taking some magical pill, I see them the same as alcohol, or other stuff I use to avoid confronting my self and I also strongly believe that when I am ready to confront life and my self, to let go the past and stop beleiving that feelings can kill me, I will be on the right path.
I don't have certain suggestion, they realy helped me in the beggining and then I was feeling really bad, but I didn't want to be trapped in another vicious circle and I am proud on my self that I hade couradge to stop using them.
I think that counseling would have helped me more.
All the best,
M.
However, since I know my adictive behavior and that I already have problems with alcohol which just increased with taking antidepresant-they didn't stop me to avoid alcohol although I knew I shouldn't drink while on meds, they just increased the influence of alcohol, but hungovers were less severe and while on them I just didn't care about anything, I was irresponsible...to make it short I stopped taking them on my own, gradually decreasing dosage (I don't recomend that, although I didn't have any problems, I read some bad experiences with withdrawal).
The point is, I don't know which led to wich, drinking to depresion or viceversa, but they are connected.
I know the part of my problem is not managing to cope with my feelings, so I would take whatever is necessary to numb the feelings.
After I quit seroxat I realized that when I don't drink, the depression is managable.
I still take xanax ocasionaly and in very small dosage, but I would realy like to get clean from both alcohol and pills.
I realized one thing, when I was taking antidepresants, my life was the same, the same life that I thought caused depression, only my perception was altered...so I said to my self if the perception is only that changed, you should try to do it on your own and not by taking some magical pill, I see them the same as alcohol, or other stuff I use to avoid confronting my self and I also strongly believe that when I am ready to confront life and my self, to let go the past and stop beleiving that feelings can kill me, I will be on the right path.
I don't have certain suggestion, they realy helped me in the beggining and then I was feeling really bad, but I didn't want to be trapped in another vicious circle and I am proud on my self that I hade couradge to stop using them.
I think that counseling would have helped me more.
All the best,
M.
Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 33
I would caution anyone to discourage someone to not take medication that is recommended/prescribed by their doctor. Depression is a chemical deficiency, a disease, like diabetes. Diabetics often need meds and sometimes people do with depression. Depression comes in all shapes and sizes and some people, myself being one of them, need meds. The comment that anti-depressants are addictive is just not true. I know plenty of people that have been on them to get through a hard time and come off them just fine. I have been on them in the past and gone off them but in the last couple of years, have needed to stay on them consistently. Xanas is another story. It is a benzodiapine and is addictive just like alcohol. Regular intake of them can require detox, just like alcohol. I say these things with a pretty good knowledge base from being a nurse for 27 years and having worked in an inpatient alcohol and drug detox unit in a hospital.
Single is a pretty good voice of reason on this one. My experience is that antidepressants alone were not the best for me as I tended to become pretty irritable on them. I've probably tried at least 10+ different types since I was 14 and I am now 43 yay. LOL. I saw a See a Psych Nurse Practitioner as well and given my increased irritability on antidepressants she put me on a mood stabilizer. I'm not saying anyone needs one - just my experience so that you can observe yourself. Many people do complain of an increased desire to drink on some ADs - I did. Just so you know, my series of meds were trial and error for a while. I had to be really patient with the doctors while they got my meds right.
I hope my experience helps, biggest thing I'd say is just give the meds time and if you do get that increased urge to drink or do have other issues keep the lines of communication with your docs very open! Best to you!
I hope my experience helps, biggest thing I'd say is just give the meds time and if you do get that increased urge to drink or do have other issues keep the lines of communication with your docs very open! Best to you!
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