I finally gave in..:(

The pills are just chemicals. Same stuff found in your food and beverages your body needs to stay alive and function. So, right now you need a few extra chemicals to function at your best. There is no shame in this. You have not failed in anyway. That would be like being dissapointed in yourself for needing protein and calcium.

All healing comes from God. Be patient.

Hi there,
I can relate to your concerns about anti-depressants.

Four months into depression, I also acquiesced to my doctor’s requests to take anti-depressant medication.

However, although I fought it at first, I soon realised it was a good thing.
(Also bear in mind that it can take two weeks for the anti-depressants to take effect, so if you can't sleep for now, don't let it get to you.)

The anti-depressants dulled the effects of depression, made life more bearable, and enabled me to concentrate on the task of recovery.

Do not think that taking anti-depressants is a cop-out. My doctor told me on several occasions, "You've got a chemical imbalance in your brain, which the medication corrects. It's nothing to be ashamed about--it’s no different from a diabetic taking medication to correct their illness.”

Hope this helps.

I think you have made a really great decision.
Give it at least 6-8 weeks, sometimes it can take that long. If prozac doesn't work, there are many other medications out there that can work better, perhaps one targeted to a different neurotransmitter in your brain.

It's not a cop out. Continuing to live in this sadness without doing anything proactive would be a failure, not using medication.

Jo, it takes at least a week for Prozac to take effect.

This drug works by keeping the natural endorphins from being flushed out of your brain by stress. In other words, it keeps in the endorphins ("feel good" chemicals), so the active agent is your own natural endorphins.

I was on Prozac quite a while. I was grateful, because it enabled me to start working on the trauma I had gone through without being so overwhelmed by negative thoughts. I still had some negative thoughts, but I felt less overwhelmed.

There is no shame in needing meds. I don't think I would have gotten well without them. Praise God for all the things He helps us discover.

Good morning Jo!

I know it must be hard for you right now, but trust me, give your anti-depressants time and they will work. If you have time, try to take a walk for about 30 minutes a day, this will help with your anti-depressants. I found what has worked for me is to grab my Ipod and just walk. I find that I get lost in my music and the 30 minute walk turns into 40...etc and I feel GREAT! PLEASE let us all know here on CF how you are doing with the anti-depressants. And know I am praying for you as well my dear sister! Hang in there and keep the prayers going, God WILL help you through this, trust me! God bless ya sister

Don't worry Jo1. Follow your doctors advice on the Prozac and give it some time to work. There are (minor) side-effects on most anti-depressants, but if it help improve your depression I would say it is really worth it, cause from how I know you, you are deeply depressed. I've been worried about you lately, so please keep going, and I am sure you will see improvements soon. Tell your doctor everything and don't think that anything is too little to mention, cause I think it is important that you get up in a more leveled mood. Your mood has seem to worsen during the winter, so I think you should take it seriously, and say yes to anything that might help.

I'm using two kinds of medicine myself, one to stabilize the mood from the major ups and downs and one to reduce anxiety. And sometimes I take some anti-psychotic medicine if I feel confused and got too much going on in my mind. And I don't look at it as some kind of personal defeat that I use medicine to make the days easier. I simply look at it as a useful tool that are available for me, and I am fascinated how useful some of the medicine actually has been. So I hope you will get the same experience, that this is a very smart tool that the doctors are offering, that might make you feel like life is getting back to normal again after a while

God bless you.

Changes in appetite, sleeping and libido is pretty common to most SSRI's I think. It is also more common to have more side-effects in the start of the treatment then after you been on the meds for a while. Personally I became manical from them, and I used to yawn 24/7, I actually had worries about my jaw-bones getting off hinge, I got a increased appetite, I slept more and I got a reduced libido. The only things that seemed to stay after some weeks was the reduced libido and sleeping more then usual.

So don't get worried about side-effects now. I would say that it is more important for you right now to feel that life has some meaning then most other things. But that is just my opinion. You should report side-effects you got to your doc, and if they are not gone after some weeks then there is always a alternative of trying another kind of medication. Some people have to try many different kinds of meds before they find the one that is right for them. Personally SSRI's was not the best thing for me, and I got more help from mood-stabilizers, but when it comes to you only a trained professional can tell what is the best, and I hope you got someone that have time and education and experience to give you what you need. God bless.

Have you tried studying scriptures on depression. A word of advice, add you real name to the scriptures it will help you all the more.

Say out loud
For instance,

"[Your Real Name] shall Cast the whole of her care
[all your anxieties, all your worries,
all your concerns, once and for all]
on Him, for He cares for [Your Real Name] affectionately


And ect. and ect.

Here are some scriptures on depression

Deep waters 2 Samuel 22:17-22 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me

19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.

20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.


Broken hearts, spiritsPsalm 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Desperate times Psalm 60:3 Thou hast shewed they people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

Walking in darkness Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

No joy Jeremiah 48:33 And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab, and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.

Hopeless hope Romans 4:18-22 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall they seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

God comforts the depressed Corinthians 7:6-7 Nevertheless God, that comforteth, those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

It seems to take a couple weeks to a month or so for most meds to work effectively Jo.
When I started on lithium, It took almost 2 months before I felt normal.
Have you tried journaling daily to track any mood changes ??

Jo1 said:

thanks everyone
Been on prozac for 2 weeks now, hope it helps soon.

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Jo1 said:

I finally gave in not been coping at alland went to my docs I was put on Prozac anti-depressant. It was a big thing for me to do as I had such a big fear to overcome. Bad reaction to one quite a few years back, and I really did not want to go back to them again.
Ive had a couple of bad nights sleep with them and felt bit sick yesterday. But its not been too bad,.
Though I just feel deflated you know. Realising you need pills just to help you cope with life.
I hope I feel better soon..

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I've been on an antidepressant for the last 2 years, and right now its the only thing that keeps me sane and able to have a normal life. Me without the antidepressant was pretty much in bed all day every day, not eating, sleeping too much and generally not coping.


I hate the idea of being on an antidepressant, and hate the idea even more that this may be permanent. However compared to the black hole that I know will swallow me up if I dont take the infernal things, its a small trade off... Remember there are different options and newer antidepressants avaliable, so if this one doesnt feel like its making a difference after the prescribed trial time, there are other options

(((Jo)))) and I really hope this gives you some relief and soon

I'ddie4him2 said:

It seems to take a couple weeks to a month or so for most meds to work effectively Jo.
When I started on lithium, It took almost 2 months before I felt normal.
Have you tried journaling daily to track any mood changes ??

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unfortunately the literature states that it can take up to 4-6 weeks to notice a difference.

The mood journal is a good idea, because it would give you something to compare against a few weeks down the track to see what the difference is like.


I used to use the scale 1= Cant get out of bed, cant leave the house depressed through to 10= Really happy and life is good. The longer I did it, it allowed me to see my progress. I got to putting it into an excel spreadsheet which allowed me to create a line graph which showed the ups and downs, but for me it was more ups and stables when I got used to my antidepressant