Depressed and anxious and afraid of medication...

[fearfactor]

I am a 34 year old female, have 2 kids and am married.  I have been depressed and anxious ever since I can remember.  I think part of this is due to body chemistry and part is due to the way I was brought up - in a very rigid, emotionally abusive home.  I was expected to be thin and pretty all the time and so I have major body image issues.  I have been prescribed medication by my psychiatrist but I'm scared to take it.  She wants me to take 10 mg of Prozac but I have read it can cause heart palpitations (which I have and greatly fear) and weight gain.  I would literally be suicidal if I even gained 5 lb.  What should I do?  Has anybody tried Prozac and how did it affect your weight?  I am thinking of asking for Topamax as I hear it's a mood stabilizer - has anyone tried this?  Did it make your depression better, anxiety better or worse?  Hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving - mine will be depressing, but oh well....  I guess I am sad that I can't have the "ideal" Thanksgiving with family around, but my family hates my husband and they are so inflexible it makes it even hard to be around them.  It seems like everyone else is going with their spouse to their family's and I can't - it just makes me more depressed.

[lowtech]

Okie dokie,

1. I was anti-meds until it got so bad I had to be on them, then I thought they were a godsend, now I have mixed feelings but really I couldn't function without them. (Paxil)

2. Weight gain & heart palpitations: wtf? if you have heart palpitations your psychiatrist should NOT have given you this drug. But please note side effects do not happen to everyone. Weight gain & body issues should be reviewed with the psychiatrist, especially the "would seriously make me suicidal" part. Weight gain can happen, and with only moderate body image issues I can say it's a good tradeoff, but I'm not you.

Good luck!

[LindasueDallas]

Hi,
I know everyone is different but I had the same issues as you about weight (and depression) and Prozac was a godsend...and I didn't gain any weight (but again that was me..as the other poster stated, some do gain weight).  But, the Prozac helped me feel normal and calm and helped with my food obsession as well which was almost the best result.  I didn't have heart palpitations to begin with so I can't speak to that effect.  But there are so many other types of antidepressants like Wellbutrin...so definitely speak to your therapist but keep in mind any antidepressant will take several weeks to have any effect so you'll have to have patience regardless of the road you take.  Good luck!

[garetryan]

Take the Meds!!! Your life will change for the better!

[anxiousmomtobe?]

Take the meds.....it will only get worse if you don't.  If you had cancer would you try to tough it out with no chemo?

Depression is an illness caused by seratonin imbalances in the brain.  You are not a bad person if you take meds.  

A lot of folks believe they can control mood disorders with diet, exercise and herbal supplements.  Some folks need pharmacueticals.

Forget having a perfect holliday, there is NO such thing.  Enjoy your family and eat Kraft dinner if that is all you are up to preparing.

We all want to be Marth Stewart.  But the truth is she is a total b***** who probably doesn't have any realy friends.  Check out her Nov magazine, her stable has radiant in-floor heating.....

Rent some stupid movies, go for a walk and enjoy your kids.  (and Hubby too.)

[oceans3]

i am "afraid" of medication as well and would almost rather "suffer" if you will than take it. it sounds as if you have been seeing a dr. you have shared some concerns with us regarding gaining weight from meds... did you discuss this very issue with your dr? the truth is, some DO gain weight and some do NOT. hard to tell unless you start taking it. if you do gain weight and that is unacceptable to you, talk w. your dr. and he/she will prescribe something different. you need to find one that is right for you! sometimes you have to decide is my sanity or my weight more important right now? although i understand where you are coming from. i have had a similiar background. just take it one step at a time and know you may hit some bumps in the road until there is smooth sailing ok?