Is it still depression?

Question

I was depressed for many years, dealing with tons of issues in my life, now I feel for the first time in my life, I am happy, but at times I still ask myself and people ask me what is wrong. I stare into space always thinking all the time, my mind races like crazy, I am happy laughing and enojoying myself, then a short time after that I am feeling weird and anxious. I have been on meds for a long period of my life, due to depression, anxiety, panic attacks, nervous breakdowns, and have now been off meds for a year, is it time to go back on the meds? Am I ever NOT going to be depressed?

Answer 1

This is a pretty difficult question and only you will know if you are experiencing a relapse or whether it is a case of old habits die hard. Most people who have had struggled with chronic depression most of their lives have a tendency to slip back at times into old familiar patterns of thinking which will lead then back to full blown symptoms if they don't intervene. It is impossible to tell from what you wrote whether this is the case as it isn't clear whether you learned to identify the cognitive factors that contribute to relapse.
There are many people who will need meds throughout their life in order to maintain stability, but also there are many who developed thought patterns as a result of long term untreated depression that recur even when the chemical imbalance has been corrected. Depressive thinking becomes a habit and it's human nature to resort to what's familiar when we're stressed even when we know better. Try what you learned in therapy when you dealt with your issues and if you continue to experience growing symptoms that are more than transient, it is likely you will need the meds. If, on the other hand, using cognitive techniques and avoiding negative habits (like dwelling and excessive introspection) keep you functioning well for the most part, it may simply be a case of old habits die hard and your own anxiety triggered by any moments of sadness. Remember, feeling your feelings when there are sad things in your life or things that cause you concern doesn't equate with depression. Everyone feels moments of anxiety and sadness, but when you've struggled with these things for years at clinical proportions it is not uncommon to overreact when you begin to experience them at normal levels. It's a lot like PTSD if you think of chronic depression as having represented the trauma and normal ranges of sadness or anxiety become triggers.
If you had a therapist you worked with during the worst of it, a "tune-up" appointment with him/her may really be helpful right now.

Answer 2

Your body is probably adjusting to it's own normality. The meds are out of your system so it has to find it's way.

I would suggest a couple things before going back on meds. First, eat regularly, because some of what you describe sounds like low blood sugar, which happens if you go without eating for a bit too long, or eat sugary foods then crash. It causes one to be spacey, or anxious, or annoyed etc.

Second, get some exercise, 1/2 hour of exercise per day is proven to work as well as antidepressants. It doesn't have to be strenuous either.

Third, get some sun. Especially in the winter the lack of sun causes seasonal affective disorder. This rarely happens in the tropics where people get sun all year. So it will help to get some sun.

Fourth, talk to someone, nothing eases anxieties and worries like a good chat with a friend over tea I find. I've heard it said that Oprah has no need for therapists because she talks to her best friend every day. Something to keep in mind.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

At least you're better off than Tom Cruise, because you can admit you have a problem. People are telling you to give your life to Christ is a not bad idea( I'm a Christian), but what they may not realize is that with these problems it's hard to around other people. Check back with your doctor and keep seeing a counselor, even when you're feeling better. This all takes a very long time, but with the proper med's you may not feel the depression, anxiety, panic attacks, nervous breakdowns.

Answer 4

I have the SAME issue!! and yes it is possible that you are still depressed or having anxiety issues... i noticed that i would be taking meds for a while and then i feel that i am better so i stop taking them... but about a month later i would be right back down to where i was! My doctor told me that there are many people that have to stay on medications more than likely all their life or at least a huge majority of the time, Its caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain that is causing you to feel this way especially the anxiety issue... So talk to your doctor and tell them EVERYTHING that you are feeling, maybe they just need to get you on a low dose of something =) I hope everything works out for you!!

Answer 5

You need to go back to your doctor! Meds CAN help you!
If you have other issues to work on, of course do that too, but some people just have a chemical imbalance. There's nothing wrong with taking meds.
If you had these symptoms before and meds helped, why not go back to it? Why live with depression if you KNOW you don't have to?
Good Luck!

Answer 6

Well you know that you have worked through these issues,
and feel better now, except for starring..
I do not believe that meds is always the answer
I think some therapy or picking up a hobby to iron out your
emotions (art, yoga, reading, writing) could be another angle before jumping back to the meds.
Trying to deal without meds will always be the best way out.
why not try now?
Good Luck!

Answer 7

Meds wont cure you, many people who come off them will simply fall back into depression. Thats not to say depression cannot be cured because it can but you need to change how you think. consider Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with medication, I think it will help you a lot. You can either go to a therapist which I suggest, or you could get a book on it. Its mostly common sense but it helped me.

Answer 8

A healthy person daydreams and reflects regularly through the day. They frequently do not even notice they are doing it. Because you have a history of depression you are particularly sensitive to it and notice it much more.

It is excellent news that you have been free from medication for so long- so do not slip back now!

Pat yourself on the back, smile and get on with your life. You are obviously a lot stronger and well adjusted than you think!

Answer 9

I still get those feelings as well. I was never on any meds, 'cause they only make it worse, and I don't want to rely on a pill to be happy. I wouldn't go back to them unless you absolutely need to. Eventually if you solve the problem, you'll end your depression.

Answer 10

You don't mention anything about seeing a counselor. You know that medication will NOT cure depression. It only takes the edge off the symptoms. You want to NOT be depressed? Go get some therapy. It's the only way to get rid of it.