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From: downunder (again)
Date: 22/11/03
Time: 06:48:19
Remote Name: 210.54.12.82
Hi vicki - hope by this time you have sorted out some help If not my advice is find another doctor - one who can give you some emotional support as well as drugs - and get a referral to a good therapist If you are feeling down and your relationship is suffering you may find it helps to talk to someone who really knows how to listen without judging or blaming - I did and eventually realised that I am not very good at nurturing and reassuring myself and I was hanging on to a lot of unspoken grief and anger as a result Now when I start panicking or getting depressed I can often talk myself out of it by repeating positive things and reminding myself I am ok and I can cope (I think most of the people I know who experience ongoing depression or anxiety states are actually much much more able talented and resourceful than the average Joe but we give ourselves such a hard time)
Also i was told by my doctor that there is no point in taking SSRIs for less than 18 months - you just get all the down sides without the benefits SSRIs dont fix you; they just help balance out your neuro hormones so that your body-brain has some time to heal itself (homeostasis is the bodies beautiful self-healing mechanism)
But not everyone will respond well to these treatments and it seems to me that sometimes the side effects are too hard to handle Talk therapies; st johns wort and exercise (aim for walking 1 hour a day bc research shows that its duration not intensity that makes a difference to serotonin levels)other good options my doctor recommended (st johns wort doesnt do anything for me though my sister who gets post natal depression swears by it); and Ive seen some other good nutrition suggestions on this foruam
So get your walking shoes on if you havent already done so and do think about making your support network stronger (good doctors; therapists who you can relate too; friends who just let you hang around but dont expect you to impress them with your social skills; maybe a regular massage or facial)