newbie

[Purpletay13]

I’m new here and to this whole thing in general. I have had issues with depression since I was 12. I have been in therapy of and on and used a few different antidepressants as well. I am doing well for the moment and still doing counseling and medication that I’ve been staying on now since I have had times of stopping them on my own in the past. I still find it a struggle a lot of times but I don’t want to end up doing anything stupid like I did in my past and end up hospitalized for numerous weeks like I did in 2009. So as much as it’s a never ending battle with depression I have been doing what I can to handle it and have been successful more often than not and I hope that others know that it’s possible and that they can do it too !

[micpenn222]

Thanks for the positive post. My story is similar in that I have had recurring bouts ( every 5 to 6 years ) since I was 10 years old. However, this cycle was broken when I was put on paroxetine and for 25 years I was depression free. Now for various reasons, it stopped working, and I am trying to find the right med or combination that will work again. So yeah, there is hope because I guess you could say we are both proof of that, even though at times we feel so hopeless.

[b1b1b1 in reply to micpenn222]

Funny, I am exactly the same as you. I took Paxil for a long time and was completely free of depression and mostly free of anxiety. It was however, causing slightly low sodium, which Most SSRIs can do. The low sodium problem has been mostly managed now by my doctor, and I am very cautiously trying to slowly start Lexapro, while having sodium levels measured every few weeks.

[micpenn222 in reply to b1b1b1]

Boy, are we ever the same! My doctor has me on Lexapro also now, and it's helped but just not fully. So it's more wait-and-see but possibly another switch.

[Agora1 in reply to micpenn222]

micpenn222, please give the Lexapro time to work especially if you are seeing

some help from it. Keep in touch with your doctor. Usually 6-8 weeks for a SSRI

to reach full efficacy, a few days longer if the dosage is raised. Wish you well.

Your doctor knows your health history and will do what's best for you xx

[micpenn222 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you.

[Agora1]

Stay safe Purpletay13 by never going off medication on your own cold turkey.

The results as you saw can have devastating effects.

Thanks for the words of wisdom and positivity according to your own experiences. xx

[Teaching]

Welcome to the community