Do any of you get so depressed you can't

[Trigger Hippie]

even talk? I was at my regular bar and my favorite bartender, who I have a bit of a crush on, was smiling and chatting with me and all I could do was smile a bit and nod. It's like I didn't have the strength or willpower to speak. I just didn't care.

Time to get back on the drugs? I was on Paxil for a couple years and got off it when I lost health insurance. I finally have insurance again and I need to find a new therapist and new drugs. Paxil was OK for my social anxiety but it didn't help much with my depression. And it was a little too helpful with social anxiety, as in I had my first taste of sluttiness. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Anyway, being mostly friendless in a new city is depressing enough. I think I have a chemical imbalance too. :(

But I hate having to get on new drugs, with all the side effects. I've tried Celexa (allergic), Effexor and Wellbutrin (bad side effects). Any suggestions on what to take for severe depression coupled with social anxiety. Thanks. :hi:

[shrike]

1. I'd talk to my doctor if I were you

If he/she doesn't want to be bothered (and some of them don't), find someone else.

There are a lot of options out there. There was a thread here in this group, some months ago, about a modified "shock treatment," called Alpha-stim, which worked wonders for one DUer in particular. If you search the archives, you may be able to find it. Poster's name was Lorien.

I take the generic for Prozac, fluoxetine, and have for years; no side effects. But drugs are not for everyone. 'Fraid you'll have to do a little legwork and find out what's right for you. But now that you have health insurance things should be much easier.

[Trigger Hippie]

3. Thanks,

I was thinking of trying Prozac this time around. I wish I didn't need drugs, but I think I do. :(

[shrike]

5. Yeah, it sucks needing drugs

If you can find an alternative, that's great; in fact, I encourage you to do so. But drugs are the only thing that work for me.

[NMMNG]

2. I've been there

Antidepressants never helped though--for me mood stabilizers did the trick. They were helpful both with the depression and the mild social anxiety. There is a whole array of anticonvulsants to try: Depakote, Tegretol, Topamax, Lamictal, Neurontin and Trileptal, plus the one sole mood-stabilizer, Lithium Carbonate. My personal recommendation is to avoid Lithium, Depakote and Tegretol because of the nasty side effects.

[Trigger Hippie]

4. Mood stabilizers, huh?

I've never thought of that. Will talk to my doc. Thanks

[EFerrari]

6. I went back on anti depressants after Andy died.

I got so depressed, I just sat here for days. Didn't want to talk, eat, move. The lion's paw.

Much better now, after restarting the prozac.

Thank you, Big Pharma!

[Trigger Hippie]

7. Yeah, time to get back on the drug horse.

Maybe I'll try Prozac this time. :hi:

[EFerrari]

8. fwiw, before the new drugs,

I had horrible side effects from all the old ones. There was no drug I could take and still try to have a normal life!

That doesn't mean I didn't have to make some adjustments when I tried these new anti- deps, but rather, that there were options available to me -- where there had been none before.

Good luck, sweetie. We really do need to have the patience of angels when we try meds. We're rooting for you. :hi:

Beth

[bonito]

9. Well here's my 2 cents worth

From experience, st. johns wort, Walgreen's brand. start with 2 a day than back off to 1 when you start to feel nauseous. It works just fine nothing bothers me, hell the roof could cave in and I'll just move out of the way like water off a ducks back. It's ok for a while for a break to carry you over in the hard times, but when you realize all the shit that is falling around you, its time to give it up and start to actively live again. There is one more side effect I noticed that I won't divulge, but it is to your benefit.

[Trigger Hippie]

11. Thanks,

I will try St. Johns Wort before I get back on the chemicals. I really hate its side effects. Thanks for the advice. :)

[DemExpat]

10. I had addictions to tranquilizers and terrible side-effects

from Prozac, so I found my sanity and balance with the help of Homeopathic treatment from a medical Homeopath.

Good luck with your search, and hope you find support that you need.

:hug:

DemEx

[Trigger Hippie]

12. Thank you,

maybe therapy and herbal remedies will work this time. :shrug:

:hug: back...:)

[DemExpat]

14. Only under professional guidance, whatever you do,

Just trying stuff on you own is not the way to go with depression and anxiety IMO.

:hug:

DemEx

[Trigger Hippie]

16. Yes, true.

I guess docs are used to questions about homeopathic remedies huh? I just hope they won't try to steer me away from that just so they can sell more of their Big Pharma drugs. :scared:

[stepnw1f]

13. I Have Suffered Depression Since I Was A Child

I would experience what you described off and on until it had become so frequent, that I had to take meds. I currently run on Paxil and so far so good. No more tranqs for anxiety also. I take care of that myself for the most part.

Nothing to be asshamed of. Actually, you are doing the right thing by asking for help from others here and getting help professionally. Remember: What ever works works, just don't be ashamed of a "Chemical Imbalance". Your mental health worsens when you do.

[Trigger Hippie]

15. It's reassuring to hear others have felt this way

too. Thanks for the advice. :)

[TrogL]

17. Try a LOW dose of Effexor XR

Doctors automatically precribe huge doses of the medication. The trial pack comes with 3 37.5's and then bumps you up to 75.

I'm doing great on 37.5's. As soon as the doctor tries to bump it up to 75 the bad side effects kick in and there's no noticeable improvement.

Problem is, Effexor is damned expensive.

If you don't mind dry mouth, you could give the old-fashioned tricyclics a whirl.

[DemExpat]

18. So glad to hear you are doing much better now TrogL,

having found a good working balance with a low dose of medication.

:hug:

DemEx

[Rising Phoenix]

19. that is really hard

I've been there, and if you ever need to talk...

[Kire]

20. you can't ask us for medical advice

we're not doctors and it is now written in the rules that the last part of your post is a violation

I'm alerting just to be safe.

[Moderator]

21. Locking per DU guidelines.

Members are not permitted to use Democratic Underground to get answers to medical questions. Please seek the advise of a health care professional.

Thank you.


DU Moderator