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

[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.

[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

[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

[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

[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

[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