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Considering Prozac

TheRealMom's picture

Ok, so unfortunately the life I had before my husband and kids came along, is non existent. I use to be very care free, positive and excited about life. I had friends and a social life. I loved to dance and go out. That's not me any more. That person doesn't exist. Having a major bout of depression. Life as a mom (aka - stepmommy) is not at all fulfilling. Like any mom would know, just about everything I do is taking for granted by kids (and even husband at times).

I would like to do more things for myself, like take and art class and work out at a local gym regulary. But I don't know how much that will help with my self esteem at this point.

Plus, the major issues with my SD(9) is making my life a living hell when I am at home. I am happy and grateful to be at work, to escape the drama, and to just to be able to breath. I love my husband, and I love my oldest SD (11), just not happy any more.

I talk to my therapist, and made it clear that I don't want to leave my family. But my depression is getting the best of me. Considering seeing doctor about prescribing depression medication. My therapist mentioned Prozac. Any one have any experience with this medication?

TheRealMom

Comments

sbplus3's picture

HI. I just came off of an antidepressant Zoloft that I was on for almost 2 years. It has taken 6 months to get back to me after wiening myself off of these drugs but I am glad I am not taking them anymore. I went from feeling terribly depressed to feeling absolutely NOTHING! I would go along each day and not care at all about anything. After my BIO son turned 5 and we had his big 5th bday party and my sister asked if I was even there (mentally) at all...it was a real wake up call. I could have stayed on those meds forever because it was easier than dealing with being a step-mom, but i truly had lost the joy in my own kids as well. Now, I signed up for the gym like you mentioned. It absolutely helps!!! I can take the kids with me too. Sometimes even just 45 min for ME helps me be a better mom & step mom. Try this route first. good luck.
"To win one's joy through struggle is better than to yield to melancholy"- Andre Gide

lovelovelove's picture

I was actually on Prozac for a few years some time ago. It made me feel a lot better and after suffering from anxiety and depression for years (I was held at gunpoint and had post-traumatic stress disorder, as well)...it seemed like a miracle drug. The only problem...when my doctors and I decided I should start weening myself off of it. Once I stopped taking it completely, I sufferend from "brain zaps". These "zaps" lasted for a good year after I stopped the medication and are miserable. It's like a lightening bolt going through your brain, every few minutes.

Not fun. I would never take Prozac again, but lately I am thinking that I need some form of medication. The Xanax and vodka can only go so far. I need something to keep me sane with all of this step-shit. It is miserable and I am at the end of my rope with the SD's 12 and 15. And DH too for that matter...

Hope that helps, good luck!

Love Wink

Kiby's picture

There seem to be a lot of conflicting views on treating depression.
I don't have any expertise, so please check this out carefully:

I was watching 'This Emotional Life' on TV the other day and was surprised to learn that there has been research that shows anti depressants can have a beneficial effect on part of the brain. It appears that depression (they didn't say how severe) does actually reduce a particular part of the brain and that the anti depressants encouraged new cell growth. They were saying that early treatment was a good thing.

Go onto www.pbs.org There's a blog area where they are taking questions about the program. It may be worth asking?

From personal experience, I took St John's Wort tablets for some time and found them helpful.

All the very best
Kiby

SuperStepMomAlways's picture

DEPRESSION CAN KILL AND KILL YOU. I FOUND MYSELF BEING ABSORBED BY DRAMA AND EVERYONE ELSE PROBLEMS FORGOT WHO I WAS. NOW I AM FINDING THAT A LITTLE BIT OF ME TIME AND GETTING AWAY IS THE BEST MEDICINE. YOU ARE WONDERFUL BELIEVE THAT AND SAY THAT EVERY DAY EVERY MORNING THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN THROUGH ARE HELPING ME COPE WITH THE EX WIFE SITUATION I AM IN. WE ALL HAVE SITUATIONS WE ARE IN ITS HOW WE DEAL WITH IT THAT WILL BE THE END RESULT FOR US AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

Last-Wife's picture

My doc put me on Lexapro. It's light and easy. I've not had any side effects, and I will have been on it for a year in February. I have noticed an "edge" to my mental state if I forget to take it.

My DH wasn't happy about it, when I told him I was going to start taking it, but I told him someone in this house was going to be medicated, and if it wasn't the kids, it was gonna be me! LOL

"I HAD to pick the road less traveled..."

lovelovelove's picture

I think that it's kind of messed up that your DH "wasn't happy about it". Guess what guys, we step-moms are not happy about a lot of things and if you weren't such guilty daddies and your kids weren't such spoiled evil brats, we wouldn't NEED medication!!

Tell him to sick that in his pipe and smoke it. MEN!!

Lexapro is a great drug. Good choice, I may have to try it! I had tried Celexa briefly, but didn't care for the side effects. I have friends that have been on Lexapro and they love it.

Love Wink

Wicked.Step.Monster's picture

Prozac is a great drug and I took it for YEARS. I finally went through Prozac 'burn out' and it just quit working after a while so I had to play around with some different meds to find something else to work as well. I now take Lexapro every day and it works great for me. Now that being said, every drug is different and will affect people differently. Prozac works better, in my opinion, on depression, and the Lexapro seems to work better for me for anxiety and temper control.

I have taken many many many different meds and cocktails of meds to find what works. Remember that if you do try something, sometimes it's just a trial and error thing until you find what really works well for you.

I am a recovered borderline personality/bipolar II patient and sadly, have way too much experience with meds. If you have any specific questions, PM me! Smile

Wicked.Step.Monster's picture

DH only needed meds when he was with BM... hmmmm............ LOL!

Mine is genetics... *sigh* my first depression hit in jr high and I suffered in and out of cycles until I was in my mid-20s before I got the right help. It's awful!

SerendipitySM's picture

I started taking anti-anxiety medication 2 years ago and was recently upgraded to ZOLOFT 2 weeks ago....it's a little too soon to tell if it's helping but I sure hope it does...

Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist. - George Carlin

TheRealMom's picture

Thank you all for your advice. I had a major major dose of sadness today. Not worth going into the details (would just make me more miserable). A whole lot of me wanting to invest time into a beautiful family day, that did not turn out as planned. The day ended with my crying and wondering if I was at all a valuable person to any one in my life.

So yes, I need to see a doctor soon. Based on the advice above, I think Prozack sounds a little scary (when you try to stop taking it). I may ask about Lexapro and or Zoloft). Thank you!

TheRealMom's picture

Cruella,

I totally get the need to want to feel everything. Not to be numb and fit into a dysfunctional situation. But I feel like if I don't reach out for medication, I will leave the family I love because of one rotten SD9. I would regret it every day of my life if I did that.

So this depression and anger has to be calmed. Therapy helps momentarily. But I don't want to be so angry or sad all the time. It is going to ruin my relationship with my oldest SD9 (who is amazing) and my husband.

TheRealMom's picture

Thank you Fearless for this heartfelt message. I see a lot of similarities in our story. I love my husband and SD11. And could not imagine giving it all up because of the rotten antics of my youngest SD9. But the situation is saddening. I don't feel like myself any more. It's a lot to think about.