To Friend, from Livedriftwood. have you had a complete medical and psycological exam. It should be done by a Medical Doctor and a Psychatrist, and a full range of testing should be done to see if you have any long term disorders

from livedriftwood. Yes paxil is a good choise. I was on it for 15 years. then it just stoped working. Doctors say sometimes your body or brain just changes and its still a mystery as to why that is. So I had to go into the hospital again last year and they put me on Pristiq. It was great. But after a year it just stoped working. Now im back on Paxil. what a roller coster

Oh Honeybee, I'm so sorry for your loss! Anytime someone leaves this earth, we are all diminished by their passing. But I don't think the medication did anything to your husband's thinking - 2 months really isn't enough time for any medication to help! And depression medication doesn't alter your brain or thought patterns, it simply allows the seratonin your body naturally manufactures to work better. Go read about the causes of depression here on the Mayo Clinic site; they have correct, scientific explanations. There is so much mis-information on the internet, you really shouldn't believe anything you read there unless it's from a credible site like this one. And if you're suffering from depression as well, go see your doctor - I can't stress that strongly enough! Getting help is the first step towards recovery. And be sure to dicuss your concerns about depression medication with your doctor. Together, I'm sure you will find something you can be comfortable with. Good luck! XOXOX

If you stopped taking your medication to "prove that (you) didn't need them," and now you're not feeling well, I hope you can see how important it is to take them faithfully, each and every day. Why does it bother you so much to have to be on medication? I have been on anti-depressant medication for 15 years now and there have been no long-term ill effects - quite the contrary! Without them, I don't think I would be able to cope.

Being on anti-depressants will *NOT* cause "irreversible changes in the brain." I don't know where you could have gotten such an idea! I simply cannot understand why some people who are suffering from depression and are in such pain continue to believe that their medication is harming them! You are doing much more harm to yourself by *NOT* taking your medication!

Listen to those social workers; get yourself stabilized in the hospital and take the medication they give you! Then, when you're feeling better, go to your doctor and discuss your fears with him. The doctor is there to help , not hurt! He may suggest that you talk to a psychologist, which may also be beneficial in allaying your fears about anti-depressant medication.

If you can feel better simply by taking your medication everyday and following your doctor's instructions, why wouldn't you want to do it?

Also depressed & feel the same way about meds. Checking out support groups through NAMI was suggestion given to me in another discussion.

Hi Honeybee6636. I have suffered depression all my life off and on. I took Paxil for about 16 years and it was wonderful. One day not so long ago my Paxil quit working. I went into a severe depression, the worse one i have ever had. I thought I was doomed. I went to several doctors and they all seemed like I was a bother to them. To make a longer story shorter, I found a psychiatrist who is helping me. I am on Cymbalta and at first it worked, but now I am depressed again. I have no idea why I am depressed. I am going back to my doctor and see if I can go back on Paxil. Don't be affraid to try the antidepressants. Paxil really did help me. I also take Xanax but only when I feel a little sad. I suffer anxiety also and that I can work with. I was begining to not want to leave my house but I worked through it.

I also purchased a set of CDs from Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety. They are wonderful tapes to listen to. You can also call them and a counselor will talk to you.

Please don't be scared to try some medication. I led a wonderful life while I was taking my Paxil. I want to start taking it again, so I am going to talk to my dr. about it. The Cymbalta just isn't working..

You hang in there and get started with meds if your dr. wants to try you on them. They do take a while to get into your system so be patient. Good Luck

jw2
I was taking paxl for about 16 years and it stopped working for me too. After being off paxil and then starting it again does it work? I am on Cymbalta and It isn't doing me much good.

Thank you for the words of encouragement JW2. I was given the set from the Midwest center, they had a lot of good things to say and offer I wish I could just go somewhere and get that type of intense help in person, give me like a few weeks! I am suffering severely right now with depression, it just seems really heavy right now, not sure if its due to feeling such guilt over my husband's suicide in March of this year. Its hurting me to see my kids hurt too.....I am trying to take college classes after being out of school for 25 years, I need to get a job that is going to support me, but I also have fibromaylgia something I have had for almost 18 years. This is why I didn't work, I just cant handle the stress. I want to work! But I think the fibro has settled in my back or something because that is the source of my pain, along with all my aching muscles. I just started a new medication called Savella, I have a hard time taking meds just because I worry about what they are doing to my body. I take Zanax as well, and it helps me. I have heard to many horror stories about antidepressants... like you said you try something and it works for a while then it seems the body gets used to it and you have to either go up in dose or switch, then start all over with side effects. I know it does affect the brain, I see how it affects me. And I know it effected my husbands brain. That is why they have warnings on the medications.
I want to be happy, and joyful.......I want to succeed in life..........things just seem so heavy. And I am tired.

I've suffered from depression since college and now I'm 31. I've been able to manage my depression with medication. I once thought that I didn't need medication, that I could fix it on my own but that wasn't the case for me. Acceptance was hard for me and looking at what I was putting my wife through wasn't acceptable. Through her support I was able to go see a doctor and get my depression under control. I'm so much happier now than I ever was.

So true, honeybee....that is how I feel exactly. We need to hear from the brave souls who have had good experiences by these. 🙂