Better late than never I suppose?
I am just now finding / reading this thread! Boy, am I glad that I did though!!! I have Major Depressive Illness and Panic Disorder. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago, when I had a nervous breakdown and ended up in a psych hospital for two full weeks! I had been raised in a very strict home, with a violent-tempered father, a handicapped brother, a bi-polar (but still undiagnosed) sister, and an emotionally fragile mother ... but the final "blow" was all of the stress and emotional abuse that came after my divorce and child custody battle with my ex-husband. :rolleyes:
I have been on many different anti-depressants during the past 10 years, but the one that finally worked for me was / is Celexa! I have been doing very well on it now for about 4 or 5 years. I did have to increase the dosage after about the first 6 months or so, but I am holding pretty well at 40mg. per day. I do still have panic attacks from time to time, but they are so rare now, that I have to remind myself that they are panic attacks .... that I'm not sick or dying! Luckily, I usually have a few Xanax on hand for those. When I first got out of the hospital I was heavily on Xanax, and even had a terrible withdrawal, because I tried to get off of them too quickly by myself. But now I can have one RX and it last a year or more!!!
:)
Well, I have shared quite a bit now, so I will stop here. I just want to tell everyone that has shared that you are NOT alone, and WE are not Freaks!!! As far as the social aspects ... I have never been a social butterfly myself... always uncomfortable in crowds, and prefer a quiet one on one meal with a friend, as opposed to being with a group of people. I avoid the telephone as much as possible, and I do like to close my blinds and lock the doors from time to time as well. I love the freedom and contact that the internet gives me, but at the same time, I can "shutdown" when I need to!!! ;)