Anyone else on Antidepressants?

First off, don't feel like a failure! I started taking Paxil and Xanax years ago, and it has helped tremendously. I still have bad days, but not like before. Good luck to you! Blessings, Julie

Many of us Crohnies develop anxiety and depression due to this horrid disease. We have a wonderful anxiety/panic forum here on healing well, and many Crohnies are part of this forum also. No need to feel like a failure, you aren't the only one this dd is kicking their butts spiritually.

Gentle Hugs,
Gail *Nanners*

Jenn77 you are not a failure   I am on 20mg of Citalopram(Celexa) because the anxiety and depression I have was getting worse. I couldn't stop thinking about really dark thoughts about my illness(life too) and would cry at any moment. I was just like you not feeling like myself and not enjoying life(or my favorite hobbies). I started buying happiness(from food to jewelary). I was also drinking even though it makes my stomach hurt. My sleep has been interrupted since 2003 because of it(normal for me stay woke over a day).  When it snowed a few weeks ago(I'm from south Louisiana) I couldn't get out of bed to enjoy it with nieces and nephews because I was so depressed  I forced myself when it started melting, but it wasn't the same because the kids was already in the house.  I have only been on the meds since last Tuesday but I notice a difference. Finding this website and telling my family made feel better too. My doctor told me to call her in a month about how I am dealing. So I would give an update about my situation in three weeks. I am sending happy thoughts your way. Happy holidays.  

hi! hang in there! i think we've all been in your place...I take Xanax as needed- which lately has been quite often with my longest flare ever, getting laid off, finding out my house is worth $300,000 less than i paid a year and a half ago and just having to put one of our dogs down...oh well- new year will be here soon-- hopefully a better one for all of us!!!! take care!

Jen
I used to be a professional football player, had Crohns through my career, and it really flared up afterward.
I always felt that I was extremely strong, but after my first surgery, I ended up with some stricturing around the incision area,
Also because to bleed extensively from what the doctors later found was a polyp in the SB.
I think the bleeeding put me over the top.
I went on Lexapro about 9 months ago,
Before then I would sleep 3 hours a night, and have severe panic attacks.
I now sleep much better, and my panic attacks have been extremely few and far bewteen.
I Am a big strong person, but have realized that I cannot fight crohns by myself,
It takes everything out of you, mind body and spirit.
So I do not see it as a failure to want to feel better.
Feel proud that you realized you needed help and got it.
Most people slip too deep before they realize that they need help

Jen
please know that you are not alone. this is such a tough disease, and the symptoms (diarrhea, pain, fatigue) can be embarrasing and take such a toll on one's self esteem. i am also on antidepressant- who wouldn't be with this dd. know that it is not a sign of failure- it is a biochemical reaction to something beyond your control. there is no way to "tough out" depression, just as there is no way to tough out crohn's. there has to be a special place in heaven for those of us with crohn's because we sure have had our hell here on earth!
h

Don't feel like a failure for wanting to get your life back..
There is an unnecessary stigma surrounding the usage of anti-depressants when they can really help. It's simply restoring a chemical imbalance. If I'm not mistaken it has a lot to do with the release of seratonin which can help significantly in improving your mood, and, in some cases, your stomach. I've been reading a lot of Rubin's book and he explains in depth about their effects, how some might cause constipation if anything, but that they also bring some gastrointestinal relief due to the strong links with the brain, gut, and general mood. Stress obviously makes things worse(and I doubt most of us even need be told this) which creates that vicious cycle of decreasing quality of health and life creating more stress. Restoring some of the imbalance helps some people...
In any case, I think you should do what you can to make things better. You deserve so much more than the terrible feelings depression brings..none of us need to feel hopeless.

It's not that I trust him completely, but based on what I've been studying at school and some of the things he has said I can agree on different points. I don't believe everything that he says(I'm pretty skeptical of most anything..) but I do believe there is something to it nonetheless.
My biopsychology had a lot to say on the effects of seratonin as well but it's difficult to cite her when no one would know her anyway...

Jenn,

I have been where you are;  worrier, depressed, feeling like you are the only one who feels that way...  I went on Lexapro 6 years ago, I was 32 then.  I wish I had been put on it when I was a teenager!!!!   I would have handled life so  much better.   I am often way too full of pride adn thought I was handling things very well, until a day or a moment came and I snapped.  Then it all came crashing down adn I realized that I wasn't handling it well at all adn I wasn't like a normal person should be.  My brain was different.  I thought everyone had an opinion about me and that they were judging me.  The lexapro seemed to make all those absurd thoughts disappear.  I will occasionally have a bout with depression, but it is only 10% what it use to be and last a few days instead of a few weeks or months.  I think when you are in constant pain it can really bring you down a level.  Getting good rest instead of my brain churning all night really helps.  God Bless you and hope you get the same wonderful results from lexapro that I did.  It took about 6 months to regain my libido.  Being a healthy minded person was well worth it.

Jennifer.