Going back downhill.

[KatyStrawberry]

Hi, I'm Katy, and I'm not going to bore you with all the details, but basically, I've been suffering from severe depression since I was 13 (about 8 years). I've had some incredibly tough years with various health problems and have ended up in hospital on a few occasions after suicide attempts. I've been fairly stable on Venlafaxine (450 mg) for the last 2 or 3 years, but in the last year I have ended up losing my job due to health/disability problems. Things have just fallen apart, my Venlafaxine isn't helping anymore so I am being changed to Citalopram.

I'm finding it very hard to carry on at the minute. I can easily go for days without leaving the house, and most days end up sitting on the sofa in my pyjamas all day. I can't work, so the only money that I have is what I can manage to scrounge off my mother or my boyfriend. I think this is what I find the hardest, after paying my own way and earning my own money since I was 16, I am now having to rely on others for everything I need. Plus the guilt of having to sponge off my family is overwhelming.

Long story short, I have been cutting down on the Venlafaxine for the last couple of weeks and introducing the Citalopram, but as the days go by, I can feel my mood just getting worse and worse and I feel I'm in need of being able to talk to people who have experienced similar things.

[stewart]

Hi Katy, welcome to the forums, dont feel you are boring us with what you want to say, we are all willing to offer words of encouragement and advice, a change in meds can sometimes help level things out to some degre, or indeed a combinartion of 2 or more meds will help, you just need to have a good doc who listens and understands you.

not bothering to get dressed is a common factor with depression, i often dont bother to get dresed unless i have to go out some place. do you have a MIND office in your area? they can offer great suppport workers, and look into your financial situation, you could be entitled to DLA.

just google MIND and see if you can find a local office. if you need help finding an office, let us know and we will help you there.

[Pip]

Welcome, I do understand what it is like to suffer with severe depression.  I started suffering with depression when I was 12 / 13 and it's been severe since I was 19 so since it started getting on for 40 years.  Unlike you I don't take anything specific for depression although I am on 7  different meds for pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol so take 23 tablets a day.  Don't worry about boring us as we can empathise and share with you.  If I wasn't involved with helping with one lunch club that's on a Friday, being available for another lunch that's on twice a week and helping out with the local church when needed I wouldn't go out either when I am particularly low.  There have been periods over the years that the only times I have gone out have been to do a weekly shop and walk the dogs.  Even now I really struggle to get motivated to go out on the days I volunteer.