The Black Dog Gang

I think I've heard this idea of feeling better before a doctors appointment. It's strange isn't it?

Well done Miss A on the hair appointment. You can always get some wash out sprays if you want some colour.

Been on medication for 6 weeks now and am feeling more positive. I've been tracking all the comments on this thread and it's amazing how many people are in the same boat. This time of year is very depressing for people with Sad especially when they live in the North of the country where daylight is in short supply. I also read the piece in the paper about horror stories relating to addiction to anti depressants. It was very scary but will take it with a pinch of salt!! Not going to stop taking citalopram Maybe one day but not yet!

Anti-depressants are categorically NOT addictive. If you stop taking them, the depressive symptoms may return, but you do not get withdrawal symptoms in the same way as you do with tranquilizers and sleeping tablets. If you stop taking them suddenly, then you might, but you should slowly reduce the dose on the advice of your GP. Ignore what the Press say, Doris19, the information above is from the book written by a Consultant Psychiatrist and he knows his stuff

Good morning, all bit of a tricky weekend emotions wise for no particular reason. Feeling guilty for feeling low this morning feeling much more settled which is good.Will keep myself busy to keep the dog at bay.

Thinking of you Wildrose24, just do what you can to get through today, the low feeling might lighten and you may feel better as the day goes on. You are not alone, best wishes to all who are feeling down, it will pass, tomorrow is another day. xx

is anybody based in the North West of England.....which I know is a big area!

Have been dipping into this occasionally...it's a good thing to be able to talk about feelings.wouldnt say am depressed..but anxiety is really getting me down now..my mojo is disappearing, energy levels slumping, everything seems like a huge task just now..lot of 'stuff'' going on that I can't cope with..
I live in the Northwest oldbatty..but as you say it's a large area..

A ps here..also hope Hellsgrandad is ok...he seems to be the only male posting on here.....

Winter blues are decending , roll on March.

I will join too! The black dog is away at the moment, but tends to turn up uninvited

He really shouldn't be an indoor pet. Far better outside in his kennel.

oldbatty I am in North West also.

Anyone in Essex or Hertfordshire....?

Mystical Unicorn - Hertfordshire but wrong side for Essex border!!

Better day yesterday decided to break day into chunks to make small achievements for example planning what to eat and cooking it attending my craft class seemed to work will try to make a journal to write achievements down.Coffee planned for this morning with a very calming and objective friend.Tomorrow and Friday work days am hoping to change direction in work take my works pension although only 56 trouble is Black Dog runs around my thoughts in circles when I am trying to make decisions.

Mysticalunicorn. We are almost in Essex and meet in Wanstead close to the start of the M11. We have a meet up on Thursday 18th. Would love to see you!

I'm in Essex.

Wildrose, I believe there is a lot of hard evidence that supports your plan of breaking things down and ticking off things. Apparently the brain likes ticking and achieving and it is firing up connections in your brain.

Ive re read Depressive Illness by Dr. Tim Cantopher. Its readable and makes a lot of sense to me.

I also read the newspaper article about the severe withdrawal symptoms many suffer when trying to come off anti-depressants. It made very convincing reading. There was also an article a few days later by Sarah Gove describing the dreadful time she is having trying to get off the things.

The main point made was that when people try to come off the pills, they then feel bad because the withdrawal effects are very unpleasant. They are then told by the GP that the depression has come back, so back on the ADs they go, sometimes for years.

My main concern with these pills is the fact that they are based on the premise that depression is caused by a 'chemical imbalance in the brain'.

This theory has never been conclusively proven, but of course the pharmaceutical companies want us to believe it as these drugs are enormously lucrative for them.

I fully understand that it must be very tempting when feeling very down, to think that some pill or other will make everything fine again, but surely it's important for doctors to make patients aware of what may lie ahead when they try to stop the medication ?

You are not " on" antidepressants. It is an informed choice made with support. Since they take some time to enter the body, I presume it takes some times to leave.

I find you comments about feeling down to show a complete lack of understanding of this vile illness. A pill does not make everything right again, it enables us to live our lives.

I quote from Dr Tim Cantopher ( consultant psychiatrist)who presumably knows more than some woman in the Daily Mail.

"An addictive drug is one which causes withdrawal symptoms on stopping. But it also loses its effect over time unless the dose is escalated and it causes the person taking it to crave more of it. Antidepressant drugs don't have these properties"

I disagree with anti depression medication being given for grief, grief is not a mental illness, it is not depression.

Most definitely when Prozac became the new cure all people suffered withdrawal when stopping it.

A GP is the person who is qualified and knows what he/she is doing.

We wouldn't advise a diabetic to tough it out .

I haven't had any severe withdrawal symptoms, and I have been lax (yes, I know!) about taking my anti depressants.
I think the idea that they're such a swine to stop is ridiculous.
It does a huge disservice to people who are down, whatever the reason.