Prozac Nation
February 28th, 2008I’ve held a largely internal debate whether or not to talk about this publicly. However, given the responses to my posts regarding living with depression and with the idea of being more open, I’m going to share.
Given the amount of stresses that we’ve endured since 2004, I thought it might be helpful to look at a brief presentation:
click image to launch presentation
The decision was not made lightly and the professionals don’t think I’m chronically depressed. I started talking 20mg of Prozac a day after we returned from San Diego. o
Tags: depression, presentation, prozac
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February 28th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Love the presentation. Can you please come by and show my students good presentation format? (Kidding. They would not listen.)
Thank you for sharing this. I’ve been thinking seriously about having “the talk” with my doc…I am nowhere near as bad as I used to be about 15 years ago, but the stress is really taking its toll and I think the Armstrong bravery on both fronts has made me seriously reassess whether I need to get back on a little ’something’. Besides bourbon.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
You go. Do what you need to do to make your life livable. Prozac didn’t work for me, but Effexor does and I am quite grateful.
I’m fairly new to your site, but have been reading Dooce.com for a while. I love your photographs and thought of you (not in a creepy way) when I passed a semi with oil drums on the back that appeared to be partially covered in gold leaf. (Maybe it was paint; I don’t know.) The sun was hitting them just so and it made me think of a lot of the photographs you’ve recently posted with the golds and rust, etc. Would’ve been nice to have a camera with me … and a 1/4 of the talent you and Heather possess for photography.
Be well,
Max
February 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Someone close to me took antidepressants during/after a stressful time. He took them for about 3 months and it made such a huge (wonderful!) difference. He returned to the person that was great and he tapered off and hasn’t used any in the three years since. I didn’t feel good about it at first, but it was the absolutely the right move. I hope it helps you be you.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Several years ago I got caught in a vortex and ended up circling the drain. Six months of therapy did exactly nothing, until I “gave up” and went for the Prozac (generic). I needed the kick in the head to learn how to stay below the baseline reliably again, and now have been off anti-depressants successfully for six years. I’m proud of that, but I’m prouder of having “given up” and taken them in the first place. Best thing I’ve ever done.
Good luck, and see you on the other side!
February 28th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I think I started about the same time you did … it used to be that I lived with chronic depression but now my doctor believes that it’s “just” Seasonal Affective Disorder. I’ve been spending some extra time in the sun lately (it’s going to cause Spring Fever here, really soon) and that may be helping. You might also look at getting on a vitamin D supplement if you’re not getting sunshine! Good for you for getting on the meds though … I hate taking meds to “be me,” but I’m really NOT me when I’m off of them!
February 28th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Jon, good luck. I hope that Prozac helps. It’s really clear that you and Heather have had to deal with a lot.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
There are worse things in life than taking an antidepressant. Of course, those are usually the reasons for taking an antidepressant. I did a stint of Lexapro for a while. Aside from the suicidal thoughts, it did pretty well. Without it, I would have been wrapped up in a blanket in the corner of my closet. Sometimes if your world comes crashing down on you, you need some help to crawl out.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Jon,
I can’t help noticing that in the beginning of your post and your entire presentation your describe your level of stress, and in the conclusion of your post ’stress’ has become ‘depression’ (hence Prozac). Could you elaborate on this, i.e. the transition from a diagnostic of stress to one of depression (be it mild)?
February 28th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Hey Jon - it sounds (and looks) as though it’s “situational depression”. I had it when my dad died, I took Zoloft for about 6 months, and I was fine.
You’ve been through a hell of a lot the last few years, and it’s no wonder you need this. Better Living Through Chemicals, I call it.
Take care, and be well.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Good for you for taking care of yourself and your happiness. Whether you take meds for 6 months or 6 years, here’s to feeling better.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
@Philippe (UK), I’m implying that all the stress of the past few years has lead to a depression. It’s very common for spouses of chronically depressed to have bouts of depression, but I think in this case, it’s just stress-related depression. I could be wrong.
So far, the Prozac is helping a great deal.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Just to add to the discussion and play devil’s advocate - long time reader, never commented before.
I have several family members who have has success on Anti -depressants. I have a father in law that would not be alive or with his family if it weren’t for anti-depressants.
I’m curious because I dont have the vernacular to relate, I guess. What is the missing piece of this equation for you-
Life’s challenges (sickness, babies, moving, job stress, pets)+ _____ = Depression?
How does one draw the line between life being hard and needing prozac - just trying to get more in your head.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Why is George! the source of so much stress?
It’s the exclamation point, isn’t it? George sans exclamation point is so less stressful.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
(Also, I hope you start feeling like yourself again soon!)
February 28th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Have always admired your honest writing about depression. I went through a rough situational bout of it a couple of years ago and agonized over the decision to go on antidepressants, but I did and also did talk therapy (which I commend you for recommending in other posts) and I went off them after a year and a bit. Must say I kind of miss them (Effexor XR did the trick for me), but if they didn’t save my life, they at least made it better and got me back on track. I was able to deal with sressful situations with much less anxiety. Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better … all the best.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I’m going to continue on with what Stacy said……..life’s challenges. Yes, we have all had them. Who’s life is perfect? And what expectations are you trying to live up to? We could all go on and on about how tough our life has been. Some of us have actually starved because we had to feed our kids first or have been abused by husbands. Alanon saved my life, but me learning to take responsibility for my actions and my life. What a huge difference when you don’t involve the rest of the world in your problems. There is a great site http://www.walkingtheblackdog.com which is a man who is dealing with depression. There is also the Happiness Project. Meds do sometimes clear the synapses which occur or not occur in the brain leading to clear or not clear sense of self and dealing with life. But Jon, I bet if you listen to your body and relate your stress to how you were taught and how you dealt with it as your were growing up, I bet you wil get a lot of answers. Also get “Conscious Living”. There will be answers and answer and more answers for you. I’m not saying not to take meds, but we are all screwed up for a reason and our abilities to handle life come from how we were programmed. The meds just help clear the fog in order for use to navigate the ship a little better into the harbor. Having a sense of humor and being able to not take yourself so seriously really helps too.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
you rock. i really admire your ability and courage to be so forthright.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I went through a really horrible divorce a few years ago. Our son was 5 years old when his Dad and I split. My priority was to keep things as steady as possible for our son during this huge change. I was successful in the ‘keeping things steady’ department for the first couple of years… then a friend and his 17 month old daughter were killed in a car accident, I went through a tough break-up and realized that without help (medicinal -I was already seeing a therapist) I was not going to be able to continue to keep things steady any longer. I was on prozac for about six months then was able to stop (I’ve been off of it for about year now). I sometimes wonder if I would have been slower to help myself if I didn’t have my son to consider.
Good for you for looking out for yourself and in turn your family…
February 28th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I love the presentation and am delighted that you have hit upon something that is helping. Prozac (coincidentally) helped me as well. I didn’t seek treatment because I wanted to alter my personality or become someone else; I just wanted to get back to being my normal self.
Seriously, I am delighted for you and hope things continue to improve.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Thanks for the explanation Jon.
As a medicinal chemist I am always happy to hear that drugs do work
PS: I left Salt Lake City 6 years ago after spending 3 years there, so please keep posting photos of Utah, be it under feet of snow or blistering sun, it brings back fond memories.
PPS: Heather’s Daily Chuck are no less cracking.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
LOL and good for you! Hope it brings you some peace.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Good for you, Jon. Sometimes in life we need a life jacket to hold us up and there’s nothing wrong with doing what you need to do.
Just stay on top of how you feel and if things change for the better than don’t be afraid to have your doctor ween you back off again.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I am also glad you are so courageous as to write about this topic and share with all of us. I will someday be a physician and am always looking for other’s perspectives on what makes life difficult. So thank you, and hope you have many good days ahead.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Love it! Reminds me of my life.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Just take vitamins! haha, sorry, couldn’t resist. Seriously may the prozac work!