Depending on the med and how recent the change, maybe you should contact
your doctor, the med might not be working for you. Some meds just don't
work for some people. And some meds can take a few weeks to actually
kick in.

I hope you feel better soon, it is a miserable way to feel, I am glad
you are coming on here though, lots of good people to talk to and hang
out with. Take care.

The new med is Effexor xr and I've been taking it for about three
weeks, has helped some but I stay sleepy, not hungry (a really good
thing)and pretty much listless.
It really is good knowing a place to go to without being judged on such
things or if you are???? it's different, I'm not trying to
.................
Guess everyone understands anyway, hope so and continue on..

I took that once, but didn't agree with me. Think after 3 weeks you
should be feeling better, my personal opinion is to give your Dr. a call
and ask if you should give it more time, need a different dose or maybe
try something else. Again, just a personal opinion from someone who has
tried many of the meds. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

I have depression. I have had depression for going on two years. My
depression was because of an operation.

Depression runs in my family. I would say that most of my mother's
family has depression. My mother has it very badly.

Anyway, this isn't about my family. My doctor put me on medication to
help the depression. I take 300mg of Effexor every morning.
There are some days when I feel like it doesn't help, but most of the
time, I am much happier than I was.

Hopefully this helps. If you need more information about my depression,
I will be happy to share. Just not very good about talking about it.

Stay happy, everyone!!!

Good evening all...I suffer from moderate manic depression...otherwise
known as bi-polar disorder. Sometimes it does feel like I'm the only
one dealing with this...I'm glad to find a group where I can come
discuss issues and talk to others with similar problems.

How do you guys do it? I mean pay for Dr. consultation or treatment of
ANY kind. I've gotten so low now that I can't imagine EVER getting any
better. I've lost almost everything many times and recovered only with
superhuman effort and great sacrifice of irreplaceable resource. I
really don't think I can make it this time. I don't use drugs or drink.
I am smart, creative, have a professional demeanor, huge variety of
experience, a masters degree, am honest, fit, and easy on the eyes. WHY
THE HELL WON'T ANYONE HIRE ME. Government entities don't help. Family?
Now thats a Neitchean tragedy. It's absolutely absurd that someone with
my level of tenacity should be absolutely (and seemingly irrevocably)
broke, alone, and lost. Someone please say something that might help me
find a reason to want to take another breath.

my cousin has a dog. she's had thoughts of suicide, which were
immediately followed by, "but what would happen to cordy?" if you feel
like life is meaningless, you have to find something that gives your
life meaning. why not forget about the job for a while? go volunteer at
a nursing home, or soup kitchen. maybe get hardcore and join the peace
corps. maybe helping others will make you feel more in control.

The thoughts that keep me above ground are my kids. I don't know what
they would do without me, and it would devestate them if i was to do
something silly. So, they are my rock in this life.
I get bad spells of depression. sometimes to the point where i don't get
out of bed. It is very hard sometimes. But you have to find something
that makes you feel like you have a purpose in life.
Good Luck. I know you will find it.
And stay happy.

i know how bad it can get. not wanting to get out of bed or shower move
even! bipolar is a disease,. people cant just shake it of or snap oout
of it deep depression doesnt always go away! 8 years for me lost my
husband to another. my step kids with him. lotsof friends . a friend
thought this may be an answer. talking or typing. the last 2 weeks have
been the worst ist not getting better and im on my way to the hospital
if the meds dont work!!!! plz people be nice

Bright - do you have a therapist or doctor you follow with regularly? I
don't know if you are on meds or not. I know bipolar is a hard one,
hard to treat and hard to regulate. I deal with depression a lot, but
luckily not bipolar. I am happy to talk to you if you want, I came on
here to make friends and would like to be your friend. But if you need
meds and they are not the right ones or aren't working, then a trip to
the doctor is in order. It can take time to find the right med to work.
I do believe that talking to people helps too, and believe that being in
therapy is a lot of help.

Take care and write me if you want to talk.

First off- you are all sooo right in that bipolar is extremely difficult
to treat and not all treatments work for everyone. I'm currently on two
medications that do not completely work for me...but I refuse to do more
testing. I am tired of being a lab rat! I did seven months of therapy
and then my insurance deemed it time to stop paying. I can start again
now if I want (seven months per year is allowed). I can't stand some of
the highs and lows I still experience. There are still days that I have
to force myself to wake up in the morning and force myself to put the
pill bottles down.

Second- My rock(s) in my life right now are my sisters. I know they
could live without me but they are so depressed themselves that I know
that if I took my life, they would take theirs...and my father could not
handle losing three of his 9 kids all at once. I love my dad too much
to do that to him.

hang in there sweetie. if you're not going to take your meds, please
keep talking to someone, whether it's us or a shrink, or your sisters.
and maybe later, when you feel less like a lab rat, at least consider
trying to find a medication that works. meds work, counseling works, but
the best treatment is both. we'll always be here to listen, especially
me. i had a friend who was bipolar, and unfortunately, it was too much
for her, and she took her own life. i only have moderate depression, and
i really don't know you, but i care a lot about everyone in this forum,
and anybody who needs it can talk to me whenever they need it. much
love.

Yea depression really sucks. It comes and goes with me. I find the
best way for me to relieve the depression is to motovate myself and do
things wich make happy. It is hard to break it at times. Kinda like not
wanting to excersize becouse you'r too tired. Just gotta break the
habbit.
Winter is a hard time to break depresion,Hang and have fun with
family,you'r children. and friends. they will allways bring up you'r
spirits.

Mes61 - I wish I had the answer for you. First on the paying for it
part. Don't know your circumstances or where you live exactly, but if
you are in a rural area, there are federal grants that give money to
rural hospitals and mental health agencies that allow them to use a
sliding fee scale and adjust their fees for services according to their
income and the size of their families and many people can be seen for
little or no cost. And if you need meds and have little income, drug
companies have "needy drug programs" where you can get your drugs for
free directly from the companies. If they don't have sliding fee, I
would go to a mental health clinic and talk to them and ask about a
payment plan of some sort and explain the situation.

As far as the work situation, I don't understand it either. I
understand your needing a job, but could you try volunteering somewhere
to get your foot in the door and maybe work into a job that way?? They
would get to know you, see you work and that you can do the job, and
would be a good way to start. I have been where you are and started
from the bottom when I got divorced with a 5 y/o to raise, was a while
ago, then started over when I came over here to support my folks and had
to find a new job. I would just tell you not to give up and keep
trying, there is something out there for you, just have to keep going
until you find the right fit. I would be happy to talk to you if you
want to e-mail me, I am on every night. I wish I had some other ideas.

((((entire forum)))))

i just want you to know. i did go to er and 24 hours later my dr
started another med i am home hoping and praying it will work! i bet
help threw county health clinics. and the med companies or calls to
family services. there are many ways to get help dont give up. i didnt
give up i just needed someone to listen and the hospital er does for me.
bipolar2 yes i am thanks to all the advice and reactions.! love to all

brighteyes, you made my week!

Glad to hear that Bright, that is what the ER is for. I am so glad you
went. I personally know the majority of the docs and nurses in our ER
here and they do care about people and want to help. I am glad you went
and hope the med helps soon.

Take care and keep us posted. There are services out there, people just
have to take the time to seek them out and it can be a frustrating
process, so some just give up.

morebass

yes it seems that there are a few people who also share this crappy
thing called depression that i too can share about see my father my best
friend was killed on fathers day of 05 and it pains me everyday still
the depression is greater than i couldve ever imagined never thought he
would go i always told him when he got old i was going to preserve him
but some asshole took him from me and i cant let that go i know im
probably going to get feed back on how hard it is or something to the
affect of letting it go cuz thats what a lot of my friends say now but
our relationship was so different than most he was my world my protector
best friend and father sure theres grief counciling but im not there in
my grief yet i hope everyone the best on working through there
depression but i myself just drink it away

nobody here is going to tell you to get over it. we all know how hard it
is to get over something like this. however, i do think we would all
encourage you to try to find a healthier way to deal with your feelings
than drink them away. we're here to listen and support you as much as we
can.