More on stress and depression....

[catnapper]

I hope this new med works. I'm so tired of feeling like I'm dragging all the time. I take at least one nap a day, regardless what time I get home from work. The earlier the nap, the longer it is. Its not unusual for me to take a 3 hour nap anymore! Plus sleep 8 or 9 hours at night.

I also hope the headaches go away. I've had more stress headaches in the past few months than I have had in a long time. I used to get headaches like this in high school, then I went on Prozac and *poof* they disappeared. The Zoloft used to do the same thing.

Sigh..... I hate that my body gets used to medicine and its no longer effective. I know its normal, but its still depressing to have it stop working and all the lousy feelings return.

[Medusa]

Eating comfort food is probably actually what you need right now, except that I understand that you don't want to gain weight. However, it isn't called comfort food for nothing. If you're not enjoying it, it's probably because it's carb loaded and that will make you want to continue eating but you won't necessarily enjoy it. So don't be too hard on yourself.

As for Cymbalta, I've been told that people have experienced good results w/it, however, I'm not one of them. In the beginning, I'll admit that it did work but I was taking it for pain because it raises the serotonin levels in the brain, serotonin being our body's natural painkiller. I wasn't taking it for depression, so I was looking for results other than what you're looking for. After a couple of months, though, I began having severe stomach pains which would double me over and last for hours, so I had to stop taking it. That in itself brought on a whole new set of problems because I should've been weaned off it instead of going cold turkey but my dr. was out of town and his medical asst. instructed me wrongly. Don't let my experience w/it deter you from trying it. You asked, so I'm telling you my experience. You may have a totally different experience but it's always good to know the possible side effects. Also, be prepared for weight gain. I gained 9 lbs. in just a couple of weeks. A friend is also on it for pain and he said that he can't stop eating.

I sure do hope that you can soon live a relatively stress free life and not lose your hair from it all. Take care and know that my PT friends are always in my prayers.

[Craftlady]

Cymbalta, I was on it for less than a month. Gave me MAJOR diarreaha that would come on very suddenly. I tried taking it every other day, and I was on lowest dose. I took it for anixiety, dang diarreah was to much. Thank goodness dr gave me samples and I didnt have any $ invested. I quit taking it and didnt have any side effects from stopping it.
I know people who take it and have no problems. Good Luck.

[RockyRoad]

I know what you mean. I was very depressed through my first two years of high school (mostly due to excessive bullying and thus questioning my own self-worth), and I felt the same way you do.

I took Zoloft for about five months. I felt great at first, but then it began to cease working, even after upping the dosage. I stopped cold-turkey but never had any withdrawal symptoms. I tried Cymbalta afterwards, and it irritated my stomach. I was very nauseous and would get stomach pains. I only stayed on it for about a month. I tried Seroquel after that, and experienced the same effects. However, I have been taking Concerta for ADD, which drastically speeds up my heart rate and hightens anxiety, and was taking Zoloft/Cymbalta to calm my anxiety and panic attacks more than depression, and essentially balance out Concerta`s side effects. So, the effects could have been due to the mixing of the meds. And I have a sensitive stomach to begin with.

I hope Cymbalta works out for you, though. One of my close friends is on it and has not had any stomach problems, and she is happy with it. I`m sorry that you are feeling like this, so I hope that you are able to find something that works for you and can help you out. {{Hugs}}

[CathyBogart]

*Hugs* I've been having a lot of problems with depression lately too. I hope you're feeling better soon.

[jazzcat]

I don't anything about the drug just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you. (((HUGS)))