antidepressant success stories? anyone?

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i'm at the end of my tether - feeling really down - never taken antidepressants before but think I definitely need something - but afraid and not sure if it's worth trying to get a prescription because I have tried so many times before and my doctor is very hesitant because of my other health needs. just don't know if it's going to help me because I'm really not functioning well but not sure how much of that is due to depression. I can only do so much work and then I need to retreat into my own world, space out - is that an autistic thing or depression i wonder? Has anyone found that they function much better with medication? what difference did it make?

I've found that Zoloft works quite well for me. It slows my mind down somewhat so I can think and keeps me from going off the deep end.

They helped me. My history indicates I have suffered from depression since I was a toddler. It's not a magic solution, but they have helped me function better. It felt kind of like I had been looking at the world through a dirty glass and someone wiped it clean. I can deal with things that use to overwhelm me.

It's important to remember that they always start you off at a low dose to see how you tolerate it and then adjust the dosage from there. You may also need to try another if one is not effective for you.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Aimless, i wonder how you can tell that you were depressed sice such a young age? Im thinking ive been depressed a long time too but not sure when it started. Just know it was really bad in high school.

I wonder whether my life could have been a lot different if id taken antidepressants back then. I remember being surprised to find that a friend was taking them and now i think i bet shes done a lot better than i have.

From my mother's learning about depression and her memories of my behavior and from my description of my own memory to psychologists.

Finding the right type/amount of medication was nothing short of revolutionary for me - it took my ability to function to a whole new level and allowed me to accomplish things I probably couldn't have otherwise. (Prozac 60mg/day)

I resisted it for literally years on principle because I didn't really understand how they worked.

I would recommend at least giving it a trial - please understand that there are quite a few drugs in this class with different efficacy/side effect profiles - so keep experimenting if the initial prescription is disappointing.

Good luck!

Wellbutrin has worked wonders for me. I was on Paxil 20mg for about nine years for "social anxiety with depression", and it turned me into a robot. I couldn't think clearly and my emotions were dulled down almost to the point of nonexistence. On top of that, I had some pretty severe sexual side effects that culminated in an almost total loss of my sex drive. Plus, every time I tried to wean myself off of it, I'd have a meltdown. I finally did some research of my own, and asked my doctor if he'd switch me to Wellbutrin.

The difference is night and day. I'm able to manage my depression without feeling like my brain and body are numb. It was a bit of an adjustment having to deal with emotions again, but most days I feel great and I'm able to draw enjoyment from things like listening to music again.

I've tried a lot of different anti-depressants. I currently take Effexor 275 mg and Abilify 2 mg. The Abilify has helped quite a bit. Everyone reacts differently to medications though, and you might have to try a few different ones to find the one that works for you.

Are you struggling to cope being around other people when you're working?

By working i mean studying at home by distance education. So i dont have to deal with people, its just difficulty concentrating and geeting in th mood to write.

Zoloft is working fairly well for me.

Antidepressants are the difference between me functioning and not right now. Even when things haven't been as bad emotionally, they make a difference. I've had multiple episodes of major depression, so getting off them isn't really an option short or medium-term...who knows about long term?

~Kate

So how do they work?

Perhaps it was kind of silly, but I always assumed they were "happy pills" which destroyed your ability to feel sad.

Actually, they work in a far more subtle way, by resolving low seratonin levels they actually make you feel more like "yourself".

Also, when your mood is chronically depressed for biochemical reasons, you tend to look for external reasons to "justify" the feeling - leading to pessimism/defeatism which is a viscious cycle - a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I can still feel down/depressed, but there has to be a "real" reason for it - I don't just feel that way no matter how well my life is actually going.

Hope this helps.

I've used anti depressants on and off over the years. They can be very helpful at certain times. I would say that they have saved my life on a couple of occasions. I have had some bad experiences with them though, and some haven't helped me at all.

So I'm a bit mixed about them overall. I think that they can be very useful in the right circumstances. But you may need to try a few to find the one that works for you. And you may need a lower dose than someone not on the spectrum, as apparently they can have a stronger effect on those with an ASD.

Part of the reason I don't take them is I worry that I will no longer be 'me'. Plus it feels like cheating. :/

The other reason is I'm not even really sure if I'm depressed. People tell me I am - and I believe I was during most of my childhood - but I feel a bit better now, even if I'm still in a low mood most of the time. Since I feel slightly better off I have a few doubts... I don't know. Either way they'd probably end up helping if I took them.