Don't know what to do

Hi all,

I feel at a loss. I don't know what is left for me here. I've suffering with depression for many years, but only been getting treatment for just under a year. I've tried citalopram and sertraline and these didn't work. Ive been on Mirtazapine for several months, I'm currently on 45mg, but I still feel down, constantly it seems. I'm avoiding friends in favour of spending time alone, often drinking. I've got a new job which, by all accounts, is going well, I'm working hard and impressing with new ideas, but I don't want to go in. I phoned in sick today and I'm dreading going in tomorrow. I can't cope anymore. I'm struggling to aford my therapist, and I'm not even sure it is working.

What else can I do? Does anyone know of anything that could help? I fear if something doesn't change then I will just give up completely.

Hi there, sorry to hear about your Depression. For treating Clinical depression, often it is best to have Psychotherapy, along with taking medication. This is often the best outcome for people who have been struggling with Depression for a long time. Does your "therapist" as you refer to him/her just prescribe you medication? Or do you do talk therapy as well? Also, not sure about what insurance you have, if any, however most plans will cover a set amount of sessions per year. Also, a type of therapy called Cognitive/Behavioral therapy can often be done in as little as 10-16 sessions, and is one of the most effective & successful therapies for treating Depression. It works great in combination with psych medication or on its own. It is covered by almost all insurance companies, and is also cost-effective if you have to pay out of pocket, since it is usually completed in a fixed/limited amount of sessions. You might want to look into finding a therapist who does this type of therapy.

Take good care, and good luck!
-Dan.

Not all medicines work for everyone. It could be that you haven't found one that works for you yet.

Don't give up!

I know how you feel. I've been on and off different antidepressants for so long (some give me migraines) but they still haven't found one that works for me (this is 4 years after being diagnosed already) Keep at it - and remember all anti-depressants take 6 weeks to start working (6 weeks seem long when you have all these negative thoughts, doesn't it?)

Stay strong and good luck!