Can you still be depressed if you have been on medication for years?
85885
Yes.  Have you got the right doctor?  The right medication?  The right counsellor?  The right diagnosis?\n\nEven with those things in place, it can be a long road.  It is really good to have trustworthy support in all of the above realms.  Good luck to you.  I'll be thinking of you.
585668
Well yes and no.  I think that it is a life time thing, but with the right meds and regular counseling I think you can "get over it".  But have to keep up on the meds or you relaps quickly.\n\nSo yes you can feel "normal" again and stay that way, but you have to stay on the meds to keep feeling "normal"
842738
No issues, as long as you find the right meds and keep taking them. I am bipolar and have been for 25+ years. I have been married 20 years and hold down a very high pressure job.
875152
Is it possible that you are bi-polar?\n\nI was on and off antidepressants many time over the years.  They never really seemed to work for me, though eventually my depressions lifted.  \n\nDuring my most recent (and most severe) depression, after two years of trying various antidepressants I went into a phase where my mind started working faster and faster.  I eventually realized what was going on and told my doctor that I suspected That I might be manic-depressive and that we were treating the wrong illness.
596398
Hi Honey,\n\nI too suffer from depression, and have now for about 17 years.  Recently I did something about it.  I stopped looking at it as a flaw I have in my personality and started looking at it as a flaw I have in my medical health.  I went to the doctor and let her put me on antidepressants and mood stablizers.  And guess what I discovered?  I'm not flawed and depression is not hopeless with no cure.  YOU CAN TREAT THE SYMPTOMS!  You have to let someone help you, please.  Go to the doctor explain whats wrong and let them give you medication.  My medication helps me alot: I can sleep now, I'm less worried about things, and every little thing doesn't just disrupt my life.  There is no magic pill that can make it all go away, but if you take your medication consistently and be patient some of your symptoms will be alieviated.  I'm living proof.
213607
Personally, I do think that. Some doctors advise depressed patients to excercise rather than prescribe anti-depressants, and sometimes anti-depressants don't even work and can have bad side effects and make you feel worse! If you are depressed you should learn to find happiness and resolve in yourself, not from a drug. If you trust a drug to bring you happiness then will you trust it to reach your own potential or trust yourself?
426279
Hi, \n\nI have suffered with depression my whole life & have been on medication since I was 17. I am now 28. I think you need to try & find a good therapist. Talking combined with medication is the only thing that truly works. Yes, being in love, doing sports, finding a hobby, etc can help, but these will not cure the problem. Maybe like me, you just have to accept that you may always suffer from this disease & just enjoy the times in between bouts of sadness. I keep a diary of he times when I am happy, then when I am down & feel like I am losing my mind, I can reassure myself. It helps in a small way.Whatever you choose, good luck.
891761
well, i feel like mine will never stop. i was on meds for years, then i was taken off of them, and now i feel as crazy and depressed as ever. it's a chemical imbalance in the brain, and that might not always be fixable. emotional depression is fixable, and chemical can be, but sometimes it's not. just the draw of the hand i guess.
652076
You absolutely do not have to suffer from chronic depression!  Antidepressant medications are a lot more sophisticated than they were years ago and have helped countless people regain their lives.\n\nTalk with a doctor and get a treatment plan started.  If your dr. won't listen to you then find another one.  Find one that will help you.  Get started TODAY.  If you had a broken foot you'd get medical help, right?  Depression is a medical condition...just like any other.\n\nAntidepressants usually take a couple weeks to kick in, although most people I know that are taking them say it didn't take that long.\n\nDon't believe that depression is something you just have to 'deal with'.  It isn't.  There is nothing wrong with seeking help and getting medication to make things better for yourself.\n\nGood luck!!!
853191
Why do you have depression? I mean, was it an onset from a truamatic event or chemical? That migth effect it. As for whether it is the meds or the job, let me just say this. It doesn't really matter how great your job is when you are depressed, because when you are depressed you can get the greatest things in the world and still be neutral and upset about it. While keeping your mind off depression is a good thing, i'm thinking that you are feeling better because of your medication. Also, please don't stop it now because you are starting to feel better. Some people stop when they feel better, then they just crash afterwards. If you aren't really happy right now then something is wrong in that anti depressants are supposed to help make you feel better, not just take away the edge. I would suggest talking to your doctor, he might increase the dosage or he might even switch you to a different drug so that you will get even better side effects (i've personally been switched from medication before for depression, it's just so they can find the best one for you). So yeah, give your doc a visit and see what he says.
1097119
Yes.\n\nSometimes your brain may send chemical signals that cause a feeling of depression.   Sometimes this is affected by environment or diet.  If the symtoms last longer than two months, see a doctor.
293199
When you start or go off an anti-depressant, you will have side effects.  Usually, the first 2-3 weeks when you start and it takes about that long to leave your system. The best thing to do is have someone to talk with like a friend, family member, or counselor.  Some anti-depressants will make you suicidal.  If you have any feelings of ending your life you need to talk to someone immediately.  Its not you, its the drugs.  Make sure to stay on the meds unless your doc takes you off.  If you don't like the one your on there are other kinds, just be honest with your doc.
970464
Yes you have symptoms of being depressed.  My son is exactly like you.  He is 14 years old and is ADHD.  He takes Conserta as well.  He also takes Wellbutrim for his depression.  He was always so very negative and unhappy.  Now with his Conserta and his antidepressant, he is much happier.  I think it helps him to bring more things into perspective for him.  He is also getting older and learning more how to control his temper, moods, etc...he is coping much better.  There is a future for you.  You gotta want it.  The world is not against you sweets...make your decision to make something of your life, use your meds to help you get there. Talk to your doctor and ask about an antidepressant.  Tell him or her how you are feeling, etc...this medicine is a great addition to my son's ADHD meds Conserta.  Be sure to talk to your parents and go see your doctor.  You can do this!  You have a future and I am gonna root for ya!  Take care kiddo!
1057493
Some do, some don't. I took all kinds of meds. It wasn't until I learned how to think properly that I started to get better. See my "Antidepressant That Works" webpage for my story: http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/AntidepressantThatWorks.html
343647
With a psychaitrist and medication. Medication was like a miracle. Within a few weeks I was happy and content and could deal with anything and especially the cause of my depression.\nIt's really hard to get over this alone. The problem is that your mind is playing tricks on you, and you have unbalanced chemistry in your brain. Medication helps balance that out. \nThe medicine that they have today is incredibly good, and works really well.
610933
Not all meds are chemically or physically addicting. Theres a stigma on mental health everybody thinks for some reason it can be fixed by god.. sooo don't worry about it.. if you are doing better that's all that matters. It's very likely someday you will no longer need medication.
947407
I disagree, with the response there already.  Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.  Not always the issues in your life (with some exceptions)   It is hereditary, which proves it is in your physiology!   My sister has depression, has gone through many hospitalizations.  She finally qualified for social security, she is disabled and unable to work.   That release of the stress of worrying about work and money has helped her tremendously. It was a cycle of stressing about money and getting sicker.  She is so much better now.  And can still work, because there are ways to work when you can and still qualify.   Medication is an issue even if you don't want to discuss it.   You will probably have to go through a lot of them before finding the one that works for you.   And not worrying about work helps you through that process.   AND you will be denied probably at least two times before being accepted.  It just works that way.   I am a family advocate for children with mental health needs so I do know my way around the mental health system.  Good luck!