Anyone dealing w/ depression?

[Jenn218]

Originally Posted by yorkiekist

I have been on a gradual decline from a happy go lucky person to a very angry person.

It all started in 2000 with the loss of my 2 best friends, Amy and Samantha. They were just like children to me and the true loves of my heart.(Yes, they are Yorkies, no I am not married, have kids or a boyfriend). The next year, I lost my dream horse. He was a beautiful Arabian, the one I had always dreamed about as a child(dapple grey with black points) The next year, my 2 wonderful Skye Terrier girls were stolen. Got into a big fight with the co-owner, costing me my friend and mentor of 7 years. My father passed away and my Moms house burned down. The next year, I transfered to a new store and the customers in this area are a**holes as well as the mangement team. Jump 2 years later and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Thats always something to look forward to!! And 1 year ago I completely lost my sense of smell and taste.

I guess you could say I am BITTER!!! I dont have a sense of humor much anymore and have become very intolerant of people. I am sure that reflects in some of my posts. But I have been REALLY trying to see everything in a different way. I try to look at the bright side. I dont like meds so I am trying to just work it out.

OH MY!! I am so sorry to hear this! Please take care of yourself and now that you have tons of friends and a great support team here on YT!

[Jenn218]

Originally Posted by anthroboi

I took paxil twice for about 6 months due to anxiety (panic disorder/agoraphobia) and depression. I gained a million pounds on it and had horrific side effects when I went off of it. Complained to the doc and he dismissed me. Nowadays he says that he would not likely prescribe it any more. Grr.

Haven't been on anything for years but still get mild to moderate periods of anxiety coupled with depression. This December I was having a mild relapse but the doc actually held of on prescribing me anything. I took a tincture of St. John's Wort for a few weeks and am now taking a chinese herbal formula (Xiao Yao Wan--the chinese "happy pill"). I am feeling much better, but not sure if that's b/c of the herbs or just change in situation (moved home, no more bills, getting Zoë, etc.).

D-

Glad to hear that things are better for you...and thanks for that information!!!

[dexterandalana]

Originally Posted by Jenn218

Yes, you did mention this in the other post....and it is great to know! Really...I LOVE all this information...and believe me, I am using it and I am VERY grateful for it all!

One question....Krill Oil should be used instead of Fish Oil? I have Fish Oil now, but should I be looking for Krill Oil? And I was told that Magnesium would help too....but don't you get that from Fish Oil? Sorry, I am just worried about overdosing on too many supplements!

krill is a type of fish...so it IS a fish oil! the reason i choose krill is because it is supposed to be more beneficial for women and there is less chance of the oil having traces of murcury. i cant remember the reasoning for this at the moment though!

i was taking magnesium before also, but that was to help me sleep. i dont think that fish oil has magnesim in it, but if you need more vitamin D, i would recoment cod liver oil. i take it in the winter instead of krill because it does have a higher content of vitamin D

[Jenn218]

Originally Posted by BrendaS54

Hi,
My name is Brenda.. and I have depression. I am on Cymbalta. I have been on it for about 7 months now. I never ever thought I had depression. As some knows on YT , I have been thru alot the last two years. I lost my mother and two brothers in 15mths. I have very serious Back problems, Fibromyalgia, I have had my right knee replaced twice.. my left knee 8 surgeries in 3 years. Broke my left foot, 5th metarsal, I had to have a bone graft an screw put in. So many back Rhizotomies, spinal blocks, you name it.. too many to even count, carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, cyst removed on both wrist, sinus surgeries.. I have had breast cancer and Uterine cancer. A year ago I had both ovaries removed, so that put me in surgical menapause, (hot flashes every hour), night sweats, I have Osteoarthritis really bad, degenerative Arthritis in the spine.. really bad, my back is collasping. you name it.. lol.. I have or had it. AS of today.. Wednesday the 30th, I will have a Spinal Stimulator Implant Surgery. I will be in the hospital for a couple of days.. Now to get to How I found out I have depression. I have been going to the pain clinic for over 3 years. I am so tired of doctors, pills, appts, pain.. and not sleeping. I finally broke down in the doctors office crying. I just screamed I couldn't take anymore.. I was tired of it all. The doctor took it wrong and thought I was thinking Suicide. So thats when they sent me to a Psychiatrist. I didn't want to go. My husband made me. All I did was cry.. I cried at everything. Well the psych made me come to realize I was depressed. There is 9 points of depression. I have 7. Honestly, I never thought I was depressed. I just thought I felt the way I did because I hurt and couldn't sleep because I was in pain so much. Well, I found out different. I AM Depressed, an there is nothing that you should be ashamed of. I knew there was something wrong with me. I didn't want to leave the house.. I felt crappy, and cried all the time. Not sleeping.. and didn't care about my house.. (NOW that is really a big thing with me) my friends and family says they can eat off my floors. Well I didn't care anymore. Thank God My husband made me go. Otherwise I wouldn't be here today. I still have my crying times sometimes. If it wasn't for my Furbabies.. I don't think I would even get out of bed.. They are my life. they keep me going. There are days I hurt so bad.. All over, I don't want to even wake up.. But.. my babies make me move an take them out for potty etc. So people.. I know what it is also.. if anyone want to talk.. pm me. I won't be online for a bit after tuesday because of my back surgery.. so Thanks for YT and all the wonderful people here. They are so understanding and caring.
Sorry for the rambling but I wanted to join in and let people know I care also.


YT... and members.. you are ALL lifesavers!

OH MY.... I am sending thoughts and prayers and big hugs to you! You have been thru so much...and look how strong you are!

[Jenn218]

Originally Posted by dexterandalana

krill is a type of fish...so it IS a fish oil! the reason i choose krill is because it is supposed to be more beneficial for women and there is less chance of the oil having traces of murcury. i cant remember the reasoning for this at the moment though!

i was taking magnesium before also, but that was to help me sleep. i dont think that fish oil has magnesim in it, but if you need more vitamin D, i would recoment cod liver oil. i take it in the winter instead of krill because it does have a higher content of vitamin D

THANKS!!! I will look for Krill, as I think that would be more beneficial for me.
AND thanks for the Vitamin D/Cod Liver Oil...that is great to know too...and much needed!!!
I will look back thru my LONG list of notes and see exactly why I needed the magnesium....

Is there such a thing as taking too many supplements daily? I know both my parents take several...but I am thinking I will need a lot.........

[Jenn218]

Originally Posted by Ines3185lyorkie

Wow, this is a very good post. It helps to vent. I also suffer from depression. My ongoing problems don't help in my recovery. Aside from meds I also see a therapist. I take Zoloft and Tranxene for anxiety. I have a 16 yr old son with autism who can't be in school because they mistreated him and he gets aggressive. I have had colon cancer and liver cancer in the last 4 years. My husband has multiple heart problems and an ongoing one right now. They just found a tumor in his aorta valve (heart), he might he having open heart surgery. Please pray for him. My Nikki passed n 8/23/07 which was also a big blow to me. My other furballs help a lot in distracting me. Good luck to ALL of you.

OH GOSH!!! You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers! And I am sorry for your loss of your beloved Nikki!

[dexterandalana]

Originally Posted by Jenn218

THANKS!!! I will look for Krill, as I think that would be more beneficial for me.
AND thanks for the Vitamin D/Cod Liver Oil...that is great to know too...and much needed!!!
I will look back thru my LONG list of notes and see exactly why I needed the magnesium....

Is there such a thing as taking too many supplements daily? I know both my parents take several...but I am thinking I will need a lot.........

i think all of that would be a good question to talk to the nauropath about when you go to see them! i now think it would be a good idea to go see them since before i thought you were just looking for diet help...but a naturopath would be able to talk to you about aaaaallllll of this information and figure out what suppliments are really needed and what dose to take too. a really good naturopath is hard to find though. i went to 3 different ones before i found the woman i see now. she is a miricle worker! lol

[Jenn218]

Okay, I know I am posting a lot, but I just want to THANK EVERYONE for talking about this and supporting each other and passing out good advice and tips. I just love you all for it and I love YT for this family of support!

[Jenn218]

Originally Posted by dexterandalana

i think all of that would be a good question to talk to the nauropath about when you go to see them! i now think it would be a good idea to go see them since before i thought you were just looking for diet help...but a naturopath would be able to talk to you about aaaaallllll of this information and figure out what suppliments are really needed and what dose to take too. a really good naturopath is hard to find though. i went to 3 different ones before i found the woman i see now. she is a miricle worker! lol

Thanks......and I do need help for the other too (the other post - which thank you for your advice)...but I think once I tackle one or a few problems, the rest will naturally fall into place!

[Ines3185lyorkie]

Originally Posted by Jenn218

No, I never thought I would get so much great advice on this topic...but I am glad I have! AND I love and appreciate you all for it!

St. John's Wort....isn't that an aspirin like product or am I thinking of something else.

I will have to look up St. John's Wort....I heard about that it is good for this type of thing...but I haven't looked it up and see the side effects, etc.

I am on an antiboitic right now...so I wonder if I can take that and St. John's Wort...and other supplements too???

Carefull with natural products they can interact with medicines or other things you take. Ask your doctor before you take it.

[anthroboi]

St. John's Wort is a herbal preparation, used widely in Europe (it's a prescription in germany) but it isn't really regulated in North America, so it might be a good idea to talk to your GP or a reputable naturopath/herbalist to make sure you're getting the right quality and it won't interact with other meds.

Like SSRI's (Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, etc.) it can make you more photosensitive and you need to be careful in taking it with antidepressants (either taking smaller dosages or not taking any at all while on SSRI's). It can help replace SSRI's in individuals with mild-moderate depression, especially when weaning off of them but be careful in mixing it with antidepressants. Definately talk to your doc. Also, I can't remember but it may interact somewhat with birth control so if you're on bc double check that.

I'm not a doctor or anything so this is just my 2 cents and what I can recall from researching it for myself. It did help me through a few rough weeks when my symptoms were the worst.

Best of luck, and thank you for starting this thread Jenn! It's important to talk about stuff like this and get past the stigma and ignorance surrounding these issues, and this conversation may help people talk about "mental health" issues who otherwise wouldn't have.

D-

[llc328]

Originally Posted by Jenn218

THANKS! I will look that up!

No Problem... I hope you find the right balance and what works best for you.. best wishes..

[southernchick]

It's so unreal how everyone has different reactions to the meds! my doctor put me on prozac last year for pmdd & it helped alot for that but after I had been on it awhile I turned into a zombie & packed on ALOT of pounds so I quit taking it... I didn't take anything for a couple of months & then started taking wellbutrin xl & it has been great, I had lost a couple of my own but then the wlbtrn helped get rid of the rest plus I have been quit smoking. Though for some reason I could not tolerate the generic in the wellbutrin I had to change back to the brand but thank goodness I have my energy back!

[mizzwanned]

I think dogs are a great medicine for depression

[Yorkiekids]

I have to take Lamictal and Effexor for my depression. If you need to talk to someone I'm here.