I was on meds before for depression, but I stopped taking them when I got Armour. Then I stopped Armour. Didn't notice a difference though, to be honest. But this lady said I should give meds another try. She said I most likely have clinical, or was it chronic, depression. Anyway, I don't really feel depressed. At least not all the time. Sometimes I will but it goes away in a few minutes. My problem is I just have no interest in anything. I always bored and looking for something to do. But I can't find anything that interests me to keep me from being bored. And I know most people would say "go out somewhere." I'm not that kind of person. If I don't have a friend with me, I don't go out. And I only have one friend, and she works second shift five days a week. The other two she mostly spends with her boyfriend and their kid.

I've already tried Effexor, Cymbalta, Welbutrin, and I think Zoloft. Or was it the one that began with a "P"? Can't remember. And none of them worked or the side effects were killing me. So any suggestions would be welcome. I'm thinking if trying St. John's Wart again, since I'm not on birth control anymore.

I've tried every drug on the market and they all gave me side effects that were worse than the problem. I take a daily dose of fish oil (omega-3s are very helpful for mood disorders & depression~confirmed by my doctor too) plus I take 200mg Rhodiola Rosea. Rodiola helps raise several chemicals in the brain not just seritonin. Try googling it and see what you think (google the omega-3's too~ the info on the trials and case studies is amazing.)

I would do some research about the options out there and then talk to your doctor and see what they say. It can't hurt to try something more "natural."

I've been taking the fish oil and Rodiola for a month now. The side effects for me have been nil and I feel a lot better.

I'm taking something called Essential Woman. It's a combo of flaxseed oil, Lignans, and evening primrose oil. I think there are more, but I can't remember them. It has:
11g of fat, though I'm assuming this is mostly good fat
1g saturated fat
7.5g polyunsaturated fat
1.5g monounsaturated fat
5,115mg of Omega-3
2,330mg of Omega-6
1,488mg of Omega-9

This is in 1 Tbsp (15 ml) and that is all you take a day. And it's all organic. I'll look up the Rhodiola Rosea and see what I get. Thanks.

I saw Linda Dano on The View, and she said that above all else, what helps her cope with her depression is exercise.......she really stressed it. She has been open about her depression for years.

The fish oil capsules (get high quality ones) are known to help, too....if you can find the March 26 issue of Newsweek, there is all the proof you need about exercise and the brain. Good luck!

I'm just wondering...have you thought (and alot of people wont like this) about ADD. Depression can often be a co-condition of ADD.

ADD... Attention Disorder right? I'm not sure. I know I was like that as a kid, but I didn't think I was anymore. Could that be why nothing seems to interest me anymore? Or at least for very long? Hmmm... Interesting food for thought.

If you had it as a kid, you still have it today. You don't grow out of it. You learn to cope and ways to help you deal with it but that's all.

Well, I think I had it. One of my teachers said I had ADHD and I got put on meds. I'm not sure if we ever went to a doctor to actually get it diagnosed or not. I can't remember that far back. I'll have to ask my mom.

EDIT: Just asked. She said my teacher said I needed meds, but the doc didn't actually diagnose me with it. So I still might, but I didn't back then. Stupid teacher just said I was.

I don't have any answers but I know what worked for me....exercise, taking courses to meet people and gain confidence in things that interest me and work. I don't do well with too much time on my hands. I have friends I have met through the years at different places of education....sign up for an aquacize class....or go to school part time, volunteer at a seniors home or nursery...plant flower pots, join a book club....get out of your house, get off the computer and engage in life...and follow with your family doctor....we are rarely best to treat ourselves, esp depression.

JMO

Liz

Hi,

I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. I was diagnosed about 2 years ago with depression and was put on Wellbutrin, Zoloft and eventually Topomax. The weight gain I was experiencing wasn't helping my depression any. I was also struggling with an eating disorder, overeating and bulimia. So even though Topo was supposed to help me lose weight, I eat when I'm not hungry so it was kind of pointless for me. Well, life forced me to dump my insurance and pick up some with no RX. So I did my research and tried to rework my diet to help cope with my depression. Number one...cut out a lot of processed foods, high sugar foods, eat balanced meals including breakfast. Secondly, I take my Multi for Women, B Complex, Omega 3 and I was using the Melatonin to see what effect it had. Third, Exercise. Four, Got rid of the crappy job. Do I feel as good as I did on the meds... not completely but it's manageable. And when I'm sad I just let myself feel that way, move through it and not fight it. Will I go back on meds? Not right now, I've been good for a couple of months so I'll see. Maybe better nutrition has at least moved my depression from chronic to moderate. I don't know. All I do no is that the weight gain was frustrating and I couldn't live with it anymore.

I'm not really one to talk esp when depression sits in, and don't take this as me offending you, but what i notice in your words is you are limiting your self to a very small range of options. When we're depressed, we don't see possibilities. People who are not depressed, they look for possibilities.

by telling yourself and us that you can't go out cuz you only have one friend, it is a limit you have decided for your self.

You can go out. you can make new friends. it is possible.

we just tell ourselves these things and we believe them.

if you have other aquaintences, you could invite them out for coffee after work. you could get to know them. they could introduce you to new people.

it's not the same as your friend you've known forever. But you never know who you might meet.

Again, i know it's hard when you're depressed and don't feel like doing anything in the first place.

Did you look up side effects of your meds on medications.com or a similar site? Google your med. and side effects. you may find that more people on the same med are experiencing the same mental dullness. Medications can do some pretty bad things to our systems that the drs don't know of or just dismiss. try investigating some holistic treatments or alternative therapies.

and i agree with the poster above about our americanized diets. Stay away from processed foods, chemicals, caffine, artificial anything and sugar.

here is a good book to read, only ~10 bucks on amazon: the chemistry of joy.

They give me ritalin when i was younger. Now my doctor says that probably was an early stage of my depression and because of the medication it taked longer to get an acurate diagnosis, so ritalin should be taked carefully

Another book that might help you is The Antidepressant Survival Guide: The Clinically Proven Program to Enhance the Benefits and Beat the Side Effects of Your Medication.

It's an easy read, but it has really great information in it.

-Lynn

I'm trying to get our more. Really. It's just hard with nothing much to do around here. I had a really bad pit moment the other day. They don't happen often, but when they do they are bad. Kept thinking bad thoughts, but I NEVER act on them. Never. I just...think about it. But anyway, tomorrow I'm going to the local game store and getting a copy of DDR SuperNova. It has so me songs on it I can like, which I was worried about. I thought most of them would be hip-hop or rap. I don't mind either, but when it gets to the cursing and racist music I draw the line. Anyway, I'm hoping that might be fun and help me out. I may also dish out $80 for the ultra-rare Mario DDR on Ebay. Still debating that one. But I'm working on things. Taking some Acai Berry pills, just cause they are suppose to have a lot of good stuff in them. I'll keep ya'll updated.

Do you go to the gym? I was agoraphobic and once I found the courage to go out I found this really helped. Exercise is the best drug for depression, I am sure you will notice a difference if you exercised. Even if it was a DVD if you do not want to go out.