I have been taking fluoxetine for 4 months now and i must admit, i did have side effects at first but then after a while i started to feel amazing. Now it has all disappeared again. I feel like anxiety is taking over, i keep having random panic attacks which i haven’t had in months. I also have shaky hands and legs basically all the time. When it comes to being happy, i can think myself happy for like 5 minutes or so when something good happens but i dont experience euphoria anymore. Then again, when something bad happens, even a little mistake or someone tells me off, i hit the rock bottom without even thinking it might just be a coinsidence. I hate being alone, so when my flatmate goes home for the weekend i feel like i don’t know what to do with myself. All i wanna do is sleep and im not interested in going out or doing things. I used to enjoy being alone, doing my own little things, going shopping etc, now, nothing. I can just have a panic attack by thinking about it. It’s terrible. I have been to the therapy previously but it didn’t help. I feel like there is no way out of it and im only 22 :(

Dear I know myself, I am so sorry to hear how you’re feeling.  It’s a dreadful feeling and we wouldn’t wish it on anyone.  You say that you did feel great on your antidepressant to begin with.  Have you been back to your doctor and told them that you no longer feel great and indeed feel terrible?  You should be having regular reviews of your medication and progress with your doctor.
I think that it is good that you still like having your flatmate around as that suggests that you haven’t totally cut yourself off which depression and anxiety can cause us to do which just exaggerates the symptoms of depression of isolation, rumination, sadness, low self esteem if only because it gives us more time to think about it.
You have lived in a happy state once even if it was when you started taking your antidepressants so you can again.
Hang on in there.  Try to do something every day that makes you feel better even if it’s just a small thing you’ll be surprised what a difference it can make.  I found keeping a diary useful too for noting what and when I felt happier and what led to me feeling worse.
Thinking of you.  Helen

Hi Honey

Sounds like you either need a change of medication or upping dosage, I strongly recommend you see your doctor, dont put up with feeling like this when there is help out there.

A visit to your local herbalist may help too (some doctors can recommend herbal remedies).  You can buy tonics and other feel good stuff.

You dont mention family honey, when your friend leaves, what is stopping you going home to see your family and being loved there.  Or going out with friends, for coffee, dinner or lunch out or inviting a friend round.  or what about a weekend hobby

http://www.spiceuk.com/home?handshaked=true

Try this link for something different to get your teeth into - a new spark in your life.

Or book a visit to a spa or have a beauty treatment that will make you feel good about yourself.  Or book a hair appointment - I strongly suggest booking as you will be more inclined to go rather than on the spur of the moment, otherwise you probably wont go.

Also arrange meeting friends in advance too, so you have something to look forward to, even if its just for coffee.

22, honey your life is only just beginning honey and it will get better I promise.  Just you see

Heard the song, “what a difference a day makes”, well imagine what you could achieve in a week!!

Seriously, though, I do appreciate how low you must be feeling.

The panic attacks can be dealt with through CBT therapist who will teach you exposure techniques - almost like baby stepping to your ultimate goal.  Please ask your doctor about this.

Take care honey

Sending you lots of positive vibes and energy

Love Greenlady

Hi, I wonder if you know why you’re depressed and if anything triggered it?  If you werent’ depressed would you be happy with your everyday life and what you’re doing?  I had a job that was making me feel very depressed, unwell and giving me panic attacks.  I ended up taking time off with depression and didn’t go back.  I now have a job that pays me a lot less but I am happy and I don’t get depressed or have panic attacks.  I’m not saying yours is what you do but my depression got me out of a job that I hated and into one I enjoy.  It didn’t feel helpful at the time.  I thought I’d never be happy again.  Take care.  Will

How you doing? Will