Hello

[BrightEyes]

Hi, I am new to this forum. I am interested in information on SJW as well as general support. What is the best doseage to take? Can SJW be taken with Valerian or would I even need the Valerian. I am a 32 year old female with a history of depression and anxiety. I had been able to "manage" my difficulties without medication up until 2003. I've found that Wellbutrin works best, but I can not afford it and have not taken it since March of this year. Although I have a history, the problems worsened in 2001 when I began a very stressful career. It is safe to say that things went downhill from there. I began to have severe headaches, crying spells, shaky, decreased cognitive functioning, chronic fatigue, severe sleep disturbances (for a while, I slept only an average 3-4 hours per night). I resigned my full-time job in 2004. That removed the immediate stress, but the problems continue. As a person predisposed to depression and anxiety, I left the job feeling like I had lost control of my life. My confidence remains below the negative level. After being severely depressed and out of work for about 6 months, I returned to the same profession as an independent contractor. This means I have no health insurance and the income is not steady. Some days I feel fine. Then others I don't want to get out of bed because I feel so sad and hopeless. I am crying uncontrollably and don't want to be bothered. I had been seeing a thrapist for nearly two years and just decided to discontinue. He was wonderful at first, but over the last three or four months I begun to feel that we had reached a plateau. He last told me that I was not depressed and was only in therapy because I felt that I needed to be there, not because I actually needed it. This comment really damaged our client therapist rapport and left me even more confused. I sometimes wonder "If I am not depressed, what is wrong with me?" I may be paranoid, but I felt it was best that I discontinue seeing him. I guess I just need to talk to and connect to people who are living with this disease. Will I ever get it back together? Is there hope? Please respond.

Thanks
Brighteyes