Wanna get back to normal

[marley_son]

I was first diagnosed with depression back in 1998. Been on Zoloft since. Had basically 25 years with little to no serious symptoms. Unfortunately my mother passed in November 2022. Since then I've had 3 bouts of depressive episodes. So frustrating. Not sure if it's just because I'm getting older (52) or if I have grief issues to deal with. Right now, I just wanna feel normal again.

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

All of the above unfortunately. You are dealing with a lot. Grief is something that never goes away. You just get better at coping with it. But there is no "finish line" to it.

Stress of grief can add to depression. And yes, getting older we aren't resilient as we used to be. Before we could let things roll off our backs. Now they seem to linger a little bit longer.

You can't rush healing process. It's going to take time. Speaking as someone who is very impatient, I know it can be frustrating. I, too, want to be cured of anxiety and get back to living my life. But that's not how it works. I get better day by day. I have to let it be that way. I could try to push a little harder but it I rush things I could end up hurting myself. Adding unnecessary stress to myself. Something you don't need when you're anxious and depressed.

My condolences to you and sorry about your mom's passing

Sending love and hugs 🫂 ❤️

[nikainverse]

As far as l'm informed, antidepressants cannot really be used as medication for emotions such as grief, loss and suffering. If you're going through major life changes that impact you negatively, unfortunately those are reactive emotions you're experiencing, tied directly to specific situations that cause you to feel this way. I think the best way to go about such a life period is to seek out a therapist or a psychologist and book a few sessions where a professional can guide you through the process of dealing with these things- it's the safest and smartest route you can take.Of course, my psychiatrist would up my Zoloft dosage when she knows I'm struggling, when I need something to numb me so I don't go off the rails...but that's only to keep my baseline in balance, WHILE I simultaneously actively work on the issues I'm facing at that very moment. Medication for the mind is usually meant for things we cannot control no matter how hard we do or do not try, but tackling genuine problems takes work, and dulling those emotions is usually considered a bad coping mechanism. (Especially because illegal drugs are the only thing that can offer temporary relief)

Wish you the best of luck! And just know, nothing you're feeling is "abnormal", and everything in life can be worked on. It's great that you're speaking about it! Self-realization is half the work!