I know that talking about depression and CFS/ME can be a touchy subject, because for so long so many of us were incorrectly and frustratingly told that what we had was not CFS but depression (and many "experts" still insist on it).
But some of us do have both, and dealing with the isolation and inability to engage in life that CFS/ME imposes on us can make depression that much harder to deal with. For me, at the moment, depression is taking a bigger toll than the crushing fatigue of CFS/ME.
I recently had a depressive episode, and it wasn't that I felt sad, but that I was struggling to get through every moment of the day, like I was in severe pain -- though it wasn't physical pain, other than the usual aches of FM -- and I couldn't find relief from it anywhere. I felt like I was hanging on by my fingernails, and I couldn't tolerate any small setback, like a disagreement with my bf or even something stupid like a leaky drain that I tried to fix under the bathroom sink, and I just lost it every time, just started sobbing and yelling like it was the end of the world. I could see myself overreacting, but I had no reserves to cope with even the smallest thing.
I think part of it was that I had started taking Lyrica, which I later learned has the potential side effect of causing mood disturbances and even thoughts of suicide. All SSRI antidepressants have that effect on me as well, so I don't know of any medication I can take for depression. I think my sensitivity to meds has to do with my CFS/ME.
I also can't go out and have fun, or even do something engaging at home, like a creative project, which I think could help ease the depression, because I'm too tired.
I'm wondering if others here have been dealing with depression and if anyone has found some relief?
But some of us do have both, and dealing with the isolation and inability to engage in life that CFS/ME imposes on us can make depression that much harder to deal with. For me, at the moment, depression is taking a bigger toll than the crushing fatigue of CFS/ME.
I recently had a depressive episode, and it wasn't that I felt sad, but that I was struggling to get through every moment of the day, like I was in severe pain -- though it wasn't physical pain, other than the usual aches of FM -- and I couldn't find relief from it anywhere. I felt like I was hanging on by my fingernails, and I couldn't tolerate any small setback, like a disagreement with my bf or even something stupid like a leaky drain that I tried to fix under the bathroom sink, and I just lost it every time, just started sobbing and yelling like it was the end of the world. I could see myself overreacting, but I had no reserves to cope with even the smallest thing.
I think part of it was that I had started taking Lyrica, which I later learned has the potential side effect of causing mood disturbances and even thoughts of suicide. All SSRI antidepressants have that effect on me as well, so I don't know of any medication I can take for depression. I think my sensitivity to meds has to do with my CFS/ME.
I also can't go out and have fun, or even do something engaging at home, like a creative project, which I think could help ease the depression, because I'm too tired.
I'm wondering if others here have been dealing with depression and if anyone has found some relief?