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Is it a relapse or am I still depressed?

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Posted 9/25/2017 9:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

I was recently struck with depression and anxiety just over 6 weeks ago. And since then i keep dipping in and out of depression. First one lasted 3 weeks, then I came out of it feeling great. 2 weeks later it started again. I then had another horrible 9 days. Over the weekend I felt it going again, but now monday has arrived I can feel myself deteriorating.. Do you think its likely that im still depressed or that i just keep having relapses? I'm really struggling..
Posted 9/25/2017 11:57 AM (GMT 0)
Are you taking anything for depression? When did you start taking something if you are? There are many variables to this. What you are doing that could be making you relapse... Or what situation is causing this?

I wouldn't be so concerned if it is a relapse or something new, it is happening and you need to do something about it. Are you going to any therapy? Therapy and medication help a lot. As does mindfulness and meditation.

I hope you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 9/25/2017 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
I tried sertraline last week but it gave me diarrhea, felt sick and insomnia along with intrusive thoughts all night. I came off immediately and am now on mirtazapine although the thoughts still linger.. however im not getting anxiety as much.

Im getting a consultation on wednsday for cbt. Im just getting tired now as every setback causes me to believe im declining instead of recovering. Different things are happening even now and its been over 6 weeks since this started. Just when I thought I understood it, something else happens which scares me.

Post Edited (Ox123) : 9/25/2017 6:49:08 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/25/2017 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Depression can be like that. It can also be a result of brain chemistry and not always an event that triggers it.

I am glad you are trying to fight it. I got diarrhea from sertraline too. I found I do better with SNRI's than I do with SSRI's. Less side effects anyway for me.

Keep up with the consultation and counseling. It can help a lot!!! I still go every three months and have been going for years. Use to be weekly. Mostly I go to check in now, and to continue medications. It took years, but I think I finally got there and I feel a lot better than I use to.

I wish you the best. Just don't give up. It is difficult at times but worth the work. I hope that the mirtazapine works for you.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 9/29/2017 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ox

You sound a bit like me when I first started with anxiety and depression. I would get so down when I slipped backwards and wasnt feeling as good. Just know that up and downs are normal in recovery, and it doesn't always feel like the 2 steps forward, 1 step back, 2 steps forwards, sometimes it feels like 2 forward, 2 back, 3 forward, 4 back lol.

For me it's been a long term recovery and still ongoing but I have many other problems complicating it for me. One thing that really helped me though was to stop being so focused on getting better and starting to focus on just living my life and making some progress there. It started as simple things like, watch a movie and enjoy it, maybe go 10 minutes without thinking negative thoughts while Im watching it. I try not to think of the down periods as "Im not getting better, Im getting worse, I'll never get better" which is what constantly went (and still does) go through my mind, and started to just view it as "oh great, here is another crappy week to get through" Because you will pick up again and feel better.

Given the short time frame, I would think of it as all part of one illness and recovery rather than relapses. If you feel that you aren't making progress then talk it over with your doctor. There's no point worrying about it excessively yourself but it's also important that you make sure you are moving in the right direction and having a professional that can oversee it is important in giving you that support and comfort that even if things arent getting better right now, in the long term you are on the right track.
Posted 10/12/2017 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply andy. Apologies on the late reply, I've just had a 2 week spell of feeling great so didnt want to revisit here during that period.

Yeah its all very new to me. 90% of the people on here seem to be long term suffers. For me Im only 2 months into it so every setback is a crippling blow.

I keep trying to diagnose my illness and so far i seem to fit into the recurent brief depression catagory. The information that comes with it doesnt really give much an insight though.

And yes focusing on short periods of actively thinking positively does really help.

One major thing Ive noticed is that during a depressive episode, I've managed to suddenly spring out of it. This has usually been in a social situation where I have been forced to put a brave face on and not self loath. It doesnt always work but at the end of my cycles sometimes its enough to revert me back into recovery.
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