In April of this year I was diagnosed with Dysthymia, Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and characteristics of Borderline Personality Disorder.

I think I've been doing well in the sense that I don't let it keep me from living my life, and I've been going to the doctors regularly as we're seeing which medicine works the best for me (Luvox did, but I had no appetite, tremored, and slept all the time :/) to help me adjust... but I wonder, does this stuff ever go away? I know MDD comes in episodes and isn't always present, and I know a lot about the other stuff, but I still wonder.

I've been reading a lot of stories about people with what I have, and they are on medicine the rest of their lives; if they get off, they go back right where they were (which SUCKS). I don't mind, I guess, but I'm still so young, and being on medicine the rest of my life seems like such a very long time. My mom has paranoid schizophrenia, so they know this stuff is genetic, and they took brain scans and told me I had abnormal brain structure, and that's why I wasn't reacting to medicine for a while.


Bah. Does anyone else on here suffer from this? Does it ever go away? Or am I going to be dealing with this forever?

Thank you for your help and time.

I have been diagnosed with all those things plus post traumatic stress disorder, and NO it doesn't go away, I'm sorry to hear that you have to deal with that, try lexapro, it helps with depression anxiety and a little bit with the borderline personality disorder, I tried it and it worked very well, its also a safer drug because it goes straight to the serationine (idk how to spell that) and not to a bunch of places it doesn't need to go. So talk to your doctor about it but once you start a medication that works well, you are stuck with taking that pill EVERYDAY of your life... sorry

[quote=bri2932;1862230]I have been diagnosed with all those things plus post traumatic stress disorder, and NO it doesn't go away, I'm sorry to hear that you have to deal with that, try lexapro, it helps with depression anxiety and a little bit with the borderline personality disorder, I tried it and it worked very well, its also a safer drug because it goes straight to the serationine (idk how to spell that) and not to a bunch of places it doesn't need to go. So talk to your doctor about it but once you start a medication that works well, you are stuck with taking that pill EVERYDAY of your life... sorry[/quote


While I understand that you can empathise with the op, I seriously disagree with you suggesting medication to the op.

I'm taking Lexapro now, and it doesn't work as well with my obsessive thoughts like Luvox did, but I don't have the side effects. My mood has improved, but the obsessiveness really kills me. x_x

Wow... never goes away. It's a very rude awakening.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Torrid13

I'm taking Lexapro now, and it doesn't work as well with my obsessive thoughts like Luvox did, but I don't have the side effects. My mood has improved, but the obsessiveness really kills me. x_x

Wow...never goes away. It's a very rude awakening.

---

I can't begin to understand how difficult this must be for you as I have never experienced it personally.
One thing I think might be helpful is to see if there is a support group for young people who have similar problems.
I think that taking meds is great in many aspects but I think talk therapy and having others who can truly relate is very important.
I hope you can find a group,I think it might be a great benefit.
If you don't like it,you don't have to continue but it may be just the support you need to help you through.
Nothing to lose by trying ,right ?
Best of luck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by artlady

I can't begin to understand how difficult this must be for you as I have never experienced it personally.
One thing I think might be helpful is to see if their is a support group for young people who have similar problems.
I think that taking meds is great in many aspects but I think talk therapy and having others who can truly relate is very important.
I hope you can find a group,I think it might be a great benefit.
If you don't like it,you don't have to continue but it may be just the support you need to help you through.
Nothing to lose by trying ,right ?
Best of luck.

---

It's just... you never want to be told something's wrong with you, you know? I grew up thinking that life was supposed to feel sad and hopeless. I had no idea something was wrong, or it wasn't supposed to be that way. I lost my Army ROTC full-ride scholarship because I basically lost my mind one day and crashed; that's when we realized something was really wrong, even though I had episodes in the past. Sorry this is so long; it's just... wow.

That group is a great idea; where would I start looking for one?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Torrid13

It's just...you never want to be told something's wrong with you, you know? I grew up thinking that life was supposed to feel sad and hopeless. I had no idea something was wrong, or it wasn't supposed to be that way. I lost my Army ROTC full-ride scholarship because I basically lost my mind one day and crashed; that's when we realized something was really wrong, even though I had episodes in the past. Sorry this is so long; it's just...wow.

That group is a great idea; where would I start looking for one?

---

Its not long at all.
Of course,no one ever wants to hear" you have a mental illness " but I would also imagine that many of your questions about why you felt the way you did were answered.
I suffer from anxiety and even that feels overwhelming at times.
I would Google support group for (insert problem) in (insert your area).
If there isn't one,you could start one.
Many churches or community centers are willing to let you use their space for meetings.
Let me know what you find.I will check back later.
If you tell me where you live I can look as well and get back to you.:)

I hear where you are coming from. My mom has clinical depression and it's awful to deal with when she goes off her meds. Sometimes for a few months before she realizes that's the reason she has been feeling and acting differently. We love her, but it's difficult to explain to her that it's her brain when she cries about how bad she feels, she's stubborn, she usually figures it out after a couple months and goes back to the doctor.

It's not your fault that you need a medication to feel able to function more easily. You shouldn't view it in a negative way. Heck I took meds for a while after my second baby because I got post-partum depression. I will never forget the first day I woke up in a year and felt able to function. It made me feel so much better about my decision. Chemical imbalances in your body can effect you drastically at times. But you are doing exactly what you should be, finding what you need to function in your life.

Ask your doctor if he knows anything about support groups. I found one through a parenting group like WIC. Is there a teen advocacy group where you life? They typically provide counseling and can have group sessions.

Torrid13,

I am sorry to hear about your illness. Sounds like you really need to talk to your doctor if one medicine does not work as well as another -- basically just be honest with the doctor.

And do not give up! There is hope. New cures are found all the time and one may come to you in the future. Keep working on it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chey5782

I hear where you are coming from. My mom has clinical depression and it's awful to deal with when she goes off of her meds. Sometimes for a few months before she realizes that's the reason she has been feeling and acting differently. We love her, but it's difficult to explain to her that it's her brain when she cries about how bad she feels, shes stubborn, she usually figures it out after a couple months and goes back to the doctor.

It's not your fault that you need a medication to feel able to function more easily. You shouldn't view it in a negative way. Heck I took meds for a while after my second baby because I got post-partum depression. I will never forget the first day I woke up in a year and felt able to function. It made me feel so much better about my decision. Chemical imbalances in your body can effect you drastically at times. But you are doing exactly what you should be, finding what you need to function in your life.

Ask your doctor if he knows anything about support groups. I found one through a parenting group like WIC. Is there a teen advocacy group where you life? They typically provide counseling and can have group sessions.

---

It's very hard hearing something's wrong with your brain. I was in absolute shock the rest of the day because it's like, "Isn't this supposed to happen to somebody else, not me?" But then I am very, very thankful that I got what I did. I could have gotten something much worse like what my mom has, but I didn't. So that keeps me objective and keeps me thankful for what I have! I'm definitely not going to let this keep me from living my life, but I have to admit some days it gets me down.

It's very hard finding a good medicine that works really well, but I'm keeping at it. Finding a support group is a very good idea. I'm going to see if there's one at my college, too, and if not, think of starting one there, or asking my doctor for groups of young-mid 20 year olds. :)

Thank you so much for your support and you advice; I really appreciate it!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by artlady

Its not long at all.
Of course,no one ever wants to hear" you have a mental illness " but I would also imagine that many of your questions about why you felt the way you did were answered.
I suffer from anxiety and even that feels overwhelming at times.
I would google support group for (insert problem) in (insert your area).
If there isn't one,you could start one.
Many churches or community centers are willing to let you use their space for meetings.
Let me know what you find.I will check back later.
If you tell me where you live I can look as well and get back to you.:)

---

That's a fantastic idea! I was just telling someone I was going to look and see if there's possibly one at my college, and if not, try and start one there! :)

I live in Fayetteville, NC; you don't have to look up any for me, but if you do, thank you so much! Thank you for your continuous support! I really appreciate the helpful and caring advice I've received since joining AMHD. <3

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SafeHeart

Torrid13,

I am sorry to hear about your illness. Sounds like you really need to talk to your doctor if one medicine does not work as well as another -- basically just be honest with the doctor.

And do not give up! There is hope. New cures are found all the time and one may come to you in the future. Keep working on it.

---

I'm so thankful I have a doctor that genuinely cares about her patients! She always wants to know when a medicine is working, or if it's not, what side effects it's causing, etc, and I can call her any time if I feel something's wrong! She's amazing.

You're right! I need to keep my chin up and keep it positive! Even if no cures are found, I should be thankful there are medicines to help me cope! :)

I really did not find anything on the web for your specific area but I did find this general directory that has some ,what appear to be ,promising links.
What interested me was they have a menu with links that can advise you how to start your own support group.
I had difficulty with the page at times but that could be the browser I am using.
I hope it works for you and you can glean some useful info. From it.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Improving the Lives of People Living with Mood Disorders

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by artlady

I really did not find anything on the web for your specific area but I did find this general directory that has some ,what appear to be ,promising links.
What interested me was they have a menu with links that can advise you how to start your own support group.
I had difficulty with the page at times but that could be the browser I am using.
I hope it works for you and you can glean some useful info. from it.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Improving the Lives of People Living with Mood Disorders

---

Thank you for your help! I went to the doctor today; they upped my medicine and diagnosed me with full-blown OCD. YES! That's 5 issues to tackle now! What can I say? I'm a high achiever in ALL aspects of my life! :)

I asked her about groups, and she said she doesn't know of any off the top of her head, but next time I come in, she will have given a list to my psychologist, who will pass on the information! I'll let you know if there's any luck there...