I have posted here a couple of times before, but not often enough for anyone to get to know me. I come from a family with a history of subtance abuse and depression problems. My grandma and mother are both on anti-depression medicine of some kind. I started Celexa when I was 16 (gyno wrote me the Rx), but was taken off of it when I turned 18 because another doctor told me I was too young to become dependant on mood altering drugs.

I was fine with that, but I still have boughts of depression. I start feeling really anxious and hopeless, and it takes me a few days before I can pick myself up from it. There is usually no reason for it. I just start feeling like there is no point to anything, and my stomach feels like it is in knots. I usually don't go to sleep at night until 3 or 4 AM unless I am absoultely exhausted, because I am afraid of the dark (childish I know), and also I am afraid that I might not wake up (one of my irrational obsessive fears). I lay in bed and I worry about things. I have NO sex drive, and I AM ONLY 21!

I am thinking about talking to a doctor about getting back on something, but I don't know. I don't want something that makes me gain weight. I started Celexa and Birth Control at the same time and that's when I started to put on so much weight (though I do credit most of the weight to my unhealthy eating habits). I don't want to take something that makes me feel even more messed up than I do. I can deal with these spells I get, because I know they eventually go away and I feel like me again.

Siiiiiiigh. Help? What if these are just normal feelings EVERYONE gets?

"Mood altering drugs?"

I'd get a new doctor.

lol He isn't my doctor anymore. I actually don't have a GP since I moved for college.

Hi-
Get back on the antidepressants. They have saved my life. I take Zoloft and there are no side effects. There is nothing wrong with taking something that your body does not manufacture enough of. There is no reason you should have to go on feeling as you do. The world needs to get over the fact that some people need drugs just to feel like other healthy people do.

Hi Mary,

I think you are one smart lady. Talking to a doctor is the best thing you could ever do for yourself. He/She is the only one that can properly diagnose you. I agree with you, you are to young to suffer like this.

Drugs effect everyone differently so its really trial and error on your part, just be sure to tell your doctor right away if something is not right. Mermom said Zoloft works good for her yet it made me feel suicidal and gave me bad bad side effects... I won't go near that stuff ever again. Prozac was great for me as well as Welbutrin. Work with your doctor to find whats right with you.

Don't feel ashamed or embarrassed.... just remember you don't need to tell anyone you are on meds.

Please keep us posted on your progress

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I agree - if you need some meds - take them. If you were diabetic you'd be on insulin.

I tried four different meds(which either didn't work or had too many side effects) before I found what I now think is working. I am on Welbutrin (which worked well for my depression but left me with severe anxiety) so instead of taking me off my doc suggested a small dose of Celexa for the anxiety. I am feeling better than I have in many years.

Good luck with your decision.

Only 21 & figuring it out - good for you! That would have saved me so many years of suffering. "Mood altering drugs" are what have saved my life.

Talk to your doctor and keep going back until you find what works for you.

And what is up with the "you're too young to become dependent upon them." Well, I hope that that is not the advice he gives any patients with diabetes ("gee, I don't want you to take the insulin because we wouldn't want you to become dependent on it").

And seriously, taking a theraputic dose of Celexa is hardly akin to popping handfulls of Vicodin. Puh-lease.

I highly recommend seeing an actual psychiatrist if you think depression's the problem. If they think that you should go on meds, they'll prescribe them. They aren't "mood altering drugs"... They just fix levels brain chemicals that can cause mood problems. It's possible you need meds but it's also possible that therapy alone will do the job for you. I know people who just see a therapist once every week or so and that does the trick for them.

I'm also young (only 19), so I can understand why it can be concerning. Depression and anxiety have nearly ruined my life on a number of occasions but you can bounce back! Best of luck to you!

Thank you guys for your advice..I am back on one of my optimistic swings so now I am doubting whether or not I should go. It's so hard for me to explain how I feel to a doctor when I am not actually feeling that way at the time..if that makes any sense at all. Blleeehhh. Another thing..doctors/ medicine = $$$ which I don't have right now, and I can't remember if the insurance will cover mental health issues..Anyone know?

Depends on your insurance.

But, your college should offer counselling services and that is made very student-income friendly (er, not expensive).

Also, your church or place of worship might offer free counselling services by professionals.

I think now most insurance plans are required to cover mental health issues, though that depends on the state. You'll have to check with them about that.

I know what you mean about talking to a doctor about symptoms. One thing I find to be effective is writing down how I've been feeling on a daily basis so when I get to the doctor I can look through and describe to him what I've been feeling even if at the time I feel fine.

Good luck!

I agree that she should see a psychiatrist AND a therapist, but wanted to note that anti depressants are most certainly "mood altering drugs" just as insulin is a "blood sugar regulating drug"...and that is a very good thing indeed for those who need them!

It sounds like you may have "depressive episodes" rather than pure clinical depression...something a good therapist or psychiatrist can more easily diagnose than a GP.

I also have "recurrent depressive episodes with anxiety" - not fun. I'm managing mine without medication, which obviously isn't the right choice for everyone (heck, I'm only about 75% convinced it is the right choice for ME, much less anyone else). You also might want to consider an evaluation for bipolar disorder, since it can be easily confused with depressive episodes (which are basically defined as spans of depression, recurring, that last anywhere from a week to a month and then go away, only to return again, and often come without any particular trigger).

I would say that they are brain chemical enhancing drugs. They "fix" what chemical signals and pathways that are not working properly in an "ill" brain.