Greetings from London

[roger11]

Hi everyone

May I introduce myself, I am Rog, I live in leafy Essex, England,am 46, work for a University, have a long term partner and 2 young Kiddies - Mike and Emm.

I have been taking prescription medication for depression for 10 years - Zoloft(sertraline). My experience with it has been generally good and i have few problems these days, however I have occasional relapses back to the dark days. At the time of writing, I am in the middle of a relapse, it started about 10 days ago. My old symptoms of weariness, exhaustion, physical abdomen and back pain have returned and I am pretty low.

I have done a lot of research into the fact that depression is, as in my case, often accompanied by chronic physical pain that has no organic origin. It helps me to know that others experience similar symptoms.

I have never tried St John's Wort and I dont know whether it is something that can be taken in conjunction with prescription meds.

I wish you all health, happiness and a peaceful heart

Rog

[Lollypops]

Hi Roger:

I'm also a new member, for a couple of weeks. I've just been lurking in the background. But I find this site a comfort where we all speak the same language.

I had been on zoloft for a number of years and it worked well for me. But then I developed bad rash on my legs, so I went off of it. I lasted about a year and had a relapse. Went back on zoloft, then switched to celexa. After a year, my rash got bad again. So I went off. This time I lasted about 16 months. I went back on celexa for 2 months this time. I thought I would try SJW. I took it for a couple of weeks. I had a bad headache for a couple of days. I could feel it working after a week. Then I read someone's post about side effects on the eyes. I decided that I would not risk it as I like and sunshine alot. I find exercise a great help. I've been running/jogging almost every morning now for over a month. I watch my diet and take supplements...multivite, B complex, B12, magnesium/calcium, zinc, L-tyrosine and 5HPT.

I'm not doing too bad...just a little insecure sometimes. I'm very sensitive to weather changes. It seems like every times a cloud passes over the sun, I get the heebe-jeebies. I find that yoga and meditation helps me alot.
I try to keep in mind that life is not perfect. All I need to do is to put one foot in front of the other.
:dance:

[roger11]

Hi Lollypops

I know what you mean about the weather, I think the reason I often get relapses at this time of year is because the summer is ending with the long dreary cold months ahead. I too run every day, sometimes it brightens my spirits, sometimes it doesnt.

I expect we all have a mantra, a saying, a few words that we repeat to ourselves in the really dark times, yours being to remind yourself that life is not perfect. At my worst, I would simply say "Keep going, there is no other option". Does it help - I dont know, you wrack your brains for some reason to continue putting one foot in front of the other.

I'd be interested to know what others of you out there tell yourselves when the black dog takes over.

To Lollypops and everyone, I wish you a peaceful heart

rog