Topic Title: In need of advice!!
| |  "In need of advice!!"
, Mon 22 Sep 16:05
Hello everyone! ok, this feels really self important and a little odd but i'd like to tell the 'story' of my depression and see if anyone else on here can relate to it and tell me whether SJW is likely to work for me...
Im a 23 yr old male living in the uk and i have been struggling with depression for almost 5 years now. i am not totally sure where the depression stems from as i have been lucky enough to have a pleasant 'normal' childhood and been brought up in a very happy, family orientated environment.
Upon leaving secondary school at 16 i opted for work rather than furthur education and did so for 3 years. At 19 i decided (after much deliberation) that i wanted to go to university and so attended college to get the necessary qualifications for admittance. Around this time of leaving work and starting college were my first noticable signs of depression - largely anxiety attacks/clouded thinking/inability to concentrate. I also went through a short 'phase' (about 2 months) of using recreational drugs around this time, which i have since realised could have greatly attributed to where i was heading mentally.
From starting college in 1999 to the present day it seems that my life has been one long haze of ups and downs with my depression, obviously there has been some good (even Great)periods through this time and i have managed to get through college and on to university, these good times can last a few months and i always feel like i have finally got rid of my illness but as i inevitably sink back into it again the good times are pretty much forgotton about.
I have tried three types of anti depressant over this period (Sertraline was the most recent...cant recall the others) and none have helped in any way, shape or form.
The past two years have been spent at a university quite a long way from my home and on reflection this was a pretty bad idea. After leaving home i soon realised that my depression and anxiety seems to become alot worse when i feel out of my element or away from home. When im at my worse i walk around in a confused daze, always late, i cant sleep or get myself together at all, anxiety attacks become regular, concentration is none existant, i cant look people in the eye and fear that i come across as strange or odd because of this..etc etc..i feel scared that something will happen to me when i have an anxiety attack and the thought of being unable to go *home* makes this even worse. The level of these feelings vary from day to day, week to week but they are always there.
More than anything i am ANGRY that i cant get out of my depression as it restricts me from doing things that i really want to do, for example holidays and festivals are always a disaster for me no matter who im with.
I tend not to sit around dwelling on my situation and i actively admit to having a problem and desperatley seek a solution to it but im beginning to wonder what else i can do!
I really want to try SJW but my biggest fear is of side effects - with the drugs that i have been on these have often been worse than the depression itself.
As i am starting my final year at university next week i can really do without any adverse side-effects in my first few weeks living with new people as its pretty hard to explain to people you dont really know BUT im pretty sure im going to need SOMETHING so i guess it would be wise to try SJW before going back to the doctors??
any help and advice would be gratefully recieved!
p.s. sorry if ive rambled on and not made much sense - im pretty tired x
Posts: 1 | | Registered: Mon 22 Sep 2003 14:55 |
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| | "Re(1):In need of advice!!" , Mon 22 Sep 17:27
Your story rang a few bells with me. I've suffered from a similar kind of depression since I was 17, possibly younger, although I only recognised it as depression recently (I'm nearly 27 now). I get the same lack of concentration and anxiety attacks, as well as terrible lethargy and lack of motivation. I thought I adapted quite well to university, but looking back I can see that I was not at all well during my first two years there. It lifted during my final year and I came out with a very good degree, but then it came back with a vengeance. I made things worse by going to work abroad for a couple of years. It was a very interesting experience and I don't regret it, but at the same time I felt very isolated and out of my element and that made my depression worse.
I started taking SJW after going to the doctor and being offered prescription drugs, and it has helped me a great deal. I didn't take the prescription drugs because the potential side effects sounded so scary. I didn't want to take them if the side effects were going to be worse than the depression. Fortunately SJW has very few side effects. Fatigue and stomach upset are the most common. The fatigue can usually be dealt with by changing the time you take it, and the stomach upset can usually be dealt with by taking it with food. It can also reduce your tolerance for alcohol in the first few weeks, so you have to take care if you drink. The most well-known side effect of SJW is increased sensitivity to sunlight, but now that the summer is more or less over there's no need to be concerned about that for a while.
I recommend you give SJW a try - it's been shown to be as effective as prescription drugs for all but the most severe forms of depression, and has very few side effects. Like most antidepressants it can take some time to start working - try to give it at least six weeks before making up your mind on whether it's working or not.
I hope this helps. Good luck with your final year at uni!
Dan
Posts: 221 | | Registered: Sat 14 Dec 2002 17:8 |
| | | "Re(2):In need of advice!!" , Wed 19 Nov 09:56
Hi there!! Wow! My story sounds alot like yours! I too am a person who has dealt with anxiety attacks for years....Im 33 now. My first attack I was 14. I too have tried antidepressants and was always deathly afraid of side effects!!! Still am. I have dealt with minor to moderate depression for years but always thought that I would just get over it as some point in my life or just learn to live with which is basically what I had been doing until a freind of mine told me about SJW. I have been taking it for about 4.5 weeks now and would suggest it to anyone!!!! I was afraid that there would be side effects too. The only one I have experienced is tiredness in the first week and feeling a little giddy but it's all good!!! I have noticed a significant change in myself and the way I deal with things on a day to day basis now. I no longer panic in a crowd or always wondering what people are thinking of me. I am much calmer and level headed with my children and things just dont bother me anymore. I feel I've gotten my life back that I lost years ago. My self esteem is soaring and feel a part of society once again. Always felt that I was the only one in the world that had this crap. Hahaha.....I want to do things now ...always looking for something to do outside the home and having no second thoughts about whether i'll make it without having a panic attack and losing control. Never have lost control before.....That seems to be out number one concern when we deal with anxiety attacks. That we'll have one and wont be able to control it and well make a fool out of ourselves and well never get home etc etc........Am I right? Hahaha...It never happens though does it? We always seem to get ourselves through it!!! I feel that if youre on SJW and youre feeling well there is no room for panic cause u feel so good about urself. All the little things just dont matter anymore. Ive even tried to coax one on but I cant!!! Hahahaha. I definitely suggestt you take this for you sound exactly(im not kidding)like I was just a few short weeks ago and now I'm a completely different person.The person I always was but masked with fear of everything. I say go for it. It wont take long I promise. Please let me know how you are doing I am very interested in your story!! Keep smiling.
Posts: 2 | | Registered: Sat 15 Nov 2003 11:45 |
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