I first had symptoms of depression in my late teens, with it peaking in
my late twenties, fifteen years later I decided to do something when my
son asked me why 'does mum make you so sad?'. Went to my GP and was
prescribed meds which I proceeded to t...
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I first had symptoms of depression in my late teens, with it peaking in
my late twenties, fifteen years later I decided to do something when my
son asked me why 'does mum make you so sad?'. Went to my GP and was
prescribed meds which I proceeded to take for the next 4 years. It was
messy to start but after that it seemed to lift my base level so didn't
feel so low, immediately noticed some side effects, such as foginess but
happy to concede that for the upside. I noticed throughout my life I
have worked hard (knowingly and unknowingly) against my depression, I
exercise regularly, take beneficial supplements, eat well, get lots of
rest and avoid alcohol and 'bad' situations when I am on the skids. Only
a few people know about my depression, my wife, my doctor and a friend
of mine who suffers from mental health issues as well. I tend not to
tell my wife too much, for all her good qualities she tends to use it
against me and is not really understanding of it. About 9 weeks ago I
hit a bad patch, I was having headaches (strange pressure in my head)
and a lot of aching in my joints (common), it was the longest sustained
bought of depression I have had. I went to the Doctor he decided to
change my medication, I started taking it and it sent me to an even
darker place, after 2 weeks I'd had enough, I was so spent, so self
loathing, ready to end it. I decided, against my Dr's wishes, to stop
cold turkey as I felt I had nothing to lose. I tried to discuss the
inflammation which I felt could be related, it seemed to go hand in hand
with the depression, he was uninterested, felt it was a symptom of the
depression. That was nearly 2 weeks ago, since then to say I have
bounced back is an understatement. The headaches left almost within 3-4
days, my achy 47 yr old body that I have had 95% of the time over the
last 4 years has disappeared (I used to get so angry, I'm not that old,
I shouldn't feel this bad), I would hobble down the stairs in the
morning now I bound. My thoughts and memory are so clear. I'm not the
self hating zombie shuffling about using every bit of energy to get
through till bedtime. I believe it is not Psychological but I have a
chemical imbalance in my body, inflammation being the first symptom
followed by the depression/headaches. I am glad to be off SSRIs and I am
praying this is not going to be a short term thing. Are their others who
have had similar experiences? Am I just in a honeymoon period?
Did anyone experience increased physical symptoms when starting ssri?
