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taking antidepressants for a short time only, can it help?

Posted , 8 users are following.

red11
red11

Hi,

i'm 35 y.o.  male, the last five years have been awful.i think i have depression or something like it.  and it keeps getting worse.  I never had depression , even though i had some social anxiety when i was a teen but never depressed. I still have some social anxiety but it did not harm my career or education or even my social life, I was able to keep it under control most of the time. i don't think this depression  is directly  related to my social anxiety.

anyways,  5 years ago, I started to get upset over the smallest issues/events, and continue to have obsessive thoughts about these events for days, weeks , even years. then  the problem developed to the point where i started to avoid people & stopped driving my car, so i can avoid new events that will get me upset. but now the worst, where i almost never leave the house , not even to the grocery store ( but I'm totally active inside the house, i read & exercise everyday, i fix things around the house, i eat clean food. but i have to get back to work)

Since the problem started , i thought i will get over it without antidepressants. 3 years ago I went to two therapists(talk therapy), and they were useless, one of them gave up & suggested i start taking antidepressants, but I refused. I tried meditation, self help books, herbs/supplements. nothing worked. some worked for few weeks only.

so now i think i have no option but to go to a psychiatrist and use antidepressants. but i don't like taking drugs , specially antidepressants. so my compromise is,  i take an antidepressant for a short term, 1 to 6 months.  is this a realistic approach? since i read articles that says that most people should take antidepressants for over a year or even a life time.

thanks

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • allison30388
    allison30388 red11

    Posted

    I think what you're trying to do is realistic. I've done that, I also don't like taking medication but I felt like I needed a boost so I took antidepressants for about 2-3 months before I stopped because I was able to manage on my own. Everyone is different though and you'll never know what'll happen to you unless you try it.

  • tess33005
    tess33005 red11

    Posted

    Some people respond very quickly to anti-depressants, although the first couple of weeks on them actually make mmost people feel worse. You have to give them six weeks to kick in.

    There is no specific time limit on the taking of anti-depressants. You and your doctor will figure it out between you. Remember that when you DO stop, you taper down gradually.

    There is no shame in being on anti-depressants, so if you feel that needing them beyond six months is somehow something to avoid, then put that thought out of your mind.

    A lot of people stay on them for much longer, but it is not mandatory.

    Also, some anti-depressans work on particular people, whilst others derive no benefit from them, so youmay have to try a few before you find that you're on the right one for you.

    One month is not rrealistic at all, considering that it takes about six weeks for them to kick in properly, and bearing in mind that you may have to change doses or try other anti depressants if the first ones don't help you. I would think that by six months you'll have found the best one for you personally, and I suggest that you don't set any time limits on how long you'll need to be on them. Love Tess

    • laura08496
      laura08496 tess33005

      Posted

      hi tess, you write so well. you have a lot of knowledge, you speak gently, and i see you have a clear head. you come across that way.

      thank you for your help

    • laura08496
      laura08496

      Posted

      everyone here is great. thank you for taking the time to write, we are all so different...it helps me to see other points of view. thanks again

      fondly laura   >^..^<

    • tess33005
      tess33005 laura08496

      Posted

      Thanks, Laura. I've been on quite a few anti depressants in my mis-spent life as a nurse and midwife lol.

      I also have four children, which was a challenge when I was a young woman " in the olden days " as the children insisted on calling me in my youth.

  • deborah93854
    deborah93854 red11

    Posted

    Antidepressants work for me personally. I take Fluoxetine and Mirtzapine. It takes at least 6 weeks to fully kick in. You will feel worse before you feel better, that's how they work. Side-effects are horrible, but you will need to stay on them 6 months after they have kicked in fully, then assess how you feel. I am tapering off mirtzapine slowly, but I am.going to stay on fluoxetine indefinitely.

    Go to yr GP and get some antidepressants.

    Good luck

    D

  • sue58256
    sue58256 red11

    Posted

    Hi red its up to the individual on wether they feel they can manage without anti depressants for me I have been on and off them for years my shortest time being about eight months the longest about two years. I believe its how the individual copes them selves. I have suffered anxiety and depression for years but I am generally an anxious person with tendcies to overthink and depression I feel in my case I am predisposed to. I asked my gp why I keep going through this and they explained that some are predisposed also some have a lack or seritonin (the feel good cells) in their brain. my worst times are in the winter. for years I told no one that I was anti depressents i saw this stigma of mental illness and was ashamed I had no support apart from my doctor or councellor. this last episode I have support of my family my manager and my colleges and I have had a really understanding gp. Yes im back on the meds but I am also looking at alternatives which there a a lot if you dont want medication if you are interested then you can pm me but certainly meditation,relaxing music and I find loud music at times not to often though lol.I take suppliments and im starting cbt next week. Im trying to turn my negatives into positives and at the moment im having more positives than negatives. I know i will never be rid of this but I am taking stock and rather it manage me I am going to manage it. this time I feel i am coping so much better but I have done a lot of hard work on my self. I know its not easy by any means but its took me years. some people will take anti depressants for a long time because thats what they need some like my self only need them for short periods I hope you will find your peace and the help that suits you but you can pm if you need to talk 
  • acuteabdo
    acuteabdo red11

    Posted

    Hi,

    Usually a course of 6 months is standard, and then it is assessed from there as to whether to wean you off them or to continue. If you live in the UK it will most likely be your GP who oversees this rather than a psychiatrist.

    Best wishes 

    J

  • themadjadder
    themadjadder red11

    Posted

    Hey, my mother and I take this natural herb called Chinese Skullcap, it helps with anxiety and depression. It has no side effects on us. I think you should try it! 
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