fadedbear92 said:Depression runs in my family. Honestly, as soon as things get even slightly stressful in my life, I hit a relapse that lasts a few months—basically, however long it takes for me to pull myself back together. I've tried Prozac at 7 mg, Zoloft at 5 mg, and right now I'm on Fevarin at about 3 mg. I also take Tegretol as a mood stabilizer; it helps me fight off those heavy crying spells during the day and keeps me asleep at night. Back when I was on Zoloft, I used Lamictal as a stabilizer. (Those are technically anti-epileptic drugs, but they serve a different purpose in psychiatry).
About a year ago, I dealt with severe GAP while taking Fevarin along with a tapering dose of Xanax—so it was essentially in my system 24/7. If you have more questions, feel free to shoot me a DM.
So, you're saying you have hereditary depression? I don't think I've ever heard of that being a thing. Does that actually exist, I wonder?😕
Emma, it can’t really be right that it’s just you and me hanging out here, can it? 😁 Everyone else seems to be busy firing up their grills, while I find myself without any company—and honestly, I’m probably lacking the motivation to seek it out anyway...😢
urbanskipper4 said:Look, everyone thinks their own struggles or symptoms are somehow "easier" than someone else's. Trust me, I deal with bouts of depression too. But for me, OCD is a chronic, brutal disease. You think this is easy for me? It isn't. But unlike you, I'm a fighter! I don't quit! And I never will! And honestly, I'm done arguing over who has it worse. I'm just saying: fight. Good luck.
Thanks, though it seems my depression is just hitting harder, or maybe I'm just a particularly difficult case since I can't find any sense in anything, nor do I have much will left... but I suppose that doesn't matter right now. I truly do wish you all the best in feeling better.👍
See, I actually doubt my mother has OCD—one minute she's perfectly happy and giving me a hug, then ten minutes later, she's a completely different person. She gets incredibly agitated, almost like she's lost her mind, turning on people with the intensity of a dictator. I'm not sure if that qualifies as OCD... but the way her moods shift so drastically is certainly strange.
ambermason16 said:Sorry, I didn't see this earlier... I've been totally buried... I've just been dying to curl up with some big, fluffy white pillows... 🤷you know, specifically those massive, cloud-like white pillows😁
urbanskipper4 said:I'm not there because there's no point in just lying around in a hospital bed. I have to work and fight through this. I stayed at a facility in Boston. Maybe you just need a different prescription. I've learned how to carry my own crap and just live with it. I have bad days too, moments where I feel like I'm about to snap, but I don't let it happen. And man, this OCD is killing me. It's eating me alive, but one day, I'll wash it all away for good. Go to the hospital if you're feeling low. I mean it. You'll be fine, trust me. Just don't start messing with your meds on your own. Don't do anything drastic to yourself because everything can be fixed. It's a huge blessing that your parents actually get you. That's a massive plus. Hang in there! It’s gonna be okay, I’m sure of it!
It’s pretty obvious from your post that you actually have a sense of purpose in life. See, I don't have that, and I think that makes a massive difference. Beyond that, you're dealing with OCD. I'm not trying to diminish your struggle, but nobody has ever ended it all because of OCD alone—it's the depression that usually does the damage, and that's far more common.👎👎 We could probably sit here and dissect this for hours, but truthfully, depression has pushed me toward the edge three times already. If I hadn't been unsuccessful in those attempts, I wouldn't even be here to type this.
urbanskipper4 said:Why does the idea of taking meds bother you so much? They're literally there to help us. You've only been on them for three weeks? Sometimes it takes a full three months before you actually feel the real impact. 🙂 You just gotta have patience. If one doesn't work for you, you switch to another. 🙂 I've been on mine for eight years, so what? I'm still here. And I'm alive! 🙂I spent three weeks in the psych unit once. I used to cry whenever they let me out for the weekend because I didn't want to leave. Then I'd head back from the weekend to the hospital and cry because I didn't want to go back in. Dammit, most people deal with that exact same cycle. I totally get where you're coming from. Don't worry, it'll be fine. A dreamer said on the forum: "Everything has its beginning and its end." I actually believe that's true. Sounds optimistic, right? Honestly, all this bullshit needs to stop for everyone.
But you're home now. What happened with the psych ward? Why aren't you there anymore? I suppose I just have to stay put, mostly because my parents are terrified I'll do something drastic to myself. My mom calls me every single day from work just to check if I'm okay. Yesterday, I ended up taking too many pills at once, and I could barely stand; I don't even remember much of it now, except for my parents telling me that if it comes to it, they'll send me to the best specialized clinics in the country to get properly treated, even if it takes a whole year. Where did you stay, and what was your experience like there?
Honestly, I don't know about all of you, but whenever it hits me that I’m looking at a minimum two-year stretch on these ADs, I just lose it. Every single morning I wake up feeling just as miserable and pathetic as the day before, and I struggle to even imagine myself existing two years down the line. 👎
I mean, if someone like me—someone who’s already been through the psychiatric ward and now feels this overwhelming urge to go back there again (even though I know deep down I just want to be home)—is feeling this way, then I really don't know what my ??!! is anymore. 🤷
urbanskipper4 said:Thanks for having my back. It’s tough, seriously. My kid is trying his best to help me out, giving me advice and everything, but man, it's easy to say "don't worry," "move on," or "just forget the past." Like, oh sure, I'll just wear dirty clothes and stop showering, maybe nothing will happen then, right? Then he tells me I don't even need medication. If that's the case, what's the point of Big Pharma making them at all? I know he means well—he actually listens to me—but he just doesn't get how brutal this fight really is. Anyway, I really need to find a therapist or something because I'm stuck. I've been spinning my wheels in the exact same spot for 9 years now. Honestly, things have actually gotten worse lately. I'm on a different prescription now, so we'll see how that goes, I guess.???
I don't know... personally, things feel a little better on my end, though I still find myself feeling miserable and heavy with sadness almost every other day, whereas before, it was every single day. It’s a small step, I suppose, but at least it's a step in some direction!
urbanskipper4, honestly, that sounds like such a heavy burden to carry, especially when you consider the kid was only nine years old at the time! just try to hold your ground, I suppose... don't let them get the better of you.😉
One of the most frequent reasons why antidepressant treatment fails to hit the mark is either an insufficient dosage or stopping the medication far too early. I suspect this usually boils down to the side effects being too much to handle, or perhaps just a general lack of information among patients and their families about how these things actually work. Nowadays, the standard medical consensus seems to be that if you're dealing with your first depressive episode, you really ought to stay on the medication for at least a year; if it's a recurring issue, they suggest sticking with it for three to five years.
And up to five years?! You're telling me I have to pop pills every single day for that long? 😁 Oh boy, I guess I'm just a baby then, since I've only been on them for three weeks. 😁
When people talk about a chronic illness, I suppose what they really mean is that there isn’t a cure—just a lifelong management plan where you're essentially treating it until the very end. That’s how my doctors at the Mayo Clinic put it when they described my condition as a chronic, recurring illness, and now, on top of all that, I’m dealing with depression too. It makes me wonder, maybe quite a bit, if this struggle is also destined to be something I'll be managing for the rest of my life...😕
fadedbear92 said:It worked for me right away—though, I was incredibly drowsy at first. Since my main issue is anxiety, it really helped level me out.
In the past, I’ve tried everything from Prozac and Zoloft to Effexor and Lexapro—some for a while, some just briefly.
Which ones were you on, and for how long? Why did your doctor switch your meds now—are you dealing with a relapse? Do you have her cell number so you can give her a call? Is she in private practice?
For me, Lexapro is definitely the gold standard. It really works, and honestly, I don't even seem to notice any side effects... if that's even possible.🙂
Jack Hayes682 said:Whoops, I wasn't talking about alcohol, I meant that substance you took that day 🤣 🤣 hajde de, you really should be disgusted by alcohol, considering everything it does when people abuse it 🙄
Zeldox... hmm.
Zelnorm... hmmm, are you implying that you actually have a soft spot for it?🤣
And you really don't remember? Give me a break. It wasn't exactly ancient history. 😕 Go check your calendar for that day😲 and hire a sitter just in case you decide to take another dose by mistake.👍
NO, I really don't remember! And I don't drink alcohol! I suppose it might be some side effect from the Zeldox.... 😕 But hey, thanks for filling in the blanks in my head... hehe
I can't quite remember if I mentioned the Reo or the spray bottle earlier... it’s been nagging at the back of my mind all day. What was I actually rambling about? Which medication was I referring to again?
Look, Kenneth, please convince me you aren't just trolling here—or better yet, prove to me I don't need to call 911. You're actually starting to worry me. 🤷
huh? I’ve just read what I wrote four times now, and I honestly can't recall actually typing this, let alone when I did it or what on earth I was even thinking about!??
I suppose I must have had some kind of blackout back then.🤷
mistyscout2 said:Look, I’m definitely not a psychiatrist; I was just genuinely curious about what triggered such a reaction—and I promise there wasn't any hidden subtext or anything behind my question. I'm really just interested in the facts. Honestly, I thought I was being as polite and straightforward as possible, so I'm a little confused by the cynicism. I've been studying related topics for a few years now, and I guess I'm just naturally inquisitive.
Are you a psychiatrist? If you are, I'd love to hear your take on this. And if you aren't, that's fine too.
Don't talk to her like that; she's a force to be reckoned with here.☕
Ever since I started taking this Nexium, I feel this constant, nagging urge to just lie there and hug cold pillows... you know, those crisp, white ones that stay chilled all night...
Arthur Vaughn2 said:So, I have a quick question. Along with my Zoloft, I've been prescribed Misar to take as needed, plus Arvind (25 mg) twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Does anyone know if taking Arvind (an antiepileptic) messes with how birth control pills work?
I guess you should probably tell your boyfriend no unprotected sex yet, right? 🤣