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In reply to the discussion: Antidepressants to treat grief? Psychiatry panelists with ties to drug industry say yes [View all]WilmywoodNCparalegal
(2,654 posts)After the hysterectomy, I had to deal with a side effect that is well known to other women of childbearing age who have hysterectomies, but not well publicized by ob/gyns: depression.
It hit me severely. Among the many manifestations, I'd cry for days about losing my childbearing abilities and I'd have some suicidal ideations at times (which never came to fruition). I'd avoid colleagues for fear talk would be about babies and children. I asked the ob/gyn for help and she prescribed Paxil. I am not a pill popper by any means. But Paxil did save me. After a few weeks (the time it takes for the medication to have an effect), I began crying a lot less and thinking about 'babies' a lot less as well.
I discontinued the medication after a year and a half on it, because I felt like I didn't need it any longer. This was in 2010. Then, a bout of the baby blues came back a few months ago. This time, I went to a psychiatrist. After some questions, he ordered a battery of tests.
I was then diagnosed as ADHD. Sometimes, depression is a co-morbid condition of ADHD, especially untreated adult ADHD. He prescribed Ritalin, which is basically speed.
I am now a new person on many different levels. I am learning to cope with the baby blues - which may not ever go away. I don't shun my coworkers and even my upbeat nature and caustic sense of humor have returned.
Antidepressants may or may not be for everyone - I'm not a psychiatrist. But they did help me. Medications like Ritalin are certainly not for everyone, but they have surely made a difference in my life
If it were not for medications like Paxil or Ritalin, I'm not so sure I could have handled these past couple of years. I'm sure there are plenty of irresponsible doctors out there who prescribe antidepressants or stimulants like candy, but for those who actually need some help, they are invaluable.