Antidepressants?

It took years for my wife to feel comfortable about it but she has been on Setraline for a couple of months and there has been a marked improvement.

I personally don't think anti depressants are the perfect instant fix for everybody and often, just being able to talk and have someone listen can be great help.

But yes, she feels happier on them and they will help her as she explores talking therapies.

Sorry for the typos

I was issued Mirtzapine back in I think May. 
Mostly to help me sleep as I was getting to bed 3am and up again at 6. But also to try and “lift my mood”. Like anything would do that!
I stopped taking them after a month as I was a zombie. Not at all safe to drive and my 90yr old mum is getting her own back as I am one her cabbie

They helped with the sleep a little, but exhaustion had the same effect. 
They made me feel numb, so I was walking around in a daze. 
My family and friends became concerned for me in a new way, not just the grief way. 

Last month, after a session with the mental health nurse, she is brilliant, she suggested I try again, on half dose to see if it benefited me. 
I’ve not actually taken any yet. 
I do sleep a bit better now, getting to bed at 1 or 2am. 
My mood is no better. But then my grief is no better. 

And I will admit, on here, that I feel “wrong” if I take them. 
I am in deep, raw grief (nearly 11 months).  
I expect to feel crap. For a very long time. I accept that. Doesn’t make it easier accepting that though. 
This is going to maybe sound or come out wrong - but I am here. My beautiful Valen is not. I should feel all the pain I can, not have it taken away, removed. 

But everyone, as we know, is different. And what is right for one, doesn’t work for another.

Sending some hope over to you x

I take Sertraline which I find does help me. It is a low dose 50mg. I am a mental health nurse so I found it hard to accept medication because I should be stronger and be able to manage without! 

I started taking antidepressants not long after my husband was diagnosed with cancer. He died almost 15 weeks ago and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them.  I started on Sertraline but then moved onto Citalopram and they are wonderful for me.  They don’t make me feel as numb as Sertraline did - I felt like a bit of a zombie on those, but Citalopram make me feel like I can cope. I have good days and bad days of course but they help me get up each day and not question the point of living.  I’m blessed with a great family and supportive friends but my heart is utterly broken and Citalopram just help me function. I also lost my Mum four weeks after my husband so life has been particularly tough lately.  I don’t think I’ll ever come off Citalopram now but I have not experienced any bad side effects so I don’t mind if I stay on them for life.  

I don’t know how people cope with this level of grief without antidepressants to be honest. Well done to those of you who are coping without them. X

Try not to be so hard on yourself. Using a crutch for a while is not a bad thing. Using a crutch for the rest of your life is not a bad thing either. That’s all these tablets are - a crutch to help you cope. If they help, great. If they don’t then stop but don’t punish yourself for thinking you should be able to cope without them. Who makes the rules for grief?! 

Be kind to yourself and accept help in whatever form. X