Posted by hyperfocus on August 13, 2009, at 14:31:12
In reply to Sorry to be dramatic but considering suicude, posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on August 3, 2009, at 16:42:11
First up, I have struggled with chronic depression and anxiety for many years, so I have an idea of what you are feeling, especially with regard to school. You are not alone feeling this way. But you do have the tools to get better. You say that you don't want to take one drug for depression, one drug for sleep etc. This is valid idea and I think that if you are able to treat the underlying condition under all these symptoms, then all these things will resolve.
First up make sure you have a correct diagnosis. If you are bipolar, for instance, then taking conventional ADs alone may make things worse. You would need a mood stabiliser. Check out this site: http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/02_diagnosis.html and see if any of it applis to you.
There are many other meds besides SSRIs - have you tried tianeptine (Stablon)? Its basic mechanism is the opposite of SSRIs, although these drug mechanisms are way too complex to describe as either "inhibitor" or "enhancer" Very few people including myself have any side-effects from tianeptine. I find it's mood-elevating properties to be quite good and it is also supposed to be neuro-protective.
Also you might try a whole different class of drugs - the atypical antipsychotic. Sulpiride or amisulpiride is an AP that at very low doses enhances dopamine production instead of inhibiting it. Low-dose sulpiride between 50-200mg can treat dysthemia - search through the archives here to see how people use it. You might also be interested in Abilify which is quite popular as an augmentor for ADs. Zyprexa and Risperdal are also used as augmentors.
I think you should start psychotherapy if you haven't already. For me personally recovery has many axes - medication (taking the right meds), psychological (dealing with the issues underlying the depression), behavioral (learning new ways of thinking and doing) and support(finding people that you can rely on to help you in this difficult time.) You don't even need to pay someone to listen to you - you can talk to your family or even just post here on PB.
But don't give up - there's a difference between not feeling pain versus not feeling anything. I wish you success in overcoming this terrible disease.
poster:hyperfocus
thread:910034
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090810/msgs/911948.html