Depression Medication thoughts/questions EDIT: Thanks

[shogunblade]

Every time I considered typing this up in the past, I usually stopped myself, but this time, I'm feeling particularly lower than usual, and who knows, maybe it'll make me feel better to know the answer rather than postpone it.

I, like many, am dealing with depression, and this particular week (or last three days) haven't been all that great. I realize that nobody has perfect days or weeks, but my problems are coming from the weather changing (and as a result, I'm feeling more miserable than usual), on top of some things I'm unsure about in my life (Nothing serious, There are two girls I'm unsure about, can't tell who likes me, that's what is sitting over my head, really).

With the weather changing and girlfriend thoughts being all that are bothering me, I'm seriously considering getting on depression medication. I've thought about it for years, and have dropped the idea for a few months because of my belief that drugs don't cure anything, they just help surpress the thoughts, but that you have to consider doing things with your life to make it better, and with the exception of the girlfriend issue, and maybe moving out of my parents house (Which isn't realistic, really), I don't know what else I can really consider doing to improve my life (I'm already watching what I'm eating, I'm losing weight, I drink water regularly, ETC).

I have many concerns about taking depression medication, and I was wondering if maybe the Escapist could help me (I know that not everybody is the same, and only a doctor can tell me what I need and what I can have and all that), but I have some questions that make me think I don't need meds. My questions are:

- I am worried that if I am on meds, my personality will change dramatically (I really don't want to be super happy), is it a legitimate concern?
- I am worried the things I do might lose interest if I'm on meds (I already don't like doing anything; Watching movies, playing games, performing music, acting in plays, writing this movie about depression and seclusion), will medication make me dislike these things more?
- Will my mood become worse as the weather changes, just as it is now?
- On my father's side, Mental Illness/Chemical Imbalance runs strong. I'm alright for now, thankfully, just neurotic (And perhaps mildly OCD/Filled with anxiety). Will Medication bring out something from my family I won't like/Exacerbate what I have now?

I can't think of anything else right now. These are all questions I have been curious about for some time, and it has taken me a lot of will to even consider putting this up. Whether I consider it or not, however, is up to a doctor and me. They are just concerns that I don't think a WebMD article can do for me. So I ask people that do take medication (and are willing to admit it), is there more you need to know to make a suggestion, or would you consider me a candidate or no?

Thanks for everybody's help. Maybe somebody gives me what I need to hear.

CAPTCHA: Solve Media Can Help

Fat chance.

EDIT: I took a bit of time to read everybody's particular takes on my concern (And the guy who said "Snap Out of It!", can anyone unlock him? That's what I've said to myself all these other times, and it's what has kept me from typing it up, there is some legitimacy to his comment too, at least aimed at me, anyway)
I want to say thanks for everybody that has tried to get back to me through quoting or what have you. I purposely went to the Escapist because I'd like to understand the whole gamut of problems I can have from real people than some checklist on a Website.
My mood changes rather dramatically (I went running for a half an hour after posting this, it helped) as time goes by.
I have problems with Seasonal Depression (Self-Diagnosing), but I'm absolutely sure I have some kind of problem too (It runs in the family, It'll catch up to me sooner or later), and I will probably talk myself seeing a psychologist soon (I've met one, but they live far enough out of my way that to meet takes too much time in my schedule).

I didn't want to post this to make people assume I wanted attention (I've tried writing this forum post about three times over the last year, and I almost didn't post this one), but I wanted to show that I actively was listening to what people have said. I don't know if I'll mess with medication now (But give it some time, see what happens), but I at least feel better that I addressed it. Thank you.

 

[corvuscorrax]

As someone who took anti-depressants for over half a decade here's my imput.

They are not some magic bullet or catch all, they will give you a slight edge in being more socially normal and acceptable in everyday situations.

This is what they were for me. However doctors will likely have you trying several different types of pills before one seems to be the best choice.

It takes effort on your part to maintain a prescription but the benefits can be worth it.

Try talking to your doctor about how you feel and see what he suggests.

edit: they will also somewhat normalize your emotions, I.E. you won't feel the sting of depression as strongly but also good things will not be as beautiful or fulfilling as they once seemed. It's up to you to determine if that trade off is worth it.

 

[manic_depressive13]

My best friend started taking meds and the first thing she did was try to kill herself. I'm not saying this is typical. They could well help you. However, they could well not.

 

[renegade7]

Anti depressants will not just make the problem go away. There is a psychological component, not just a chemical one.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

My own experience with the drugs was not positive. While taking Prozak, I found that I was less depressed certainly but also seemed to be living life while only partially awake - as though all of my emotional responses were suppressed. To put it simply, the problems still existed in the same patters as usual; they were simply muted.

That was my experience and it was with a single drug. I cannot speak to what others may find with the same or different drugs.

 

[JimB]

Okay, first things first: No one on this forum is a trained psychiatrist, so everything we say is anecdotal at best; and if anyone here is a trained psychiatrist, they probably wouldn't answer your questions anyway because of ethical issues. What I'm saying is, make an appointment and talk to a real doctor.

I am worried that if I am on meds, my personality will change dramatically (I really don't want to be super happy); is it a legitimate concern?

Anything's possible, but it's unlikely.

I am worried I do might lose interest in the things I do if I'm on meds (I already don't like doing anything; watching movies, playing games, performing music, acting in plays, writing this movie about depression and seclusion). Will medication make me dislike these things more?

Anything's possible, but it's unlikely. People on antidepressants will tend to have more energy than people with untreated depression.

Will my mood become worse as the weather changes, just as it is now?

Anything's possible, but it's unlikely. It sounds like you have some form of seasonal affective disorder, which, in my limited experience, tends to be treated by the same antidepressants as any other form of dpression.

On my father's side, mental illness/chemical imbalance runs strong. I'm alright for now, thankfully, just neurotic (and perhaps mildly OCD/anxious). Will medication bring out something from my family I won't like/exacerbate what I have now?

That's always a danger, but statistically, you're much more likely to just have to switch medications than to harm yourself or anything. Respect the possibility, but I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[shogunblade]

They are not some magic bullet or catch all, they will give you a slight edge in being more socially normal and acceptable in everyday situations.

I knew they wouldn't cure all my problems, or even cure my problems, I am just curious of those who have taken them what that individual person says and their experience with it all.

Anti depressants will not just make the problem go away. There is a psychological component, not just a chemical one.

I figured the problem wouldn't just go away, but the psychological component is that my mood is affected as the weather changes (among other things). Come December I won't be eating as much, even though I hardly eat in the winter already, and I'll be trying very hard to work calories off (I've heard exercise helps adjusting how depressed you can feel, but I can't jog for a half an hour all day long). I really don't want to deal with the fall leaves either, but it's october in 2 hrs of this writing (Mountain time).

Okay, first things first: No one on this forum is a trained psychiatrist, so everything we say is anecdotal at best; and if anyone here is a trained psychiatrist, they probably wouldn't answer your questions anyway because of ethical issues. What I'm saying is, make an appointment and talk to a real doctor.

I knew nobody was a trained psychiatrist, I wanted anecdotal evidence, It feels better to hear about legitimate things that happen from people (That sounds like a very evil thing to say, now that I've said it) rather than a checklist on some website and me playing Doctor because of a few symptoms; This is something I've wanted to type for the last year and a half, and I haven't. I knew if I didn't make an attempt and postponed it, it would sit in my head and nag at me until I did it. Now that I've typed it, I don't have to think about again (for a while, at least)

 

[Hunter65416]

I am worried that if I am on meds, my personality will change dramatically (I really don't want to be super happy), is it a legitimate concern?

One of the big misconceptions people have is that antidepressants 'numb' you mentally/emotionally or can make you 'zombiefied' which shouldn't be the case.

As for changing your personality: Absolutely shouldn't happen, The correct antidepressant should purely soothe unnecessary feelings of anxiety or depression.

If you feel that the antidepressant is having undesirable effects on your mood: Go back to the doctors and tell him/her about it, they'll likley switch you to something else. You may have to try 2-3 antidepressants before you find one that works with you.

Will my mood become worse as the weather changes, just as it is now?

I think most people feel a bit more cheerful on a sunny day, but from experience, the weather can make a substantial difference in mood when it comes to clinical depression, You'll likley become less influenced by it.

On my father's side, Mental Illness/Chemical Imbalance runs strong. I'm alright for now, thankfully, just neurotic (And perhaps mildly OCD/Filled with anxiety). Will Medication bring out something from my family I won't like/Exacerbate what I have now?

Shouldn't do.. Tell your doctor about it though.


Usually they'll take a few weeks to kick in, you might(or might not)feel a bit odd for the first few days but that does go away. Feel free to quote or message me if you have any questions.

Good luck

 

[Agayek]

- I am worried that if I am on meds, my personality will change dramatically (I really don't want to be super happy), is it a legitimate concern?

It can be. It really depends on you and the drug, to be honest. Nobody here can answer that question with any degree of certainty.

From what I remember, it's a fairly small subset of people that experience dramatic personality shifts, but there's really no way to be sure how it will effect you without taking it.

- I am worried the things I do might lose interest if I'm on meds (I already don't like doing anything; Watching movies, playing games, performing music, acting in plays, writing this movie about depression and seclusion), will medication make me dislike these things more?

Yes and no. The medication, generally, is used to 'normalize' your emotional responses. Things that are depressing become less so, but things that are fun also become less so. You'll most likely find that you'll enjoy things less, but that doesn't necessarily imply a loss of interest, just a lower emotional peak.

- Will my mood become worse as the weather changes, just as it is now?

See the first answer. Really no way to tell, though as I mentioned above, it should make the mood shifts less dramatic.

- On my father's side, Mental Illness/Chemical Imbalance runs strong. I'm alright for now, thankfully, just neurotic (And perhaps mildly OCD/Filled with anxiety). Will Medication bring out something from my family I won't like/Exacerbate what I have now?

This is a question only your doctor can answer. Some medications can trigger further/deeper episodes, while others will likely be completely harmless.

I can't think of anything else right now. These are all questions I have been curious about for some time, and it has taken me a lot of will to even consider putting this up. Whether I consider it or not, however, is up to a doctor and me. They are just concerns that I don't think a WebMD article can do for me. So I ask people that do take medication (and are willing to admit it), is there more you need to know to make a suggestion, or would you consider me a candidate or no?

As I touched on here a couple of times, your best bet is to talk to your doctor. Simply put, that's really the only way to get concrete answers to most of your concerns here.

From what you've said, I'd definitely recommend at least having that conversation. If nothing comes of it, then great, you'll likely be just fine. Otherwise, you'll at least get started on the road out of depression.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Okay, first things first: No one on this forum is a trained psychiatrist, so everything we say is anecdotal at best; and if anyone here is a trained psychiatrist, they probably wouldn't answer your questions anyway because of ethical issues. What I'm saying is, make an appointment and talk to a real doctor.

This. Fucking hell this. You do not want to be taking medical advice from a bunch of randoms on a gaming site.

 

[Baron_Rouge]

Yeah, I wouldn't really take our advice on this, but here's my two cents. If you need them, take them, but only if you need them and there's nothing else that works. While they may very well alleviate your depression, they also might not. Additionally, relapse rates for these things are very high, and, depending on what you're taking, there could be some nasty side effects. Generally speaking, if you can afford it, cognitive behavioural therapies are a much better way of doing these things. If you can get someone's help to change the way you think, the solution will be much more permanent. I'd go visit a qualified clinical psychologist before doing anything though.

 

[FrozenCones]

The process of getting onto medication is an ordeal in itself. I had to trial 3 or 4 different medications before I found one that suited me. If its truly something you are considering then I would recommend sitting down with your doctor or psychiatrist and discussing it with them.

They will make you feel like shit for a while. You need to take them for about a month before the chemical imbalance reaches an equilibrium. During this time you will be susceptible to all manner of side effects (or none at all).

If I can offer you one massive piece of advice. Once you're on them and you start to feel the effects dont suddenly stop taking them and assume you're "fixed". Cold turkey withdrawls of anti depressant medication royally fucks with you both mentally and physically.

For your reference, this is what i'm currently taking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venlafaxine

Whatever your choice, stay strong. Depression is a ***** but you can beat it!

 

[SquirePB]

The way I dealt with my depression was through healthy living (eating healthy, working out etc.) but I let that become too big a component of my life and ended up fucking up the other stuff (failed a semester of uni and lost my girlfriend). I think the key is finding the right balance and taking meds can help with that. As someone else mentioned they can take the sting out of the depression. This can free you up to focus on the things you want to improve in your life which will help you to beat it.
I personally didn't take meds while I was dealing with it largely because I was too proud to admit I had a problem. However a good friend of mine suffers from quite bad depression and has recently starting taking meds and has improved massively. It's still a daily struggle for him but he's reaching the point where he can see that there is an end to it and it can be beaten. One of the things he says has helped him is seeing me beat it and come out the other side a stronger and better person because of it.
Try to focus on things in your life that you do enjoy doing and are good at or want to be better at. Small successes in these things help to build your sense of self worth which for me was how I climbed back out of my depression. That and I want to show the girl I was dating that the man she broke up with wasn't the real me, that he was a pale shadow of who I really am. So I've tried to really push myself in everything I've been doing to show her that I will never give up again in the hopes that maybe we could get back together one day.

The important thing is to remember that you can beat it!

 

[Palademon]

The funny thing about anti-depressants is that side effects can include depression.

 

[Colour Scientist]

My best friend started taking meds and the first thing she did was try to kill herself. I'm not saying this is typical. They could well help you. However, they could well not.

With depression, they tend to make things worse for the first couple of weeks. I've never suffered from depression so I couldn't say how much worse, it's just what I was told by my doctor. That or, if you're totally debilitated by depression, they can elevate your mood enough to make you able to kill yourself. I always found that one a bit fucked up.

OP: Seriously, just go to your doctor and ask them. They will be able to answer all of these questions and decide what would be best for you. Added to that, if you do go on them, it's best to go for therapy at the same time. The meds will ease your depression while therapy will help with the long-term problems.

They won't make you super happy and from the what you've described, I doubt you'll be put on anything too strong, probably a low dose if anything. To be honest, I don't think you have anything serious but go to your doctor if you're worried about it.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I take them and they do help. They work much better than I expected and I really wish I had taken them when I was in high school... well maybe not still waiting on the whole anti-depressants/teen suicide debate.

Anyway, my point is they are great at giving you a level head so you don't fret about everything. They DO NOT make you happy, they just make it so you don't go into depressive attacks of darkness for no apparent reason. For example:

You are hanging out with your friends at Coldstone. Your eating your favorite ice cream and laughing at one of your friend's jokes. Suddenly, you remember your life is shit and you get depressed and sad. All you want to do is go home and go to sleep until the pain stops.

On Meds:
You are hanging out with your friends at Coldstone. Your eating your favorite ice cream and laughing at one of your friends joke. You feel happy because you are laughing and having a good time. Yes, your life is not perfect, but it that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the little things.

 

[Doclector]

I dunno. Personally, I've sworn never to take meds for mental issues, neurological/chemical in nature or not.

I simply can't imagine a foreign entity having influence over my mind. Sure, you could argue with all my tendency to panic and possibility of swinging from depressed to manic and back again, I don't have "control" right now, but at least the rogue entity is that of my mind, not a drug.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

 

[Griffolion]

My depression is currently really messing with my motivation to do university work. I feel like I've no idea what to do, and thus feel hopeless and don't bother. Any one else get that sort of thing?

 

[AngloDoom]

My views of depression medications are rather skewed and bias, so please take everything I say with a handful of salt.

I personally think you should try everything but depression meds before trying depression meds. You sound like you're already taking quite a proactive to dealing with it (writing plays, watching what you eat, etc) and this is certainly the best way of coping with it from what I've seen. I personally find a sport of some kind massively lifts my mood and gives me energy on even the worst days and I've had friends who were down from very taxing illnesses cheer up and improve their life by taking an active hobby that gives them something to focus on. Just an hour or two a week of climbing, martial-arts, dance, whatever can really boost confidence and your mood.

Some people I know have kind of dug their own ditch when they started antidepressants, with it giving them just enough energy to get out of bed and have a semi-productive day but little else and making them somewhat reliant on the medication to simply tick days off of a calendar rather than do anything with their time. If you can avoid medication I'd certainly do it, but only if you fill in that time you spend down and apathetic with something that gets you focused and gives you a sense of gradual, but constant, improvement.