im not on anti-depressants and am satisfied with my life....
im glad to see you are too and i agree with you...everyone cheer up

This is a common misconception about depression and is simply down to ignorance about the illness. Depression has nothing to do with being 'dissatisfied with one's life' and it's not simply a case of 'cheer up'.

Tanya, I have suffered with post natal depression and, even though I am totally contented with my life, simply found that I lacked the motivation and energy to do anything. Everything felt pointless and bleak and I became like a shadow of my real self, merely going through the motions of every day but not really feeling anything. I have been prescribed several antidepressants before I found the ones that are working brilliantly for me. I started off on Citalopram but found the effects wore off so I was switched to Prozac but that made me feel really ill, spaced out and sick. I am now on Efexor and they are marvelous! I have got my spirit back again, I am going out and meeting friends, am back playing badminton and am enjoying my work again.

Before I had depression I thought there were times in my life when I had depression. I was wrong. I may have had times when my life wasn't going great or I felt dissatisfied but I was not truely depressed. I now realise that true depression is an illness that slowly saps your life force from you and turns you into a creature that merely 'exists'. If you think you have depression you must see your doctor because it will not just go away. I don't like the fact that I have to take tablets to be well (especially because DH and I were hoping to ttc in Jan but the antidepressants can harm the foetus) but I'd rather be a great mummy to one than a crap mummy to two.

The way I look at it, I don't question the fact that I need to take medicine to keep my asthma under control so why should my mental health be any different?

Good luck.

Im glad you're feeling better Jules those tablets sound goood! I too hate it when people say "cheer up" to anyone with depression, because you cant just cheer up!

Tanya I have depression and anxiety, Ive had it in some degree for years but finally went to the doctors about it last year because it got so bad I just couldnt handle it by myself anymore.

Ive been on 4 different meds since then. First 2 didnt have any/much effect on me. 3rd one was prozac which helped but made me exhausted all the time I couldnt look after Jay on it. Now im on sertraline (zoloft).

I've found they cover up your really bad feelings. Like I was having constant suicidal thoughts, found myself crying a lot over nothing in general, really anxious about going anywhere, would sit and stare at the walls, would stay in bed all day if it was possible etc. Now that stuff doesnt happen. Its like im numb to my emotions in a way.

They dont make you feel happy though. I get anxiety attacks occasionally and Im still depressed but it doesnt affect me so badly. I dont want to go out much or see many people though I make myself. I enjoy being a mum and doing things with Jay more, but its still a struggle most days, however at least im not a complete mess on the bathroom floor crying my eyes out and holding a razor blade.

Still wish they made me feel better than this but the doctor said they wont make anyone feel happy, just back to yourself...well I dont know what that is because ive been depressed for so long. I dont know if I should try yet another medication or stay on this one and be thankful at least the worst feelings are gone. What do you think Jules?

Thanks for these replies, I'm going to properly read them tomorrow and reply as I'm about to pass out from exhaustion on my nice comfy bed.

My mum is taking seretraline (zoloft). She has suffered from depression for many years. She has been switched to loads of different tablets but none seem to really work. She still has suicidal thoughts and still is down right depressed with life

I wsh there was a way of making her feel better

I don't think you should be feeling 'numb' and I think you should be feeling better than you describe. Of course the tablets won't make you 'happy' - their purpose is to make you 'normal' (just like my asthma medication doesn't give me super strong lungs but just lets them function like normal ones) but unless your normal personality is to feel numb and like cutting yourself off from people then I would say you need to see a different doctor.

I meant numb in the way of the tablets make those bad feelings stop, like they numb them out. Im not totally numb of my emotions though, just dont feel the bad ones so much...if that makes sense? Ive heard others describe the effect like that too. I hate changing meds because I worry the new ones wont work as well as these and I'll be in that bad place again. My doctor did offer to change them last week but I said no because they are helping to an extent definately! But not as much as I want them to. I'll think about it some more. Thanks for your advice
I was going to see a psychiatrist too but the hospital hes at isnt in this town so it would be difficult to get there so I decided not to.