At the end of my tether.

[Hopefullseeking]

Have been on anti-depressents for about 2 years, have suffered depression/anxiety/PTSD, etc for many years.  My shrink, who I have seen off and on for 20 years, has increased the dose twice in the last 6 months and they are not working.  I'm scared, try to keep busy but am on the verge of tears most of the time.  Feel like I can't do it anymore but keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Deep breath a lot, but feel like I will lose it at any time.  Don't want to be around people but I do, don't want to attend my activities but I do, because I know for my mental health I need to.

Don't know how to do it anymore yet I keep going.  Had enough.

[Colin]

Hi Hopefullseeking,

It sounds like you’re doing it hard and that you’re almost at the end of your tether. I’ve been diagnosed as having depression and anxiety. Over the last eight months I’ve changed medication and changed the dosage. This has been a very taxing time. I have enlisted a number of help-services in that I regularly see a psychiatrist, supplement this with seeing a psychologist and my GP.

I have been advised that often the medication, or increased dosage, will not have effect for four to six weeks. Apparently this is the time it takes for the chemical response in the brain to occur.

During the eight months I referred to I’ve had to leave work early and avoid certain activities due to the sense of escalating anxiety. Two weeks ago my GP requested a call him daily to notify him that I was ok as he thought I was an at risk person. For the last three days I’ve felt 100% better; almost without anxiety. This is so strange that I’m now anxious that it won’t last. What can I say. Perhaps this is the lot for those who are yet to obtain long term relief.

Hang in,

Colin

[Hopefullseeking]

Think I have just been tipped over the edge, my mother had a stroke last Friday, paralysed down one side, slurred speech but I can understand her, can't cope with it, extremely teary and breaking down all the time.  Can't cope, my mother is coping better than I am.