1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Depression

long term depression

Posted , 2 users are following.

Guest
Guest

have been suffering from low mood, general anxiety(including ridiculous sweating 'attacks') and lack of self belief for over two years.have been prescribed many types of antidepressant for this but none seem to work.ssri's sexual side effects make me less confidant and unable to establish relationships for the worry that i am unable to respond and this being taken the wrong way.dr recently suggested duloxetine but again similar side effect profile. he seems to think that once the depression has gone i'll return to normal.after two years i can't remember what normal was.there was no evident trauma that triggered the depression, it literally came out of the blue.cbt has n't worked either.i'd already tried most of the advice given before i approached the gp so the counsellor thought it pointless to continue.any one any ideas?

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hi, like u i suffered v low mood, anxiety, lack of interest - in EVERYTHING for 4 yrs. Eventually went into the Priory & was put on Duloxetine. This helped to certain extent but not fully, so was put on Quitiapine which instantly helped with sleep & now feel my life is 'normal'. :lol:
  • Doogs
    Doogs

    Posted

    The first thing I'd do is to forget about forming intimate relationships for the time being, as this is just adding to your stress. You are unwell, so concentrate on getting healthy before you get back into the dating game. CBT hasn't worked, so maybe it's time to try a different therapy. CBT seems to have become the only therapy available on the NHS now, and it's purely down to cost. Other therapies are available, ask your G.P. to refer you to a psychotherapist or other therapist that offers something other than CBT.

    Medication is all about managing your symptoms, not solving the underlying cause of your depression. Of course once the depression is gone you will return to normal, it's a no brainer, but it doesn't resolve your depression.

    As to no evident trauma, it may have been something way back in the past that you have buried so deep you can't bring it into the present, but chances are there is some underlying cause for what you are going through. CBT will not unearth this, but other therapies may. Go back to your GP and tell him you are unhappy with the options you have been offered, and say you want to be referred to both a psychiatrist and psychologist for further advice. In the meantime, the meds are worth trying for dealing with the symptoms, but you have to figure out the underlying cause. Good luck.

  • Pooh_bear
    Pooh_bear

    Posted

    Dear Tweezers I am very sorry that you have found no relief for your depression. I have suffered depressive episodes for most of my adult life since the age of about sixteen. I am now forty six that is long term depression! You can get well. There are anti depressants that dont affect sexual function such as mirtazapine but other side effects remain the same. CBT didn't work for me either and you might benefit from one to one psychotherapy. Support from a CPN or group therapy might also be possibilities. Trying to achieve one small task a day should be your aim at the moment as you might not have the energy/motivation to do much else. Keeping a diary of your moods/ thoughts might help to share with your psychiatrist when you see him/her. Best wishes.
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.