Update...day three on meds

[Judy]

Okay, so I started taking medication. After much soul searching and research I decided to go with some mild antidepressants and requested the brand I wanted from my doctor. It's day three and so far I don't feel much. I don't feel as anxious or emotional but it'll be weeks before I will notice the full effects of the medication.

On one hand I'm very embarassed to be taking antidepressants. On the other hand, it'll be nice to not cry every single day. So far the side effects are mild, just some occassional nausea but nothing I can't handle. It comes and goes very quickly. The true test of whether the pills are working will be when my husband says he notices a change. Time will tell I suppose.

Now I just wait and go about my daily business.

[Vavavoom]

Hey Judy!!!! Thanks so much for the invite here. For people that have never met you know my mind, girlfriend :)

I have to say how proud I am of you that you stepped out of your comfort zone and started medication. Our journeys have been soooooooo similar and I know that meds have done a world of good for me.

Please don't be embarassed about being on meds for this. I know that I was embarassed at first, but the more people I told, the more support I got. It's amazing how many women have gone through depression at one point in time or another....especially post partum (like mine)....but no one talks about it. It's like an invisible epidemic.....everyone knows someone with it but everyone is afraid to talk about it.

I've even told some friends of mine that could not believe that I had PPD (especially to the extent I had it). Most of them said that I hid it well....and I did, to everyone else but my own little family. That is scary, to me!

I started feeling better after the first couple of days. My mind doesn't race anymore, I don't cry over absolutely everything, that feeling of hopelessness and inadequacy is gone. I don't want to be on it forever....my dr said that we'll discuss weaning off of it after 9 months.

I hope that you continue to feel better....more like the old Judy :) Good for you, girlfriend!!

[Aphie]

When I was on antidepressants I was very lucky - they took maximum effect within a fortnight (I felt a change within days), and the side effects only lasted a week.
They helped A LOT. I was crying every day too, and having panic attacks fairly frequently. Suddenly it was easier to calm myself down, put the bad thoughts to one side and promise to come back and think about the problem later when I was calmer.
I'm glad you've enrolled the help of your husband. My partner was fabulous in providing me with an outside perspective on my behaviour and moods.
Remember it's not forever - if you continue counseling along with the medication you will be able to work out what your triggers are, your bad patterns of thought, and how to derail those things in your life. Then you can wean yourself off the medication and continue these things without its help. I was only on meds for six months.

Best wishes!

[Erin C]

First, thank you so much for sharing your experiences! I know it is very difficult to admit you need help, especially when you are the one normally caring for others.

When I started taking medicine, it took me about a month to feel any difference and two to start feeling 'normal' again. My reasons are slightly different, I have depression and mild hallucinations. As far as side effects go, just remember that this medicine is affecting your brain chemistry, so it is likely to have some whole body effects for a while.

I hope things improve for you!

- Erin