A bit trepidatious posting here again! I used to use this site 10-14 years ago. I wasn't very well :) now I'm a lot better and generally can be mistaken for a functioning adult in society. ;)
Despite functioning, I still have depression that can get pretty bad sometimes. It lasts for months, and the "functioning" part gets reduced to an outer shell with cracks seeping through. I want to do something about it, and have tried counselling a few times - including with a lady with whom I worked really well. She really helped, but it recurs so often despite her advice that I just wonder if taking antidepressants would help.
So what is one... supposed to do?! I'm in the UK, but I don't hear great things about NHS MH provision (due to underfunding), and don't actually want to go to an NHS GP frankly because of things from the past, and wanting privacy in my medical records. It's not completely impossible, but not my favourite. I'm lucky that I have some money now, plus the higher tier of medical insurance from my work, which includes mental health provision. Should I just call them? I realize this probably sounds like a silly question, but I'd love to know any thoughts.
Thank you so much everyone and hope you're feeling okay today,
thescientist
I think if private services are a feasible option for you, it's definitely worth exploring to ask about medication! Many GPs are able to prescribe antidepressants on their own without full mental health consults, at least in my country. I would guess it might be an option there too if you did decide to go the NHS route, though your concerns re NHS certainly sound valid.
Therapy can be a huge help, but if your depression keeps recurring, there absolutely could be a chemical component to it that medication could help. So I say yes, definitely worth exploring and phoning!
Please do not give me virtual hugs unless you are only using the hug function on threads. Thanks.
You can't always keep it separate.
This is happening, this is part of you.
I don't know much about the system in the UK. What kind of things are trigging the depression though? With the depression lasting for months medication could be really helpful.
Forget the risk and take the fall if it's what you want it's worth it all
Thank you both! That's a good point, about triggers. It tends to be work things, I guess, but nothing too specific and I feel like maybe the triggers are kind of nebulous. Like, the same thing could happen to me in summer and the next winter, and only in winter would it trigger a bad response (and yes, there's totally a seasonal aspect - but that's definitely not the whole story)!
I'm really glad you have both been able to support what I was thinking about medication. I had an online chat with the private doc, and she said now I can talk to an NHS GP and say that she too thinks medication would be a good idea (but it's better for NHS to prescribe because of limitations in the private route). I'm very glad I did it that way round though, because I feel I might not have had such a chance if I didn't have her support. That could just be my worries, or could be real. :) I will call them next week and keep you posted on here! Thank you so much :D
Would be worth getting a general MOT done, could you be low on vit D, B, etc could that be affecting your mood? Always helpful to rule out any deficiencies or underlying things to give yourself a level playing field when trying any new treatment options. I have an underlying condition that I must take vit D for and on the plus side its really helped my SAD the last couple of winters since I started taking it. Being mindful over things like nutrition and sleep and not taking on too much have also really had a huge impact. I still struggle with sleep but I generally know what to avoid so a bad night doesn't turn into a week or month of bad nights.
Hope that makes sense.
Mand x
Last edited by Mandimoo : 21-10-2021 at 11:37 PM.
Reason: Typo
Mand, South Wales, Full-time working, single mother to 2 scarily independent girls.
I AM A PROUD PLUMERIA SISTER
Wow wow wow thank you so much everybody. The private doc was really helpful and pretty much just agreed with what you guys had said, but they were unable to provide prescriptions that could be repeated (or something), so I then followed up with an NHS GP. She was way better than any other I've dealt with, and I think saying I'd talked to the private one helped a lot, unfortunately. Anyway she started me on sertraline, and wow. If I had known this would have such an effect I'd have started on it years ago. I still have glum days but I feel totally transformed. I regularly quantify my mood on a 1-5 scale, and there's been a clear change.
I was initially scared because after just a few days, the rushing thoughts that I thought were my intellect went quiet, which I don't remember ever happening before. Lots of people tell me that they can somehow tell I have a million thoughts at once, and I was scared that it would remove what makes me unique. But actually, I'm just as clever when the thoughts are more ordered. My aptitude to cope with complexity hasn't changed at all, but how I cope with people is vastly better as I am not panicking all the time. I think I'm much better.
I took a high dose of fluoxetine years ago, but I was such a mess I didn't even notice whether it had an effect or not. Maybe that put me off trying again, but it shouldn't have! I've actually been taking vit D too for a while on the advice of a biologist friend; can't hurt (in reasonable dose) and it's recommended for everyone in the UK.
I have been on sertraline for a few months. I am considering this a big win!
