how can I treat my depression?

[Yorkshire GaS]

Hello I was looking on Google for a depression forum, I stumbled across a few posts on here and it seems like a friendly community, so I thought I'd let you guys know my situation and if possible seek some advice on what I should do, I've just turned 20 and I was taking terbinafine for just under two weeks last month, I stopped taking immediately when I started experiencing crazy side-effects including anxiety attacks, chronic pain to the joints and limbs and every other side effect you can imagine, I think that I have dealt with mild depression for much of my life but I have managed to cope until just about this point, Look I'm not blaming the medication I was taking for everything but it certainly has contributed greatly towards this bout of major depression, I am still experiencing aches and pains in the limbs and joints but not chronic pains any more, I feel low energy in the morning right through to the end of the day, including strange headaches and poor concentration levels. I have been to the doctor he is sorting out counselling for me, but I think that anti-depressants would sort all these problems out, it is just really bad what I feel and I can't seem to understand these feelings of intense sadness and aching limbs which have suddenly hit me just like that! if you guys could just give me some advice that would be great and is there anyone else who has experienced something similar to my situation?  _)_

[Zaf]

Sometimes it takes a while to find medication that suits you, its very frustrating waiting but sometimes necessary

Z xxx

[Sweetpea]

Think it would be a good idea to go back to your GP and ask if you could try a different anti-depressant. It is sometimes difficult to find the right one that works. There are several different ones. I personally found meds and good counselling worked best for me. Welcome to the forum. S x x x x

[Yorkshire GaS]

Thanks for reply guys, sorry I may have confused you guys, I was taking fungal anti-infection cream last month and this caused the major depression and side effects! I have never been on anti-depressants in my life but I think right now at this moment I need to have them, but I'm cautious because I don't want to be addicted to them, I mean you can get addicted to them right? And will they sort this depression out in the short term as well as the long term? Or is that asking too much. I just do not want to rely on these chemicals to make me feel better when all I want to do is feel nornal again without them, I can't do much more to my lifestyle though, I exercise everyday go to the gym, eat lots of vitamins, take omega 3 but it isn't helping much with the depression, and is it normal to experience pain and discomfort to the body when being depressed?

[Sweetpea]

Yes you can feel pain. But to be honest its mostly numbness.  Feeling nothing but dread. That's how I can describe it anyway. You can take meds, get better and then wean off them. It depends on the individual. I have tried to come off them a few times and have gone on to relapse each time. So I have been told that I will need a maintenance dose for life. I see it as people with other conditions take medication for life, so why not take it. It makes me feel better and that is what matters to me. I either take them and I am well or not take them and not function. Hope this makes sense. S x x x x

[Zaf]

Shaz is 100% right, I was told by my GP I may be on my meds for life and when I said that wasnt a very nice prospect he likened it to someone needing insulin for diabetes or medication for a heart complaint, now I accept that my body needs these chemicals even though I'd rather not take them

Z xx

[Yorkshire GaS]

Thanks guys, very understanding people here on this forum, at the moment I feel so trapped inside my own head, talking to myself and dwelling on why I have this horrible emotional pain and also physical coursing though my body, and this episode has made me understand just how vulnerable we all are as human beings, what I have right now I wish onto NO other person! I feel for everyone suffering from depression because now I know what it is really like. I got a doctors appointment on Monday, I'm going to get anti-depressants because they should sort all these problems out, and I will get off them eventually but if I get relapse then I guess I'll have to stay on them for a bit longer or maybe life coz I don't want to feel like this forever. I'll let you guys know how I get on :)

[Zaf]

Hope you get on OK on Monday xx

[Sweetpea]

Hope you get on ok with the dr on Monday.  I always say I would not wish depression on my worst enemy, its a horrible scarey illness.

S x x x x

[Yorkshire GaS]

Also guys is it normal when depressed to this degree that you keep constantly repeating things in your head? like words from texts and previous conversations comments just keep repeating them when there is no need to. At times I think I'm going crazy with this but I think it is the severity of the depression which is making this happen. This is something which I have notice start happening over the last week but until last night did I start to get panicky about it.

[Zaf]

I certainly do

[Yorkshire GaS]

I couldn't wait until monday so I went up to my GP today and said that it was urgent. I've been given citalopram so hopefully this will lift me up, inprove my concentration skills drastically, make me feel amazing again :) have you guys taken this before?

[Sweetpea]

I have in the past. Like any anti-depressants it takes a while to work. It is also very gradual. Well done for making the appointment and start on your road to feeling better. S x x x x

[Zaf]

I take citralopram and it does take a few weeks to kick in for me

Z x

[Yorkshire GaS]

He said that I had severe depression and a mood disorder, I'm not expecting it to make me feel better instantly, but in time it will kick in, it's amazing how much helpful some doctors are than others! I'm not being funny but the doctor before, Head of department wasn't much help and said basically you'll get counselling n that's that but this one very understanding of what was going and gave me what I needed.