Relapse question

Hi,

I had a nervous breakdown 10 years ago, and they prescribed stelazine and prozac, but I stopped taking the medication and was in therapy off and on.  However, recently(within the past month) I had a relapse - the first relapse since my breakdown 10 years ago-- I am still feeling somewhat disconnected, and I am concerned about this disconnected feeling.  Will it go away? Also, I can't sleep sometimes, and fall asleep around 2 am sometimes because of worries.  I am under the care of doctors, and they have prescibed medication, but they said because of the relapse, I need to be on medication for the rest of my life.  I have another appointment with doctors next week.

Right now, I most of my emotions feel numb for at least 5 months, but I feel depressed about being on medication for the rest of my life.  Is what the doctor said regarding the need for medication for life correct?  Are the consequences of a first relapse permanent?

Sorry if I rambled on too long
Thank you.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Its impossible to give you a good answer without knowing a lot more, but in general, a relapse after ten years does not mean you have to be on medications for a lifetime, assuming that during this period you were really quite all right.  Tough patches occur in people's lives, and that is when medication can be useful, so whatever is going on now with you may go away after you work on whatever it is, and the need for medication will be diminished unless you come across another hard period down the road.