Depression and Prozac

LegacyUser

I'm not looking for medical advice here, just wondering about other people's experiences. Bear with me, this is quite a long post.

I've been feeling down for the past few months. Basically, I spent the Summer away and since I came back in September, I haven't settled back at all. I put it down to post-holiday blues but it's over four months later and they haven't lifted. When I think back to when I was away as well, I wasn't always happy over there but I put that down to homesickness, something which I rarely if ever suffer from.

I'm in my second year of a course in college, and while I loved the course last year, I've just found it incredibly difficult to motivate myself this year. It's become a kind of downward spiral - I've missed lectures and the more I miss, the easier it becomes to miss more. So, I'm at the stage now where I've exams and am unprepared for them. I was fine with the first exam last week but when the second one came around yesterday, I couldn't bring myself to go in for it. My next one is on Friday and the thought of it fills me with total and absolute panic.

There's a few other things going on in my life that have me stressed out. I went to the counselling service in college last year and they advised me to go to my GP as well as start cognitive therapy with them, something which I'm hoping to start this term. I'm hoping it will teach me how to like myself. I went to my GP this morning and he diagnosed me with clinical depression and gave me a prescription for Prozac.

Which brings me to the point of my post. I'm going to break the news to my parents tonight but I'm a bit terrified. Part of me doesn't want to worry them about me and the other part worries that they won't take this completely seriously. That they'll just have a 'buck up' mentality. We're not the best family for talking about our feelings.

Added to this, part of me feels like a bit of a fraud. I've always associated depression with being unable to function in life, being unable to get out of bed etc. It's not like that for me. I have good days and bad days. Monday for example being a bad day - I didn't get up until 7pm. Whereas any of the days I have to get up and go to work for example, I do manage adequately. But then again, the way I feel on my bad days can't be normal! On those days, I don't even care about making myself feel better. I have doubts about taking Prozac. I feel there is a stigma around it and I'm embarrassed that I'll have to take it but I seriously can't go on like I am at the moment.

Sorry if I'm rambling a bit. I'm trying to get my thoughts together in some kind of coherent fashion. I'd really appreciate hearing other people's opinions.

ztoical

There is s stigma to mental health in this country in general and the only advice I can give you is to look after yourself and not to worry what people think - I know thats easier said then done.

If you have any issues about taking Prozac please speak with your GP - there are alternative options to medication. Most doctors would offer a balance of medication and sessions with a councillor rather then just medication on its own. If your GP is slow to offer alternatives go speak with a different doctor. Finding the right councillor for you might take awhile, you might go through a couple of different ones before you find one, remember don't feel you have to stick with a councillor if you find its not helping, they are use to people telling them that and can usual give you the names of other councillors that might be more suited.

pookie82

It's absolutely brilliant that you've seen your doctor and are going about treating this. Many people suffer with depression for ages before recognising what it is. Some are shocked when diagnosed even after months of being ill, just like you seem to be a bit iffy about whether or not that's what you have. I think they always think well I haven't been myself but I'm not bad enough to be DEPRESSED.

The way you describe yourself is not uncharacteristic of depression. Alot of people who suffer with it have highs and lows, good days and bad. It's when the low days become too much of a trend and too crippling to cope with that a problem is usually recognised.

There is a huge stigma in this country with regard to depression but thankfully I really think that more and more people are beginning to see it as a real issue just as significant as any other physical ailment and not as something to be really ashamed of. I really hope that your parents are okay with it and give you the support that you need. give them a chance to understand the significance of it though - it can be tempting for people on first hearing of this to assume that it's not that serious. If you haven't already confided in someone, do. It'll help a huge amount, as with this condition it's really important to be able to talk.

If you really can't go on like you are at the moment TAKE THE MEDICATION. you have no idea how many people need all sorts of medication on a daily basis to survive and this is no different. in fact depending on your progress you may only need it for a few months so it may not be a big issue.

I wish you the best of luck over the next few months and hope you make good progress. PM me anytime if you need someone to talk to.

Overheal

pookie82 wrote: »

It's absolutely brilliant that you've seen your doctor and are going about treating this. Many people suffer with depression for ages before recognising what it is.

And some of us know we suffer from depression and do nothing about it

Take the Prozac without hesitation anyway. I got that treatment as a kid and it did me some good. I was a troubled kid after my parents divorce. My mom was the one who did it because its what i was prescribed. Later when I lived with my Dad he was vehemently opposed to the idea of chemical treatment.

I understand that not every family is going to accept your case OP. What you will find hopefully is that when you tell them it wont matter how they react so much as you realize you had the strength to say it it can be a big hurdle to stand up to parents.

You know you have to do it so dont worry about how it may or may not turn out and just do it.

Lizzykins

I would from personal experience try the Prozac. It takes the edge off the depression so that you get the best out of cognitive therapy. A responsible GP will only prescribe Prozac for three or four months and by that time you will be well on the road to recovery with the help of a good therapist. I was on prozac for three months about 12 years ago and have never looked back. I spent ten years in and out of a black hole of depression. Don't let it get that bad. Best of luck.

xebec

Overheal wrote: »

Take the Prozac without hesitation anyway.

I'm uncomfortable with this medical "advice". OP, if you have any doubts or worries about the medication then head back to your GP asap and discuss those. This may not clear your mind completely, but will help you make a more informed decision.

Like many people on here I have experience of this topic - I'm currently taking (more than one) medication for depression. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, it's just a case of fighting to find it. For most people medication is part of their treatment, but please discuss any doubts you have with a medical professional.

Slutmonkey57b

Don't worry so much about how other people are going to react - tell the people that have to know, and don't bother about the rest. Remember that the drugs are just a tool - they're there to stabilise you so that you can sort yourself out and work out how to get on with your life.

estar

your GP will advise you better than anyone here about different drugs

many people try a few anti-depressants before settling on one.

educate yourself more about depression now that you have the diagnosis.

it is perfectly normal and manegable.

sometimes in life one has to educate ones parents also. part of growing up
is realising that they dont know everything and arent always right. so if they
tell you - ah just cop on - and deal with it - then you know that they just dont understand - and you can tell them - im getting professional help - dont worry about it. over time perhaps they will learn more about it - perhaps
pick up some leaflets about depression and leave them about the house.

it can be scary to get such a diagnosis, but really its nothing to worry about.

once you know how to handle it, and what to do, and what not to do,
you can handle depression.

well done on going to the professionals and getting advice, and realising
there are things you can do to cope.

thats half the battle.

AWARE run information evenings about depression that are very useful to people. you are not alone in this - many highly functioning successful people
suffer from bouts of depression.

ztoical

xebec wrote: »

I'm uncomfortable with this medical "advice". OP, if you have any doubts or worries about the medication then head back to your GP asap and discuss those. This may not clear your mind completely, but will help you make a more informed decision.

Like many people on here I have experience of this topic - I'm currently taking (more than one) medication for depression. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, it's just a case of fighting to find it. For most people medication is part of their treatment, but please discuss any doubts you have with a medical professional.

+ 1

Esel

Follow your doctor's advice. He/she has diagnosed you, and is treating you. You should be aware that the length of time before you feel the benefit of your medication can vary from 2 weeks to 8 weeks or more. It is not true to say that you should only be on medication for 3 months - this would be very unusual in my experience. Your doctor will probably keep you on medication until he is happy with your progress, but 6 months is a more realistic minimum. Do not stop taking it just because you are feeling better.

And take up the offer of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy - it will help you a lot. Eat healthily, lay off alcohol (it's a depressant) and any other non-medical drugs. Try to establish a regular sleeping pattern. Get regular exercise - brisk walking is great.

You don't have to tell your parents if you don't want to, but if you do and they react badly, ignore them! It's your life, not theirs.

Overheal

The point of the thread is youre worried about telling youre parents; not because you have concerns about how you are choosing to treat your depression, correct?

Personally, again, I'd tell them. In the end, they are youre family and they would have more right to know than anyone. They also have the right to criticize the choice but thats something you are better off to prepare for and deal with when the time comes. If you prepare for them to be upset you will either have to put up with them criticizing you for it (which you are ready to face) or you will be happily surprised if they support your decision. Either way: you win.

I do want you to keep one thing in mind. The drugs can only help: they are not the cure. While youre on them you need to use that time to figure out whats got you depressed and get to the bottom of it. Because in 6 weeks/6 months time you will be taken off the prozac and if you havent fixed your problems by then or started to then they will just keep bringing you down. They are merely a useful crutch: and nothing more.

LegacyUser

gloomy wrote: »

...
I've been feeling down for the past few months.
...

If you weren't feeling fantastic during the summer, then the winter months are notorious for excerbating feelings of depression - the days are shorter, the weather is usually crap, people are often skint and hungover after Christmas festivities.

I know the above might seem trivial, but it is worth bearing in mind that these things certainly can, and do have an effect, which will improve as the weeks progress.

gloomy wrote: »

..Whereas any of the days I have to get up and go to work for example, I do manage adequately.

On the days you are getting up late, you miss a lot of natural light which will definitely affect your mood. I know this because I've tested this theory over the past month :-p

Try to get some daylight in each day. If you feel that you haven't got enough, consider using a lightbox or just being somewhere with bright light sources.

Otherwise, there's some good advice here, I would especially agree with esel about exercise - exercise and light will both have immediate effects.

You are stressed about exams - this will certainly affect you. It's good that you appear to be aware of how this influences you. Try not to think in black and white. If you have to repeat the year, or change course, it might ultimately be a good way for you to explore other opportunities that you otherwise wouldn't have had the chance to.

Don't worry too much about taking the drugs or not, it's not such a big deal - people have been 'self-medicating' with alcohol and other substances for centuries. In the long term though, your best advice is to use a combination of the suggestions posted, often this will be more effective than just trying one thing alone.

LegacyUser

Thank you to everyone for your advice.

Overheal wrote: »

The point of the thread is youre worried about telling youre parents; not because you have concerns about how you are choosing to treat your depression, correct?

A little bit of both, to be honest! I did tell my mother tonight, but didn't go into a huge amount of detail of just how bad I've been feeling. She didn't seem overly surprised by what I told her, but did mention something along the lines of needing to get out more and take up a hobby. She wasn't keen on me being on anti-depressants either, but I wouldn't say that's unusual. Even I have a stigma around taking them. She didn't mean it in a dismissive sense at all however. I guess it'll just be a case of see what happens.

My GP was great actually, he did warn me that it'd take at least two weeks to feel an effect from the Prozac and he said that I'd probably be on them for about 6 to 9 months. But he's also asked me to come in to see him regularly to monitor how I'm getting on with them.

I guess one of the concerns I have is that I'm ashamed to have to resort to medication to treat this. I know it's stupid and that how I'm feeling isn't normal. Part of me feels like I'm being weak by resorting to chemicals though and that it'll just be an artificial feeling that I get from them. I'm scared as well that this will come back. Even if I treat my depression now, who's to say it won't come back in a few years? I'm guessing that this is where the cognitive therapy comes in. It may help fix the underlying issues causing this.

Slutmonkey57b

gloomy wrote: »

I guess one of the concerns I have is that I'm ashamed to have to resort to medication to treat this. I know it's stupid and that how I'm feeling isn't normal. Part of me feels like I'm being weak by resorting to chemicals though and that it'll just be an artificial feeling that I get from them. I'm scared as well that this will come back. Even if I treat my depression now, who's to say it won't come back in a few years? I'm guessing that this is where the cognitive therapy comes in. It may help fix the underlying issues causing this.

Like I said above - the drugs are just a short-term tool to help you get on your feet again. Don't look at them as the "solution" - as you progress with your therapy you'll find a way to get power over your depressive feelings and get on with your life. There's nothing to be ashamed about - you've got a problem and you're dealing with it - that's the most important step to take, because that's what's ultimately going to help you in the long term.