How long did it take for you to find the right treatment for your depression?

Question

I've tried cognitive behavioral therapy, but being an introspective person who read college psychology text books as a child, it was a bit too obvious to be effective and other therapies don't appeal to me for various reasons.

I do attempt a healthy diet, regular excercise, a proper sleep habit and engaging in activities in which I have enjoyed including the arts.

I don't believe in herbal remedies for real problems therefore they won't work for me.

I left meds as a last resort and had a bad reaction to the first antidepressant I tried (Prozac). Basically, depression + excessive energy = a maddening hell. I quit after 6 months and stop seeing my psychiatrist and have been surviving for the last three years, but my depression is rearing it's ugly head again and my partner has suggested I try again with the meds...

How long did it take you? Did you have a mad reaction to one drug and find another helped?

Answer 1

All medications do is cover up the problem it does not take it away. If you want to take medications the rest of your life, go for it. I myself have suffered from depression for ten years and counting. I tried everything, therapy, medications, even better ways of thinking (yeah quit that one real quick when they wanted me to change pretty much who I was.) I am currently off of any medications and have been now for three years. I have my bouts of depression come and go but I find to talk it out with support groups, people who have what you have and know what you're going through because they've gone through it at one point or another can be very helpful. They become your friends and I've come to view my old support group as my family. I myself from finding so much help in a support group have started one on yahoo hear for people to meet and just let out their frustrations. Left you the link in the sources section. I hope this helps you. Good luck.

Answer 2

Many people have trouble with Prozac. There is nothing wrong with taking medication. It actually is much easier to cope if you DO take medication. There are so many medications out there that you can try these days, I am sure you can find one to work for you. The reason for depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Why wouldn’t it make sense to use chemicals that stabilize those chemicals? Antidepressants make your brain chemicals flow properly. Eating, sleeping, and living right are also great for depression. Talk therapy is good too, but you have to find someone you are comfortable with. You also have to find a style of therapy you are comfortable with.

I see a therapist who handles my medication and a counselor who handles my talk therapy. They communicate with each other to make sure that I am doing okay. My therapist always talks to me before making any medication changes. He makes sure that I am not having any serious side effects or ones that are too annoying. My counselor always asks me what I want to talk about each session. There are a few sessions, in which we discuss what he wants to, but that is only when there is business that needs taken care of or something out of the ordinary has happened. This has happened a few times after I have had a manic episode.

One other thing you should consider is that if antidepressants make you feel mad or hyperactive; then you might be bipolar. If you are bipolar and you take an antidepressant, it can cause a manic episode. You need mood stabilizers then.

Answer 3

From the time I first sought help for my depression/anxiety, it took me about 5 years to find something that worked for me. I first took Zoloft which did nothing for me and turned me off of meds. I went without any medication or treatment for a few years until things got so bad I had no choice but to see a psychiatrist again. I tried Lexapro which worked fairly well. Now I take Effexor, Klonopin and Abilify which is a good combination for me. I was finally diagnosed 'properly' and found that I didn't 'just' have depression. I have schizoaffective disorder which explains a lot of my symptoms that weren't being addressed before. Don't give up. My advice is to try again, possibly with a different psychiatrist, and see how it goes. I don't know anyone who found a solution the first time around.

Answer 4

Don't start with medication, start with therapy. The problem with medication is that it not only has side effects, but it's harder to evaluate the state of your depression, when your on medicines. A good therapist will help you understand when depression as an illness is kicking in and help you develop ways to cope. If that does not work, then medication should be considered. As you know, it is perfectly reasonable to be depressed sometimes, but if your depression leads to serious thoughts of doing harm to yourself or others or if it is causing you social or work problems, then it's time to seek help. Of course, if it lasts more than a few months, it's worth seeking help for even low-grade depression.

Answer 5

One thing I don't understand is why you quit you medications with out consulting your doctor?? That did not make things any easier for you. I have dealt with depression for over forty years because I was dignosed with chronic depression when I was 9 most of the times I can keep it mostly under control but every few years I have to go back into therapy and deal with medications. The current doctors that I have now are great and the medications that I'm on are doing pretty well But I have accepted that if I'm to remain stable and in charge rather than having the depression in charge I will have to stay on medications for rest of my life similar to my medications for my arthrists and other chronic illnesses. You should go back into therapy and see if your depression is chronic or if you didn't really deal with the issues that you should have and since you come off of you medications with out consulting your doctors you didn't really get all of the benifits from either the therapy and the medications.

Answer 6

prozac works for me. my doctor tried switching me to paxil as a possible remedy for stress headaches. The results were awful. Prozac has worked for me for many years now. I urge you to get back to your doctor. You wouldn't try to treat a kidney disease by posting questions here. Don't do the same with depression.

Answer 7

there are some really good meds now days.. sometimes it take a few times to get the right pills for you. as for me i got lucky and first one did the job. i have panic attacks... but talk to your dr and try working with them to find the right balance for you.. good luck

Answer 8

My brother has the same type of thing I do, so I just started the same meds he did and they work, though not the same dosage