I am new to this forum. I was diagnosed 7 years ago with MS. I am so very depressed all the time, I’m not the same person I was before diagnoses. I take citalopram and have done for while but still depressed. I have no enjoyment in my life. Any ideas?
hiya
u are not same person as yest-never mind 7 years ago…
however i sense u r looking for practical ideas first…
have u discussed change of anti depressant with gp? meditation? local ms group? there is things to support you ‘out there’ but you have to ask/seek them. here is a safe place to voice your thoughts…
take care and i believe there is some enjoyment in your life-you just dont recognise just now hence what i have suggested above.
ellie
1 Like
hi, I think depression is one of the worse symptons of ms, I use to have awful depression but started useing an natural hormone cream (I’m going though the menopause) I still get fed up but not depressed, I read somewhere where a man with ms used hormone cream for depression hope this helps.
Sue
Thank you. The doctor wouldn’t change my anti depression tablets as he said am on the correct dose. I’ve found a support group near my area, a drop in centre so going see if I can get there. I have to wait till January to see my consultant and till then I can’t have any input from MS nurse. Just feel lost and left but will try any advice I get from here, thank you.
Thank you. I can’t have any hormone as I have had benign breast disease and got sterilised at age 26. I’m 39 now. I have wait till end January next year to see my consultant and until then I have no input from MS nurse. Will try attend the MS drop in centre next week as I think they give advice and may even pick me up as I had my car licence taken off me in April due to my MS. I appreciate any advice, thank you x
Hi , I can understand exactly what you mean, I have also been on citalopram for several years now.
Depression is very common in MS and it can feel like you can’t enjoy anything but there is help out there .my GP recommended CBT which was helpful.
It took a while for me to want to join groups but I am so glad I did . I have met some lovely people in my local MS group, and have a chance to chat , moan and laugh !
And I joined a choir , and believe me I cannot sing well at all, but just doing something “for me” and just for the fun of it is important.
Take care, I hope you can see beyond the depression
Judy x
1 Like
Hi Maxie,
When you say you have no enjoyment in your life, do you mean you are doing things that, intellectually, you know should be enjoyable, but take no pleasure in them, or is that you have simply stopped doing anything that might be enjoyable?
There is a difference, because if you are doing theoretically nice things, but not responding, then it does sound like depression. However, if you’re never doing anything nice, then of course you’re not experiencing pleasure, and the solution may be to make a conscious effort to involve yourself in pleasurable things.
Judy’s idea of joining something social are good. However, I realise that’s not a practical option for everyone. I am comparatively mildly affected by MS. However, I do not drive, and local transport is not very good, which means I find myself quite limited in what groups or activities I can engage in - especially in the evenings, as buses tend to taper off after the evening rush-hour, and I can find myself with no realistic way of getting home.
BUT you do not have to be out painting the town red to set aside some time for doing something nice. Do you ever plan any treats just at home, so that one night you’re going to have a really nice meal and a glass of wine, and watch a favourite film? Or you’re going to spare some time for a neglected hobby, or just have a bath with lots of bubbles and a scented candle?
Sometimes the little things count. You may also find it helpful to keep a diary of ONLY the positive things that happen - however small. This helps you focus on the nice things, which are sometimes easy to overlook, if a lot of shitty stuff happens too. Try to find something positive about each day, even if it’s only: “The sun came out”, or: “My lunch was tasty.” The whole point is it doesn’t have to be great big things - it can be things you need to look for.
One final thing about citalopram: I’m not a fan. I know some people swear by it, but I found it deadened everything. I don’t think I was less depressed, I felt as if I just didn’t give a damn. And it had some nasty side effects as well, such as never feeling I’d had a proper, deep sleep.
So paradoxically, the thing you are taking to help may be deadening your sense of pleasure. I found it kept me even, and yet sort of emotionally blank. Feeling nothing is not feeling better. So it might be that the drug is limiting your emotional range - you don’t get so sad, but you don’t get happy or excited either.
I would never advocate just quitting an AD without medical advice. Most of them need careful weaning-off anyway, and you can get a withdrawal reaction if you stop suddenly (Tried it: not recommended, but if you’re the sort of person who’s impatient to be rid of them and know stopping suddenly will screw with you, it can be borne. I just booked the time off work and did it). I’m not anti ADs, but very anti them for me personally, as my experiences have not been positive.
So you could give some thought as to whether citalopram could be part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Tina
x
2 Likes
Thank you. I use to be a gymnast and my life before was very physical so just find it hard that I have to use crutches and unable to do much x
Hi yes . My partner works away all week and when he comes home on a weekend I should be excited but I’m not. Thinking about what you said about AD’s might actually be the problem. I feel numb to everything. I did go meet a friend a month or so back but just felt nothing really while I was out, I just wanted come home and go bed. I am on another course of steroids so while I am taking them I might stop the citalopram. I am actually thinking that maybe they are deadening any feelings I have. I have come off them before but cannot really remember how I felt, bad memory I have. But I think I will stop taking them, may become a bit weepy but I’m like that anyways lol. Thank you for your advice x Maxie x
What a lovely post Tina. I think I’m going to take your advice about focussing on the good things each day - might even do the diary.
1 Like
Thank you, but I certainly can’t take credit for coming up with the idea, as I’m sure I read it or heard about it somewhere.
Sometimes it’s used in a religious way, to remind you of things to be thankful for, but of course, you don’t need to be religious to do it - we can all benefit from looking for positive things.
Lots of people keep diaries, but it can develop into wallowing - especially if you have lots to wallow in, so if you follow a simple rule of: “If it’s not positive, it doesn’t go in!”, you can redirect your attention.
I am not always good at doing it, but most days you can find something, if you think hard.
For example, even if the rest of today is shitty (which I hope it won’t be), I could have: “Well, that was a really nice response from Sewingchick!” OK, it’s a small thing in itself. OK, it’s online, which some people would say is not the real world. But try not to dismiss positive things because you think they’re too small. It was nice - so thank you.
One day this week, I had: “The blue-tits were on my feeder.” Not much to get excited about, for most people, but for me it was - because it was a miracle in itself I ever managed to assemble the feeder (“Drive the pole at least 14 inches into the ground.” Eh? Do what? It’s heavy clay here, and I’m not exactly fit and well!). Then, after I had finished, the birds shunned it for days, making me think it had all been a waste of time. So I was really pleased to get up one morning, and notice blue-tits on it for the first time - my labour was not in vain.
Tina
xx
2 Likes
Hi Maxie,
i have felt quite depressed for a couple of years. I decided not to go on anti depressants but I find a healthy balanced diet seems to work for me. If I eat a lot of unhealthy food I find the depression kicks in more.
Anitra is right try and find something positive every day. Just something small. What works for me is my 6 month old grandsons smiley face or seeing a robin in the garden.
I have always wanted to try reflexology so I think I will give it a try.
I too feel emotionally numb and I am not on anti depressants, I have been at parties and just want to get home to my bed.
This is from someone that never used to come off the dance floor.
Mags xx
Thank you for all your advice xxxxx
Hello to all,
Once again another query with the hope you lovely people can help. I was diagnosed 6 years ago and critical illness had paid out with no problem for which I am grateful. I then thought our financial advisor had said that the new critical illness insurance covered me for other illness apart from ms which I fully understood. It now appears that my hubbie has crit illness insurance but I do not have any. This is worrying me as I would rather have some sort of cover incase anything else occurs ( other illness). Can we ms’ers have crit illness insurance with the exception of ms if you get what I mean?? thanks guys xx hope all as well as can be with you all x
Sorry looks like I posted that comment under incorrect heading!! i will get the hang of this soon promise xx
I am new to the site an not to sure on what to do but I’m wondering if anyone can help me some ideas on how to cope with my mood an depression because it is getting me down an upsetting my partner which inturn is making me worse because all she wants to do is help me an i don’t like seeing her upset. I hope someone can help.x