My mood is extremely low, can you help?

[MargareT]

Hey everyone. I have been thinking that you may help me. if somebody would I would really appreciate. I only wanted to get some idea of what you people are getting help from when you are having a very and very low run of mood days? i am currently put on fluoxetine and I do know that I need to do more than only to use some pills and to expect some results due to the fact that they are not curing my depression in any ways, I do know and realize it. I need to mention that I am completely out of sync with my sleep habits, I’m having a very bad one as sometimes I can be awake all night long and there are other times when I can oversleep very much. plus to all this – I am suffering from one more medical issues – it is CFS/M.E. and this is all only making it much more harder for me to do a lot of exercise. I am not working and I can’t work this is why I am now trying to search for some other methods to create a meaning my life. it is used to go and support groups as well as to be a volunteer. But the problem is that when those support groups are ending up or they are having only short courses then I am left with nothing that I can plan my week. I realize that I need to find the will in order to make it everything better myself, that I need to go and search for a course or maybe a group or anything else, however I just have a feeling that I have been pulled down into a very deep hole of depression, this is why my will power is slowly but steady fading.

 

And, I am sorry in case this seem to be an off topic for you and this is not a medication connected subject, unless that maybe, I am thinking that I need to up my dose a little bit? I have been taking an SSRI for some years now and my doc is aware that I am switching the dose that I am using sometimes. I mean, like for example, in case I am feeling fine then I can switch my dose down to 20 mg, however in case I start feeling horrible again then I am going back up to 40 mg.
I really feel like I need help because now I am feeling so bad and … crappy. I know that this is my fault but as I said my will power is fading but I am lately rejecting all the invitations to socialize (even though they are only a few) due to the fact that I can feel that my energy is lost only when I am getting up from my bed and I’m getting dressed. By the time I leave my house I feel like I want to go back in my bed and… do nothing.

 

There is one thing that I am trying to do religiously – is it to get out of the house no less than once every 2 days and I’m also trying to do a bit of exercise whenever I am able to do them.

 

By the way, while I’ve been searching this site (as well as a couple more) I have seen something about Abilify medication, however, I have never really looked into it. what I have seen from reading posts is that there is a change that if I would switch to some other medication then it can work because I have been on only one med for too long so it might stop from working. is it true? Is there somebody who can tell me what I need to do? what medications can give me that energy boost? Is abilify one of them? or what others do you know/tried that really helps in a situation similar to mine? Also, I wanted to know if there is somebody who has been in a similar situation to mine and then he/she got enough will power to change the things and now he/she is fine? I would really like to know on how you have done it. any recommendations, ideas, thoughts, opinions etc. regarding my situation would be deeply appreciated. Thank you a lot!

 

[AmeliaLove]

I know what you are feeling because there are some times when I am feeling the exact same ways as you do, however, I would recommend you not to reject the invitations though. I do know that you may feel like all your energy is wasted and that’s why you don’t want to do anything than to sit in your bed (I know because as I said – I’m feeling occasionally the same way you do), however, you should not reject the invitations to socialize. You never know where you will be, you never know who you will meet, maybe somebody who would be able to help you, but even if you don’t, remember – the more you do, the better you are going to feel and the more energy you are going to have (even though, I know that it sounds that it is usually not like that). but you need to socialize whatever it takes because laughing is a very wonderful medicine for depression, it is the best one. and you can’t laugh when you’re alone (unless you’re paranoid or schizophrenic I guess). Everything you can do alone is to smile because of a thing or another, but you need to laugh! A lot! go to a comedy club with the friends, even if you don’t have any (I know that it can happen because there was a time when there were nobody to call out, I had not friends at all, by the way, because of my depression), then you can go to a comedy club alone and there you can do some friends. Or do whatever enjoys you (IMPORTANT – In group! What enjoys you with other people!). or maybe you like to take some photos? Go and take an course, an online course, whatever, because this is going to boost your self esteem and this is essential in helping with your moods and beating the depression. to get out of the house is the first thing that I would recommend you to do! do not be alone because loneliness is essential in developing depression. maybe you like a certain comedian or something? In such cases you could download his or her videos, it might also help. besides this, the physical activity is important! you need to get up, to get dressed and to get out! forget about the bed and don’t believe when your depressed mind is telling you that you have no energy, fight with it! going out is going to help you to feel better and it is also most likely going to help you to schedule back on track your weeks. Also, physical activity helps a lot with sleeping patterns, without a physical activity it is hard to have a good sleeping pattern! And above it all, physical activity might help you to get your life back without having to go to another medication.

 

Anyway, what it is very important is to go and talk with your doc and tell him about this lack of help that your med is providing you, he (or she) should do something about that and in case it is the time to go for a change then he (or she) would do it. I wish you good luck and I really hope you’re going to be fine soon!

 

[tameeka]

So, firstly – hi there. i need to say that since you are already having a doc that is treating you then what you have posted here is exactly that type of very important info that you need, you must tell him on a regular basis. Any anti depressant like for example Prozac, is a prescription drug that must be taken at a consistent daily level to certainly measure the drug’s effectiveness, and you need to know that this is not an “as needed” med treatment. in case your physician is a psychiatrist then he also should be able to give you an advice on at least some non drug alternatives that have been showed to be successful in fighting with depression conditions. What you certainly need to do is to plan a visit with him and as sooner you would do it as better it is going to be for you and then you should have this conversation with him because he would surely help you much more than any of us will. Or, even if he is not and he is a family doctor or maybe some kind of internist then maybe he could be able to refer you to a specialist that you really need to visit. Either way, there’s always a solution for any problems.

 

[McBrien]

Tameeka made an excellent point for you to talk with your doc. about your problem that you’re currently facing. Sure thing, you may get some help from people posting his, but surer thing is that nobody here is going to help you better than you doc would. That’s because there could be some changes or maybe some adjustments that you would be able to benefit from them much more than anything else.

 

Of course, I can’t be sure and I don’t know what are you exactly going thru right now, however, I have also went through a very and very low time myself and I do know what it is feeling like. It was many years ago when I was considering a couple of things that I am overjoyed that I did not act on now. anyway, the very important and very big thing is (even though I do know very well that it is much more easier to say it than to do it) is to NEVER GIVE UP. you understand? Never, whatever it takes! You need to stay in touch with people somehow, whatever it takes, you should do everything to do so and that even if it means that you don’t feel like it.

 

I know that it can feel very similar that you are going downward into something like a dark abyss or something that it is having no bottom and you’re going down and going and going and there’s nothing you can do about it, and the lower you go the worse are thing. I know. I’ve been in that abyss myself, at a very low point. But you can always return back, you should find the joy in some small things whenever you can do it and when you are going to start feeling better (because you WILL!) then you are going to look back and you’ll notice that it was all only a combination of some things that made a change, and those things can be very small. I wish you good luck and I really hope you will be very well. By the way, come back every now and then to update how you are feeling.

 

[Bedeencion1980]

Hey there OP, in fact, Abilify is an antipsychotic. This drug is approved to be an add on with the anti depressants. I have seen that you have a doctor so I think that it won’t hurt you at all if you are going to ask him to prescribe it to you and then see what he’s gonna tell you. you would never know – maybe in fact this is the magical pill that it is really going to help you. as I said, you never know. Talk with the doc and let him know about your problems and he’ll do something about that, he must do something. Hope this is gonna help. good luck.

 

[Triaca]

Hello Margaret, I do understand and I know very and very well how are you feeling right now that’s because I have been there, in the exact same situation as you are now. I’m trying to say that everything that you have mentioned in your post is sounding exactly like what I have been through. If I would make a thread about my depression about a year ago or so, I guess that my post would be very similar to yours. At least it would sound the same. My doctor has put me on Cymbalta right now and I have tried every other anti depressant out there, I have tried them practically not from what I have hear. I have tried lots and lots of anti depressants on myself, I’ve tried so much of them that I’ve been thinking that my doc is having me as a rat that he can experiment because none of the drugs has really worked for me. lots of them have either worked and they have had too many and too unbearable side effects or they have not worked at all (or have not worked at all plus side effects). in the past I have stayed on Cymbalta due to the fact that it has helped me much more and with less side effects than other drugs did, however, I am now on it because the withdrawals that it has is making it all pretty hard to get off from it.

 

I would like to help you in a different way and I am going to tell you the best anti depressant that are for me out there:

 

The first one is sun, it is the best anti depressant that exists on this earth! Getting yourself that natural vitamin D is the best what can exist, besides, to take the vitamins as well as getting a lot of sun is going to help you even more. that’s what I recommend you to do because even getting a lot of sun then you are still going to need more Vitamin D.

 

The second best anti depressant is to make yourself, to force yourself to take a walk every single day. I know, I know, this is very and very hard to do when you’re in such a situation, however, when you are going to finally start it then trust me, you are going to start noticing a very big change in your feelings, in the way you think, feel, act etc. etc. because this is going to give you energy and, in a way or another, is going to boost your self esteem. That’s amazing.

 

And the third one is to get out with your friends as much as you an. It doesn’t matter what you really are doing, you only need to go out and to do anything, and that’s especially if this is going to be outdoors, by doing this frequently is going to help you lift your spirits very much and very quick. Trust me that it helps, whenever I am very bad off then I am always going to take a trip in order to see my family and my friends or whoever, the most important is not to be alone. By doing this I am always forgetting about everything, about my depression and all other bad thing. unfortunately, that’s until I am going back home and I am jumping in into the same routine of boredom that I’m living it. however I’m trying to change it as frequent as possible.

 

Something else that has not been said here: a dog or a cat or almost any other pet is going make your life really much more enjoyable than usual because they are bringing a lot of joy in your life, even more than you could think of. anyway, I do understand and realize that not each one of us could have a pet, but this is only a suggestion that can make your life so much easier. It has been established by scientists that people who are not having any pets in their houses are much more prone to depression than those who have. after all, I know that a dog can be problematic, depending where you live, but a cat… I doubt that it would be… anyway… once again, just a suggestion.

 

Other thing is weather. Obviously I don’t know in what kind of weather you are living in, however, I know that cold dark winters are really having a very big and negative effects on me, they are getting me down each time. I can feel it even now when the winter has come, but every single time when summer approaches and those hot sunny days are coming then I am feeling much more better, it really helps me wonders to come over those depressions. At least for me. there are even times, in winter, when I’m only thinking and visualizing summer and I’m already feeling better. by the way, this has happened a few days ago.

 

I’m not sure if you would find all this information helpful, but I only wanted to share some things that are really helping me out so I hope this would help somebody else too. I really do not think that anti depressants are the answer for absolutely every single ones out there, I know that they are not right for me, however the sun, the warm weather, exercising, walking, socializing and especially if doing all of them at once like for example walking outdoors in the sun, in a good weather with friends and family as well as with my dog then this is a pure medication that would drag you out from depression instantly. All these have played an extremely big role in helping me to get out from depression, especially when combined all together. I really wish that you are going to come out of depression. maybe it is because of the weather that you’re now feeling so. Maybe when the summer would come you’ll feel much better than you do now. i feel for you because I know this is a horrible feeling myself, so I hope a lot that you are going to get through it soon. have my best wishes