MDD, Anxiety, PTSD, Chronic Pain

[heathermf316]

Hello! I'm new to the group and it told me to post so here I am. I have and will always have MDD and I have a hard time with meds between that and the anxiety. In the last 3 years I started having lower back pain and ended up having surgery that did nothing which led me to Lyrica. I feel like the Lyrica helps but it makes me sleepy and adds to my depressed mood. I currently live in AZ which I hate but because of my husband we had to move. So I guess I'm hanging on by a limb but at least I'm holding on by two hands.

[BonnieSue]

Hi Heather,

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. What about your meds is difficult for you? I know what you mean about the Lyrica making you sleepy, but besides that problem what else is troublesome?

Is your anxiety under control with your meds? I'm glad you're holding on with 2 hands because that sounds secure. Is there any hope your husband will be transferred to somewhere you'll like?

[heathermf316 in reply to BonnieSue]

Hi BonnieSue,

It just feels like the meds for depression aren't working to full speed. I have been on a bunch of different ones and I told my provider that I want to stay away from totally needing only meds to make me better. I feel like that is going to need to be the only way to help me. Unfortunately we aren't going to be able to move for 5 or more years.

[BonnieSue in reply to heathermf316]

Actually the ideal treatment for anxiety and depression is twofold: meds and counseling. You sound like you need the part you don't have...a counselor. Or do you have one already? I've had one for most of my years being treated with meds and there's no doubt that 1 is important. There's so much to know and monitor. And life is so complicated it's good to step back and look at it with someone who's trained to spot the good and the bad and come up with patterns and observations that are really helpful. My current counselor I've had for 17 years and she's a friend by now. She thinks about all kinds of things that I don't. I make sure to try to think about her suggestions at times after our appointments because they are often good ones but I tend to dismiss them as too complicated or I don't have enough time when they come up at my app'tmt. but if I just let it stay on my mind for later, I often see the greater value in the suggestion and decide to go further with it.

Anywho, it's a valuable part of your treatment and deserves to be highly considered by you.

[Hidden]

What's MDD?

[heathermf316 in reply to Hidden]

Major depressive disorder

[Hidden in reply to heathermf316]

Oh thanks. I should have known that!