WHEN DEPRESSION BECOMES A CHRONIC DISASTER

Diseases can be our spiritual flat tires - disruptions in our lives that seem to be disasters at the time but end by redirecting our lives in a meaningful way.

You've been going to therapy, taking your antidepressants as directed, and following all of your doctor's advice. But you still don't feel like your old self.


What's taking so long? It can be frustrating to wait for your depression treatment to start to work.

Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us.

Be patient, but not passive, when managing your depression, experts tell. This action plan can help you get the most from your depression treatment:

Antidepressants: Know Your Options

There are many drugs to choose from to treat depression. The initial choice is usually based on which symptoms are most troublesome and potential side effects. For example, your doctor may opt for a medication that has sedative effects if your depression is interfering with your ability to get good sleep.

One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.

The most popular types of antidepressants are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These include:

Celexa (citalopram)
Lexapro (escitalopram)
Paxil (paroxetine)
Prozac (fluoxetine)
Zoloft (sertraline)

He who knows the darkness shall learn to live in the light.

These drugs work by increasing the availability of serotonin, a brain chemical known to affect moods. If one drug in this class does not work for you or has unacceptable side effects, others may work. SSRI side effects may include

headache,

nausea,

sleeplessness or drowsiness,

agitation,

and decreased sexual desire.

We all know that sponges grow in the ocean but I wander how much deeper the ocean would be if that wasn't the case.

Other types of antidepressants work on both serotonin and another brain chemical called norepinephrine. These are known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). They include:

Cymbalta (duloxetine)
Effexor (venlafaxine)
Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)

By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity. Another man's, I mean.

Older antidepressants include

tricyclics,

tetracyclics,

and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

These tend to have more side effects than some of the newer depression drugs, but are still used.

Adversity introduces a man to himself.

Discuss with your doctor all the available options, their pros and cons, and which ones can safely be used together.

To endure is the first thing that a person ought to learn, and that which he will have the most need to know.

Make a list of questions that you have for your doctor. You may want to ask your doctor the following questions about your medication options:

How long will it take for the medication to work?

When should I take the medication?

Should I take the medication with food?

What are the side effects?

What can I do to manage side effects?

The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the average man is.

Antidepressant medications do not work overnight. It can take several weeks for the drug or drugs to start affecting your mood. Some depression drugs may start to work sooner than others, but in general it takes time for certain brain chemicals involved in mood to rise. Select depression medications are started at lower doses to see if there are any unacceptable side effects. They are then slowly increased to get to a therapeutic dose if no side effects occur.

Be realistic about when you can expect to start feeling better. But "stay in close contact with your doctor when starting or changing your depression medications".

The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.

It's also important to know when to call in a psychiatrist or other mental health specialist. "Most antidepressants are prescribed by primary care doctors today," he says. "If you haven't gotten any better after a reasonable drug trial, seek out a referral to a psychiatrist." Some trial and error may also be involved in drug choice and dosing issues.

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

"The goal of treating depression is remission," What does remission look like for people who are depressed? "We want you feeling and functioning at the level you were at prior to the episode of depression."

The best way to reach this goal is to work closely with your doctor, and make sure to let him or her know how you are feeling as well as what side effects, if any, you are experiencing. If one antidepressant or even several antidepressants don't work, don't get discouraged.

When you're feeling your worst, that's when you get to know yourself the best.

Research shows that people with difficult-to-treat depression who don't get better with a first medication are likely to improve by trying a new drug or adding a second medication.

Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

Work with your doctor to find the best drug or drug choices for your depression. Don't settle for anything less than remission.

But treating depression involves more than just taking a pill. Lifestyle changes including regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and social support are also part of the treatment plan. When you're depressed, it is often difficult to reach out and ask for help. Talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes that can help you feel better until your medication kicks in.

Manage Depression Symptoms

Stick with a schedule that includes regular exercise, set sleep and wake times, showering, and socializing. "Stick to your schedule, and eventually these things will become enjoyable again."

It is easy enough to be pleasant, When life flows by like a song. But the man worth while is the one who can smile, when everything goes dead wrong. For the test of the heart is troubled, And it always comes with the years. And the smiles that is worth the praises of earth is the smile that shines through tears.

It may take a while before you start to feel better, which is a normal part of learning how to manage your depression.