Hi All - a bit about me

[starfish]

Hi Everybody
I discovered the site back in April and have been hanging around since then so I thought I should introduce myself.

Back in April I went to the doctor as I was feeling what I now know to be the symptoms of depression - hopelessness, crying all the time, seeing no future...... He prescribed Prozac within 5 minutes of me entering the room. I researched the drug and decided I would like to try alternatives first.

I started taking SJW on 11 May so I guess I am 21 days in. I have had a mixed experience in that time. On day 5 I started to feel really good, better than I have felt for many months. I felt enthusiasm for things, could see humour in things and generally had more joy in my heart - hope this doesnt sound stupid but I realised how dead inside I have been for so long, I think probably for several years. Trying to describe this to anyone who has not experienced depression is difficult, I dont think they could possibly understand.

However 4 days later I sank down again into a really dark place and struggled to do anything. I even took some days off work sick which is something I had never done before. I switched from a cheaper brand to Kira last week. I dont feel all that great but good enough to get through the day and do what I have to. I hope I can get back to that feeling I had a few weeks ago and that that is the SJW effect. Is it normal to have a rollercoaster ride in the first few weeks? Maybe by 4-6 weeks it will have kicked in fully.

I am probably being really impatient but now that I recognise that I have a problem but that it is treatable I want to get back to life. I am 29 and have a job that I like and a wee house and friends and family who really care. I feel I have no reason to feel depressed and would really like to get better for them also. I tend to avoid people when I feel low and I worry that they will give up on me if I am no fun.
It is really encouraging to hear of the positive results experienced by users of SJW on this site. Thank you for your help

[Wrexham]

Starfish,

I'm really sorry to hear that you are not feeling good at the moment. SJW can take up to 4 to 6 weeks to kick in properly, and I have to be honest, doesn't always work for everyone!!! However, I strongly suggest that you persevere with it.

I've been in the same position as you (and still am to a degree), but I find it helps to just try and get on with life no matter how bad you feel. Avoiding people and staying off work only makes things worse - you need to be in an environment were you have got things to occupy your mind, rather than sitting on your own dwelling on things. It might be an effort to make yourself do things, but there is certainly a sense of achievement if you can get through the day, and hopefully you can build on this. I don't know if you do any form of exercise, but I strongly recommend that you do, as this can also promote a positive feeling.

I hope things improve for you.

Tim.:dance:

[Kelly]

Hi starfish, welcome to the forum. I hope you can give it some more time, like another three weeks and see how it's going. Most people don't experience that kind of rollercoaster ride, but it does often take 4-6 weeks for SJW to really work. If in a few weeks thing still aren't better, don't give up... there are other natural options you could try, such as either 5-HTP or Rhodiola Rosea. Best of luck,

Kelly

[Macca]

Hi Starfish,

After reading your post I was wondering how you got on in the end and how the rest of the first 6-8 weeks went? Im only about 10 days into it myself so I suppose Im facing what you were a while back.

Cheers

[starfish]

Hi Macca

And thank you Tim and Kelly for your replies which have really helped.

I guess I am nearly four months in now and at the moment I feel great about life. It has been such a rollercoaster of a time though I have had a few down times along the way but I am learning to see them as just blips and something that will pass. I think the SJW has helped me out of the really depressed state I was in allowing me to think more clearly and make plans and changes to my life. When I do have down periods I can see how I got there, usually when I have had too much time to think on my own so I try to fill my weekends organising things to do with friends and family. I now run regularly which I think has also helped enormously. I have also dropped the dose down to 2 tablets a day as 3 I think was causing a slight foggy feeling in my head.

I would definitely recommend giving it a go for at least 6 weeks. I don't think there was a particular point at which I felt better. I just feel that at the moment there is much more good time than bad in my life. But I am wary to say I feel 'cured' just take one day at a time.:o
Let me know how you get on
Take care
Starfish

[allemande814]

Just want to say that the "rollercoaster" up and down experiences might not be due to the St John's wort but rather just a feature of depression. I've been on it for a few days and I still get some of the ups and downs like that but before I took anything I had those anyways.