Depressed and in need of advice and understanding.

Just to add, as others have said, it's not your fault that you feel like this. We all react differently to troubles. Last straws can break the camel's back so to speak. It's all very well for other people to tell you how you should be feeling. Good luck to you.

You touched on your husband's ill health. This could have more of an effect on your mental health than you realise. Recently my strong, reliable husband was taken very ill. I was shaken by the thought that I could lose him. I still feel quite weak and tired and am sure that is what has caused it.

I’m more than grateful for the anti-depressants and other medications which have enabled me to function normally for many years. Once anti-depressants kick in they lift the black cloud.

NotSpaghetti
That is exactly what I was like with the medication. I kept getting the packet out, putting it back, trembling and stressing.
I carried that on for days, fearful of what I was starting. As if giving in to the medication was accepting that I wasn’t well and I didn’t want to do that.
Now I have to accept that I’m not right at the moment. I don’t feel like myself. Something has changed and I was scared of that dark feeling getting worse. I’ve taken the second one this morning.
I hope that yours have helped your condition.

Thank you all , I appreciate all of your advice and kindness.

I want to send you happy thoughts today. And well done to you for taking your medication. Today is day 2 of the new you! Well done.

I haven't had depression (and obviously I'm grateful for that) but do feel I can relate to not being in control of my life and the desperate fear of medication.
I have been prescribed drugs for a physical condition that I have been "unable" to take. It's not fear exactly but the feeling of no longer just functioning properly... as I always have done.
It was totally overwhelming, made me feel sick overshadowed my day and irrationally left me in a state of anxiety every time I opened the packet!

After struggling and stressing for weeks, initially weeping before I took them, I realise now that by taking them this is a way of continuing to be "me" rather than a person who is very ill and not functioning.

Then... one day last week, I actually couldn't remember if I took a dose or not! I checked and saw that I had done as the "day" was missing on my push-out packet!
I could not have believed this would ever happen and so I'm sure it will happen to you in due course.

I think, as happened to me, eventually you will feel fine to swallow your medication.

I realised, last week, that acceptance of drugs in your system does come. And does^ help you function.

You are actually taking control of your own recovery. Not relinquishing anything. 👍

I was looking at a paperback in Sainsbury’s the other day. It’s called Just One Thing by Dr Michael Mosley. It’s about doing little things to improve your life for good health and well being.
I have decided to buy it and it’s available on Amazon too it might be worthwhile. I think anything that can spur you on to improve your health is worth a try.

Hithere

Life gives you lemons and we have to make lemonade

I have learned to analyze what is under my control and I can do something about it

You are fortunate. Not many people can do what you do.

* Hairspray100*, I notice you said you felt ‘weak’, so please don’t try to downplay the way you are feeling to your doctor. As others have said, the Sertraline will take a wee while to work properly, so I hope the fact that you’ve begun treatment for your illness will help you now.
Again, as others have said, doing things ( even simple things) which you enjoy can be worth the effort, and lift your mood.

Good morning, I have read all of your replies with gratitude. Jaffacake, I am going to order the book today. I have just read a sample and like the fact that it is short chapters. Thanks for mentioning it.
Thank you all for the advice given. I will look up the online counselling.
Kate1949.
I hope that you are feeling better.

Could I recommend a book for you to read ? Curse of the Strong by Dr Tim Cantopher a consultant psychiatrist. I found it very helpful when I had bad depression years ago. A small book which explains the workings of the brain and how if we ignore the stresses in life the brain short fuses. A chemical imbalance which results in the debilitating symptoms of depression. Strong people who constantly push forwards without considering their own emotional needs are at more risk. Hence the title curse of the strong.
Hope it may help. Dip in and out of it over time. Take care.

Life gives you lemons and we have to make lemonade

I have learned to analyze what is under my control and I can do something about it

Hi Hairspray100,
Have you thought about on-line counselling?
I've use Betterhelp, you can just sign up for a month,
see how you get on & change therapists if you need to.
You can read the therapists profiles & find one that you click with.
It is on-line so usually a video-call, so not in person, but
I found it great just to be able to talk to someone outside
of family & friends & you can message them too in-between appointments.
Also, there's no wait time & you're linked up with a therapist fairly quickly.
I hope you feel start to feel a bit brighter soon. 💐

You didn’t ask to be like this. It just happened and you really don’t need people telling you to pull yourself together as if you were a pair of curtains. Just be patient and let the pills kick in and talk to folks on here. Being outdoors walking, gardening or pottering is very therapeutic as has been suggested if you feel able to. Just do what you can until your joie de vivre returns. Big hug.

You are not alone with this illness it can hit anyone anytime. I know from experience you will start to feel an improvement it will take time. But suddenly you will realise you are feeling better and healthier.

In the mean time take yourself out for walks if you are physically able. If you can potter about in a garden you will be surprised how it improves your mental health.

Everything seems bleak but it's not because your sought out help well done for that! When you talk to family or friends ask them how they are take the attention away from you.

Keep in touch here there is always someone to talk too. Don't be alone with your thoughts share them and take care x

There’s always someone here to listen hairspray. You’ve done nothing wrong, you have an illness that squashes people. Please persevere with the medication, talk to us, remember the Samaritans will always listen, it doesn’t matter if you’ve called them before. Please remember you’re worth support and this is not your fault. Hope there is a tunnel with light very soon. .

Yes. I could have written your post. I hope you get help.

You have taken the first step so well done, the pills will take a while to work but please keep taking them.
Post on GN often, there are people on here who will talk to you and help.

Thank you all.
Woollywoman, thanks for that reassurance. I imagined all sorts of problems, side effects, interactions etc etc.
Overthinking and reading too much negative information on Google.
I will stick with it and feel reassured by the lovely thoughtful comments. Thank you all.

Hairspray100, I started taking Sertraline in January. It did take a long time - at least 6 weeks - to kick in, but I am glad I stuck with it. Hopefully it’ll help you get through this rough patch. Wishing you all the best.

Hello Hairspray I can't add anything helpful to all the good advice others have given you, but didn't want to just pass on by, so I'm sending you a hug and . You're not alone.

Thank you ronib and all of you for your replies.
I don’t feel so alone tonight after all of your kind words and help.

Thank you Hetty58.
I think it’s the thought that you’ll be on them for ever more although GP did say minimum of 6 months.
I’ve made the step now and taken the first one which was very difficult.
Thank you

Hairspray100 if I remember, Sertraline takes about six weeks to kick in and then it works well. It is possible to take it for some time and then discontinue by tapering off the dose when you are ready to do without. Hopefully you will feel much better soon.

That is so true. Also feel a bit useless as I did so much for my family and up to a few months ago, a lot of babysitting and childminding which had to stop due to my husbands new health problems as well.
Always took good health for granted, I thought my husband was strong as an ox and then in the blink of an eye everything can change.

Hairspray100, thanks. I know somebody on antidepressants who was very reluctant to start them. Now, she says, she feels great, despite having the same worries and problems as before. You should feel much better after a few weeks.