How to Cope with Anxiety and Depression-please Help!!!

Updated on July 22, 2013
K.R. asks from Piedmont, SC
15 answers

My dear moms, i have struggling with anxiety and depressipn for almost 6 months.
I am on zoloft for 3 months. I started to feel better: i can concentrate better, memory and attention improved. Now i can enjoy a good movie, a book, i am going out with my friends.
But i also experience some side effects: headaches, ringing in the ears, extreme mood swings, fatigue.
I went to see my dr and told me i should take it for more3-4 months, despide the side effects.i am just scared that the ringing in the ears won't stop, that my depression will relapse. I am also very scared of witraul symthoms....anyone who was in this situation?will i ever feel like myself again? I am afraid i will lose my mind:( i have a child depending on me so i need to be strong and get back on track somehow. Antidepressants helped but my dr said 6months it is ok to take them, but after that i need to tapper them off. I really beg you to share your opinions!

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J.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

If Zoloft gives you side effects, try a different antidepressant. There are a good number out there, and you may need to try several before you can find one that works for you. My mom takes Prozac for depression (she has been for years) and she hasn't complained of side effects. She, too, had to try different antidepressants before she decided to stick with Prozac.

1 mom found this helpful

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J.P.

answers from Miami on

Im so sorry you are going through this. Depression and anxiety are so painful and do make it hard to cope. There are so many anti depressant meds available now that you should be able to find one that helps you without the side effects. There are often side effects to these medications when you first start taking them but by three months, these should taper off. Is your Dr. a general physician or a psychiatrist? If he is a regular MD I would encourage you to see a psychiatrist as their job is to work with these various medications and work with you to come up with the best fit. Zoloft is in a class of medications called SSRIs, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors which are believed to work by making serotonin more available for the synapses in your brain. there are now serotonin dopamine specific meds as well. The good news is that if one is working for you, you could very well benefit from another drug in the same class that wont have the same side effects. It's not an exact science at this point as one person can do very well on Prozac, for example, and not respond at all to Zoloft, and they are both SSRIs. there is honestly no reason that you should have to live with ringing in the ears or anything else that is that invasive as a side effect. Having said that - there are certain meds that are "easier" to go off of and others that have a tougher withdrawal. The less time you are on the medication, generally (but not always) the easier the withdrawal. PLUS, you can taper off the meds very slowly and supplement naturally to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
There are other things you can do NOW to help with the anxiety and depression, here are my suggestions: 1.Exercise, if you do already, add something more meditative such as walking or yoga, 2. see a therapist to learn how ot handle anxiety - there are amazing coping techniques you can learn to change your thinking (which can help tremendously with lowering anxiety), 3. go to a nutritionist for help getting your body in balance, for example, taking vitamin B complex is very important for managing stress and helping your body, 4. Essential oils, such as Lavender are amazing for calming body and mind, 5. Rescue Remedy is great for putting in your water and just calms the over central nervous system - these things can be found at your health food store. 6. Meditation or meditation/affirmation tapes. Look on Amazon or in your local bookstore or download to your Ipod or MP3 player and play at night while going to sleep or anytime you feel anxious or down. You can also look into Homeopathy and find a qualified practitioner in your area. Medication can be critical in helping when we cant function due to depression and anxiety. the good news is that most people do not have to be on them for a long amount of time as long as they are addressing the causes (physical/mental/environmental) that precipitate the symptoms. Please consult with a Psychiatrist or Psychopharmacologist to find the best medication for you while you explore other natural areas for alleviating distress. Make sure and ask the treating psychiatrist which meds are known to be easier to taper off of and do some research yourself to learn about these meds.
As a Mommy who has been through it, I understand and you have my full support. You will get through this. Hugs.

7 moms found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

You need to ditch your regular doc and see a psychiatrist. Your regular doc would send you to a cancer doc if you had cancer, he needs to send you to a psychiatrist for these symptoms and regulation of meds. He is putting a bandaid on a serious wound.

I have seen the difference in the right meds and wrong meds recently. There is no reason that you've got to wait that long on the wrong med.
1-2 months and you should have seen more improvement.

Plus the ability to see a counselor would give you information you don't have and better coping mechanisms.

Call soon for an appt. it can take several weeks to get in to see a psychiatrist.

You can feel good again.

ETA: looking back at your question before, sweetheart, you need to see someone to repair your broken self esteem. It was broken and it's not you that caused it but it will take some loving outside counselor to bring you peace and courage to do the things you need to do. Most psychiatrists have a sliding scale fee. Or might do some work with you for a low cost if they understood your situation. Get help. We are all rooting for you! I see a moment of clarity in your life ahead. This is a turning point.

3 moms found this helpful
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E.B.

answers from Atlanta on

If the zoloft was prescribed by your primary doctor, I suggest seeing a psychiatrist. They work with the medicines used for depression and anxiety more than the general doc does. I would also suggest seeing a psychologist. A psychologist will talk with you and try to find out what is triggering the anxiety and what the underlying causes of the depression are. They will work on resolving the issues since they can not prescribe medicine. A psychologist will work with a psychiatrist on the medicines as well. I was diagnosed with clinical depression back in 2000. I saw a psychologist primarily, but did see a psychiatrist for meds. Talking with the psychologist helped me work through repressed grief and just generally figure out who I was and what I wanted out of my life. I was on zoloft for a short while and it helped, but the talking helped even more. Zoloft is not the only medicine like several others said. You may need a different dose or another medicine. Do try seeing a psychologist, I really think they can help.

3 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Des Moines on

I am not sure about the medications, sorry. I just wanted to share that once I stopped eating gluten, my depression and anxiety dropped to almost non-existant. I did not give up gluten for that, but for the aches, pains, joint issues, etc, and this was big awesome bonus!! I haven't felt this great in years, no foggy head, can concentrate and do not dwell on what ifs. I wish I would have known about this years ago.

I just wanted to throw in one more thing you can try when off medication. Good luck! I wish you the best.

3 moms found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

I have experienced much of what you state above. In the past, I have tried many things from traditional talk therapy, EFT, meditation,acupuncture, hypnosis, diet and exercise. However, I can't say I have ever taken antidepressant medicine. That said, although all of the above have helped in some way, what's been my biggest help was finally getting into what started as a 12 step for OA and then Al-anon (one led to the other) since working the program since last October WOW WOW WOW.... I have felt better than I have in years... I read your previous post and I am wondering IF some of what you feel can be attributed from your relationship (as all roads seem to lead back to one another) in which case, I wanted to suggested a 12 step for you, such as a co-dependency or whatever YOU feel might apply. I mention this because of ALL the therapy modalities I have tried, I have gotten the most out of the steps.. with them, you delve into the root of the problems.... although all the above treatments do have their place, without figuring out why we constantly feel down, then the treatments (including meds) only last for so long and then you are back to square one..

When I first entered the 12 steps..I was at my wits end. I just couldn't seem to shake the blues and in my case, kept eating... Then once I attended several meetings and began to read up on matters and do the work (that is key) I began to uncover layers upon layers of OLD habits, thought patterns and behavior that for me led to my feeling depressed.
Originally, I thought my depression was inherited and was basically going to be a way of life for me.. Then I discovered that WAIT.. .NO.. it needn't be this way... I should also add that before coming to the 12 steps, I had read numerous self-help books over the years and while they did help somewhat, there never was a specific game plan in them for me to follow.. which is how the 12 steps differ... in the program, you have tools you can use..... and support from your fellow 12 step attendee..
the program is FREE.. you can go online and check any of them out...
I say if you really want peace of mind and tools to help you, then try the 12 steps.. what do you have to lose..... you don't have to be alone..
you can even attend meetings online.. they have them at all hours and many different places...
whatever you decide, I wish you all the best..

2 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

hm. it's good that the zoloft has given you so much normalcy back, but those are some pretty severe side effects.
you CAN feel like yourself again! but sometimes you have to be a bit of a detective, and have a doctor who is willing to work with you. there are other anti-depressants on the market. i mean, of course you have to give them some time, and some side effects will fade with time. but if your side effects are as bad as the original problem, it's clearly time to try a different medication.
and to just take meds for 6 months and then taper off doesn't really address your core issue. what if the underlying cause of your depression is still there in 6 months?
go back to your doctor and stress how difficult these side effects are, as well as addressing root causes instead of just medicating the symptoms. if necessary, get a second opinion.
above all, don't give up! you are not doomed to a life of this! you can get help, and you can overcome this.
we're rooting for you, mama!
khairete
S.

2 moms found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

I'd like to ask you two questions that are very, very important.

What type of doctor is giving you the medication?

Are you receiving frequent talk therapy in addition to medication?

The fact that you told your doctor that you have these side effects INCLUDING EXTREME MOOD SWINGS may indicate that this isn't the medication for you on top of the anxiety you still feel. He should be taking your feelings and instincts AND SIDE EFFECTS into account. This tells me that this isn't a Psychiatrist but maybe your primary care doctor?

You need to get to a Psychiatrist who knows these medications inside out. They will listen to you about the side effects you feel and tell you if it's normal and something you should try to push through. They will listen to you if you tell them that you want to try something else or go to a lower dose of what you're on.

A Psychiatrist will also insist (if they're a good one) on a minimum of monthly talk therapy sessions. These sessions serve a few purposes. They allow you to work on issues that are contributing to anxiety and depression. They allow you to learn coping skills for situations that trigger anxiety and depression. They also allow the psychiatrist to monitor your medications and adjust as needed.

2 moms found this helpful
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G.S.

answers from New York on

I would see a psychiatrist, not rely on strictly a primary dr. I have been treated for bipolar for 20 yrs & i'm not suggesting that you have something that is that severe, but when venturing into any of these medications I have found it wise to do so under the care of a medical dr who does only that. Not someone who is handling panic attacks in Room # 1 & pink eye in Room #2.

By meeting even with a psychiatrist you will be given the specifics about the medications, and carefully monitored. I am not doubting your dr's capabilities in any way, just worry because I had gone to my PC doctor who had put me on the wrong combination of medications (for me) and I ended up in a much worse frame of mind then necessary. Best of luck to you.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Take the counsel of your doctor, not the counsel of your fears. The "what-iffies" are part of the anxiety you're working on.

Have your doctor's number handy all the time, so you can call again about side affects, etc. Ask if there is any sort of local support group you can attend. Being with others who have been there and done that could help a lot.

You're in my prayers.

1 mom found this helpful
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D..

answers from Miami on

Please talk to another doctor. I understand him wanting you to stick with the program for longer, but that doesn't mean you need to stay on the same medicine. Tweaking because of the side effects seems to be in order.

Don't go off on your own. You will need expert advice on how to change up.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Please be sure to add regular exercise to anything you do, if you are not already. Even taking a 2-3 mile walk daily, if you don't do anything else, will help a lot. Listen to some good music while you are doing it.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I love everything TherapyMom said!
I will just add that I really hope you are seeing a Psychiatrist because they know the ins and outs of all those medications. That is their job. He will help you to taper off safely, as well.
I also hope you are seeing a therapist. The idea of meds is to help you out of a difficult situation so that you are receptive to therapy and receptive to learning the coping skills to manage your life.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I was on Zoloft for 6 months.
It really helped me get over feeling being 'on duty' all the time and trying to be super mom when it was burning me out.
I didn't have any side effects on it at all - it just felt like the hair on the back of my neck did not have to stand up on end all the time.
After 6 months, the dr will tell you how to very slowly taper off over the course of a month to 6 weeks and you won't have any withdrawal at all.
Do NOT just stop taking it.
When you began taking it you should have been informed of any drug interactions and what to avoid while you are on it, alcohol being one of them.
You'll be off it by Thanksgiving or Christmas and side effects will go away.
In the meantime, exercise regularly, get a little sunshine, get plenty of sleep.
No one knows if your anxiety/depression will return so don't worry about crossing that bridge till you get there.

http://www.drugs.com/zoloft.html

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L.G.

answers from Denver on

I have been on Zoloft for 2 months and I definitely feel much better now although I still have mood swings, intrusive thoughts and irrational fears every now and then. I saw a counselor for couple of times and it helped a bit mostly because she recommended some really good self-help books as "The feeling good handbook", "The OCD Handbook", and taught me some techniques on how to deal with intrusive thoughts and other anxiety symptoms. As Mary L. pointed out, join local support groups or even a mom/church group, you need friends/family support as well as being with others really helped me going through this.

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