What does this sound like to you?

[Annie5]

I was diagnosed with agoraphobia/depression somedays i feel fine like nothing bothers me to the next day feeling extremely depressed and moody like i feel like i can't stand anyone around me i just feel really annoyed by everything and everyone around me is this part of depression?

[Answerprancer]

Yes it is and I'm sure it will pass.
I'm really sorry in hindsight that I was insensitive to you earlier.
Take care.
AP

[boxtops]

Annie, yes it is. Being up and down is part of the circuit. As I said on your other post, I've been there. I was very lucky, the GP referred me to a hypnotherapist for treatment and he was excellent. Try to do a little each day, I got into the habit of making a short list of things I MUST do today, and if you can go out, even just to next door's front gate, do it. Do it. Make yourself, then come home and be safe until you want to do it again.
It's not a quick path to recovery, but if you have faith in yourself that you can beat this thing, then you will. Please do come on here to talk about it, even if you just want to join in with lightweight chat now and again. Well done you for getting your condition diagnosed, and for wanting to do something about it.

[emmie]

it does, and get help if you haven't already. GP first, then onto counselling, try not to take meds, because they can have a detrimental effect, take it from one who knows.
take care.

[boxtops]

em, IMO it has to be each to their own path to recovery. I couldn't have got by without the meds, but with help was slowly able to reduce them over time and then come off them altogether. I don't want to put annie off if that would help her - some people live their anxiety and depression differently to others. Well done you if you managed without, but for some of us, we need that kick-start to get life a bit back to normal.

[WELSHYORKIE]

Annie, My late wife suffered with depression and was extremely unwell at the start when she was diagnosed. She was prescribed meds but to be honest the best medicine she had, and I say this modestly, was me. The support that I gave her helped her far more than the medication. She knew that I would help her through those dark days. It did take time but sadly as she won her fight, she lost another. Good luck and if you want to talk, we are here for you.XX

[rowanwitch]

Depending on what is underlying the depression meds can be very helpful...I'd have left this world years ago without them....and you don't always need huge doses for some people a little just to take the edge off the darkness is enough to work through the other stuff.....Cognitive behavioural therapy would probably help as part of getting over the problem is understanding where it is coming from and learning to stop the unhelpful coping strategies like the agoraphobia at source... I have real anger problems when I am going into a bad bout and also on the way back to normal... but I control it best I can and learn to warn people when I'm having a bad day. Good luck Annie...not an easy time ahead but by asking for help you are aleady on the road back to feeling good again

[emmie]

I did take meds for quite a long time, but i didn't just have depression, unfortunately it was worse than that, but not going to go into the details, but after some years, they didn't make me feel better, only more sluggish, and zoned out, i found that if you get support, and believe me that's not easy to come by, as takes so long to get on one to one or group therapy but they can help. No one is every truly out of the woods, but GP is the source to start with, and take it from there.

Annie i wouldn't ask your personal details, like your age if you get my drift, so you could be young, but getting older can play its part too. Where menopause for women can be devastating, and for men who might go through a mid life crisis. All these things can be problematic.

[boxtops]

Answerbank is so good for discussing topics like this which some people find really difficult - you often find others who have been in the same situation, and are willing to share. Good luck Annie x

[goldenbolls]

sounds like my wife, she was given fluxatine last week , this is the 3rd time she has been prescribed them , the last 2 times she stayed the course then didnt bother taking them.

so my question is , who has taken anti depressants and did they work ?

good luck annie

[NOX]

Personally for me medication was definitely not the answer but it may be for you. Yes feeling angry, even violent, is sometimes the symptom along with periods or sometimes for me only minutes of absolute elation and a feeling of total omnipotence. I'm not agrophobic but suffer/ suffered from depression etc for all of my adult life. For me support from my ex,getting ot the bottom of my past and strategies like NLP worked for me, drugs definitely made it worse, but in your case they may well work- we're all different, but you're certainly not alone.

[boxtops]

Goldenbolls, yes I have, and yes they did - but your wife has to look at it long term. There isn't an instant fix with anything like this - not taking the tablets doesn't help at all.
em - annie said on her thread last night that she's in her twenties.

[NOX]

To be honest boxy with the greatest respect in the world- not taking meds was the best decision I ever made- but as I said we are all different and you always find two ' camps' on this subject- the ones they have worked for and the ones they've made it worse for.

[Dee Sa]

I hope your having a "good day" today Annie, I had a bout of depression 2 years ago, and I am happy to say I am now okay, it took a while fo the tablets to kick in and twice they had to up the dose, I was too scared to go out because I thought evryone was looking at me and I didnt want to "bump in " to anyone in case they realised what was wrong, once the tablets kicked in I was able to go out for short whiles and then gradually my confidence came back, I did attend a day centre twice a week for a while but found it too depressing as obviously everyone there was depressed too !GP took me off the tablets a month ago and so far I am now fine. I hope this depression will pass for you too.

[rowanwitch]

The depression I get goes so deep I am at serious risk of harming myself I have spells off meds but they rarely last longer than 6-9months but the dose I needs varies and my GP is very good at allowing me to set the dose I need as I have many years experience. For a new reactive depression dealing with the root cause is more effective in the long term as is learning new coping strategies. I was first diagnosed in my teens but probably had bouts as early as 8 years old I am now very nearly 54 and despite the regular journeys tothe other side of darkness my life has had some very good spells too Play it by ear....

Not all anti depressant meds have horrible side effects...and those that do the problems often fade once you've been on them a while, sometimes all it needs is a change in the time of day you take them

Keep in touch we will suppport where we can...and sometimes it just helps to vent your feelings...let the rest of us deal with any idiots who post silly stuff

[Annie5]

I went to the doctor like a year ago but he wouldn't give me anything cause he said I'm to young and he didn't want me to get addicted to anything i tried to see a therapist too but my insurance doesn't cover it I've been trying to overcome this on my own but it's not easy a week ago i tried to get out of the house by going with my mom to the store but by the time i came home i felt so sick all i wanted to do was sleep but I'm gonna keep trying to do things little by little

[emmie]

don't be fobbed off, go back to doctor with your mother, tell the doctor how you really feel, if they don't help i would be surprised. Ask him to refer you to counselling, and if you feel very bad, then contact your local hospital and ask for help. No one should be left in distress, that's just not right

[emmie]

I am wondering if you are American and perhaps not in UK? because Britain has a NHS service so why would you need insurance.

[bednobs]

clearly you are not in the UK. We don't have the same health system you have. Here you can get referred for free to counselling via the GP, but it sounds like you can't over there.

[Annie5]

yes I'm in America

[pusskin]

When i hit rock bottom in 2004, I couldnt say one word to my doctor, was too choked up and couldnt get one word out to explian. He refered me to a hospital social worker who worked miracles by just being there and listening to all the problems that I harboured. She didnt ask much, but listened and I then poured my heart and soul into telling her what was wrong!!! I still get down days, but manage to get by and know that tomorrow is another day. I hope you soon feel lots better Annie x