Depression - Niagara,WI

All the signs you listed are symptoms of depression. If it seems that things are worsening for you please speak up to your doc asap. It is possible that depression medication can make depression worse. Yes, it will take time for your medication(s) to prove whether they'll work or not for you however there is no need for you to keep taking a medication if it is making things worse. Please, speak to your doctor about this.

This is advice coming from someone who diagnosed w/anxiety, depression, PTSD and who has been on/off various meds.

Are you dealing w/ something that is causing this? Are you in peri-menopause? Have you always had depression and now you have sought out meds?

I dipped VERY LOW w/ anxiety this past winter. I got a full blood test and the doctor said my vitamin D was extremely, extremely LOW. So low that she was very, very concerned and called me in right away.

I (now) take the proper amt of vitamin D. I have increased my walking routine (Excercise is medicine), and I have added a bit more protein in my diet. The other thing I do is...I go to a raw cafe and drink a shot of wheatgrass whenever I can. I have energy for a solid week after a 2 oz glass of wheatgrass.

Food is alive and at it's best when it is raw. Try munching on watermelon and or grapefruit for breakfast. Eat an organic apple at mid-morning and a salad w/ loads of raw veggies/beans for lunch. This will send nutrients straight to your cells. Raw fruits and veggies can only help.

I drink organic green tea in the afternoon, too.

Essential sleep is important, too.

Keep us posted.

Yes, I also have anxiety issues and after a series of panic attacks, had the sense of being completely disconnected from reality. I really worried that I was losing it. What helped? A combination of antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). I strongly urge you to talk to your doctor about whether CBT might be helpful - it has done wonders for me.

I also take two fish oil capsules every day, which are said to help with anxiety and depression.

Good luck. You will get through it.

"disconnect with your surroundings" first and foremost-lack of concern, as prescribed by the antidepressants-DONE; next-don't feel comfortable in your own home-another accomplishment-you don't belong anywhere, and it doesn't matter-DONE; TV shows... don't cheer you up-again, departure from joy, therefore, lack of-DONE. They're working -that's what antidepressants do-they remove any attachment to material objects, rituals, joys, hurts, etc. Makes it very easy to cope-no?

Sounds like normal stress to me.
You are carrying a big load.
Just having mom live with you and watching her age is enough to put most of us on the anxiety treadmill. Been there a few times myself in the past couple of years.
Medicating yourself is not going to make any of your current problems disappear. Trying to handle stress while on an anti-depressant is no different than drinking a bottle of whisky, getting piss drunk, passing out, and waking up the next morning to find that suffering with a horrible hangover DID NOT FIX whatever it was you felt the need to drink a bottle of whisky over. In fact and anti-depressant takes away all of your instints on how to handle a problem. Not caring is not going to make you feel better, and that's what anti depressant do, they make you not really care about anything one way or another.
You say you've entered the menopause corral.. yeehaw... it's a wild ride for some of us :) You sort of have to look at it like a phase not much unlike the phases our toddlers go through. You might feel crappy and crazy for a week, but you might feel great and energetic the next week.
I suggest you do something just for yourself, a little get away or whatever would float your boat naturally. And then begin journaling. If you sit for a bit right before you go to bed and write out a few paragraphs about your day, you will amaze yourself when you go back and read it.
I hope you start feeling better. If you can stay of the meds, I would. That is just my suggestion.

This is a good time to work closely with your doctor to take care of yourself. The depression came on suddenly and you've only been on meds for 8 days so it may take some time and adjusting to feel stable. But don't let yourself just wonder why you feel weird, tell your doctor, see if there are other meds that work better for you, do the work now so you will feel better as soon as possible.

You have alot going on with menopause and other stress. If you are able to see a therapist, he/she may be able to help with the emotional changes caused by your stress and menopause. That in turn might improve both your physical and mental health, since our mind and bodies are connected. I hope you feel better soon!

I unfortunately have suffered most of my life with mental illness. I'm bipolar one which means I go from being depressed to manic and practically jumping off the walls. Sometimes I can do it in the same day! Other times I'll have long periods of depression or long periods of mania. Regardless I've dealt with depression and severe anxiety as well.

Anyways, I always know I'm not doing good and should either up my meds, or consider new meds when I feel that way. I find that I don't want to watch my tv shows, I don't like to listen to music, I don't feel at home or ease anywhere. When It's really bad I swear I could sit in a corner and stare at the wall all day and not notice.

So yes it's normal for when you are having difficulties. I'm guessing they gave you an SSRI or something of a similar caliber to deal with depression and also the anxiety. They usually work sometime in the month for some people but I've met some that it takes 2 even and then they just feel like a renaissance happened. I didn't actually like SSRI's so I can't speak from personal experience but after my father passed away my mother was given one that would help with her menopause, and the severe depression and suicidal thoughts. It was amazing. She went from a shell, not even my mother.... to herself again in a month. That was the first time I really actually saw an SSRI work and work well.

So hang in there. If you don't feel better in two months though go back into your doctor. The starter dose is just that the starter dose. That isn't sufficient for most people. Hopefully you already have a med evaluation appointment for a month or two down the line.

I too have depression, and am a nurse. Some of what you describe still sounds like the symptoms of your depression and some may be the side effects of your meds. One of the biggest things to remember is that the meds can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to reach their full effect. During that 2-4 weeks the side effects hit first, then the side effects generally fade out as the good effects (therapeutic value) kick in. Going for walks, getting out in the sun, forcing yourself to do something constructive every day, these things ward of the depression in the mean time. Call a friend when it gets bad, reach out to others like you did on here. Keep your chin up! You're not alone!!! I am a single mom with 2 boys, have had depression for years and work full time and can make it work... There is hope :)

Like others have said, disinterest in things you used to like and feeling disconnected with your life are signs of depression. Another possibility is it is the medications. You don't say what you are on, but anti-depressants can change your sense of awareness of your surroundings as well. This will change normally as your body begins to adjust to the medications and you should go back to normal (or better than normal if they are effective). Anti anxiety medications can cause sedation and lack of energy or ability to focus on things as well. That is normally a side effect that will always come with the pills if they are benzodiazipines (think drugs that end with "am", alprazolam (xanax), lorazepam (ativan), diazepam (valium)). I have been on several medications during periods of my life, the antidepressants always made me a bit glassy and zoned out at first, antianxiety meds I couldn't function on, so I never took. It's important to know not to start or stop the drugs without talking to your doctor first, these meds slowly build up in your system and can cause a host of things if stopped abruptly. I hope you see some improvement quickly, depression is one of the most misunderstood conditions (in my opinion). I have had people tell me how great my life is and that I had no reason to be worried or sad, which just makes the fact that I DID feel worried and sad so much worse. I wish you the best of luck and know that you are most definitely not alone.

depression takes away everything.
it makes all the colors gray.

I am sorry u are going thru this, and i hope the meds work for you. be patient. sometimes it can take a while before you find the right one.

i have found my way thru the fog to the other side. but it took a while, and you have to fight to get there. the meds wont fix it entirely on there own. you have to keep trying too. keep going out, keep trying to have fun.

if the meds do not work for you, i would like to suggest finding a good homeopath and exercise. (exercise will help anyway) i was medicated for over 10 years, but this is what finally did the trick for me.

I have had depression for 15 years or so.
I take Prozac 60mg, welbuterin 300mg and trazdone to sleep at night 50mg. And as needed ativan for anxiety. This combo works well for me. I have a good doctor that takes depression and anxiety serious. i also find you need to take care of yourself along with the meds, drink water, walk/exercise, get right amount of sleep and find a destressing activity for yourself. Hope you find this is helpful. It is a constant battle to remember to not only take care of other people but you need to put your own oxygen on first like in an airplane and take care of yourself too. I also take a multi vitamin, b complex and d 3000mg. I take the adult gummy vits from walmart. Because they do not make my stomach upset.

I'm bi-polar...on the low ends yes you absolutely feel disconnected! But luckily I know what I have and I know it is just a matter of time before it passes. The meds can take up to two weeks to start working. If this is your first round of trying medications to help it can take a couple of different tries to find the medications that fit your needs. Don't worry if this happens once you find the right combination it makes all the difference in the world! On my disconnection days I just keep reminding myself it will pass...it will pass. Hang in there momma.