Well I tried once again to take matters into my own hands but it didn't help. Once again I let this horrible disease set foot on my territory. I let it over take me.. I've tried everything to avoid it but not a chance. Yep my little friend named Depression in back. I've tried the walks I've tried the breathing exercises but nope it refused to leave. I've come to realize this is a medical condition I may have to live with for the rest of my life. Today I started back on antidepressants to control my anxiety attacks and depression. My doctor informed me if I don't continue them I am headed for a stroke. That's enough to scare anyone. He counselled me yes he did it was a good talk. Thank God some of us do have good doctors. I told him I avoided coming into his office because I thought it would pass. It only got worse. I feel like such a failure. http://www.diettalk.com/uub//frown.gif

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bougiej@hotmail.com

Ah Joanne we all need help sometimes in one area or another and if we need medicine to help us that's nothing to be ashamed of. I hope it helps and that you feel better soon.
((((Hugs)))) Babs :)

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Joanne, no way are you a failure - as you said, this is a medical condition, and is not something you can control. You have encouraged & inspired so many people here - I would call you an inspiration! Take the medication your dr. prescribed & it will get better.

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Diana

Sorry you are feeling depressed again Joanne. Hope you will feel better soon. Don't feel like a failure because you are NOT! It is a medical condition, don't let it get to your self esteem my friend!

Sending you lots of cyber hugs.

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~Keep trying! Keep losing!~
Massie

I am here for your Joanne. You have helped me with my problems recently, and are always there is anyone needs you.
I know how you feel about the depression, I keep thinking it is like something that will go away if we ignore it, but it doesn't. You have to do something about it, and most of the time that means taking medication.
Hubby is in the medical profession but he is very sceptical about depression unfortunately. He knows I have been on medication lots of times in the past 10 years, but to be honest I think he just thinks I am being miserable! If only.
We have to stick together in this and help eachother.
That has just given me a thought. I know there is a board for no depression, but how about a board for people to help eachother when they are depressed? Are you listening John? LOL
What do you think Joanne. Could we help eachother that way?
I am here for your buddy, just holler and I will be there.

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Baby

ICQ - 7052780

Thank God for medication :) You are NOT a failure, Joanne! It's just a challenge and you're gonna get through it cause you got a lot of people here that really care about you. Do you know anything about chemistry at all? I had a doctor explain it to me this way many moons ago. What I suffered from was a chemical imbalance in the brain causing these emotional disturbances. Medication changes your chemistry, just like taking a glass of water and adding say coffee...and then cream...and then sugar...and then salt...and whatever else you do to it, and the medication is like adding something that removes the salt...and then the sugar...and then the cream...and then the coffee...and takes you back to a simple glass of water. Unfortunately we have to keep adding stuff to our bodies that changes the chemistry so it takes a looooong time and possibly some changes in medication to resolve the imbalance. It took me two years to balance out and a lot of investigating to find out what it was that I was putting into my body that was throwing the balance off! I still have problems today, but it's not nearly as rough as it used to be, and mainly because I keep falling back into old patterns. There is a very good book out there called The Depression Workbook by E. Rosynthal (I think that's her name) that really helped me a LOT! Like a dummy, I loaned it out and it never came back...go figure! Anyway, you can do this challenge, Joanne, and come out of it ahead of the game. ICQ me anytime and I'll be happy to help any way I can :) I CARE ABOUT YOU so hang in there, girlfriend!

Hello,
We are here for you and don't worry you will be off the meds again. I also suffer from depression and it is scarey, but we are your cyber friends and we are here for you. :) :) GG

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We can achieve !

Dear Joanne,
You'd only be failing if you hadn't used your noggin and checked in with the old Doc. Whatever we have to do day to day to keep our collective sanity is necessary. Let's face it, we women are the glue that keep our families from disintegrating, often the mediators on our jobs, the vessels that hold in all those crazy chemicals and hormones God created us with and keep them from crashing helter skelter into our universe (do you think innocent men and children could handle that?). NO!!! We are the sole keepers of all this craziness and if we didn't maintain control of it all only God knows what our world would be like!!! While some of this is "tongue in cheek", all of us ladies realize that we are "specially" made and have to keep ourselves in check constantly. JOANNE--I've seen you be an inspiration and help to some many people!!! This too shall pass. Take your meds! Remember, the world needs you! :)

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Marilyn

Hi Joanne

Not much i can say that wasn't already said. But you will shake it as you have before. By what i see here in you. Is a very strong willed women you can take all those lbs. off.Now listen to your doctor and when the spring goes you'll shake those winter blues. So get better and we all need you here.

See you lighter

Linda

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We are all here for support Joanne. You are not a failure. Don't let it get to ya. Easier said than done huh. But always know you have so many friends here.
Take care of yourself, and email anytime if you want to talk.
Stacey

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Coming from someone who use to be on meds. for Postpartum Depression, it is worth taking it just to feel normal again. Depression runs in my family, so I have a doctor that, like yours, takes the time to talk to me about this. He was my mother's doctor and has been mine since I was in highschool. Some people have to be on meds for the rest of their lives and that is ok. It is better than the alternative of crashing into depression. Depression also tends to make you not care about what goes into your mouth because you feel hopeless, so the calories and pounds add on. I hope you're feeling better soon!

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Hi,
Get up and go to your library. Get some self help improvement books. Tony Robbins is great! He changed my life. I'm always improving myself. With all the bad things around, it is still a beautiful world.
Good Luck,
Sharon

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Dear Joanne,

This is a familiar road for me. Remember; it takes around 30 days to feel the effects after you start back on the anti-depressants, so try to be patient and treat yourself gently.

We care about you.
Hugs,
ThinLynn

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BLOOM WHERE YOU'RE PLANTED!

Joanne, first off, step over here and get you a big ol' yellow hug.....now, no more failure talk! This doesn't represent failure anymore than if you had say asthma or allergies or some other ailment that you DIDN'T ASK FOR AND DIDN'T CAUSE!! I take serzone everynight before bed, simply b/c I let my weight problems take my attitude and state of mind to h***. More people than you realize fight the same battle...I swear, I think it not only has a lot to do with chemical imbalance, but also with the fact that this is one hectic time that we're living in. The world moves fast today and it's easy for our "humaness" to get lost in the shuffle. Keep your chin up sweet--you've got a world of people in your corner!

GOOOO JACKETS!!!!! STING 'EM!!!!

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joanne

just popping in to see how you are?
no great words of wisdom from me(shocking huh?)
i think you've heard them all....
just wanted you to know i'm thinking of you and praying for you....
that you are important...and taking care of you is important for you and for those who love you....



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~*~hard to imagine the freedom we find in the things that are left behind~*~

3§ons
mythreesons@hotmail.com

Oh, sweetie, I know! Been there. Thank God for medicine. In the old days they would have called it "melancholy" and stuck us in a crazy house somewhere. Many of us are in the same boat. Someone explained it to me like this: we are trying to plug in a 3 pronged plug into a 2 pronged outlet. The meds give change the outlet so that we are all plugged in ok! It's NOT our fault, its just the way we were made. Until the meds kick in, hang in here with us. We all understand and we all love you and really appreciate every part of you: ALL OF IT! You are the best, Joanne! ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))

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Joni

Thanks everyone for your loving support. No better today than the days before but started meds this morning. Today I feel like a total zombie wandering but my body will get used to this I'm sure. I've started celexa and my doctor informed me it can take as long as 4 weeks to kick in..*groan...Thank GOD for my friends here. I was to the point where that *S word crossed my mind again. It got that bad. My hubby has been very supportive and trying to snap me out of this whenever he sees me getting down. Right now I feel as though things are moving in slow motion but I guess that is the medication. I hate feeling this way....Thanks everyone for your love and support here.

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bougiej@hotmail.com

I don't know what faith you fall upon but I am praying for you! Prayer saved my life. If ever you need a special friend just give a holler.
Tommi
kbsheart@hotmail.com

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IF you want the truth...ask a child.

Joanne, sounds like you've gotten some wonderful advice and everyone is right. Don't be so hard on yourself. I know lots of wonderful people that take meds like this and thank God they are available to people when they need them! Modern medicine is really miraculous sometimes! You can always vent to all of us..... we sure do it enough ourselves. I think talking about it really helps, so talk away when you need to. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers. Take care of yourself.

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Here's to healthy and happy!

Dj

Hi Joanne, Im new here but I just wanted to say that you are not a failure. My teenage son takes antidepressents and I think God for them everyday as without them I don't think we could have ever gotten it together.
He's not a failure either just hard on himself. So don't be so hard on yourself..if you were in pain you would take a pain pill wouldn't you? Hope things get better. Im sure they will..you have alot of support here. take care..

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Your Friend

Joanne-

So sorry to hear of your troubles. But like everyone else has said, you are no failure. I bet that if the truth were known, half the world is on anti-depressants (or should be LOL!) and there is no shame in that. I've been on them for about 8 years. It bugged me at first, I felt like a weirdo, but then I figured out how much it helps, and that I am not nearly the only one.

Go Prozac! Rah rah rah!

:-) Trynya/Jamie

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Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end......