I just wanted to tell some good news
Hi everybody,
I haven't been on here for awhile. I just wanted to share something.
I have been depressed for about 3 years. It was my third bout for which I had to take medicine. I know from these experiences that I was depressed many times in the long past (anxiety attacks too). But back then, I never knew what was happening. (I was molested when I was 12.) I never even thought I needed help. I just thought this was how life was.
I am 54 years old now. Since I lost my Mom in August 2001, I took care of my Dad and being the baby of the family and having 2 brothers that are rather distant, it was a difficult time.
I just lost my Dad on Jan. 4, 2003. It is so strange now not to have either of my parents around anymore. I know others on here have suffered loss in many ways but I was spoiled. I know that. I have never known any tragedy in my immediate family until my Mom passed away. I was 52 years old at the time. It was so foreign to me. It always seemed to happen to someone else. I had 52 years of thinking that life would always have my parents in it despite my intellect telling me otherwise. I guess it's called denial.
Well, with these two events in my life, especially, plus events in the world, my depression grew worse. In the past, I only went to the family doc and he prescribed Effexor. It worked but the depression would return after maybe a year. I have seen a psychologist for about 12 years, on and off, but, of course, he can't prescribe meds. Just talk. It helped some.
So I finally went to a psychiatrist in March of this year at the urging of my wife. I should have gone a long time ago. This last bout was miserable for me. I went from 185 lbs. to 255 lbs. Stress eating.
This doc prescribed Lexapro. It's an anti-depressant that was introduced just last year. Maybe some on here know about it already. He told me I would start feeling better in about a week. I was very skeptical. Effexor took about 4 to 6 weeks. All I can say is he was right on. I woke up on the 8th day and noticed a profound change. I was still cautious. But by about the 11th day I was a believer.
I feel so much better now. So many issues, including stuff from my childhood, don't have the impact on me now when I think about them. The unwarranted guilt, the lack of interest in everything, being emotional all the time, and the anxiety...all gone. Now don't get me wrong. My mood can change here and there but I sure know the difference between a bad mood and depression. I used to take about 8mg of Xanax per day which was a lot for me. I would get so sleepy at work. But that was the trade off to get rid of the anxiety and cover the depression with a buzz. I only take it now at night for sleep. I am going to try to get away from it all together. One less pill to take.
So all I can say is this med has worked for me. I have no side effects with it. I wish I could have had it years ago. I am not a doctor so if this med interests you, check with your doctor. (I sound like a commercial!!)
This is something I felt like sharing this morning. I can't tell anyone where I work. Most just don't understand about depression and the associated meds (even my own brothers). Unless someone experiences it for themselves, they can't really understand. But I certainly wouldn't hold that against them. And I would never wish it on anyone.
Thanks for reading,
Still 12
I haven't been on here for awhile. I just wanted to share something.
I have been depressed for about 3 years. It was my third bout for which I had to take medicine. I know from these experiences that I was depressed many times in the long past (anxiety attacks too). But back then, I never knew what was happening. (I was molested when I was 12.) I never even thought I needed help. I just thought this was how life was.
I am 54 years old now. Since I lost my Mom in August 2001, I took care of my Dad and being the baby of the family and having 2 brothers that are rather distant, it was a difficult time.
I just lost my Dad on Jan. 4, 2003. It is so strange now not to have either of my parents around anymore. I know others on here have suffered loss in many ways but I was spoiled. I know that. I have never known any tragedy in my immediate family until my Mom passed away. I was 52 years old at the time. It was so foreign to me. It always seemed to happen to someone else. I had 52 years of thinking that life would always have my parents in it despite my intellect telling me otherwise. I guess it's called denial.
Well, with these two events in my life, especially, plus events in the world, my depression grew worse. In the past, I only went to the family doc and he prescribed Effexor. It worked but the depression would return after maybe a year. I have seen a psychologist for about 12 years, on and off, but, of course, he can't prescribe meds. Just talk. It helped some.
So I finally went to a psychiatrist in March of this year at the urging of my wife. I should have gone a long time ago. This last bout was miserable for me. I went from 185 lbs. to 255 lbs. Stress eating.
This doc prescribed Lexapro. It's an anti-depressant that was introduced just last year. Maybe some on here know about it already. He told me I would start feeling better in about a week. I was very skeptical. Effexor took about 4 to 6 weeks. All I can say is he was right on. I woke up on the 8th day and noticed a profound change. I was still cautious. But by about the 11th day I was a believer.
I feel so much better now. So many issues, including stuff from my childhood, don't have the impact on me now when I think about them. The unwarranted guilt, the lack of interest in everything, being emotional all the time, and the anxiety...all gone. Now don't get me wrong. My mood can change here and there but I sure know the difference between a bad mood and depression. I used to take about 8mg of Xanax per day which was a lot for me. I would get so sleepy at work. But that was the trade off to get rid of the anxiety and cover the depression with a buzz. I only take it now at night for sleep. I am going to try to get away from it all together. One less pill to take.
So all I can say is this med has worked for me. I have no side effects with it. I wish I could have had it years ago. I am not a doctor so if this med interests you, check with your doctor. (I sound like a commercial!!)
This is something I felt like sharing this morning. I can't tell anyone where I work. Most just don't understand about depression and the associated meds (even my own brothers). Unless someone experiences it for themselves, they can't really understand. But I certainly wouldn't hold that against them. And I would never wish it on anyone.
Thanks for reading,
Still 12
So many guys fear taking them and miss genuine opportunities. I also take meds and know their benefits. I often use the example of ADHD. It's like trying to steer your boat while the steerage is moving 200 X's a second and the boat goes wherever it will because you have no control. With meds, the steerage moves 4 X's a minute and you can take control of your boat's steerage...go where you want. That is, when you get the help to understand how to steer and where you need to go now that you're in control. 
