Hi y'all

I'm new to this forum and wanted to introduce myself. I was diagnosed with mild depression about 15 years ago and started on Zoloft. I LOVED Zoloft and didn't have any bad side effects. Once I started feeling better I realized that I had been depressed all of my life and had figured that was normal. Zoloft worked well for many years, then it didn't -- I don't know why. I've tried other meds and nothing worked like Zoloft, no matter the strength. So last November I figured I'd wean myself off the Lexapro I was taking since I wasn't feeling that great and was using coffee & chocolate to feel better. Plus, insomnia started and when my doctor said that was a common side effect I figured that maybe I could go w/o it. So I weaned myself off and haven't been taking any medication for depression.

Unfortunately, I'm not doing well -- easily irritable, no energy, some days I feel hopeless and just want to stay in bed. I couldn't go on like this anymore, so I have an appointment with the Clinical Nurse of a local Psychiatrist to get back on some kind of medication. I'm really disappointed as I was hoping I wouldn't need it anymore, and I sure don't want the insomnia to return. Kind of feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place right now.

I'm hoping sharing with y'all will help, and being part of a group that "gets it".

Hello Getting By and thank you for your response. Yes, my doctor tried a lot of things over the years -- different drugs and higher doses. I'm feeling like nothing will work for me like Zoloft did that first time, but I also know that I'm in God's hands and He has a plan for me. (Sometimes I just wish He would hurry up tho! LOL)

Thank you for the link -- I'll check it out.

Miss Tradgedy, I was diagnosed while myself, my husband and son (who was about 10 at the time) were in family counseling. I continued to meet privately with the counselor and she said she thought I was depressed and would I try meds. At first I said no, but she gently asked me again at a later time and then I agreed. I then met with a Psychiatrist in that office and he put me on Zoloft.

Feeling sad is a whole lot different than being depressed, I think. For me depression meant feeling hopeless at times, negative thoughts or hardly any thoughts, no energy or desire to do anything other than watch TV. (I still LOVE TV!)

I didn't realize that I was depressed until after I started on Zoloft and felt how good I could feel. It amazed me. But, I have found at times that if I combine chocolate and sugar (especially later in the day) it's like a switch is flipped in my brain and I have energy, lots of positive thoughts and my future feels good! I've told every doctor I've ever seen about this, and they have nothing to say. LOL I just wish I could find a medication that made me feel that good ALL the time!

As far as feeling hopeless and having no energy or desire to do things being part of being a teenager, I don't know as I'm not a doctor. But I know that I felt that way most, if not all the time as a teen. Plus, I grew up in a home with 2 alcoholic parents and that had it's own dynamics. But, counseling over the years and going to self help groups and reading helped me tremendously.

When I grew up we didn't have the Internet, so you are very blessed to have access to a lot of resources without even leaving your home.