Depression

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

I was on Sertaline for about 2 years, totally killed my sex drive and turned me in to a lunatic after I had a drink. Otherwise I think they stabled me in a period of great instability, so plusses and minuses. But that’s the same with all of them. I would personally always advocate therapy (if you can afford it) as the drugs are only ever a leg up or a plaster to a wound. But then I’d take my advise with a pinch of salt as I’m in a loony bin.

[samlcfc]

I've been taking sertraline for a few months. The way in which it can help will depend on circumstances i guess, but personally feel it has reduced the extremes of variation in mood. During times of high stress for example, I am able to manage my thought patterns more constructively and any physiological symptoms are much less invasive. CBT was also helpful to a degree in this respect, although I had taken part in that before my sertraline prescription.

 

Dependent on symptoms, I understand the sort of techniques involved in CBT can work well in tandem with something like sertraline, the thinking being that it creates a stability in mood which allows for the brain to learn new patterns in thinking and responding to situations more reasonably.

[Samilktray]

On 14/02/2025 at 12:56, Samilktray said:

I’ve been prescribed Sertraline today. Anyone got any experience of it? Hoping it doesn’t turn me into a zombie if I’m totally honest 

First few days on this have been a trip bloody hell 

[Thefox81]

41 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

First few days on this have been a trip bloody hell 

I take 200mg daily (maximum dosage allowed). I was the same to begin with everything just didnt seem normal. I presume youve started on 50mg. Trust me when your body gets used to it then you will feel the benefits. My dm is always open if you want advice etc but eveyone is different. Hope your all good. Take care.

[The Year Of The Fox]

3 hours ago, Samilktray said:

First few days on this have been a trip bloody hell 

Forgot to say that I resorted to taking them before bed rather than before work

[SeCrEt FoX]

I was on sertraline about 10 years ago and was on them for a few years on the highest dosage. It made me feel numb, zombie like and brain fog constantly, and like others said libido was completely gone. I think it made me more depressed to be honest. It felt like I knew there was a problem but wasn't sure what the problem is if that makes sense. So I decided enough is enough, I wanted to control my own life again and like a tw@ I went cold turkey. But, please people do not try, it's so dangerous and it made me ill for about 8 months.

 

When the effects died away from all of a sudden stopping the meds, I got parts of my life back but obviously wasn't fixed at all. Had some very dark days.

 

I have been doctors for many things over the years and all they do is give you medication for this and medication for that, until recently I got fed up of prescription drugs masking problems. So I done a bit of research.

 

I started taking vitamin K2 and Vitamin D3 about 3 weeks ago and my god my moods changed so much. I feel a lot better in myself, not felt this way for years. I have so many ailments because I don't get enough of them vitamins. 

 

I think GPs sould have a look into things more thoroughly instead of just throwing anti depressants at us just to get you out of their way for 6 months. 

 

What I'm trying to say is do some research into what vitamins your maybe lacking and that's a start. Then you may start feel better in yourself like I have, now I'm starting to get a bit of drive back and energy that may lead to exercise ... honestly I all about gave up. Sorry for the long ass boring post, had a tipple. They maybe something in here worth while to somebody. Main thing, Keep your chin up 👍 

[urban.spaceman]

I stopped taking antidepressants after about 7 years in the middle of the pandemic. I'd started on Sertraline, then Shitalapram (loathed it), Amitriptyline (hated it cos I couldn't drink and I was a raging alcoholic at the time), then a few years on Fluoxetine. The latter was great, it stopped some very dark thoughts I'd been having around 2019/20 including intrusive thoughts, and a suicidal 'impulse' I had roughly 5 years ago last week. But they weren't helping any more by late 2021, so I stopped taking them entirely. I stopped drinking in 2023 and signed up for my course. I was doing really, really well without them and without alcohol. 

 

Then I finished my course in September and the inevitable come-down happened. Goldsmiths let me down with my grade (long story), so I appealed it. They didn't take it seriously and blocked me from appealing again. So I complained, which they then rejected again, lied about my other grades to make me feel better, and misrepresented my appeal/complaint to justify rejecting it. They destroyed my confidence and made me feel like the whole thing was a waste of time. 

 

At the same time, the direct payment company (let's call them 'P') who pay me for the work I do as a carer, decided to close down their office and go fully remote. The mother of the person I work for is a complete technophobe and genuinely can't cope with taking a photo of my timesheet and emailing it to them. She forgot to send my timesheets in on time in November and December and I had to fight 'P' to get paid for the work I'd done. Christmas was ruined as I couldn't buy people their presents on time. January payday came around and yet again, I didn't have a payslip. She'd forgotten again, and 'P' refused to process my payment because (they claimed) they'd get a fine from HMRC for paying people outside of a normal payment window. Then they went 'dark' and were completely uncontactable. A dozen emails unanswered over the last month, phones just ringing out or reaching other regional offices, promises of being called back but having nothing in return. They finally paid me for January last week but it was £200 short with no explanation and again, no way of contacting them. For 6 of the last 10 weeks I've had about £25 to my name. I've had to cancel plans for a holiday with friends, put off upgrading old and defunct devices, and worse, had to indefinitely put off paying for certain things that will help me progress in my writing career, like script coverage and high profile events. I can't even travel down to London to spend time with my writing friends because trains and accommodation are so ****ing expensive. I've been practically housebound for the last 2 and half months with constant bad news, bad luck and people just relentlessly letting me down and messing me about.

 

I've also got a 'milestone' birthday coming up next month that my family want to celebrate, which I just can't, because the last decade has been a complete disaster from start to finish and every time I try to make some progress it just blows up in my face. I'm back to being extremely low again. The psychological trouble is back and despite Goldsmiths finally deciding to take my complaint seriously and 'P' finally paying me for the last 2 months last week (though still £15 short), I can't get out of the funk and I'm mentally just going round and round in circles. I can't be creative like this. I can't live like this any more. 

 

Went to the doctor today (new guy - my old surgery let me down so badly last October that I stormed out and left that surgery after being with them my entire life) and I've agreed to go back on Sertraline and I genuinely don't know what to expect from it this time around. I just know this depressive cycle needs to stop.

[Trav Le Bleu]

For what it's worth, Sertraline helped me, but then I was just extremely anxious about everything (to an unreasonable level) rather than your traditional depression.

 

It's horses for courses and what works for one might not for another. Unfortunately I don't think GPs have the time or specialised knowledge to quickly get it right. It's very much "try this and tell me if it works."

 

I think what Secret Fox said about vitamins makes a lot of sense. Modern life deprives the body of a lot of things that in the past we received naturally.

 

Decent diet, don't drink too much, exercise, getting outside are all major contributions to good mental health that the NHS can't prescribe (though good doctors will tell you this).

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

Update from me, I have been released! Apparently I have a personality disorder, though the dr  who came to this diagnosis I feel really didn’t do his due diligence and rushed the diagnoses. I’m not saying I don’t have a personality disorder, I’m obviously seriously unwell, I have full capacity I don’t think it’s all a big conspiracy or they’re out to get me or anything like that, not at all, just want to make sure I’m being treated for the correct illness, the dr I had in there, sr Naik for anyone with experience with him, was an arrogant and unpleasant man. I still feel the same as when I went in so not sure what the point of me going in was really. I’m staying in oadby and basically under constant supervision for my own safety from family. Got me on a concoction of drugs and using a flow headset but no joy with any of it yet. Just taking it an hour at a time trying to do the things I know I should do if I wanted to get better but I still don’t. No contact with daughter for over 6 weeks now, not bothered in the slightest.

[Trav Le Bleu]

3 hours ago, Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot said:

Update from me, I have been released! Apparently I have a personality disorder, though the dr  who came to this diagnosis I feel really didn’t do his due diligence and rushed the diagnoses. I’m not saying I don’t have a personality disorder, I’m obviously seriously unwell, I have full capacity I don’t think it’s all a big conspiracy or they’re out to get me or anything like that, not at all, just want to make sure I’m being treated for the correct illness, the dr I had in there, sr Naik for anyone with experience with him, was an arrogant and unpleasant man. I still feel the same as when I went in so not sure what the point of me going in was really. I’m staying in oadby and basically under constant supervision for my own safety from family. Got me on a concoction of drugs and using a flow headset but no joy with any of it yet. Just taking it an hour at a time trying to do the things I know I should do if I wanted to get better but I still don’t. No contact with daughter for over 6 weeks now, not bothered in the slightest.

It's progress of a kind.

 

I find the majority of doctors have a poor bedside manner these days.

[Zear0]

4 hours ago, Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot said:

Update from me, I have been released! Apparently I have a personality disorder, though the dr  who came to this diagnosis I feel really didn’t do his due diligence and rushed the diagnoses. I’m not saying I don’t have a personality disorder, I’m obviously seriously unwell, I have full capacity I don’t think it’s all a big conspiracy or they’re out to get me or anything like that, not at all, just want to make sure I’m being treated for the correct illness, the dr I had in there, sr Naik for anyone with experience with him, was an arrogant and unpleasant man. I still feel the same as when I went in so not sure what the point of me going in was really. I’m staying in oadby and basically under constant supervision for my own safety from family. Got me on a concoction of drugs and using a flow headset but no joy with any of it yet. Just taking it an hour at a time trying to do the things I know I should do if I wanted to get better but I still don’t. No contact with daughter for over 6 weeks now, not bothered in the slightest.

My mum had years of treatment for MH and it takes time to identify the cause and the best remedy.

 

All the best on the road ahead. 

[chrishlcfc]

Started my maths course which is a positive and something I need to do to lead me onto the course I want to do. It’s started on did a mock exam and got pretty decent results already and the course hasn’t really begun yet.

 

But as I always when I do something positive I self sabotage and do something stupid. I do it on purpose so I’ve spent like all my money I have and really struggling to pay to continue to go in town and continue the course. Why do I do it to myself, I always do the same thing. It’s so daft and exhausting. It’s like I always purposely damage myself when something goes well. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

9 hours ago, chrishlcfc said:

Started my maths course which is a positive and something I need to do to lead me onto the course I want to do. It’s started on did a mock exam and got pretty decent results already and the course hasn’t really begun yet.

 

But as I always when I do something positive I self sabotage and do something stupid. I do it on purpose so I’ve spent like all my money I have and really struggling to pay to continue to go in town and continue the course. Why do I do it to myself, I always do the same thing. It’s so daft and exhausting. It’s like I always purposely damage myself when something goes well. 

Could you get someone to put money away for you that you could only access with them? I know you used to be able to get joint accounts like that.

[Parafox]

From the "What Are You Reading" topic. I've copy/posted on here as it seems more relevant. I'm reading:

 

The Body Keeps The Score.

 

A detailed work of the research and understanding of how trauma of any kind, emotional, childhood abuse, domestic abuse, war, even trauma that one might not recognise. It's not dry or so scientific that ordinary people can't read it and be enlightened and better informed.

 

I am reading it because I have experienced trauma in most aspects of my life/career. It is thought provoking, particularly for those experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, fear and unexpected anger, supressed grief. It offers insight into trauma and how it affects the whole (human) being that has suffered.

 

Having read most of it so far, I can see and understand how my experiences, abused by my father, the trauma caused by my daughter's MH issues and her rejection of us, the loss of 2 granddaughters through adoption and the things I've come across and had to deal with, sometimes alone, whilst doing my job have made me withdrawn, angry, anxious, fearful, living a false existence by covering up and keeping relationships at arms length. Lack of trust in others and the fear that something bad is always about to happen. 

 

I might copy and post this in the Depression topic.

 

I did.

[HighPeakFox]

45 minutes ago, Parafox said:

From the "What Are You Reading" topic. I've copy/posted on here as it seems more relevant. I'm reading:

 

The Body Keeps The Score.

 

A detailed work of the research and understanding of how trauma of any kind, emotional, childhood abuse, domestic abuse, war, even trauma that one might not recognise. It's not dry or so scientific that ordinary people can't read it and be enlightened and better informed.

 

I am reading it because I have experienced trauma in most aspects of my life/career. It is thought provoking, particularly for those experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, fear and unexpected anger, supressed grief. It offers insight into trauma and how it affects the whole (human) being that has suffered.

 

Having read most of it so far, I can see and understand how my experiences, abused by my father, the trauma caused by my daughter's MH issues and her rejection of us, the loss of 2 granddaughters through adoption and the things I've come across and had to deal with, sometimes alone, whilst doing my job have made me withdrawn, angry, anxious, fearful, living a false existence by covering up and keeping relationships at arms length. Lack of trust in others and the fear that something bad is always about to happen. 

 

I might copy and post this in the Depression topic.

 

I did.

There isn't an emoji that says what I would like to say to you, and every one of us that in some way embody what we've experienced. Thank you.

[Sampson]

I know you should focus on things you can change and shouldn’t let the outside world affect you, but anyone else really struggling with the news atm? Just feels like the world is spinning out of control faster than anyone can wrap their heads round it. It’s the same kind of anxiety I had during most of 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. 

[leicsmac]

10 minutes ago, Sampson said:

I know you should focus on things you can change and shouldn’t let the outside world affect you, but anyone else really struggling with the news atm? Just feels like the world is spinning out of control faster than anyone can wrap their heads round it. It’s the same kind of anxiety I had during most of 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. 

I find focusing on a singular objective - it doesn't have to be a big one - that does something to make the world around you better, helps. But that's just my take.

 

The world is changing fast, and anyone with half a brain would be anxious about what may lie ahead, but all we can do is what lies in our own power.

[samlcfc]

 

4 hours ago, Sampson said:

I know you should focus on things you can change and shouldn’t let the outside world affect you, but anyone else really struggling with the news atm? Just feels like the world is spinning out of control faster than anyone can wrap their heads round it. It’s the same kind of anxiety I had during most of 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. 

I can appreciate this. Future uncertainties can feel less daunting when things appear to be barrelling along faster than usual.

 

Agree with the advice from Leicsmac. Even if not actively involved in any movements or some such thing, when stuff seems bad in the news media, I can always take comfort from considering the good that humans are doing on the ground. There are people out there that put in some intense good faith work in the world. 

 

Personally, I've found that practicing a level of mindfulness has been helpful. Taking a bit of time occasionally, to consider other potentially important things in my life such as close relationships and hobbies. Finding anything to use as a place that is at least somewhat insulated from concerns in other areas of life. These things often allow for a sort of day to day thinking that can give meaning to existing without having to worry about where I or the wider world might be heading in the long-term. 

 

With regards to perspective, I also enjoy listening to youtube / podcast content related to philosophy etc. Can be interesting to consider ways of thinking, when we receive a lot of our direction in this respect from the news media in relation to current affairs. 

Edited 6 March by samlcfc

[filthyfox]

Stay strong people!

 

Get active and be creative 

[Trav Le Bleu]

26 minutes ago, filthyfox said:

Stay strong people!

 

Get active and be creative 

Good advice, succinctly given.

[Trav Le Bleu]

36 minutes ago, samlcfc said:

 

I can appreciate this. Future uncertainties can feel less daunting when things don't appear to be barrelling along faster than usual.

 

Agree with the advice from Leicsmac. Even if not actively involved in any movements or some such thing, when stuff seems bad in the news media, I can always take comfort from considering the good that humans are doing on the ground. There are people out there that put in some intense good faith work in the world. 

 

Personally, I've found that practicing a level of mindfulness has been helpful. Taking a bit of time occasionally, to consider other potentially important things in my life such as close relationships and hobbies. Finding anything to use as a place that is at least somewhat insulated from concerns in other areas of life. These things often allow for a sort of day to day thinking that can give meaning to existing without having to worry about where I or the wider world might be heading in the long-term. 

 

With regards to perspective, I also enjoy listening to youtube / podcast content related to philosophy etc. Can be interesting to consider ways of thinking, when we receive a lot of our direction in this respect from the news media in relation to current affairs. 

I sometimes find switching things within things you like to do works. For instance, I like video games, movies and music. I enjoy games often with dark themes (The Last of Us or Horizon Zero game for example) and movies (e.g. Alien, Blade Runner, film noirs) and music such as The Cure, Joy Division or other dark musics.

 

So I'll decide to play something light and less intense (Stardew Valley or Spyro), watch some comedies and lighter music (though this doesn't necessarily mean pop  - maybe some Sports Team or SFA )

 

Oh and avoid watching the news in depth.

 

It works for me.

 

[filthyfox]

54 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Good advice, succinctly given.

I will soon write my experience over the last few months.  I'm actually quite shocked by it; but creativity has got me out.

[Noahfence]

9 hours ago, Sampson said:

I know you should focus on things you can change and shouldn’t let the outside world affect you, but anyone else really struggling with the news atm? Just feels like the world is spinning out of control faster than anyone can wrap their heads round it. It’s the same kind of anxiety I had during most of 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. 

I can’t even explain how much better I feel when I barely pay attention to the news. I know you should keep up with what’s going on but I just don’t see any benefit to it. 
 

If I ever catch the news coming on the TV I turn over. 
 

I’m well aware it’s just a little thing but I’d definitely recommend cutting it out 

[John rayner]

On 14/02/2025 at 12:56, Samilktray said:

I’ve been prescribed Sertraline today. Anyone got any experience of it? Hoping it doesn’t turn me into a zombie if I’m totally honest 

I was oon sertralin for about 5 years I found that it helped a lot ,it takes at least a couple of weeks to get into your system. Trust me it will not turn you into a zombie ,good luck mate keep strong buddy you will get through this 

[bovril]

34 minutes ago, Noahfence said:

I can’t even explain how much better I feel when I barely pay attention to the news. I know you should keep up with what’s going on but I just don’t see any benefit to it. 
 

If I ever catch the news coming on the TV I turn over. 
 

I’m well aware it’s just a little thing but I’d definitely recommend cutting it out 

I do the same thing now.

 

If I were a conspiracy theorist I'd say we are deliberately bombarded with news precisely so people block it out and are less informed than in the past...