Hi Simon,
That is one of few drawbacks of synthetic antidepressants. I wonder if the doctor can prescribe another type of antidepressant that will have less adverse effects on you?
Something else you could try is to see a naturopath—that is, if it is accessible to you.
I’m not sure how much you know about naturopathy and its philosophy, but it may be worth your while to look into this as a viable option.
You can also use both allopathic (drug therapy) and naturopathy (holistic medicine) in a complimentary fashion.
I created a post yesterday re: a TED talk on depression that I saw on YouTube called: This Could Be Why You Are Depressed and Anxious.
What I love about this talk is that it acknowledges other essential aspects of depression that are often overlooked by medicine. You may find this talk useful.
I will provide the link here for your convenience…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB5IX-np5fEI can relate to no family and few friends. The TED talk includes the importance of connecting with other people--not to talk about how miserable we are, but in exploring ways to find meaning in our lives.
We are meant to be in a “tribe”.
Social inclusion, togetherness, and community-based living is key, but we are moving more towards social exclusion and independence. One of the prominent features that I've noticed among people with depression (including myself) is that
we are so darn lonely. We have a lack of friends and family support. And formal support is often limited and has that clinical feel to it. Depression requires more than drug therapy and individual talk therapy.
OK I’ve had my brief, mild-mannered rant lol. I’m invested in this issue we are all going through because I know what it’s like to live with depression, anxiety, loneliness, and inadequate (and at times sloppy and lacklustre) healthcare.
Taking antidepressants for nearly 20 years is inconceivable to me.
I will leave you with a thought….
I finally overcame 10+ years of depression when I stopped treating depression and instead worked on myself.