Do you have depression/anxiety?

CatherineNZ posted a question about anxiety and MS.

We know that depression/anxiety is very common with Multiple Sclerosis  and can come from clinical or situational causes (or both).  Her question has me wondering how many of us here are being treated for depression/anxiety and what is the form of that treatment.

If you are on any form of therapy and are willing to share, I would love to read your comments on what you do and how it is working for you.

be well, Lulu

Return to Poll

12%

 (7) 

No, I don't have depression/anxiety.

16%

 (9) 

I have depression/anxiety but I am on no therapy.

53%

 (29) 

I am taking some form of drugs for depression/anxiety.

3%

 (2) 

I am in treatment with a therapist for depression/anxiety.

12%

 (7) 

I am seeing a therapist and taking drug(s) for depression/anxiety.

54 Members voted

[LoveMyBostons]

I think I have bouts of depression. Sometimes I just feel blah - no sadness, no joy. Thankfully it doesn't happen that often. I hate that feeling. I've never discussed it with a doc so I'm not on any medicine.

[Ufrustrated2]

i see a therapist at the VA for intermittant depression linked to my medical condition(s)

my anxiety as far as i'm concerned is a result of my cns inflammation/ms, IMHO.

the nerve attacks, as i call them, i don't think they are anxiety, i think they are flares. the anxiety i get from some social aspects, etc, yeah, i guess that is a form of anxiety.

i started taking cymbalta at various mg's to help with irritability mainly due to discomfort/pain. i'm sure it helps with intermittant depression.

i'm a little "touchy" about the depression due to the many mis-diagnosed labels the VA placed on me over the years. part of my quasi-ptsd issues i'm told. when your nervouse system is out of whack due to ms, i understand more about the depression.

i've been labeled so many things i'm just beginning to work on who i really am, now that i know i have a chronic demyelinating disease with a few others. no wonder i have some anxiety!! LOL

[Lulu54]

I'm on a generic form of Wellbutrin, thanks to my neuro who decided I was depressed.  I didn't argue with him and said I would try it for a while.  It is now almost a year later and I'm still taking it.  I don't know if it really makes a difference for me - I didn't thnk I was depressed to start with.  

But I will agree that I don't register a very wide range of emotions - except when I get ticked off.  Lately I seem to get irritated a lot easier and quickerI wonder if that is clinical or situational?  Or perhaps I'm just dealing with a lot of irritating stuff right now that I am justifiably ticked at?

[Guitar_grrrl]

I've had bouts of depression since I was 10 years old.  Probably mostly situational. Anxiety isn't an issue.  I've been in and out of talk therapy for 30 years.  I refuse to take antidepressants.  Acupuncture helps GREATLY!

[starryeyes1]

I too am on a generic form of Wellbutrin. I think it helps most of the time but I have alot of stress and worry. My husband is in Iraq, the house is up for sale with a bad economy, no buyers. .I always have to keep this house soo clean.
for the possible buyer. I have no energy and have been having bad stomach for over a month now. Trying a new med Zantac.

I now have to go to WA to find us a place to live..We move at the end of next month. I worry that we won't sell and will have to pay for 2 places.

Anyway, enough complaining...ya, I have anxiety and depression.

[tjj3761]

In 2003, I was started on Lexapro, which helped my mood.  I then weaned myself off of that on my own.

I just started Cymbalta 6 weeks ago "my neuro said to help smooth everything out."  I too never felt I had depression.  My problems, I felt was anxiety due to symptoms with no diagnosis in limboland.  

Sometimes when I am feeling terribly bad, I tend to want to close myself off from everyone, and just stay in my bedroom watching TV.  Comes and goes.  

terri

[addicted2harleys]

When I first started going to my primary 2 years ago, he prescribed Doxepin (10 ml 2 x a day) and Sertraline (25 ml before bed) for my pain.  When I went to my follow up appointment he asked me how it was working.  My response was that it was not helping my pain, but that I was now happy about it.  lol

He started me on gabapentin for the pain and told me to keep taking the others because it will help with depression and anxiety with what I am going through so I am still on it.  My Doxepin was increased to 25 mg before bed though.

I do think it is helping me for depression/anxiety.

Addi

[Rena705]

I am currently on 50mg of Citalopram as prescribed by my hunky neuro...I was on 30mg but he said that I needed more than that and he was right...I am feeling much better and find myself able to do a lot more.  Before he changed the dose I was feeling very anti-social, anti eating, anti doing just about ANYTHING!  Now look at me, I am out camping in a stinking SNOWSTORM  and laughing about it!!  hehe

Rena

[doublevision1]

I take amitriptyline for neuropathic pain.  It's a tricyclic antidepressants which happens to be useful for this kind of pain.  I have no history of depression or anxiety and have noticed no effect of this med on my mood.

[doublevision1]

Glad you are finding humour in a springtime snowstorm!  Stay  warm!!!

[Sailorsong]

I never had any problems with depression or anxiety until this winter. I think it was just so cold, damp, grey, and misserable this year that I got depressed. Since spring has sprung I don't feel I need any anti-depressant any more. All that it seems to do is make me a little bit groggy the next day.

Dennis

[supermum_ms]

I dont have anxiety or depression, though i am less tollerant than i use to be, sometimes its like i've got a hot trigger button, PMT without having PMT lol. I'm also letting fly with the 'F' bomb which is very out of charactor, raising eyebrows, usually when i stand up and my knees want to stay in the bent position, pain, pain, pain as i hobble and wobble around, they tend to just slip out, the 'F' bombs and the knees.lol ohh i'm blushing.

Still laughing, though i do get the 'I cant be bothered's' a distinct lack of motivation to do but i dont get hung up about it, tomorrows always a new begining!

Cheers.......JJ

[tyler911]

I was not anxious, but was depressed, in as much as i was frustrated because i did not now what was going wrong with my body

My Neuro started me on Celexa, 20mg, and i felt so much better emotionally in under a week

I was only supposed to be on it, for a month or so, to help me through the worst time, but i am still on it, i feel it is still helping me, but i guess i will not know know for a fact until i come off it, for a while

Tyler

[jules2212]

I have been on Dosulepin for almost 7 years now.

I was  given this med after the death of my Dad (cancer) my baby boy (still born ) and my mum ( lung condition ) all in the space of 3 years, so i was having a really bad time with it. The only time i stopped taking the med was when i was pregnant with my youngest son who is 6 yrs old now.

The dosage of my med is 2 x 75 mgs at night  
I also have to take 5 x 25 mgs through out the day of  Chlorpromazine for the edgy/anxiety feeling i have.

Hope this helps with your poll.

Take Care All and Be Well
Julie xxx

[rothexl]

I have been taking antidepressants for many years, had several bad depressive episodes, anxiety is also sort of mixed into that.

I'm taking Venlafaxine (Effexor), currently inceased to 525 mg/day (300 in the morning and 225 in the evening, has been increased by my psychiatrist when I started becoming depressed after starting with Avonex and later Rebif, didn't help with that though :b)

Hope that helps

Rike

[Wind_and_Water]

I have been diagnosed with major depression, OCD, PTSD, and a dissociative disorder.

(Just for clarification, dissociation is not conversion.  They are completely different disorders.)

I have taken an anti-depressant since 2001.  I have also taken an anti-anxiety medication as needed.  And I have utilized talk therapy and hypnosis for years.  The hypnosis has been most helpful in abreactions.

Previously, I was opposed to taking ant-depressants, as it represented failure and weakness and "crazy."  But the choice became take it and live, or don't take it and don't live.  I decided to live.

Later, I unlearned my ignorant prejudices, on all counts.

For example, depression is simply a medical illness.  No more, no less.  Regardless of the cause of the depression (eg, brain lesions, brain chemistry, brain "wiring"), it is a medical illness with a physical cause, and it responds to medication.

In other words, would I be "opposed" to taking insulin, if I were a diabetic?  Would I be "embarrassed" to take a statin if I had high cholesterol?  Of course not.  Nor would I be a social outcast for admitting to these medical conditions, if I had them.

Once upon a time, an epileptic was considered possessed by the devil and socially shunned.  Today, we are beyond such nonsense.  Similarly, American society is becoming more enlightened about depression and other psychiatric illnesses, as well.

I appreciate this thread, Lulu.  Thank you for starting it.

[Eyesnlegs]

Thanks so much for starting this post, it is a subject which has been very close to me for a long time.

Those who know me know that I have had sx on and off since having ON  20 years ago, then a possible MS dx 6 years ago, a probable MS dx in Dec. 2008 and a definite MS dx in June 2009, just a year ago.

Over those years I have had what my husband and I refer to as my 'black' times and I have contemplated just ending my own misery on several occasions. But, because of the medics I had and my own prejudice instilled from my childhood I have tried so hard to hide it. When I had my definite dx I was reffered to an MS specialist team and a neuro-psychologist from the team was sent to assess me to see what help I needed and because I had some cognitive issues.

She has been my salvation and dismissed the cognitive testing in favour of cognitive therapy as apparently the work she does with the former involves helping people put in coping strategies, which I had already put in place over the years to cope with my problems.

However, she noticed a deseperate sadness and a depression in my responses to her questionairres which she asked me to complete and has been working with me now for about 8 months now.

At her last visit she was so pleased with my progress that I will only need to see her one more time for sign off. She has taught me so much about the link between MS and depression, MS and stress, MS and anxiety, and the mind/body connections that can be subtle but profound.

She has helped me to know me - if that makes sense - to understand the triggers in me for stress / anxiety and to talk openly about my depression and not hide from it.

Yes, I still get depressed periods but I recognise them and yes I have sadness (we now know that is one of my sx) and it can come on suddenly out of the blue along with uncontrollable crying. But she has taught me not to make any judgements or decisions when this happens, but to wait because low mood, MS fatigue, stress, anxiety, depression and just tiredness can lead to poor judgement even with regard to how we view and judge ourselves.

I agree with Wind and Water about the stigma from years ago but do not believe it has all but gone - it still carries some concern. Especially at work when someone mentions 'oh he/she is of work with stress' and the knowing looks go round.

Sorry to go on but I feel a journal coming on to describe my journey with her if anyone is interested.

Be well all and be kind to yourselves, BTW I am 55 and this is the first year I have been kind to myself.

Pat x

[Lulu54]

I am truly touched by the thought and effort and time put into these responses.

It should help many of us here who struggle with getting treatment for depression to look at these numbers and see this large percentage of people also dealing with the same problem.

Thanks everyone for sharing their thoughts.


Lu

[Wind_and_Water]

If okay, here is a (((gentle hug))) for you.

[GrannyJo6]

I was first diagnosed with depression/anxiety disorder in 2000. I also started therapy which I have since discontinued. It really helped. My nurse practitioner put me on Paxil at that time.

When I was officially diagnosed in 2002 one of the things the neuro wanted to do was put me on Paxil! He was glad I was on something already.

The insurance insisted on me using the generic form which didn't work so well for me, so she switched me to Wellbutrin (generic buproprion) and that was great! I had more energy, felt so much happier and lost weight to boot!

Now I have had Celexa added because I felt the Wellbutrin wasn't addressing the anxiety enough.

While I was on Solumedrol, the neuro gave me lorazepam to use for anxiety as needed. Whew! Talk about mellow!!

I agree with Wind and Water. I've used that same argument with others who have been told they should be on something but are too anxious about it to try! And people are always amazed to know how many people are on some sort of depression/anxiety med!

Good poll!

[Eyesnlegs]

For info: This book has been mentioned before but is still a good read if you are struggling with this issue and it's available at Amazon:

MS and Your Feelings: Handling the Ups and Downs of Multiple Sclerosis  by Allison Shadday LCSW

Another I have recently read is:

Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired: Living with Invisible Chronic Illness, Second Edition by Paul J. Donoghue  and Mary Elizabeth Siegel.

Both books written by American authors,

It is so worth getting help as the suicide rate amongst MS patients is high not just when considered against the general population but also when considered against other chronic neurological illnesses so this subject is very close to us all.

Be well x

[slightlybroken]

I voted for..I don't have depression. I do however, get spouts of depressions, especially when my symptoms are at their worse. When your in pain, life's everyday stresses seem to take enough out of you, but the added pain and discomfort, and the reminder that something is wrong with you, makes you feel totally spent.

I deal with it by making sure that my meds are maintained. I do a lot of "talking it out" with my husband". He is my support system.

The problem with me is, I'm everyone's support system in my family and for my friends. I'm their emotional dumping ground. I listen to all their problems and give advice when they want it. The problem is, I don't have no one to go to, other than my husband (which I'm not complaining by no means), but sometimes I have to just think of myself and my own well being, and tell people I'll talk to them when I'm feeling better. It's hard to do, but I know that I need to think of my health, otherwise I'm no good to no one.

[PastorDan]

Can't begin to tell you, sb, just how many care givers I've counseled in exactly that way.  If they don't find the help they need to do the work that their loved one needs done for them, they will quickly become worn out, burnt out, broken (more than slightly), and useless to the very loved one for whom they are trying so hard to provide adequate care.

Short lesson, everyone: If you need help, ask for it.  You can always discontinue it later, if the situation improves, but please, don't wait until you can't make those difficult but very necessary decisions yourself.

One example (I could list myriads): Nancy and I spent a long time last night discussing our latest teenager-rearing concern.  Something "simple" like that may seem routine, but it necessarily disrupted our sleep schedule.  Once in a while, that's okay; it's part of life, but when it becomes the norm, someone needs to step in and make some changes.

When there is chronic illness in the household, even if -- no, ESPECIALLY if it is an "unseen" illness, these things very quickly take a terrible toll on the entire household if they aren't effectively managed.  That often requires outside assistance, and it is nothing to be ashamed or even embarrassed about.  Shame on us if we don't seek help when we need it.

[Lulu54]

Thanks, PD, for those wise words of advice.

I just took a look at our numbers and it appears almost 75% of our respondents are dealing with depression in some form or another.  This number is useful when we write over and over to new people here - the majority of people with MS or looking for a dx are suffering with some form of depression.

This number is huge and can't and shouldn't be ignored.

Again, thanks to everyone for responding and adding their personal expperiences to the mix.

be well,  Lulu

[siv1]

I voted no for depression, how ever my Neuro gave me Lexapro to take after talking to my wife. I haven't taken my first pill yet.

Since i can remember i always told everyone that only way i will kill my self is when there is a point that I have to depend on someone for everything, and of course with M.S. when i talked about it like i always talk, it seems strange/extra ordinary for others. So it is not something new, just something  feels like new due to the situation.

Hope it make sense.

[Sarahsmom46]

My neuro prescribed cymbalta a year ago.  I got the script but let it sit on a shelf for 5 months when I learned from the commercials on TV that it was for major depression.  I don't have major depression.  But at my next appointment he told me he wanted me to try it to see if it helped with the nerve pain, and if it helped with my depression then we got a 2 for 1.  Again, I was surprised that he thought I was depressed almost assuming it.  I tried the cymbalta and it did help the nerve pain wonderfully and guess what, I think he was right about the depression.  I didn't see a major difference, but I did see an improvement in my mood.

Since being in the hospital for the past 5 weeks for make anyone very depressed, I am now considering seeing a therapist.  I have never thought I'd be the type of person who would do that, but it has become a necessity.  Don't know if it will help but trying it won't hurt.  

I have since quit taking cymbalta as it stopped helping the pain, but realize that I do need something and that will be my order of business while I'm off work.  

Thanks to Lu for bringing up this poll and comment section. We all need to take an inventory of our needs from time-to-time and this was a good issue to bring to our attention.

Julie

[HVAC]

I have finally gotten a handle on my depression of over forty years. I am on medications, in counseling with a therapist who specializes in chronic disease and doing hypnosis all the time.

Six month ago I was heading for shock treatments because everything had been tried on me.

Most of it was coming to terms with not earning a living anymore and having medical bills.

Alex

[missy72450]

I started Cymbalta last October and it does help with the neuropathic pain. The valium helps with the vertigo. I have not seen a great deal of improvement with the bouts of crying but I think being on a roller coaster with not knowing and with the added stresors of everyday life this will take awhile. Thanks for this poll it really helped. I am not alone!

[serenity402]

I suffer from what I think may be depression, i get annoyed easily for no reason and i build a wall around ppl, im on nuzak and dont think they are doing anything to help, im thinking of going to see a psycologist and maby she can help, i hope so, i also get bouts of real sadness and dont know why.

[kmunier]

Aloha!
I am on Remeron & Welbutrin. Now the Dr wants me to take Nortriptyline for pain but thats another antidepressant.
I told the Dr. the only reason I am depressed is because its taken 5 years for a diagnosis. 5 years of making me feel like a mental idiot and 5 years I could have been on some treatment to prevent the nerve damage that has happened in the 5 years.

[Lulu54]

Be sure to take a look at these numbers and know that you are not alone. You can see the chart by selecting "view poll"   87% of us report some form of depression.  Only 13% of us say we don't have depression.

These numbers are a solid indicator to me that this problem is as prevalent as previously reported.  

-L

[Lulu54]

oops, it should say "view results"  not view poll.

[Sparkysarah]

No I do not have depression (although am on antidepressant Amitriptyline for nerve pain)

I had depression ten years ago and do not wish to go there again.

Sarah :)))))))))))))

[PastorDan]

The other point to stress, Lu, is that half the 13% reporting no depression are probably depressed, either suffering undiagnosed depression or in denial with regard to their diagnosis.

Depression is an insidious and deceptive condition, folks.  Many people live with it for years without realizing it, until someone trained to recognize it does so.  Depression is not usually an overtly self-destructive mood, as one poster seems to have suggested.  Outwardly, it usually manifests itself as a lack of drive to accomplish daily life tasks, such as paying the bills or taking out the trash.  While these symptoms can be troubling enough on their own, it is only within the mind that the real scope and danger of the illness lurks.

If your physician suggests that you try an antidepressant, my advice is to try it.  You went to that doctor for a reason; you owe it to yourself to pursue every avenue toward improving your own quality of life, as well as that of those around you.