Do you have depression/anxiety?

[Lulu54]

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

[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!

[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

[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

[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.

[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

[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.