Heart of Dixie

It Works for Me

It wasn't very long ago that people would not admit that they used hair color, had plastic surgery, or had to take medication for depression. Regarding the latter, the closest they would say is that they occasionally had to take "nerve pills."

I guess it's a testamony to how far we've all come in understanding various aspects of our mental and physical health that it's not a stigma to admit that we've had to take medication for certain conditions.

Over the years I've had bouts of depression and just suffered through it, not realizing exactly what it was. I've also experienced the ultimate highs and sink-to-the-bottom lows of severe mood swings...or manic-depression....or bi-polar disorder...choose whichever term you like to use. Several years ago I did take Effexor. It did seem to help, except that after a couple of weeks I was so lethargic I could not even get out of bed. So I quit.

I tottled on for a couple of years, doing mostly okay on my own. Until recently. It wasn't depression that got me, but edginess. Being growly and grumpy and getting totally aggrevated and not being able to get over it.

So I talked to my doc about it. She agreed that part of it could be because of my not being able to sleep well. However, in addition to something for sleep, she gave me Zoloft. I was hesitant to take it because I had seen what it did to other people, but I knew I needed to give it a try.

So I did. It took me a little experimenting to find the right balance in when and how much of both meds to take, but I believe I've hit on the right combination. I'm sleeping much better, usually not groggy during the day, and very much on an even keel.

Hurray for me. I hope that things continue on this good course.

Posted by Dixie at May 23, 2006 08:39 PM