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I have felt like depression was an animal in a dark corner waiting to pounce. I have been put on stronger ADs but I feel like I am descending into a darker and darker place. I have never been through depression before this. I am starting to find it more difficult to function and feel motivated to live my every day life. I am still in weekly therapy, exercising several times a week, and meeting friends and doing other enjoyable things. It isn't working. I feel like I used up all my momentum surviving a false R and getting through the divorce, and now I'm just empty of any fight. Any suggestions on how to keep this from progressing are welcome.

Triple, you need to go back to your doc and get off the stronger ADs. Some will not have the right effect for you and make things worse. ADs can be a trial and error process, unfortunately.

It happened to me with some severe postpartum depression. Took me almost a year to find the right combo. At this point I am weaned from all daily meds with only Xanax for occasional panic attacks at night. It can happen.

Hugs to you.

The most important thing to know is that it will get better! Depression is insidious and tries to convince you that you'll never be happy again, but it does pass. BTDT and going through it again.

Definitely talk to your psychiatrist about your feelings. Not all ADs work alike, and you may need a different or additional medication. Just upping the dosage will not always work.

I am also a big believer in seeing a psychiatrist, not your regular MD, for ADs. There are a lot of interactions and withdrawal issues that can happen when they aren't handled properly.

Otherwise, you are doing everything you should, but it takes time. Baby yourself. Treat yourself to whatever re-charges your batteries. Concentrate on feeding your soul. You didn't get into this situation quickly, so you won't get out of it quickly, but you WILL get out of it.

((tripletrouble))

(((Tripletrouble)))

Your title was on the main page and it drew me in.

I'm not a doctor nor a pharmacist; however, I live in a household where depression also lives (3 w/MDD and 1 w/BP) and just about every antidepressant has come through the door.

You don't mention what med you are on, or what you were on previously. I presume you know or have read a little about the various kinds of anti-depressants; the "newer" ones fall into the SSRI, SNRI, and atypical categories.

Due to differences in how these meds work, as well as the interplay with your own body's chemistry, some may flat out not work at all for you. Some can seem to make you worse (I say this as an observer to some med trials my H's gone through). I feel like I've seen a lot by this point. (I need the "heavy sigh" emoticon.)

You need to be in close contact with your psych doctor during this period if you are in or feel you are approaching crisis mode...and I do hope you are getting your meds through a psych consult and not from a G.P. Some meds take a while to build up to a therapeutic level in your system; something to bear in mind.

Frankly, that's the agony of mental health care IMO: usually people seek help for depression when they feel they're at their breaking point...only to discover that it may take 3 weeks for them to feel any improvement. It's a slow trial-and-error process. Boo to that!

You're doing the right thing by continuing to exercise and getting out with friends; keep pushing yourself to do that. Depressive periods can kind of be like biking and having your foot slip off the pedal; do everything you can to keep rolling forward as if your foot's still on that pedal, and you may be able to get it back without much wobbling or crashing the bike. Then you just pedal on.

Go back to your dr. and tell him/her what is happening. Sometimes it takes a little trial and error to get it right. I have been on about 4 medications and none of them had any earth shattering results for me. My dr. just put me on the add on medication, Abilify,and it has worked wonders for me.

Hello Tripletrouble. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I agree with previous posters that you should go back to your doctor and tell him/her that your symptoms aren't improving. You may need a different drug or combination of drugs. Keep socializing, exercising, and the weekly therapy, they'll help keep it from getting even worse.

I hope your doctor can help you. Depression is awful.

I also agree. Keep looking if the meds you have aren't working. I took AD years ago for a different reason and I probably went though 8 different kinds until I found one that worked.

And do be careful when going off them/switching to different meds. They can have crazy side effects when you quit them.

A friend of mine described horrible stuff when she went off paxil but it never was a problem for me. 2 years ago my doctor tapered to end my Effexor and what happened was an absolute nightmare. I can only imagine it was similar to what my friend had with paxil.

You are still fighting you just don't realize it. Don't give up. Keep searching for the right meds. Great job on the therapy sessions and exercise.

(((Triple)))

They can take time to build up in your body. This too shall pass. You won't always feel like this, please believe that.

Do you have any fun/interesting events planned. I find it helps to have something to look forward to.

Thanks for all the wisdom. I am going to keep doing the things I like and give this new Rx a little time to work, then get back with my doctor if it doesn't. I've just felt so unsettled by the feeling of being stalked by depression as if it's a physical being like the grim reaper.

(((Triple)))

I'm sorry. It will get better. Don't give up on the meds. Stay in contact with your doc.

Sending hugs and adding another voice to the choir.

My h was put on Zoloft last June for major depression and it darn near killed him. His depression got SO much worse and it took until almost the end of August to wean him off of it safely. He was then prescribed Welbutrin and it has been very successful.

ADs do take a while to build up in your system. Sometimes the initial negative effects are expected and subside. But certain early side effects are a sign that the medicine just won't ever be right for you. I encourage you to speak ASAP with your doctor to see where what you are currently experiencing falls on the spectrum.

Definitely talk to your Dr. now. Your Dr. is probably really interested in how the meds are working (or not working) on you because everyone is different.

I started off on one med that I didn't like too much, it gave me side effects that really bothered me. He switched me to another that I tolerated much better. Then he added another med and the whole thing took several months to get me feeling stabilized. I think those meds saved my life, literally.

I stayed on that combination for about 2 years and then gradually weaned off one, then the other.

Talk to your doctor. Just give a report and let him/her know so that things can be adjusted. It's really common to try different meds and you are not creating any trouble for anyone.