I didn’t get my appointment moved, no. So fuck it. If the medical profession won’t help me, I’ll do it myself. I went to school today for the first time since my crash. I’m studying to be a journalist. The coming two weeks we’ll be doing a single big article each in a certain geographic area, and then we’ll be working for three weeks at a local newspaper. I can do that. I will do it. Fuck depression. I’m back.
I disagree. Drugs are not always crutch, and global thinking like that only stigmatizes the use of antidepressants. I’m not completely up on whether every case of depression involves a chemical imbalance, but depression as a result of chemical imbalances in the brain needs to be managed. Its no different than a diabetic needing to manage their blood sugar levels with insulin injections. I’ll be on medication for the rest of my life for a type of this depression. If I don’t take them, I feel like shit. When I do take them, I’m fine. They aren’t happy pills, they don’t make life stressors go away, but they correct a physical condition that creates a psychological condition.
Priceguy, I had a particularly nasty crash while I was in law school before I was properly diagnosed. I went to my professors and explained what was going on, and let them know I was seeking treatment. I was terrified to tell them and ask for what I thought would be special treatment, but surprisingly, they were all very sympathetic, and every single one agreed to let me to defer my exams until the summer session. I ended up having to take one exam in order to retain my financial aid (I think I finished a paper for a seminar class - something I could do on my own without having the pressure of showing up at a timed exam and having to regurgitate an entire year of coursework).
Good luck - at least you’ve taken a step in the right direction. And you’re right: DEPRESSION SUCKS! But it can and does get better with the right treatment. Also - not all antidepressants have the same side effects and not all people experience the same side effects. Case in point: the first time I took Zoloft (before childbirth), I lost a ton of weight. I went off it while I was pregnant. When I started taking it again after childbirth, I put on a ton of weight!!
Oh, and one more thing about medication and side effects. If the side effects really bother you, tell your doctor. There are so many different antidepressents available, he/she should work with you to find one that not only works to lift your depression, but also has side effects that are either minimal or tolerable to you. If that doctor won’t work with you on that, then find a new one. Another example with Zoloft: insomnia. Most doctors will prescribe a sleeping aid to go along with it if the insomnia is bad.
Good. I’m glad to see you fighting back. Now I know it’s really you. Kick ass. 
Keep fighting, you can do it. 
If you slip some, don’t be tough on yourself - you’ve come through a lot so far, and you can pick up and go again. I’d recommend probably going to the later appointment anyway; it might help in making some headway you hadn’t realized you needed to go through. I’ll be hoping for the best for you.
Excellent, Priceguy. That’s an awesome attitude. You’ll make it.
btw: Why won’t the medical profession help you?
In my case, keeping myself busy or occupied helped distract me from my depression.
I am also on Paxil (for depression and OCD) and probably will be for life.
-To hlanelee: yes, they are a crutch, and a necessary one. At least in my life. What is bad about having a “crutch?” Would you go up to a man on the street with only one leg and tell him he didn’t need a crutch to walk, that he should do it on his own?
Yes, therapy IS a big part of it-you don’t just take pills and have it all go away. But I’m sick and tired of the notion that needing medicine to help with depression is a bad thing, or a weakness.
I’ve had a lot of problems with depression recently- just in the past year. I’ve been on Lexipro for the past month, and it has helped a lot (or so it seems). My schoolwork wasn’t effected (fortunately), but it did hurt my motivation, and school did become more difficult. It also was hurting my relationships, and I started feeling bad around my girlfriend. I had a LOT of anxiety; I still have some, but it is under control. I guess it was bordering on neurosis, I would think that my girlfriend was purposefully neglecting me or that certain people didn’t like me; even though one side told me that I was just nuts, I still felt horrible around people. I just don’t think these things anymore, but I suspect that some therapy would probably be good anyway. I haven’t had any “break-downs” which used to happen every few weeks, where I just sat in my room and cried a lot.
Also, no side-effects at all. Maybe a week of cotton mouth, but that’s it. No sexual dysfunction, weight gain, vomiting, etc.
By the way, good luck Priceguy. Just remember that it might come back. I tried to avoid it by running, occupying time, etc. Eventually it got to the point that I just wanted to get home from school and go to sleep because I couldn’t face anything.
I applaud your “screw them all” attitude, Price Guy, but you need medication. You can do it without the meds, but it is so damned hard; with the meds, it’s still hard, but you’re not fighting uphill every hour of every day. You’re just back to feeling like a normal human being again.
Get to a doctor; get a prescription for antidepressants. Don’t wait until April 24. Find a way to get to a doctor now, and get the prescription. My recommendation is also Wellbutrin; I have virtually no side effects with it (Paxil did give me loss of libido, and Serzone has been outlawed in Canada for possible liver damage). I can’t stress this enough; you are clinically, seriously depressed, and the medication you need will improve the quality of your life so much that you will kick yourself for waiting so long to have it treated. I know I did.
Did I mention that you need to get to a doctor and get a prescription? If I could take you to the doctor myself, I would.
(Oh yeah, exercise helps to elevate mood also. RUN to the doctor.)