I have chronic depression. The episodes are becoming longer and heavier?

Question

this last one is going on a year and a half. I've tried everything short of ECT. Therapy.. All the drugs..I'm on Lithium, wellbutrin, and zoloft now. This is way too long. I feel really guilty about it. I have a hard time dealing with it. I don't know how much is my fault for being lazy or weak. Anyway i'm open to suggestions. Don't write things like...you have to decide to be happy because I'm tired of hearing those,

Answer 1

First! Get off the personal guilt trip! It is a chemical imbalance, you are not lazy, weak, stupid, or worthless...Just in need of some balance! The heavy metal drugs you mentioned work at first and then the dosages will get increased to attain positive results. All psycho-tropic drugs are hard on the physical body, the drugs you mentioned are heavy metal elements and wear on the body, which translates to a secondary depression.
I am not a doctor, but I play one on Answers!
The love of my life has gone through all the above before and I can relate first hand to your dilemma.
What seems to work is a combination of Seroquel and Topamax. Just a heads up...Don't let them up the Seroquel to the point you feel brain dead all day! If it helps you sleep soundly all night but wake up clear headed...you have the proper dose.
Of six billion people in the world, you share that condition with five billion...Which puts YOU in the majority! Take solice in noting that you are not alone, your situation is ever so common, and with proper care you will be...Outstanding!

Answer 2

I'm really sorry to hear about your problem.

Something like 85% of depression cases are easily treatable. The other 15% requires intervention by the top specialists.

What I think you should do is to attempt to locate other people who also have depression that is difficult to treat. You could even set up a web site. This would allow you to get various treatment ideas for free that have worked for others.

You could also consult with some of these psychiatrists once you locate them. Another option is to search medical articles for difficult to treat depression.

Unfortunately it is hard to find the motivation to do all of these things until the depression is cured.

I know that there is a treatment center- I think it is in New Jersey - that treats these kinds of cases. I remember reading a book that identified this treatment center.

Answer 3

Guilt has no place in this discussion. If you are clinically depressed, you have a disease, just like someone with diabetes. My wife has manic depression. It took several years before she was stabilized and then several more before we could get her on meds that gave her a better quality of life. Please do not give up on this.

I was for a number of years a family support facilitator for NAMI, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. There may be a local chapter in your area. Usually, members there have been through all the doctors and practitioners and can help point you to those that are most effective. Also, NAMI can help with support for your loved ones, something they are not likely to get in the general mental health field.

A good psycho-pharmacologist would probably be a good move for you. They are somewhat rare compared to psychiatrists, but they are out there and are experts at the pharmaceutical side of treatment.

Please stick with it. I know its tough, but help is out there.

Answer 4

God, I so know the feeling. I have been battling with depression and all of its wonderous drugs for years. I was diagnosed in my early 30's only to find out that I probably had symptoms even in my early teens that no one was aware of...really explained my childhood..sheesh. In my case, it was heriditary...my mom, grandmom...they all suffered as well. My father died 2 years ago from a massive coronary brought on by depression medication that caused weight gain that put too much pressure on his heart...do the math...it sucks...

Like you, I feel like a guinea pig for antidepressants. Wellbutrin definately sucked...brought out the rage in me...I have found only just recently that Cymbalta has helped a lot...I mean a whole lot...talk to your doctor about the different chemicals in your brain that stimulate mood swings...you'd be amazed...apparently Wellbutrin focuses on one sort of chemical...while Cymbalta targets another....

I also find that going to the gym and exericising helps...or just putting on walking shoes and take a nice long walk helps...I'm not saying become a workout freak...but apparently there's something to be said about getting some healthy exercise... It has to do with your heart...not just a weight loss thing...apparently has something to do with getting the heart beating and the blood flowing...I find even getting in the pool and swimming for a bit really does wonders.

I hope this helps. I'm rooting for you.

Answer 5

I'm so sorry to hear that you have been having such a rough time. I hope that you are getting a lot of support! It sounds like your current medications aren't/haven't been working, and that your depression is severe. Have you considered going inpatient for a complete med wash and starting on new meds? Also, do you have a therapist that you like and trust? If not, I would strongly urge you to find one (including a link, just incase!)

I hope you feel better soon....chemical imbalances suck!

Answer 6

The tingleys are the worst! i've got consistently had them, and all the tests that compliment them. I took Zoloft for 2 years, however the sexual area outcomes have been too lots for me. there are maximum of recent meds out now, you merely could discover the perfect one for you. I went by approximately six in the previous I have been given the perfect one, wait and notice! Ask your surgeon for another decision that ought to journey your desires, Zoloft became the only one that had those area outcomes for me, not one of the others did.

Answer 7

The #1 hormone - because it can affect the production of all the other hormones - is insulin. It can affect your mental state if it is imbalanced. Ask your doctor for a fasting insulin blood test . Ask for a copy of your results. 10 or higher is abnormal for an adult.

If your insulin is abnormal, eating a diet that discourages insulin production should help.

For basic information on hyperinsulinemia, check out www.mayoclinic.com and search for hyperinsulinemia.

Answer 8

None of it is your fault, you just have a"chemical inbalance" I'm reading a book now called "what to say when you talk to yourself"
http://www.amazon.com/What-When-Talk-Your-Self/dp/0671708821/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_3_txt/002-3617241-4588821?ie=UTF8
it's pretty interesting, You really don't know how much you believe of yourself was put in your mind by the words of others0_0. I'm learning alot(I get depressed too, and am under therapy).

Answer 9

i suffer from the same problem and in my opinion the medication makes it feel worse although your doctor needs to test your blood to make sure that you are on the right dose of the lithium or it does no good that is my experience with the drug

Answer 10

i feel like i wrote that - i hope u feel better soon because is does get so tiresome - i don't know how much longer I can take it.
sumtimes i feel i am going crazy, and just put up a front to get through the day.