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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Will I ever be free of Depression?
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Will I ever be free of Depression?
by Maureen Hooper, Oct 15, 1999 12:00AM
7 years ago I was diagnosed with Endogenous Depression. I have been on medication ever since. Will I ever be free of this condition? The medication has changed over the years. My body seems to get used to the medication, emotionally I go backwards, then a change of medication and I'll be OK for a while. Will this ever change? I am 50 years old.
Thank you
Thank you
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS M.D.-SW, Oct 18, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Maureen Hooper,
How long patients are on antidepressants depends on the severity and course of their depression. When a patient has an initial episode of major depression, the treatment is usually for 6-12 months. When patients have three or more episodes of major depression, treatment is often lifelong.
Patients may have a relapse of depression, even when on an
antidepressant. When this occurs, you and your psychiatrist can look at medical and social stressors, as well as the dose of the current medication. Discuss your options with your psychiatrist, there are many options which should help keep your depression in remission.
Best Wishes to you.
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-SW
How long patients are on antidepressants depends on the severity and course of their depression. When a patient has an initial episode of major depression, the treatment is usually for 6-12 months. When patients have three or more episodes of major depression, treatment is often lifelong.
Patients may have a relapse of depression, even when on an
antidepressant. When this occurs, you and your psychiatrist can look at medical and social stressors, as well as the dose of the current medication. Discuss your options with your psychiatrist, there are many options which should help keep your depression in remission.
Best Wishes to you.
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-SW
I am a 26 year old male. 6 months ago I started taking panic attacks. They occurred after a bout of heavy drinking, irregular sleeping patterns, exam stress and worrying about what I would do after leaving graduate school. I was initially scared when they first started as I thought I was going to die or go crazy.
I sought advice and the docter said the panic came on as a result of to much stress, which I was unable to cope with because my bodies resistence was weakened due to the drinking, irregular sleeping, studying and I was still pushing myself phsically with sports training. Basically I was overdoing it in every department.
I have IBS and severe chest pain. The chest pain has been present for 7 years and the IBS for 2. All pathology has been carried out on the chest and an initial diagnosis of anxiety pains was the physicians conclusion. I have always been unsatisfied with that diagnosis as I never considered myself to be an anxious person. I have always in my opinion had a tendency to be moderately depressed for the past ten years. Anybody who knows me would not think so as I guess I come across as a strong, intellectual, focused and happy person. but I feel nobody really Knows you like you know yourself.
However, after the initial panic attacks I was offered paxil but I refused them because I am anti pill anyway and I believe that if there is a problem - unless it is pathological - then it is up to the individual to sort that out. I will always believe that. I thought the ease at which my doctor prescribed such a drug was rather rash and my friend who is a physician herself, agreed with this assumption.
After two months of a consistent preoccupation about my physical health - after I was given the all clear - and interpreting every chest sensation as a heart or lung problem I then had a full blown panic attack.
I then gave in and took paxil for three months. 20mg a day achieved nothing and in that time my confidence has taken a dent as a result of the panic attacks. Paxil gave me sexual side affects and after 3 months of this my doctor put me on Effexor (venlafaxine). Within 5 days of taking effexor I had chronic headaches and loss of balance. I was sick of it and have told my physician that I will take no more. I dont know if it was the paxil withdrawl or the effexor side effects that have given me these hadaches but 25 days on the symptoms still persist.
I am depressed not because I have stoped the anti-depressants but have been because my confidence and self esteem has sufferred in the past 6 months. I worry to much about the future
instead of concentrating on the present. I have even started to have disturbing thoughts such as when people tell me somthing I am saying to myself what do you know and f++k off.
This is unlike me.
I think I have to help myself.
Please help.
I am a 26 year old male. 6 months ago I started taking panic attacks. They occurred after a bout of heavy drinking, irregular sleeping patterns, exam stress and worrying about what I would do after leaving graduate school. I was initially scared when they first started as I thought I was going to die or go crazy.
I sought advice and the docter said the panic came on as a result of to much stress, which I was unable to cope with because my bodies resistence was weakened due to the drinking, irregular sleeping, studying and I was still pushing myself phsically with sports training. Basically I was overdoing it in every department.
I have IBS and severe chest pain. The chest pain has been present for 7 years and the IBS for 2. All pathology has been carried out on the chest and an initial diagnosis of anxiety pains was the physicians conclusion. I have always been unsatisfied with that diagnosis as I never considered myself to be an anxious person. I have always in my opinion had a tendency to be moderately depressed for the past ten years. Anybody who knows me would not think so as I guess I come across as a strong, intellectual, focused and happy person. but I feel nobody really Knows you like you know yourself.
However, after the initial panic attacks I was offered paxil but I refused them because I am anti pill anyway and I believe that if there is a problem - unless it is pathological - then it is up to the individual to sort that out. I will always believe that. I thought the ease at which my doctor prescribed such a drug was rather rash and my friend who is a physician herself, agreed with this assumption.
After two months of a consistent preoccupation about my physical health - after I was given the all clear - and interpreting every chest sensation as a heart or lung problem I then had a full blown panic attack.
I then gave in and took paxil for three months. 20mg a day achieved nothing and in that time my confidence has taken a dent as a result of the panic attacks. Paxil gave me sexual side affects and after 3 months of this my doctor put me on Effexor (venlafaxine). Within 5 days of taking effexor I had chronic headaches and loss of balance. I was sick of it and have told my physician that I will take no more. I dont know if it was the paxil withdrawl or the effexor side effects that have given me these hadaches but 25 days on the symptoms still persist.
I am depressed not because I have stoped the anti-depressants but have been because my confidence and self esteem has sufferred in the past 6 months. I worry to much about the future
instead of concentrating on the present. I have even started to have disturbing thoughts such as when people tell me somthing I am saying to myself what do you know and f++k off.
This is unlike me.
I think I have to help myself.
Please help.