Anti - Depressants.

[Theland]

I've been prescribed Citalopram anti-depressant tablets by my G.P. and I don't know if it is the medication or the depression that is making me feel so ill. I also suffer from Crohns disease. Anyway, I am totally wiped out and lethargic, and suffer silly memory loss, mental blocks.
I tried to claim sickness benefit, as I am now out of work after forty one years, but I couldn't remember things to answer all the questions during a telephone application for help, like my old works number, my kids birth dates etc.
I'm being silly, I know, but I just felt the need to have a good moan on here, before I start punching the wall. again.

[whiffey]

Well, deepest sympathies, clinical depression at its worst is a medical emergency. You don't say how long you have been taking them, but anti-depressants unfortunately can take 2-3 weeks to kick in. In the meantime, hang on in there. Depression can threaten like a cloud on the horizon and then burst upon you over a matter of mere days, and it can make the whole world seem frightening and unreal. You just have to hang on while the medication works - and it will.

[Theland]

I was off work for six months in 2006, with the same problem, but never fully recovered, although i returned to work in September 2006. It's been a long haul since, trying to cope with long hours and big reponsibilities. I just couldn't cope anymore, and had to leave.
If somebody were to ask me what depression is like, I honestly couldn't tell them. Every adjective seems to miss the mark. Now how stupid is that?

[whiffey]

Depression is BLACKNESS.

Everything looks terrible and unreal, but you have to bear in mind two things - you will have moments of comparative relief, and you will come through it.

[Theland]

Thank you whiffey.

[homerbart]

Hi Theland. I too have depression and had to leave work after 40 years. However I claim Incapacity Benefit - if you are not in the right frame of mind to fill the forms in - get somebody from Citizens Advice to fill in your form for you because you sure do deserve sickness benefit after all the years you worked. I know so many people (100s) never worked and they get every benefit imaginable.

Get down to Citizens Advice with your new form and tell them that you were turned down because you were unable to fill the forms properly due to being sick. Good luck. Depression is desperate but you will get there. I never started Anti-depressants but if you were to come off them you need help to do so. bye

[Theland]

Thank you homerbart. The form filling is formidable. I shall heed your advice if I can't manage to complete them all.

[helliebobs]

Theland you have my sympathies, I am on the same medication as you. As Whiffey said they can take a few weeks to kick but go and see your doctor with your concerns if you think they are making you feel ill, there are other types available.
As for claiming your Incap, I can only echo what homerbart has said, you should also be able to get help from the job centre in filling the forms in. I work for a charity who help people on sickness benefits get back into work and there is help for you.
Good luck and take care of yourself.

[Theland]

Thanks helliebobs - I've only been taking these for a week. In 2006 I was on three different types, can't remember the names, but one of them made me put on two stone in weight. Not nice at all.

[filthiestfis]

I too was prescribed anti-depressants after having worked 4 and a half months. I just couldnt hack working. It wasnt for me. Luckily I went on JSA and they paid me well enough to never have to find a job again ;-)

[Theland]

You should have got a clock for long service!

[filthiestfis]

Yes the people at the JC are very nice. They just tell me to sign on the dotted line, no questions asked, no "What jobs have you been looking for lately?" or anything ;-)

[Theland]

Drat! It seems I've been working for nothing. If only I had known of this forty one years ago.

[Bathsheba]

Ah Theland- I feel for you.
Give the citalopram a couple of weeks to kick in. I remember one time at my lowest I was looking in my purse to pay for something in a shop, and the coins just didn't make any sense to me.You will come round, I promise.I did great on citalopram for a couple of years, then changed to seroxat- can't remember why now, but when I start to slide into what I think of as the "black tunnel", I know that there will be a light at the end eventually. Good luck xx

[Theland]

Bathsheba - Thank you. My greatest fear is the people who rely on me so much. I feel that I cannot hack it anymore, but I know i've got to get going and start earning again, as well as taking responsibility for everyone else.

[tiggerblue10]

Hi Theland,

I was prescribed Citalopram last September for work-realted stress and depression. For the first few days it made me feel worse than before. As others have said it takes time to kick in. I was on Prozac several years ago for depression and it had the same effect.

It will get better xxx

[leelapops]

Theland, I really feel for you. I can't imagine what you are going through, having never experienced it, but I can imagine how frightened and overwhelmed you must be feeling, from what you've said.

Give the tablets time, and give yourself time. There is support available, please use it!

Lisa x

[wolf63]

Theland - I suffer from bipolar disorder and am on Citalopram, I have been on it for several years.

I worked for 25 years until I was medically 'retired' at the age of 40 - about 4 years ago. It was the best thing that happened to me. I am still ill but no longer have to use my brain and get stressed out all day. I worked at the benefits agency!

The tablets will help - they will make you better so that you are able to cope with the cr*p in your head.

My brain used to be sharp but these days I wander around in a complete daze - I don't know if the illness or the cure causes this.

They say that pets help depressed people - this is cr*p. Unless you are laughing at a big hairy tom cat with a shaved bum - that would be funny.


Susan

[Doc Spock]

is filthiestfis taking the pi55 here.

[mycats]

Hi Theland
I'm on Citalopram too and yeah, for the first few weeks I felt dazed and confused (more than usual lol), and that was after the few days of wanting to throw up, lovely.

The symptoms should go away very soon, and hopefully you will start to feel better.
They are one of the better ones (I feel), I was on Seroxat at one point and hated them.

Dont worry about having a moan, once when I was down (and realised I needed to get back on the medication), I made a cup of tea, couldnt find it, and cried for 20 minutes lol (it was in the hall).

Good luck, you can always come on here if you need to talk x

[Bathsheba]

I certainly hope so Doc. Depression is no laughing matter.