Hi I'm new here

Hello Everyone,

 

My name is Dan...I'm new here but I have been living with severe depression for many years now...I blame a combination of bad things for my problem: genetics, bad childhood experiences and drug and alcohol abuse when I was in my teens and twenties...I stopped partying when I was 27...I am now 42 and I have been on different anti-depressant medications since 1993...my doctor says I will most likely be on antidepressants for the rest of my life.

 

I have tried to quit medication many times; however I spiral very rapidly without them...without medication I can not focus or function...especially at work.

 

Anyway I have been reading a lot of threads here and have noticed that a majority of you are woman?

 

I feel for you my sisters and I hope to become friends with you all, but I was wondering if there are any men on this forum that have been long time depression fighters or who are new to the disease "Not that I don't like the ladies"   

 

I have been on Effexor now for about 16 months now, but I think it may be fizzling out now.

 

Regards

Dan

 

Dan, wanted to add my welcome and let you know that there are some men here. I think the biggest reason that men are fewer in numbers is the societal preception that we need to be tough, can't show are feelings, and sure as heck can't talk about them. Again, welcome and I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

Thank you for the warm welcome eveyone.

I have a few hobbies that lead me to other forums...I spend a lot of time at some them...I wish I would have thought about searching for this one sooner.

Anyway I think I'm really going to like this forum...I hope I can contribute every now and then as well.

Happy Wedensday

bluemeanies said...
Hi Papa Bear,

Alas, I too am a woman but I wanted to welcome you. I've been on anti-depressants for about 20 years and will most likely be on them for life too. What kind of hobbies?

Hi bluemeanies,

Thanks for the welcome...so you may be a lifer well...not that I think that is cool but I was beginning to think I was the only one...Do you ever wish that modern medicine could just hit a reset button on our brains and we still retain all the important data needed to live.

I sure do

Anyway my hobbies are mountain biking (In Chicago ) and guitar (s)...I have them all over the house...I guess that is another sickness I can't shake

Have you been on these meds yet?

Zoloft

Celexa

Welbutrin (I was out of my mind on Welbutrin)

Effexxor

Zoloft and Celexa fizzled out...I'm now on Effexor 225mg a day.

Dan

 

atedogs said...
I too am a woman but your story reads like mine except I'm a tad older than you, I personally enjoy the mans perspective of things on this site and I think your write cheerdad it's a macho thing, oh well, they don't know what they are missing.

Yes i've been on zoloft made me stomach sick, Celexa, made me fat and effected libido, I am currently on Wellbutrin and effexor and still waiting for full effects it's only been 5 weeks and still alittle wishy washy.

Your biking should help with your depression they say excercise is one of the best things to do although I'm usually to depressed to get up and excercise.

Welcome

I use to not share my health problem (s) "macho" because of the stigma that comes with being diagnosed with depression...One good thing about getting older is that you don't care nearly as much on how people perceive you as when you are younger...now its like @%$^ it...besides I have a pretty good job and I definitely don't need to prove anything to anyone.

 

Yeah exercise is great; especially for people like you and I...its getting started and getting into a routine that is the hard part...my problem is I can not stand the cold weather like I use to...January, February and March are tought for me...when the weather is nice I only come inside to eat sleep and bath.

 

Zoloft was my first therapy medication and I truly believe it saved my life...I had reached my wits end at that time...the only draw back of Zoloft was the sexual one...my girlfriend back then must have really loved me to have put up with that.

 

I put on an extra ten pounds while on Celexa...it worked well for me as far as me being able to focus and function "keep from losing my job" but I always felt as though I was sedated and the sexual side affects were bad for me.

 

I started taking Effexxor without even reading up on it...if I had put more though and read up on Effexxor I probably would have never agreed to take it...my fear is that if indeed this medication fizzles out as the others did, I will go through a tough time weaning off it.

 

Thank you for the reply atedogs

 

Tomorrow is Friday...whoohoo   

  

Papa Bear, 

We have the med thing in common.  I was on Zoloft for about 3 years at 200mg and it just stopped working for me.  I weened off of that and went to Luvox which was great but I started to have problems with my heart and had to have a pacemaker in-plant.  So, the Luvox was switched to Effexor XR.  I have a big problem with low blood pressure and my doctor thought that the Effexor would help bring it up.  Anyway I also take 225mg of it and feel pretty great mentally at least.  I also believe that the medication has saved my life and brought me back to a normal quality of life. 

I too worry about have to ween off the Effexor as I have read horror stories about it.  Do you have any bouts of anger since taking it?  Sometimes I seem to get angry over things that would not normally bother me.  My Psychiatrist said that he has heard of this as the Effexor works differently than the other antidepressants but I haven't seen anyone mention it before.

Hey All - I couldn't help but join in on a happier post since it has been a long week and I'm so glad that its Friday. I've been through the whole spectrum with Effexor and was glad to see that there are few others who had success. Truth be told, it was a pain in the butt to get off, but it was also my saving grace. I too believe that it saved my life, or at least the quality of my life - it was the first med that I tried and I was lucky to respond well. When people worry about the discontinuation, I try to remember to point out how awful the depression is and if the Effexor can offer some relief for the depression, than some temporary unpleasantness might not be the end of the world when you stop taking it. I know that for me - offered the choice - live with the depression or take the effexor, the meds win out everytime ;)

Papa Bear said...

...One good thing about getting older is that you don't care nearly as much on how people perceive you as when you are younger...now its like @%$^ it...besides I have a pretty good job and I definitely don't need to prove anything to anyone.

And Papa Bear, I couldn't agree more. I had to laugh since my Dad and I were diagnosed with depression at the same time, but the 30 years he had on me turned him into a real life motivational poster for mental health. He's so positive and upbeat about the whole thing and I'm so proud that he's not afraid to be honest about his health. He doesn't force it on anyone, but he tells it like it is.

Thanks for the smiles, and PB, I'm a gal too, hopefully we'll find some more guys to hang around here,

Putter

Good choice of music. I like The Grateful Dead, The Allman Bothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Little Feat, Eric Clapton, Donna The Buffalo...etc. I always have preferred to camp in the company of trees not people so the campground thing doesn't work for me. I sure do miss camping though. I took piano as a child but never got to play what I wanted and lost interest in it. I guess 43 isn't too old to take it up now but I don't have a piano or space for one right now. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

haha...papa bear...I myself am a guitarist, been playing around 5 years. I know EXACTLY what you mean about not wanting to pick it up if your not "right in your mind"...my first real depressive episode i didnt want to play or do anything...that really scared me.

Hey, Papa Bear,
I am a 41 yr old male who is also an ax slinger...until the Mrs helped take that away.
I also used to be on Effexor 225 mg but have weaned off for about 6 months now.
I am back to my normal dysthymic self and I've never felt better.
I have tried to pick up the guitar again but I usually only get frustrated these days.
If you wanna hammer stuff out, I'm here.