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Mother's Day is coming in a few weeks!

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2024-05-15 10:52 PM

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Challenging Worry - Worry Time

Ashley -> Health Educator

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Ashley -> Health Educator

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Browse through 411.753 posts in 47.056 threads.

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14 years ago 0 4 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi, new to the group.

Hi all,
I have been battling depression on and off for 10 years.  I was on Zoloft for 3 years but I weaned it off earlier in the year, in March, because I had gained 20 lbs and that makes me depressed.  I was fine for several months, but then the depression crawled back, and so I choose to be back on Zoloft again.  I'm a stay-at-home mom, and have 2 kids at home.  I've been back on Zoloft for 3 weeks but it hasn't really worked 100%.  I still hate to wake up in the morning, but I forced myself to get my kids ready to school and dropped them off school.  When I get back home, I ussually go back to bed, until I forced myself again to wake up and taking care of the household.  I don't feel sad anymore, but nothing gets me excited either.  I'm just flat and unmotivated most of the time.  I force  myself to see my closest friends and chat with them via text messaging so I don't get really isolated.  I'm just emotionally exhausted and can't wait to feel like myself again.  Is forcing myself to look OK and be OK in front of my kids is a good technique to help lift up my depression?
14 years ago 0 4 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi, new to the group.

Hi Goofy & Ashley,
Thanks so much for responding.  I tried other meds (Wellbutrin, Pristiq) but they don't work on me, they made me sick.  Zoloft works well except I seemed to be gaining weight on it.  Since I was so desperate to feel better, I asked my DR's to put me back on Zoloft.  I am hoping that it will eventually work again like last time.  I'm usually a very energetic, positive, busy, and love to be with other people.  But now I am not any of these things.  I rather stay home and sleep.  I can't seem to find joy or motivation to go through the day, but when  my kids are home, I pretend to be motivated and take care of them.  Usually in the afternoon when they are home from school I feel a bit better, so it helps a bit.  Mornings are harder, and it's frustating since I usually a morning person.
 
Thanks again for the advise.
14 years ago 0 4 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Rebuilding your Self-Esteem

Hello all,
I apologize if I am posting on a wrong discussion topic.  But I'd like to share my experience with everyone regarding self esteem and depression.  What I experience is that when I am on depression, my self esteem was extremelly low along with everything else, but when I get better (with meds) I feel fine and very self confident (like I don't need therapy or doing any program, I was able to a lot of problem/obstacle in life).  So I feel that I am very dependent on taking the right meds.  I was on Zoloft for three years but started gained weight, so I am trying other options.  I had tried Sam-e (didn't work), Wellbutrin (hated it), and accupuncture (didn't really helped), so now I am trying Pristiq (seems to work pretty good except of slight dizziness sometimes, and sleepiness).  I'm on Pristiq on week 3 now so we'll see.  When Zoloft was working, I was really "on top of the world" feeling, like nothing can really bring me down.  I am so happy and so confident of my life, it feels so great.  I like to be back to that person again, so I'm hopeful. 
14 years ago 0 4 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
effexor

Honestly I think the side effect would be different to different people.  I took Zoloft (50 mg) for three years, then decided to weaned it off due to weight gain and hoped to be able to wean off meds completely.  I had awful dizziness while weaning it off for a few months, and after completely off it, my depression was back full force.  I tried Sam-e and accupuncture to no avail.  Out of desperation, I asked my doc to put me back on Zoloft since it worked well except for the weight gain, and sleepiness at the end of it (maybe the last 6 months of those 3 years).  Back on Zoloft for 8 weeks I didn't feel any change, even felt that it got worse.  I didn't want to up the Zoloft mgs, so I asked my doc to put me on something else.  I am now on 50 mg Pristiq, and I didn't even have to weaned the Zoloft, I just changed the next day with Zoloft.  I am now at week 3 of Pristiq and feel better emotionally (feel excited about stuff I haven't been since the depression's back, like: feel motivated to get up and do household chores, going out with friends, shopping), except I have this dizziness and a couple of times, I was so sleepy in the evening I slept for 12 hours (which I will see if it doesn't stop when I get back for follow-up check-up in 10 days with my doc).
 
I agree with goofy that we should weigh the benefit of taking medications vs the side effect/cost.  Hopefully you will find one that the benefits would outweigh the side effects.  I too, hate to change medications, or to think that I'd need to be on medications for the rest of my life.  I've heard that after years taking anti depressant, the people I know (or people on the internet) go through different kinds of not-so-good side effects or the meds stop working.  But for now, I don't want to feel depressed and not enjoying life, and not having suicidal thoughts (that's what made me want to be back on meds, because these thoughts scare the heck out of me).  I am only in my 40s with two kids, and would like to enjoy 30+ more years of my life without having to commit suicide or something bad like it...  I'm hoping that the dizziness etc will subside...
 
All the best wishes to you...