Depression

[Conspiracy.]

Just wondering if anyone else here has problems with depression and anxiety? I'm on Anti-Depressants right now (Citalopram, 40mg to be exact) and I feel much better than what I used to I used to get awful mood swings. I would be happy as Larry one day (not "manic", just happy) and then crying for no reason the next. I'd also used to get panic attacks now and then. I haven't had a full-blown panic attack in over a year now.

I still get depressed during the winter (I believe I have Seasonal Affective Disorder) but I'm getting a lot better now Spring is coming.

I'm just wondering if I'm the only person here with these issues.

[MKR&*42]

I've had depression realllyyy bad before. For year 8 and 9, I was the most depressing person you could ever meet and I did some "stupid stuff". I never went to a doctor or anything because I was too afraid to "open up" all my feelings to my family or a doctor. I have had occasional mood swings, I had some a few weeks ago and they were absolutely horrific - I had about 9 mood changes in 2 hours ;//

I'm much better now though. I guess life just improved greatly for me - I can get stressed easily though - as for panic attacks, I've only ever had 2 in my life... I never get them but they are truly horrible so I can understand how you felt.

[dirrty]

i don't wish to come off as critical/insulting or anything, but when it comes to depression, people are quick to place that label upon themselves. i'm not saying you're not depressed, but a lot of people just use it as an excuse for mood swings, feeling down, etc.

[Jssy]

Yep a bit of both tbh. I was on the contraceptive pill (microgynon 30) since I was 12 and after the first year I started doing bad things and I'd just sit in my room and cry. I was diagnosed with depression from it and put on to a lower dose pill which helped loads and they offered me anti depressants and my mum wouldn't let my dr give me them because of the effects anti depressants can have on people, so I had to just cry it out haha, eventually I felt a lot better and I don't really have those problems any more.

I have a sleeping disorder associated with the rem sleeping pattern - eye movements, and the stages of sleep. My doctor diagnosed me with Sleep Paralysis. I was so glad when I told him because it was a huge relief. Basically what happens often is I will sleep then have a nightmare and wake up and like act out that nightmare or I will wake up but not be able to move at all, except my eyelids, I'm able to look around with my eyes but not move my arms or any of my body, I can't turn my head and I try and scream out but when I do nothing comes out, it just feels like I'm making a squeaking noise to myself. My doctor said that it's rare, but it's not unheard of but it's not common in people either. I was given sleeping tablets and I'm off those now but I still get a bit of anxiety with sleeping. I find it really hard to sleep because I am terrified everytime it happens, so I don't get as much sleep as I should. I believe the tablets helped a lot though because it doesn't happen as much anymore, just around twice a month now.

I wrote a lot there but I really do believe talking to someone experienced does help. I used to talk with other sufferers of my sleeping disorder and I found out that I really am not alone, other peop;e call it the old hag syndrome because it feels like someone is sat on top of your chest.

[Conspiracy.]

i don't wish to come off as critical/insulting or anything, but when it comes to depression, people are quick to place that label upon themselves. i'm not saying you're not depressed, but a lot of people just use it as an excuse for mood swings, feeling down, etc.

Honestly I thought the same for years. I payed no attention to it until I nearly took an OD. I also started drinking a lot to try and numb myself. Honestly, I think Citalopram may have saved my life. I don't know if I could have dealt with it for any longer. It scared me.

[FlyingJesus]

I also found that citalopram helped massively - it's not a long term solution but at the very least it helps you (or at least, helped me) to be in a stable enough state to find other things to help you. I'm pretty sure that without medical intervention I'd never have gone back to college, never have maintained many of my friendships, and would still be having panic attacks for no apparent reason, something which I too have not had in over a year now.

[Conspiracy.]

It actually worries me that I may never get off it :/ I'm too scared I'll sink back into depression. Then again my dad has been on it for nearly 10 bloody years and he seems fine.

[Chippiewill]

I used to have some major anxiety problems then I saw a CBT therapist for a year and then I was fine. No meds apart from sleeping pills.

[Conspiracy.]

I've had therapy too. Didn't seem to work very well. I found my mental health nurse/therapist/whatever the hell she was very patronising -____- grrrr. I'm also genuinely interested in Psychology and CBT myself so I knew what she was going to say before she would say it.

Obviously it may help some people more. It just wasn't my thing.

[Stephen]

im on 100mg sertraline hi