Hi all!
I’m here to update you on how I’ve been doing.
In short: okay.
I’m continuing to take 125 mg of sertraline daily. This may change in the next month or two a) to see if a different medication works better for me, and b) because of side effects (add me to the long, long, long list of SSRI-takers who notice sexual side effects). In the past, I took bupropion (300 mg daily) in addition to sertraline, and this made a bit of a difference. So I may be prescribed that again, but who knows?
I’ve also started therapy; the wait list wasn’t quite as long as I expected! My therapist and I are using a combination of interpersonal therapy, ACT, and mindfulness. We’re off too a bit of a slow start, but I think things are going well overall.
I’m still volunteering. I’ve been going to job-searching workshops. I’ve made a friend! So my social life is considerably better than it has been in the past couple of years. Of course, socializing gives me anxiety, but I push on as best I can.
There are still “sad days” – days where I feel down and depressed for no good reason. But these days are less frequent now, and I don’t get quite as depressed. I figure if I have the occasional day where I lie in bed for an hour or two and feel bad for myself, that’s not as bad as spending a day or two in bed feeling bad for myself.
I’m not cured yet – I doubt I ever will be – but I’m doing okay, and that’s good enough for today. 🙂
This is a Depression Blog 
Chris
/ March 21, 2018I am wondering if you have ever had your DNA tested to see which antidepressant might work best for you. I did about two years ago…it turned out all of the drugs I had tried over my lifetime were ineffective due to a gene mutation I have! I am now on the right drug and doing really well.
If you or any of your readers are interested I used http://www.genesight.com. The test was administered by the psychiatric department at a local hospital and my insurance paid for it.
LC
/ March 25, 2018I am still taking 3 kinds of antidepressants plus a sedative. I don’t think any of them really work unless I am in the mood to make them work. Had about a month long depressive episode which I haven’t had in years. Everything that came out of my mouth was either mean or hateful towards my family and I wasn’t being nice to my cats. Then last week, one day it just lifted off of me and I started feeling better. My poor Mom, she just hangs in there and tolerates my attitudes until something in my body changes and I become a nice caring person again. I know that I was doing it but just everything pissed me off. So glad that is over for now. I just feel tired, drained, and don’t want to do anything. I still go to work because I live a more expensive life than I can afford. I am spending way too much money which is another phase of the bipolar. On my days off, I become a shut-in and don’t want to leave the house and I disconnect the phones. Going to see my therapist tonight and my Psychiatrist in a few days. Started smoking weed thinking it would help. My memory has really been affected and I can’t think straight anymore even though it is just a few puffs every couple of nights. It just made things worse. I just want to retire and make the world go away. Gotta stop watching the national news for a while and find something else to do besides spend money through the internet. My responses are usually more upbeat and I try to be helpful but it’s just not in me right now. I am just existing day to day. Sorry I wasn’t any help to anybody this month on this site but this time I am the one reaching out now.
Paul Lamb
/ April 12, 2018Regarding your last sentence: I never look to my treatment (when I was still doing it) as a route to a cure. I only see it as a way to manage my depression. I won’t ever be free of it permanently.
Helen Noronha
/ April 17, 2018Depression is real and tangible for some and non tangible for others, but realizing that you are depressed and identifying its causes are the first step take. We all want to get ourselves cured but it all starts from our will to get cured, its all in our head. Some of these pills we are given in the name of antidepressants may not be one at all, but the believe that it is helps us to get cured.
A very honest write-up,if you and your readers are interested to know ways to get rid of depression, just visit this link https://themindsjournal.com/rewire-your-brain-to-get-rid-of-negative-thoughts/