Could it be depression?

Question

I have more sad days than happy days. Plus, I have awful PMS which doesn't help 14 days out of each month. I have tried anti-depressants more than once but stop taking them after about 2 weeks because they make me feel weird. Should I try to stay on them? Will they stop making me feel weird?

Answer 1

I took a look at your previous questions, and see a theme. It involves making and keeping friends. You alternated between staying at home and hiding from the issue, and working and trying to expand your circle of friends.

I recently took a course and learned about mental challenges. I am no professional, but support your query about depression/emotional anxiety.

I wonder about your past; if you have had lots of friends, or a few close ones? Has your social circle of peers changed dramatically, or has it been like this all of your life?

Either way I feel you should seek the advice of a counsellour, even if it is on the phone or online. Even if this is new behaviour, it bothers you. A key signal to a problem is if you notice it is not normal, and you are unhappy.

Please seek professional advice, you want resolution if you are seeking help here online. Do not give up, and share yourself with the world.

Your children will thank you for a well rounded Mom!

Answer 2

Do not give up. PMS is miserable - been there and done that. Antidepressants can help. The thing with antidepressants is it takes about two weeks for them to really start to show the effect. I'm not sure what you mean by feel weird, but there are many different types of antidepressants on the market. Talk to your doctor and be very specific about how you feel with no medication and how you feel after taking the medication. This will help you doctor decide which is best for you. Once you get a prescription do not stop without talking to your doctor first. Sometimes quitting the antidepressant can have a bad effect. You may need to slowly wean yourself from the medication and always under a doctor's care.

Answer 3

Who is prescribing your medication, your family physician or a psychiatrist? I have had clinical depression all my life so believe me when I tell you I know how you feel. I know from my own experience that it takes longer than 2 weeks for medication to take affect. Sometimes though you have to be a Guinea Pig, until they get it right. Meds can make you feel weird, and you should report any of these weird symtoms to your prescriber. Always be honest with your Dr., and yourselve and never ever be afraid to ask for help. I feel that therapy and meds go hand in hand when treating depression. You should never self diagnois and should be under the supervision of a doctor. Always know that there is hope for depression and you are not alone. I am happy almost all the time now, because I listened to my Dr.,had therapy and take the right meds for me. It was trial and error for awhile, but it was worth it. I'll be hoping this answer will help you and that you will find your way to a happy life. God Bless!!

Answer 4

It would be kinda foolish for anyone to tell you whether or not you have depression without knowing you more. You should really go to a psychologist and get a more thorough evaluation.

As far as the medication goes, it takes longer than 2 weeks for it to really work. The whole idea is that you take it for longer than that and your system changes slowly, hopefully resulting in your mood being a little more positive. It takes time to do what it's supposed to do and you need to keep taking it to stay that way.

Everyone reacts to medication differently, so if one particular kind makes you feel funny, don't be shy - tell your prescriber and try a different one. But you should really follow their guidelines on how much to take and don't stop without talking about it first.

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

If you're not satisfied by being sad more often than happy, then go change some part of your life: exercise more, eat better, go out more, drink less, read more, get more sunlight, sleep more, sleep less, surf the net less, watch less TV... choose something. Anything. To change your outlook you must change your life. (Or just take some anti-depressants.)
However, maybe this is you. You are not meant to be happy all the time (nobody is). I believe today's society is overly obsessed with being happy. Being happy and content with your life never made anyone change anything for the better. Without neurotic personalities, we wouldn't have most philosophy, literature, or scientific discoveries. Take pride in the fact that you aren't happy all the time! If everyone else was happy about jumping off a bridge, would you be happy about it too?
You have two options: deal with your depression and change something, or, learn to accept it, like I have.

Answer 6

You need to go to the doctor and talk about a lower dose of antidepressants, or a different kind. And after you see the doctor, you do need to keep taking them. Good luck on your healing journey. Give the meds a chance. Depression really is an illness that needs treatment. The weirdness you feel might be a chemical adjustment because you are chemically imbalanced. Tell your doctor everything and s/he can help you decide the best treatment. Go soon okay? It is important. Nobody needs to be depressed.

Answer 7

Sounds more like a mild case of bipolar disorder than simple depression. Go back and talk to your doctor about the 14/28 day cycle aspect. He or she will probably change your medication.

You can probably use the antidepressant during the down part of your cycle, but then it doesn't work during the up part. It would just make you more manic then. That's why you quit after two weeks. You might do better on something to stabilize you, like lithium. Or your doc may just tell you take the antidepressant as soon as you start feeling down, two weeks on, two weeks off, etc.

Answer 8

There are many causes to depression Stress and the perplexing nature of life in general is a major factor. The dysfunction of our society, the culture, problems with our environment and the general state of our lives overwhelm many of us daily. It is enough of a reason to make us depressed. Our thinking affects our brain chemistry and years of stress and toil can take its toll on us and show up in depression. Depression can also be the result of toxic overload resulting from overexposure to environmental and man-made chemicals, processed food additives, prescription and non-prescription drugs.

Depression can express itself through many different symptoms - depressed mood and feelings of worthlessness or guilt, social withdrawal and agitation, anger, difficulty with concentration or making decisions, insomnia or hypersomnia.

If your depression is due to toxic overload, anti-depressants may actually aggravate the symptoms of depression. Not only do they have side effects such as anger, agitation, insomnia, anxiety and nausea, they are causing the body to be overloaded with chemicals that the body has to process.

There are natural cures for depression that do not involve consuming pharmacological agents. They involve reversing the toxic overload that is causing you to feel depressed and listless, and making lifestyle changes that will give you the mental and emotional tools to deal with life in general.

Generally it takes longer than two weeks for most meds to kick in. You may have a combination of causes. In any case. You need to learn lifestyle changes that will help you.

There is a better way! Contact me. [e-mail]

Answer 9

ok firstly could be depression but u must take antidepressants for at least 6 weeks b4 they start to take effect. secondly if u are feeling wierd that could be side effects. as for the pms talkto ur doctor about herbal remedies st.johns wort. ....... eventually ullfind the right fit withan anti D justtakes some time ..

Answer 10

sounds like depression... were they prescription from a doctor? try staying on it and see if it helps... if not, go see a different doctor. isn't 14 days a little long for pms?