Depression-A Living Struggle
I have been living with severe depression now since being diagnosed back in 2003. Just like many people, I never ever would have expected to get this very serious and debilitating illness. My life seemed to be on an even keel, or so I thought? It seemed to me at the time, before I was diagnosed, when I had a decent job, a nice place to live and had friends too, that nothing could ever get in the way of this. The good life that I once knew had now developed into a total nightmare. Over a very short period of time I lost my job. After this had happened, everything just started to fall apart. For a while I did not know how I was going to carry on?
When I was diagnosed by my doctor, he did prescribe me some anti-depressants. He started me on some Citalopram at 20mg; a small dosage to start with, Throughout the course of my depression I was prescribed other anti-depressants. These were Fluoxetine, Mirtazapine and even some Lithium. For a couple of years or so I stuck to taking the medicine, but after that I gave the medication a break. I did not feel as though I was getting any better; in fact I did feel as though I was becoming much worse. Everything was spiralling out of control. From one day to the next I managed to keep myself going; it was not easy, but I did it.
Now, in the present day, I am now back on the medication. I am taking Sertraline at 50mg; I have been taking this since April. Up to now, I have not really felt any kind of improvement. However, after doing some brief research online, I did find out that it can take anywhere between six months to a year to feel any kind of real benefit. So I am being patient and just hoping that everything in the end will turn out well?
To summarize: living with depression is not easy for anyone, whether young or old, male or female. However I do believe that there is some light at the end of the tunnel!
