Came from the Doctor's office

This is what I am going to say before I get into a shell to withdraw a while, for I am not in mood for anything.

I have not been feeling well in the past weeks. And I just came from the Dr.'s office. I have depression.

He has prescribed me a medication named Zoloft. 50 mg a day, two weeks worth. I have already taken the first dose.

He had me take a series of blood urine tests. They are already done... I am waiting for results.

He is reffering me to a therapist in San Juan, who is a cousin of him, and specializes in Teenagers.

*SIGH*..... Bummer. I must be one of a small handful in this town... for I don't know in person a single person who has this.

I know a lot of people who are on depression medication and it scares me because when you're depressed, your brain is trying to tell you something. "Depression comes from anger." As I have been told by a nurse at my hospital. You might be depressed because there is something in your life that is making you very angry because you can't or won't deal with it. Try and think of anything in your life that you are not in control of and makes you upset. This could be the source of your depression. "Deal with the anger and the depression will go away." That's what I've been told anyway...

Take this story for instance;(My charge nurse told me this)
There was this lady who was charged with the attempted murder of her husband. She says she didn't do it, doesn't remember it, etc., so she was in therapy for her depression and wasn't making any head-way. So they brought her down to the excersize room and told her to punch the punching bag. "Oh no, I could never do something like that". Finally councillor started talking to her like her husband does. Low and demeaning. They thought she was going to rip the punching bag out of the ceiling! She had so much pent-up anger at her husband and didn't know how to deal with it. So after this was discovered she got a divorce from her husband and learned how to deal with her anger.

I have no idea what your situation is but this is what the charge-nurse at my hospital says about depression. Something to think about, I hope you feel better soon.

Literally millions of people have depression. I have it ... I am bi-polar, and so one end of my illness is severe depression. I am not on Zoloft, but on Prozac. Depression can be caused by a multitude of things and their combination. Among them are chemical imbalances in your brain, which hopefully the medication to help; another is emotional issues that may or may not have been dealt with. I am not saying either of these is true in your case, I'm just saying these are things that I have found to be true for me and for many other people I know who have depression. The best advice I can give to someone who has recently been diagnosed with depression is to EDUCATE yourself about this illness as much as you can. If you need help in doing this please e-mail me and I would be glad to help because I've been where you are now. My e-mail is [email protected] . I understand the feelings of being alone and helplessness that comes with this illness, but you should know that you are NOT alone and that there are lots of people who have this and deal with it in their lives on a consistant and productive basis.

Thanks giventofly. I guess that is what I need to do the most. The thing that seems to have me right now the most is that I know so little of depression.

I don't know... today has been a torrent of dizzying emotions.

Originally Posted by yoviher

Thanks giventofly. I guess that is what I need to do the most. The thing that seems to have me right now the most is that I know so little of depression.

I don't know... today has been a torrent of dizzying emotions.

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Just give yourself some time to wrap your mind around it ... and also know that depression doesn't necessarily a life sentence ... many times you can treat it and the symptoms go away. Be kind to yourself right now and just try to find a place of calm and peace if you can.

Victor, (((big hugs))) You can get through this buddy! Good luck.

I have been on so many anti depressants that I use one that works for awhile then move down the list. When I get to the bottom of that list, I start over from the top again. I've taken them all and am currently taking Zoloft 50mg. I take it at nite because it makes me feel really loopy (tired, dizzy, etc)

Hang in there Victor, you can get through this.

Believe it or not, there are tons of people who suffer from depression. Most people are just unwilling to talk about it because they fear that people will think they are "crazy". This is totally untrue.

I have to disagree with the person above who stated that depression comes from anger. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. That's why the Dr. put you on anti-depressants. This will regulate your brain chemistry. Also, depression does not always have to last forever. I believe the statistics are that 70-80% of people treated with anti-depressants can be taken off them in approximately a year without symptoms coming back. Obviously, this is most people and probably you too!

I'm glad you are getting help now. I have suffered from depression my entire life but was not treated for it until just a few years ago.

While you are on the internet, take a look at the website for Zoloft. This should give you some idea of the possible side effects. Please know that most of the side effects do go away after a few weeks.

Hang in there! If you can get through the next few weeks of side effects, etc., you should be feeling better. Also, if the side effects don't go away or are too troublesome, your doctor can prescribe a different one. Good luck!

I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. You have to give your self loads of time, it hasn't happened overnight and it doesn't go away that quick either. It usually takes a couple of weeks for the medication to help in a big way. Just hang on. When you feel your worse try and remind yourself that you will feel better, maybe tomorrow, maybe in an hours time. But you are definitely not on your own I know a lot of people who suffer with depression, but I also realise that it makes you feel alone. If you want to contact me my e-mail is [email protected]. Hope you are feeling a little bit better by now. Treat yourself to something nice.

(((HUGS))), Victor. Sorry to hear this, but I'm glad you're getting help and hope you overcome it soon.

Thanks you all.... I had posted this matter on other forums I am a member of, and I have been flooded right now with people trying to give support. But it has surprised me the amount of people who seem to have gone through the same. The last thing I knew about depression was how common it is.

I am feeling right now with nausea.... seems to me he was right when he talked of initial side effects. It has me like if I had gone in a rollercoaster after having a big lunch.

I think that the histeria is subsiding a bit... Its more worry at this point.

Victor, I am so glad that you went to the doctor and that you are going to work to make things better. The combination of medication and therapy works wonders for almost everyone who suffers from depression. Please make sure you are open with your therapist and that you talk to him/her about everything that is on your mind.

Also, you are far from alone in this....depression occurs in about 20% of the population! And, the vast majority of people who have depression recover completely, but it does take time and effort.

You are in my thoughts.

-Hugs- I have had depression before, but somehow I fought it myself. My horrible dad did not take me seriously, and obviously didn't care, so he threw my medication out. he neglected me. I think that depression is worse than any other sickness there is, IMO, because it hurts emotionally and sometimes even physically too. It leads to other sicknesses, like me, I have severe acid reflex because of it, and I have self injured. One sickness connects to another. Hold in strong Victor, because if you don't, you might as well not even take meds. Good luck with it

So sorry to hear that you have to deal with depression. Don't have much to add that the posters above me haven't said, but just wanted to add my support!

Thanks y'all.

I am right now feeling with that nausea constantly.... it was the point that I had nausea and hunger at the same time (kind of having your body asking for food and at the same time wanting to throw up) and I had to try and eat something like that. Now I realize that I had taken the Zoloft on a completely empty stomach. I was almost on fast at the moment.

But, I shall confess to you that despite not feeling much better... I feel kind of better in the sense of spirits. Two days ago, I was starting to feel desperate. Today at least I feel this can be solved, and it is being solved.

Whatever you do, don't let them put you on Paxil. A friend of mine was put on it recently after a suicide attempt and it not only didn't help her depression, it turned her into a paranoid pile of tears who was well on her way to another suicide.

Hi Victor,
I thought I'd share this site with you. I think you'll find you're in pretty good company and certainly not alone. Stick to the treatment plan they give you and maybe we'll see you on this list in the future.

http://www.surgerydoor.co.uk/level2/...n_famous.shtml

I remember someone saying to me years ago that smart people reach out and get help when they need it. Looks to me like you are pretty smart.

Take life as it comes and take care.

Jeff

Victor, sorry your feeling so low and hope things start to look a bit brighter for you in the next few weeks once you start seeing someone.

Susan