Anonymous asked this question on 4/13/2000:

I am the one who asked you if you ever get depressed. I am taking effexor. I feel like I don't have any motivation. I force myself to do everything. Sometimes I get so caught up in how I am feeling that I'm not focused on whatever I am doing. What do you think?

betroc gave this response on 4/13/2000:

I think you are depressed and need to be on the right medication which, unfortunately, takes time and patience. And I know that is NOT what you want to hear. Believe me, I know. It took me a long time to find an anti-depressant that worked for me. Zoloft was finally the right choice for me, but everyones' body chemistry is so different.

If that(effexor)is not working for you and you have been on it longer than a few months, try something else. Do you have a psychiatrist or someone who is working with you on this? I am an artist also and when I paint I feel less depressed. Creativity is a wonderful outlet, but you need to to get an assessment from someone who knows what they are doing. You said that you have to make yourself do things & if you can still do that it is a good sign. It takes about 3 weeks or so to see if some of the newer antdepressants will work for you. Which means trial and error, basically. I couldn't take Paxil, Prozac,Serzone...all had side effects I couldn't handle. Finally for me, Zoloft seems to work the best. I wish I could tell you a simpler way to make yourself feel back to normal. Is there anything/situation that helped this depression to come on? Mine started with post-partum depression when my youngest was born(about 9yrs ago). But I have struggled with it ever since & only after I received the proper treatment and started to take care of me did I find any relief. If there is anything you can think of that you are interested in, anything, start to pursue it. You may just be 'stuck' and need to change something in your life that isn't working. If any of this sounds like it would help I urge you to go ahead with it. Most important you need to work with someone you feel comfortable with and who can prescribe the right meds & basically, wait and see. In the meantime, if you feel like you are going to harm yourself, etc. Please get help right away. I don't know what part of the country/world you live in, but getting on the right med before it gets worse is the best suggestion ...that and do some fun things for you, candlelit baths,long walks, etc. take care of yourself like you are a baby. You deserve it. Please get on a new/diff med that works for you because there is no need for you to feel this way. All my best.

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