Unless your depression is severe, antidepressants have been shown to be placebos, pretty much - sorry to say. Most people's depression is time limited, and will go away on its own. Most antidepressants do cause sexual side effects that you won't like, but wellbutrin is less likely to do thta, and there is EMSAM, a patch, that is an maoi inhibitor - at low doses, you don't need to modify your diet.
Congitive behavioral therapy and increasing exercise, using a light box, if there is a seasonal pattern to your depression, and getting more social support, are better options, with NO side effects. I will give you my depression tips, which are useful for severe depression and milder depression, also. If you have severe depression (can't go to work or school, chronically suicidal, etc) then you need to be seeing a psychiatrist and not a family doc.
my generic Depression tips (PRINT THEM OUT):
If your depression is worse in winter, try to get more sun. You may have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or your depression could be partly seasonal. Use a light box (10,000 Lux (light intensity) at about 20” - about $300 online, don't get locally, they charge more, you don't need full spectrum, it needs a UV filter, the Sunray is a good brand). I have extra windows, painted the walls peach & yellow & have a skylight. There's a link to a cheaper lightbox at psycheducation.org. Also take 1000 to 2000 IU of Vitamin D in winter – if you live in the north, you are deficient in this vitamin & need the supplement anyhow, so you may as well see if it helps the depression.
Try meditation like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. See The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund Bourne for examples. Free 15 minute guided imagery download at healthjourneys.com.
Go out with friends, & if you don't have any, join a club & MAKE yourself go until you look forward to it. “Isolating” makes depression worse!
Exercise 1/2 hour a day, & anytime you feel depressed. Exercise is a great mood stabilizer & reduces anxiety. LOTS OF RESEARCH SUPPORTS THIS.
Insomnia?: Go to bed & get up the same time each day, even weekends. Don't use your bedroom to watch TV, read or use the computer. Don't do stuff that revs you up before bed, like exercising & using the computer. Light from computer screens & TV wakes you up. Use that last hour to wind down-take a bath? Make the bedroom very dark, even cover up the alarm clock. Use a noise machine (makes wave sounds etc.) to cover up disturbing sounds. Avoid caffeine in afternoon & evening. Try soundsleeping.com for free relaxing sounds downloads.
Put colorful, happy things around the house. Do nice things for yourself. Make a list of things that make you happy, like: bread fresh from the oven, the scent of Jergen's cherry almond lotion, the crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, standing in the boat flicking topwater lures onto the water, etc. Use all your senses & read that list when you are breaking down
Work on time management if you are overwhelmed. Cut back on other responsibilities so you can spend more restorative time with friends & family. Ask for help if depression makes it hard to keep up with chores.
Spend more time with your pet, if you have one. Both of you will appreciate the time.
DON'T listen to sad music! It makes things worse! Listen to upbeat stuff- same with movies & novels.
DISTRACT yourself when you are hurting. Read a novel, watch a comedy, go out with friends, play cards or a video game, whatever is mentally all-consuming. This is VERY helpful in a crisis!!
Volunteer. Helping others makes you feel better about yourself. It also keeps you more involved in the community. Many people find comfort being involved in religion. Get help from your pastor. Some pastors from conservative faiths don't “believe” in mental illness & tell you to go off your meds & pray more – don't go to such a pastor for “help.”
Put a half-smile on your face. Changing your expression is proven to help change mood.
Cognitive Behavioral therapy is the most effective kind of counseling. Try free computerized CBT at moodgym.anu.edu.au. Computerized therapy appears to be almost as effective as counseling, research shows.
Good luck. I learned this information from classes & books.
I take generic Wellbutrin SR (150 mg) in the morning, and Lexapro (10 mg) with dinner, for depression and anxiety. I've been taking that for over two years, and it's working very well for me.
The Wellbutrin SR seems to help me to be more alert and active - and wanting to do things - while the Lexapro makes me more mellow, and it helps me sleep better, too. They are relatively low doses of each medication, which keeps side effects at a minimum. I really can't tell I'm taking any medication at all.
There are a lot of people that take Wellbutrin with their SSRI's, it helps to counteract some of the possible side effects - such as drowsiness, weight gain, and the sexual side effects. It really does make a difference!!
I take Wellbutrin SR (150 mg) in the morning, and Lexapro (10 mg) in the evening, for depression and anxiety. I've been taking that for over a year and a half, and it's working very well for me. The Wellbutrin SR seems to help me to be more active - and wanting to do things - while the Lexapro makes me more mellow, and it helps me sleep better, too. I don't really have any side effects that are noticeable. Best of Luck to you :-) Paul.
I agreed with the best answer for the most part and there was some good, constructive advice to her post, but avoiding your pain is what prolongs depression. When we resist, we suffer. Face your pain and embrace it as part of our human experience. It is shared by all, everyone feels pain, but when we hide that or avoid it, it makes the pain stronger.
most of the time when you take one you have to take it at least 3 weeks and in that time the stuff subsides and leaves then you keep taking it that is with all meds and they are the same. its just getting use to the med.
Comments
Unless your depression is severe, antidepressants have been shown to be placebos, pretty much - sorry to say. Most people's depression is time limited, and will go away on its own. Most antidepressants do cause sexual side effects that you won't like, but wellbutrin is less likely to do thta, and there is EMSAM, a patch, that is an maoi inhibitor - at low doses, you don't need to modify your diet.
Congitive behavioral therapy and increasing exercise, using a light box, if there is a seasonal pattern to your depression, and getting more social support, are better options, with NO side effects. I will give you my depression tips, which are useful for severe depression and milder depression, also. If you have severe depression (can't go to work or school, chronically suicidal, etc) then you need to be seeing a psychiatrist and not a family doc.
my generic Depression tips (PRINT THEM OUT):
If your depression is worse in winter, try to get more sun. You may have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or your depression could be partly seasonal. Use a light box (10,000 Lux (light intensity) at about 20” - about $300 online, don't get locally, they charge more, you don't need full spectrum, it needs a UV filter, the Sunray is a good brand). I have extra windows, painted the walls peach & yellow & have a skylight. There's a link to a cheaper lightbox at psycheducation.org. Also take 1000 to 2000 IU of Vitamin D in winter – if you live in the north, you are deficient in this vitamin & need the supplement anyhow, so you may as well see if it helps the depression.
Try meditation like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. See The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund Bourne for examples. Free 15 minute guided imagery download at healthjourneys.com.
Go out with friends, & if you don't have any, join a club & MAKE yourself go until you look forward to it. “Isolating” makes depression worse!
Exercise 1/2 hour a day, & anytime you feel depressed. Exercise is a great mood stabilizer & reduces anxiety. LOTS OF RESEARCH SUPPORTS THIS.
Insomnia?: Go to bed & get up the same time each day, even weekends. Don't use your bedroom to watch TV, read or use the computer. Don't do stuff that revs you up before bed, like exercising & using the computer. Light from computer screens & TV wakes you up. Use that last hour to wind down-take a bath? Make the bedroom very dark, even cover up the alarm clock. Use a noise machine (makes wave sounds etc.) to cover up disturbing sounds. Avoid caffeine in afternoon & evening. Try soundsleeping.com for free relaxing sounds downloads.
Put colorful, happy things around the house. Do nice things for yourself. Make a list of things that make you happy, like: bread fresh from the oven, the scent of Jergen's cherry almond lotion, the crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, standing in the boat flicking topwater lures onto the water, etc. Use all your senses & read that list when you are breaking down
Work on time management if you are overwhelmed. Cut back on other responsibilities so you can spend more restorative time with friends & family. Ask for help if depression makes it hard to keep up with chores.
Spend more time with your pet, if you have one. Both of you will appreciate the time.
DON'T listen to sad music! It makes things worse! Listen to upbeat stuff- same with movies & novels.
DISTRACT yourself when you are hurting. Read a novel, watch a comedy, go out with friends, play cards or a video game, whatever is mentally all-consuming. This is VERY helpful in a crisis!!
Volunteer. Helping others makes you feel better about yourself. It also keeps you more involved in the community. Many people find comfort being involved in religion. Get help from your pastor. Some pastors from conservative faiths don't “believe” in mental illness & tell you to go off your meds & pray more – don't go to such a pastor for “help.”
Put a half-smile on your face. Changing your expression is proven to help change mood.
Cognitive Behavioral therapy is the most effective kind of counseling. Try free computerized CBT at moodgym.anu.edu.au. Computerized therapy appears to be almost as effective as counseling, research shows.
Good luck. I learned this information from classes & books.
I take generic Wellbutrin SR (150 mg) in the morning, and Lexapro (10 mg) with dinner, for depression and anxiety. I've been taking that for over two years, and it's working very well for me.
The Wellbutrin SR seems to help me to be more alert and active - and wanting to do things - while the Lexapro makes me more mellow, and it helps me sleep better, too. They are relatively low doses of each medication, which keeps side effects at a minimum. I really can't tell I'm taking any medication at all.
There are a lot of people that take Wellbutrin with their SSRI's, it helps to counteract some of the possible side effects - such as drowsiness, weight gain, and the sexual side effects. It really does make a difference!!
For the best answers, search on this site https://smarturl.im/aDLd7
I take Wellbutrin SR (150 mg) in the morning, and Lexapro (10 mg) in the evening, for depression and anxiety. I've been taking that for over a year and a half, and it's working very well for me. The Wellbutrin SR seems to help me to be more active - and wanting to do things - while the Lexapro makes me more mellow, and it helps me sleep better, too. I don't really have any side effects that are noticeable. Best of Luck to you :-) Paul.
Stop Depression - Overcome your Depression Without Medication - http://stopdepresion.info/effective-way-1974.html
Method to overcome depression and anxiety without pills and expensive therapies.
You will cure your depression just by following him directions. It is a simple, fast and effective method.
+) Find food for treating depression.
+) Stop taking pills.
+) Never relapse again.
+) Apply an effective method to discover and eliminate the root problem.
Method provide the "key" to your new life, for you will be able to:
+) Have more confidence in yourself.
+) Sleep better and feel more relaxed, with no stress.
+) Be comfortable with yourself and with other people.
+) Stop anxiety attacks.
Get it Now! - http://stopdepresion.info/effective-way-1974.html
Enjoy every day as you did before and Start feeling fulfilled and enjoying the things you do
Overcome your Depression Without Medication
I agreed with the best answer for the most part and there was some good, constructive advice to her post, but avoiding your pain is what prolongs depression. When we resist, we suffer. Face your pain and embrace it as part of our human experience. It is shared by all, everyone feels pain, but when we hide that or avoid it, it makes the pain stronger.
most of the time when you take one you have to take it at least 3 weeks and in that time the stuff subsides and leaves then you keep taking it that is with all meds and they are the same. its just getting use to the med.
Eliminate Social Anxiety Shyness : http://socialanxiety.uzaev.com/?Bvah