I'm new here, but not new to depression

[scottdw]

Hi all.  I just found Medhelp.org last week, and I am hoping to find some answers, comfort and ideas on how to cope with my depression.

I am 45 years old, and thought something was wrong with my head from an early age, but I was never treated by a doctor for anything until about 12 years ago.  When I was a kid, I often had trouble completing my chores.  My mother would usually finish them for me, believing that I was just stubborn.  When helping my dad with a project or chore, he would usually end up yelling at me to get out, and that he'd do it himself.  I was never really given a reason to be self-motivated enough to finish something I started.  I also remember often feeling tired or foggy.  

By most standards, I have a good job.  I should feel lucky, fortunate, grateful, etc ... for this, but I do not.  Instead, I feel like I am in over my head and that I will fail at any moment.  This makes being at work, doing my job and even just functioning in my workplace difficult.  

I had been taking medication (Cymbalta 60mg) up until September or October.  My prescription ran out and my doctor wanted to see me in order to refill.  I didn't go back to see him.  Instead, I've been taking vitamin supplements to try and ease the depression.  It kind of works, but in reality, I think I need to get back to my doctor and get back on Cymbalta or something like it.  I had reached a point with the Cymbalta where it didn't seem as though it was really making a difference.

In the meantime, I continue to have daily episodes of extreme sadness.  Today I had to fight hard not to burts into tears.  The only time I feel better is when I am able to sit and do nothing but stare into space.  What the hell ...

Obviously, there is more to this story ... I am living each day at a time, hoping the next day will be better, but also dreading the next day.  I really hate feeling like this.  I really hate it ... but it has become comfortable.  I'm not sure what I would do if I felt good.

[scottdw]

M4 -

Have you read or done any research with regard to using Rhodiola rosea with Cymbalta?  I am curious is there is any evidence of adverse effects using them together.

Thanks.

[scottdw]

I was thinking that, too.  I am planning on going back on Cymbalta, or a similar SSRI, but I am curious about what herbal/mineral/natural supplements would help.

Last night was really bad for me.  My thoughts seem to jump from my current situation (especially how I feel at work) to an almost panic feeling of what happens if I am let go from my employer.  Not a good state of mind to be in.

[Shanna707]

Is it ok to add the Rodiola rosa to an unnatural antidepressant such as low dose prozac and if so hwo much of the Rofiola rosa. I have always believed in intregrative medicine; and am disappointed it is not more mainstream than it is.
Thanks Shanna

[M4Y0U]

Mind and body are interconnected. When your body gets all it wants it is the same with your brain. Consider adding omega-3 supplements and Rhodiola Rosea on you daily supplements intake. If you have trouble eating well consider buying Green+ or SuperfoodRX or Rainbow Light Advanced Nutritional Formula. One thing i know is Rhodiola rosea and omega-3 added to your daily intake will gives you results.

You don't have to cut all alcohol, red wine is an excellent alcoholic beverage that can be taken daily but at a daily low dose of 120ml for a woman and 240ml for men ( about 1 cup for women and 2 cups for men ). Red wine have excellent number of potentially beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects.  It is not all due to the grape's proprieties but also chemical reactions happening in the fermentation process which makes red wine a real good alcoholic beverage at low doses.

M4

[scottdw]

Thanks M4.  

I can tell you that I've been taking 5-HTP (200mg) for about a month, as well as Pinebark Extract, Gingko Biloba, Gotu Kola, L-Tyrosine, a multi-B vitamin and a C complex.  

I think diet has some impact, too.  I do not eat like I know I should.  Lot's of junk food, not enough veggies, coffee and the occasional alcoholic beverage.  I SHOULD cut out all alcohol, I know ...

[M4Y0U]

Hello there,

Cymbalta should be stopped gradually and not cold turkey. SNRIs are especially hard to tapper off.

I'm glad to hear you are taking vitamins and stopped the antidepressant. I know very much about the subject and let me give you some advice on nutrition and vitamins for a complete relief.

First of all you must get your vitamins separately from a food supplement store. Ester-C vitamin C is an excellent vitamin and i suggest you take the 1,000mg with calcium formula. Vitamins B are crucial for healthy mind-body so getting a god vitamins B complex with all the vitamins B is a must. Then if you have almost no exposure to sun and have no good source of vitamin D in your diet you should consider buying a vitamin D to help the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin A, E, K are not to be considered and are found in sufficient amount in your diet and they don't have a strong impact like the vitamin C and vitamins B.

One thing you should also consider to help with depression is a natural antidepressant called Rhodiola rosea ( Golden Root, Roseroot, Aaron's Rod ). It is a dioecious plant ( have both male and female plant ).

''Rhodiola rosea may be effective for improving mood and alleviating depression. Pilot studies on human subjects showed that it improves physical and mental performance, and may reduce fatigue.

Rhodiola rosea's effects potentially are related to optimizing serotonin and dopamine levels due to monoamine oxidase inhibition and its influence on opioid peptides such as beta-endorphins, although these specific neurochemical mechanisms have not been clearly documented with scientific studies.

Rhodiola is included among a class of plant derivatives called adaptogens which differ from chemical stimulants, such as nicotine, and do not have the same physiological effects.''

This supplement can be bought from your local food supplement store.

You can also consider adding a superfood supplement like Green+ or SuperfoodRX. They are products containing superfoods with extraordinary nutritive proprieties.

For more information on diet and exercise and they way it is affecting you brain you can read my post on the subject: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Depression/Knowledge-for-Depressive-People/show/1127539

Best regards,
M4