Discussion
weeboot said:
MellowshipSlinky said:
I’m at the other end to you - I had my first tablet this morning and not looking forward to potential side effects at all.
Sorry to see that your other thread disappeared. It was well written. Look a couple of pages back for my writing. Sometimes you need a catalyst to help you write, sometimes that writing is cathartic. 
weeboot said:
MellowshipSlinky said:
I’m at the other end to you - I had my first tablet this morning and not looking forward to potential side effects at all.
Sorry to see that your other thread disappeared. It was well written. Look a couple of pages back for my writing. Sometimes you need a catalyst to help you write, sometimes that writing is cathartic. And being told I was a good novelist wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
Edited by MellowshipSlinky on Thursday 23 November 16:49
weeboot said:
Removing yourself from medication prematurely, without doctors guidance, generally doesn't work too well.
I tried it, a couple of times, it had relatively bad results each time. The trouble is, you feel fine, so begin to think "I don't need these any more". Taper your dosage over a few weeks to a month and carry on.
The trouble is, they generally take about 6 weeks to start having an effect and any changes need to be persisted for that sort of period to observe their impacts.
I'm back on 40mg fluoxetine and still having fun in adjustment!
I’m just wondering if this is a life blip, and that I really don’t need medication.I tried it, a couple of times, it had relatively bad results each time. The trouble is, you feel fine, so begin to think "I don't need these any more". Taper your dosage over a few weeks to a month and carry on.
The trouble is, they generally take about 6 weeks to start having an effect and any changes need to be persisted for that sort of period to observe their impacts.
I'm back on 40mg fluoxetine and still having fun in adjustment!
It feels as though there’s no going back now, I’ve taken one and the rest must follow...
It quite frightens me to think my life may not be the same again.
I’m on 50mg Sertraline, and back to my GP in 3 weeks.
Don't know if anyone's heard that 1-800 song by logic?
well some colleagues were talking about it today. really annoyed me that they just thought the song was 'stupid and depressing'. obviously they can't relate as they never had any form of depression. i did explain the meaning of the whole song but they didn't really understand it properly.
I had it most of last year and some of this year. and i really can relate to the song whenever I hear it. though now i see myself as the end part of the song.
just felt like venting a little as i thought of this topic afterwards.
well some colleagues were talking about it today. really annoyed me that they just thought the song was 'stupid and depressing'. obviously they can't relate as they never had any form of depression. i did explain the meaning of the whole song but they didn't really understand it properly.
I had it most of last year and some of this year. and i really can relate to the song whenever I hear it. though now i see myself as the end part of the song.
just felt like venting a little as i thought of this topic afterwards.
Yes. I've liked Logic for a while, found him as he did a collab with Childish Gambino.
The whole album is pretty good actually.
The song defo touched a nerve with most people (in a positive way).
Logic isn't exactly mainstream so commercially isn't a huge success, but the 1-800-273-8255 was I believe in the top 10 Billboard 100 tracks?
And something like a 40% increase in calls to the Suicide Prevention number as well following the release.
Positive stuff.
The whole album is pretty good actually.
The song defo touched a nerve with most people (in a positive way).
Logic isn't exactly mainstream so commercially isn't a huge success, but the 1-800-273-8255 was I believe in the top 10 Billboard 100 tracks?
And something like a 40% increase in calls to the Suicide Prevention number as well following the release.
Positive stuff.
My wife suffers from long term depression (20+yrs) she has good days/weeks and bad days/months and even had a stay in a clinic for 7-9 weeks (thank god for medical insurance and so lucky it was covered (as we know was insurance co’s can be like)).
I have the utmost admiration for her as even in the good days just the fact of getting out of bed can be a massive effort, especially when there are three boys (me included) are bouncing around the minute the sun/alarm clocks go off till the minute bedtime ends. For her at times it seems to be the culmination of small things that build up for her, for example even yesterday she said just having the sink and draining board makes her happy. Trying to read between the lines I now need to make an effort to sure these types of things happens more often as they get her down if they are un tidy. So I need to remember some of these and tackle them to help not let things get on top of her.
Over the relative few years we've been together I've learnt some of the do's and don’ts too "help", I'm not going to share them here as everyone is different and I'm going to be honest at times its bloody frustrating at times when my mood might be low and the kids are doing what kids do, that I can't "snap her out of it" ( a term NEVER to be used in our household ), its at those times I have to keep reminding myself that just because there’s nothing physical or outwardly visible hurting she is fighting most days to get through the day.
From the different tablets, the associated side effects and counselling sessions she (and we at times) go on, realising that there is no “quick fix” is a massive realisation for her and me. We try to build on the things that give her stability and I need to learn to listen (shut up) and actually talk to her (bloody hard).
One thing that has massively helped in our relationship is the joint counselling with RELATE, nothing to do with her depression, but has given both of us an understanding of how our brains are wired and how we deal with emotions and that we aren’t going to change overnight but we have an appreciate on how others function and what they expect. It’s given us simple tools to help us work together. I was really anti this counselling but its helped massively as I’ve said.
Sorry not sure where this post was going...maybe a little cathartic for me.
I have the utmost admiration for her as even in the good days just the fact of getting out of bed can be a massive effort, especially when there are three boys (me included) are bouncing around the minute the sun/alarm clocks go off till the minute bedtime ends. For her at times it seems to be the culmination of small things that build up for her, for example even yesterday she said just having the sink and draining board makes her happy. Trying to read between the lines I now need to make an effort to sure these types of things happens more often as they get her down if they are un tidy. So I need to remember some of these and tackle them to help not let things get on top of her.
Over the relative few years we've been together I've learnt some of the do's and don’ts too "help", I'm not going to share them here as everyone is different and I'm going to be honest at times its bloody frustrating at times when my mood might be low and the kids are doing what kids do, that I can't "snap her out of it" ( a term NEVER to be used in our household ), its at those times I have to keep reminding myself that just because there’s nothing physical or outwardly visible hurting she is fighting most days to get through the day.
From the different tablets, the associated side effects and counselling sessions she (and we at times) go on, realising that there is no “quick fix” is a massive realisation for her and me. We try to build on the things that give her stability and I need to learn to listen (shut up) and actually talk to her (bloody hard).
One thing that has massively helped in our relationship is the joint counselling with RELATE, nothing to do with her depression, but has given both of us an understanding of how our brains are wired and how we deal with emotions and that we aren’t going to change overnight but we have an appreciate on how others function and what they expect. It’s given us simple tools to help us work together. I was really anti this counselling but its helped massively as I’ve said.
Sorry not sure where this post was going...maybe a little cathartic for me.
MellowshipSlinky said:
I’m just wondering if this is a life blip, and that I really don’t need medication.
It feels as though there’s no going back now, I’ve taken one and the rest must follow...
It quite frightens me to think my life may not be the same again.
I’m on 50mg Sertraline, and back to my GP in 3 weeks.
50mg is quite a dose to start you on, he must have had good reason? If not ask him.It feels as though there’s no going back now, I’ve taken one and the rest must follow...
It quite frightens me to think my life may not be the same again.
I’m on 50mg Sertraline, and back to my GP in 3 weeks.
Have you seen this yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2kelqYz_o&t=...
?
tim0409 said:
I've suffered from depression for years, and roughly two years ago was prescribed Sertraline after a particularly bad episode. It worked, but the side effects were difficult to deal with; initially I felt really sick but that passed within a few weeks of starting although the longer terms side effects have been a pain. In my case these have been regular night sweats (really bad, to the extent that I would either have to move to a different bedroom, or change bedclothes), loss of sex drive, tiredness, and bizarrely a lack of clarity in my speech which is a recognised side effect. A positive aspect is that I stopped drinking (not that I drank much), and have not had a single drop of alcohol for two years.
Around six weeks ago I decided to reduce my dose with a view to stopping, and hopefully replacing the positive effects of SSRI with exercise (swimming/cycling). This was a brave if not stupid move as November is the worst time of year for me but I decided I needed to try....I tapered the dose down from 100mg to 75mg, 50mg, 25mg and 12.5mg without too many issues, but the last week has been hell (from what I have read the last bit is the commonly the worst). I'm suffering from severe nausea and constant headaches; I know this will pass but it's really not pleasant. Combine this with the fact that it's also making me grumpy/angry, and it's not a great combo! Thankfully I am self employed which means I can work around it, but I hope it passes soon. I know I should be exercising but I feel so physically rough that it will have to wait for a week or so.
I would be interested in other people's experiences of stopping SSRI's and how it went?
Cheers
Tim
Apart from quoting Churchill I can't be of much help as I can't remember what it was like coming off (can't have been that bad perhaps). You don't mention the time frame which you used on each step though so it doesn't equate to much.Around six weeks ago I decided to reduce my dose with a view to stopping, and hopefully replacing the positive effects of SSRI with exercise (swimming/cycling). This was a brave if not stupid move as November is the worst time of year for me but I decided I needed to try....I tapered the dose down from 100mg to 75mg, 50mg, 25mg and 12.5mg without too many issues, but the last week has been hell (from what I have read the last bit is the commonly the worst). I'm suffering from severe nausea and constant headaches; I know this will pass but it's really not pleasant. Combine this with the fact that it's also making me grumpy/angry, and it's not a great combo! Thankfully I am self employed which means I can work around it, but I hope it passes soon. I know I should be exercising but I feel so physically rough that it will have to wait for a week or so.
I would be interested in other people's experiences of stopping SSRI's and how it went?
Cheers
Tim
Edited by tim0409 on Thursday 23 November 15:48
227bhp said:
50mg is quite a dose to start you on, he must have had good reason? If not ask him.
Have you seen this yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2kelqYz_o&t=...
?
'If we stop feeling sorry for ourselves we'll all be happy'Have you seen this yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2kelqYz_o&t=...
?
But how do we know if what we're actually feeling is sorrow for oneself?
I certainly don't *think* I'm feeling that, but to others it may look like it.
I'm sitting in a town centre at the moment, quite busy with a busker singing badly nearby.
I'm sitting on a bench over looking parkland with a nice coffee, the sun is shining and the sky is blue, but all I'm looking at is f
king trees!Can't stop staring at them for some reason
MellowshipSlinky said:
'If we stop feeling sorry for ourselves we'll all be happy'
But how do we know if what we're actually feeling is sorrow for oneself?
I certainly don't *think* I'm feeling that, but to others it may look like it.
I'm sitting in a town centre at the moment, quite busy with a busker singing badly nearby.
I'm sitting on a bench over looking parkland with a nice coffee, the sun is shining and the sky is blue, but all I'm looking at is fking trees!
Can't stop staring at them for some reason
If you read this thread through you would have picked that out already. I know it's a long read, but there is lots of good info in here and it applies to you, especially what I have written^^But how do we know if what we're actually feeling is sorrow for oneself?
I certainly don't *think* I'm feeling that, but to others it may look like it.
I'm sitting in a town centre at the moment, quite busy with a busker singing badly nearby.
I'm sitting on a bench over looking parkland with a nice coffee, the sun is shining and the sky is blue, but all I'm looking at is f
king trees!Can't stop staring at them for some reason
Well there you go, a little bit of dark humour, and you've got out and about, see it's not so bad. I read that humour was one of the things that helped us through World wars too.
You'll work out whether you're feeling it or not, but I think so. It's one of the phases we go through and we need it too, the thing is not to let it consume you or last too long, when people start walking away from you it could be a bit late.
Last year 64.7 million NHS prescriptions were written out for ADs, that's a lot of people in the same boat.
You've got two things on your side which you need to utilise, but you aren't - time and money. Most of us don't have that, so use them to your advantage.
tim0409 said:
I've suffered from depression for years, and roughly two years ago was prescribed Sertraline after a particularly bad episode. It worked, but the side effects were difficult to deal with; initially I felt really sick but that passed within a few weeks of starting although the longer terms side effects have been a pain. In my case these have been regular night sweats (really bad, to the extent that I would either have to move to a different bedroom, or change bedclothes), loss of sex drive, tiredness, and bizarrely a lack of clarity in my speech which is a recognised side effect. A positive aspect is that I stopped drinking (not that I drank much), and have not had a single drop of alcohol for two years.
Around six weeks ago I decided to reduce my dose with a view to stopping, and hopefully replacing the positive effects of SSRI with exercise (swimming/cycling). This was a brave if not stupid move as November is the worst time of year for me but I decided I needed to try....I tapered the dose down from 100mg to 75mg, 50mg, 25mg and 12.5mg without too many issues, but the last week has been hell (from what I have read the last bit is the commonly the worst). I'm suffering from severe nausea and constant headaches; I know this will pass but it's really not pleasant. Combine this with the fact that it's also making me grumpy/angry, and it's not a great combo! Thankfully I am self employed which means I can work around it, but I hope it passes soon. I know I should be exercising but I feel so physically rough that it will have to wait for a week or so.
I would be interested in other people's experiences of stopping SSRI's and how it went?
Cheers
Tim
Hi Tim,Around six weeks ago I decided to reduce my dose with a view to stopping, and hopefully replacing the positive effects of SSRI with exercise (swimming/cycling). This was a brave if not stupid move as November is the worst time of year for me but I decided I needed to try....I tapered the dose down from 100mg to 75mg, 50mg, 25mg and 12.5mg without too many issues, but the last week has been hell (from what I have read the last bit is the commonly the worst). I'm suffering from severe nausea and constant headaches; I know this will pass but it's really not pleasant. Combine this with the fact that it's also making me grumpy/angry, and it's not a great combo! Thankfully I am self employed which means I can work around it, but I hope it passes soon. I know I should be exercising but I feel so physically rough that it will have to wait for a week or so.
I would be interested in other people's experiences of stopping SSRI's and how it went?
Cheers
Tim
Edited by tim0409 on Thursday 23 November 15:48
I did something similar after I went from 50mg to 100mg and my thoughts were becoming more and more dangerous. First I tried the tapering off method and this went ok but after a little while of being off them I started to go abit downhill so went back on 50mg. Then one day I just stopped taking them (yes I know not recommended) but I had just had enough. It all was going well, got myself a bike, started cycling and lost some weight but then something happened and sent me into a downhill spiral. I ended up back at the doctors as was shouting at everyone at home and was a constatnt source of upset to my family. The doctor put me on a different drug Citalopram and only on 25mg and things have been quite good since.
I think i'm just rambling on now.......sorry.... My point is if you can keep to the exercise program and feel you are doing well then stick with it but if you feel you need support/a buffer then don't be scared to discuss your options with the doctor and explain how you were feeling on the setraline they may well prescribe you something different.
I still have awful days and have the bad thoughts but this I feel is because I don't quite get the emotional support I need from my wife but then again I'm not the one living with someone who suffers from it. I am rambling on a bit now......I've even told members of my wife's family (no one on my side of the family knows) so they can provide her some support, and you know what really gets me.....No one has ever asked me how I am getting on just feel everyone is to scred to ask.
Apologies if I sound like a spoilt child wanting attention, if you knew me you'll know I am not like that at all.
sunnym3 said:
Hi Tim,
I did something similar after I went from 50mg to 100mg and my thoughts were becoming more and more dangerous. First I tried the tapering off method and this went ok but after a little while of being off them I started to go abit downhill so went back on 50mg. Then one day I just stopped taking them (yes I know not recommended) but I had just had enough. It all was going well, got myself a bike, started cycling and lost some weight but then something happened and sent me into a downhill spiral. I ended up back at the doctors as was shouting at everyone at home and was a constatnt source of upset to my family. The doctor put me on a different drug Citalopram and only on 25mg and things have been quite good since.
I think i'm just rambling on now.......sorry.... My point is if you can keep to the exercise program and feel you are doing well then stick with it but if you feel you need support/a buffer then don't be scared to discuss your options with the doctor and explain how you were feeling on the setraline they may well prescribe you something different.
I still have awful days and have the bad thoughts but this I feel is because I don't quite get the emotional support I need from my wife but then again I'm not the one living with someone who suffers from it. I am rambling on a bit now......I've even told members of my wife's family (no one on my side of the family knows) so they can provide her some support, and you know what really gets me.....No one has ever asked me how I am getting on just feel everyone is to scared to ask.
Apologies if I sound like a spoilt child wanting attention, if you knew me you'll know I am not like that at all.
You're making perfect sense and it's very good advice, don't do yourself down.I did something similar after I went from 50mg to 100mg and my thoughts were becoming more and more dangerous. First I tried the tapering off method and this went ok but after a little while of being off them I started to go abit downhill so went back on 50mg. Then one day I just stopped taking them (yes I know not recommended) but I had just had enough. It all was going well, got myself a bike, started cycling and lost some weight but then something happened and sent me into a downhill spiral. I ended up back at the doctors as was shouting at everyone at home and was a constatnt source of upset to my family. The doctor put me on a different drug Citalopram and only on 25mg and things have been quite good since.
I think i'm just rambling on now.......sorry.... My point is if you can keep to the exercise program and feel you are doing well then stick with it but if you feel you need support/a buffer then don't be scared to discuss your options with the doctor and explain how you were feeling on the setraline they may well prescribe you something different.
I still have awful days and have the bad thoughts but this I feel is because I don't quite get the emotional support I need from my wife but then again I'm not the one living with someone who suffers from it. I am rambling on a bit now......I've even told members of my wife's family (no one on my side of the family knows) so they can provide her some support, and you know what really gets me.....No one has ever asked me how I am getting on just feel everyone is to scared to ask.
Apologies if I sound like a spoilt child wanting attention, if you knew me you'll know I am not like that at all.
Edited by 227bhp on Friday 24th November 17:19
After feeling really dreadful last week having come off Sertraline over 6 weeks I went back up to 25mg and within a few days felt so much better (physically). I'm going to stay on 25mg until after Christmas and then re-evaluate. I'm going to try an exercise more in the coming weeks; even getting out for a walk today really helped (although so did the nice weather).
tim0409 said:
After feeling really dreadful last week having come off Sertraline over 6 weeks I went back up to 25mg and within a few days felt so much better (physically). I'm going to stay on 25mg until after Christmas and then re-evaluate. I'm going to try an exercise more in the coming weeks; even getting out for a walk today really helped (although so did the nice weather).
I had something similar with coming off venlafaxine. I did it eventually over a winter holiday as I could 'disguise' the roughness as being ill with a cold. I'd worked down to half a tablet daily, but going every other day wasnt working, so I went to a quarter tablet for a week and then took a week off before Christmas and stopped taking anything. After that week and in the run up to Christmas I felt fine.
It took maybe 3 months to feel 'off' them if you will, despite the docs saying after 48 hours all traces would be gone, maybe my mind was telling me otherwise.
I did once try cold turkey and ached so badly after 4 days I started back on.
Slow and steady. Also try looking for something called 'Sleep Aid' in pharmacies. It's just called that. It has an ingredient in it that helps calm you down a bit coming off medication, which doesnt necessarily make you drowsy/sleepy. Just better and a bit more content.
Afternoon all.
Deep breath for me posting here, long time member posting under a different user name.
My first bout of depression was about 20years ago following a relationship break up. I hit absolute rock bottom and was on AD on and off depending on how i was feeling for about 15 years.
Now unfortantantly it looks like history may be repeating itself and I have hit perhaps even lower than before. Dark thoughts are coming in my head quite often now and with more regularity.
I’ve been seeing a councillor who is trying to help, and I am seeing the doctor tomorrow to get back on the AD.
It’s dark, lonely and tbh scary and I don’t know if I can cope.
I just wanted to put my fears into words for you lot to perhaps help.
Deep breath for me posting here, long time member posting under a different user name.
My first bout of depression was about 20years ago following a relationship break up. I hit absolute rock bottom and was on AD on and off depending on how i was feeling for about 15 years.
Now unfortantantly it looks like history may be repeating itself and I have hit perhaps even lower than before. Dark thoughts are coming in my head quite often now and with more regularity.
I’ve been seeing a councillor who is trying to help, and I am seeing the doctor tomorrow to get back on the AD.
It’s dark, lonely and tbh scary and I don’t know if I can cope.
I just wanted to put my fears into words for you lot to perhaps help.
This-isnt-real said:
Afternoon all.
Deep breath for me posting here, long time member posting under a different user name.
My first bout of depression was about 20years ago following a relationship break up. I hit absolute rock bottom and was on AD on and off depending on how i was feeling for about 15 years.
Now unfortantantly it looks like history may be repeating itself and I have hit perhaps even lower than before. Dark thoughts are coming in my head quite often now and with more regularity.
I’ve been seeing a councillor who is trying to help, and I am seeing the doctor tomorrow to get back on the AD.
It’s dark, lonely and tbh scary and I don’t know if I can cope.
I just wanted to put my fears into words for you lot to perhaps help.
I’m wondering what that was like to put that out there. Do you have support available to you to help keep you safe.Deep breath for me posting here, long time member posting under a different user name.
My first bout of depression was about 20years ago following a relationship break up. I hit absolute rock bottom and was on AD on and off depending on how i was feeling for about 15 years.
Now unfortantantly it looks like history may be repeating itself and I have hit perhaps even lower than before. Dark thoughts are coming in my head quite often now and with more regularity.
I’ve been seeing a councillor who is trying to help, and I am seeing the doctor tomorrow to get back on the AD.
It’s dark, lonely and tbh scary and I don’t know if I can cope.
I just wanted to put my fears into words for you lot to perhaps help.
happychap said:
I’m wondering what that was like to put that out there. Do you have support available to you to help keep you safe.
I felt that I needed to, even just to get some advice and hope from strangers. I’ve kept an eye on this topic over time, and reading some people’s accounts when I’ve been on a ‘up’ and even thinking back to how I would feel back 20yrs ago seems like another world. But now it’s back with avengance it all seems very very real again.
I consider myself to be quite an expert on giving people advice to help get themselves out of the darkest times, UNTIL i need to listen that very same advice and it all becomes very ‘fuzzy’
I have a very good friend who I’ve spoke to yesterday and he is coming around tonight for a chat, he went through very similar feelings to me a few years ago when his marriage broke down.
This-isnt-real said:
I felt that I needed to, even just to get some advice and hope from strangers.
I’ve kept an eye on this topic over time, and reading some people’s accounts when I’ve been on a ‘up’ and even thinking back to how I would feel back 20yrs ago seems like another world. But now it’s back with avengance it all seems very very real again.
I consider myself to be quite an expert on giving people advice to help get themselves out of the darkest times, UNTIL i need to listen that very same advice and it all becomes very ‘fuzzy’
I have a very good friend who I’ve spoke to yesterday and he is coming around tonight for a chat, he went through very similar feelings to me a few years ago when his marriage broke down.
You don’t have to say on here, but are you aware of what has triggered this episode and how is this episode different to last time.I’ve kept an eye on this topic over time, and reading some people’s accounts when I’ve been on a ‘up’ and even thinking back to how I would feel back 20yrs ago seems like another world. But now it’s back with avengance it all seems very very real again.
I consider myself to be quite an expert on giving people advice to help get themselves out of the darkest times, UNTIL i need to listen that very same advice and it all becomes very ‘fuzzy’
I have a very good friend who I’ve spoke to yesterday and he is coming around tonight for a chat, he went through very similar feelings to me a few years ago when his marriage broke down.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff