Since starting AD medication almost a month ago I felt great then today a lapse

[MisterM]

I don't know what has happened.
Since starting my SSRI medication almost a month ago I was feeling better, calmer and more positive.
All of a sudden today I have lapsed into a depressed state with negative thoughts and feelings.
I didn't sleep much last night, perhaps that is why and plus I think I upset my friend today (hard to tell with online messages as things get misconstrued, maybe I am reading too much into it and making something out of nothing) which has me in a low mood.
I've been worrying about not being able to find work so couldn't sleep well last night.
Plus two of my friends have found work recently which makes me feel more useless.

Are lapses common when on medication?
Or was this all a placebo effect for me.

[corbeau]

Hi MisterM. I just posted a similar thread to this. Stopped my AD due to money and haven't been taking it for over a week. It has crept back in, leading to terrible feelings that I was sure were gone, so I know how disappointing it is when you start to realise they are coming back. Your stomach drops once you see those telltale signs that your mood has changed. I'll be interested to see what responses you get about placebo effect and lapses etc, I'm sure you'll get some great advice. But just know that you are not alone.

[geoff]

dear MisterM, when we start taking a new AD there is a psychological effect that we feel great, believing that this medication is the answer to our depression.

Sometimes we may have side-effects but understand that they could well and truly subside, but after a few weeks our expectations can slowly diminish because we were hoping that this magic pill was the answer, well maybe it is or maybe it's not.

We have to expect that there will be a yo-yo effect, but the AD won't just cure your depression by itself, we also need counselling, because we have to understand why we have become depressed as there always is a reason, so this needs to be talked about.

In regards to finding a job have you been to an employment agency who may know more than just what's in the newspaper and will try and find a job that is suited towards you. Geoff.

[MisterM]

Thank you for your replies.
I believe it was the lack of sleep, I was fine yesterday and caught up with my friend and everything is fine.
Amazing how my mind makes me believe something that is not the case.
I feel like I am having better days more than bad days but from time to time I get intense obsessional worry.Then the next day I don't have that, it comes and goes when it wants.

Geoff, I have not been to an agency but might need to start contacting them now.
As for the counseling, I understand that AD and counseling is effective combined, sadly I am not in a financial position to afford to see my psychologist again. I have been given the contact details of a free psychologist but I am not sure as it is grad students under supervision plus I had a great relationship with my psychologist before I quit seeing him a year ago.

[angANG]

Isn't that so sad, the government subsidises antidepressants  (drug use), but not seeing a psychologist?  They are not magic pills, they just help us cope.  The psychologist is the person who really helps us change, and move on, and find a place in life we are happy in.

[MisterM]

Sad indeed. Who can afford to pay $200 for 50 minutes. Not me.
Shame there are only 10 sessions rebated by Medicare. Still even the out of pocket fee is hard to afford.
I don't understand why psychologists/psychiatrists charge so much?
Other medical professionals I have seen don't charge that much, usually $60-70 is what I pay.

[Tinkermouse]

I am not sure that every episode I have encountered with depression has a root cause. Sometimes all the stars are aligned and work is going well things in personal relationships are going well adult children are behaving elderly patents are managing and the old Black Dog decides to rear its head. For me some of the depression I have experienced sure could be reactive but at other times it is very much endogenous. I am blessed in all aspects of my life but I have major depressive disorder which most of the time is well managed between my doctor and me. There will never be a time that I won't have to take medication and Ive accepted that long ago. I guess what I am trying to say is that for me my depression is not always incident related. Thank you for allowing me to share.