Anti-depressants???

Wilmaone, delighted to hear you got good results today.

Sorry tho that you are feeling low. The whirlwind that is cancer can take a lot out of us. I had some counselling at the start. I badly needed it but fought it until the breast care nurse kinda forced me to do it. It was such a relief to talk to someone about my fears and what was going on in my head. Have you tried counselling??? Arc in Dublin is supposed to be great for counselling and other stuff like yoga and reflexology.

I don't know what to say to about start taking the meds. You may only need them temporarily so please don't fear them if they will help you on the road to recovery.

Take care Hun

Lindylu

Hi wilmaone
So sorry to hear you are feeling so low. I think it's a really difficult time of the year. Its a pity there was no offer of counselling. Im doing that at the moment and its going well. I'll send you a pm.
Jo x

I would say your Doc of course has your best interests at heart and thats whey they are being prescribed. Personally I would go for it have a friend of mine same feelings as you but no cancer - they have worked wonders for her in the last few months and she is so more upbeat.

Take help is my motto when its offered

Have a great Christmas and brilliant to hear good news about cancer as always

I would strongly recommend counselling! Doctors are programmed to go straight for drugs. Having said that I would be lost without the odd few Xanax tabs I take, but genuinely I have a weekly/biweekly slot with the physo oncology service in Vincents public, and I just find it great to have someone who is paid to listen to me moan, who has heard it before, and knows what your talking about. I find friends and family great but am always weary not to exhaust them, and they can't really understand.

I also went to a cancer support centre that offered councelling (but I already had mine) but it was great for meeting other patients, getting advice, and hope. Just being with ppl who were out the other side already.

Sometimes drugs are the answer, but i believe talking about it will always help!! Look up a cancer support group near you, it definitely won't hurt wishing you the best
Ania

Hi W,
sorry to see you are feeling so low. I would also go along with the other girls & say counselling is your best option. If it's not offered by your breast care nurse go to one of the support agencies - ARC are great. Also you might benefit from having a chat with your GP who probably knows you better than your oncologist & he\she could help you to clarify in you mind about the meds, am not a meds person myself but sometimes they are a necessary evil so don't be feeling bad about taking them. It's a fierce journey that we are on & we all need different kinds of help at different times of this long & ardious journey. Have a lovely Christmas & enjoy Santa. A

Hi W,

Just want to send you best wishes and to say you are not alone. Its great you're talking anyway, that's half the battle. And this time if year can be hard, so go easy on yourself and take it bit by bit...

My docs never stopped reaching for prescription pads, it was shocking how quickly they did, without listening. But they were trying to help; doing the one thing they could do. Anyway, I was fed up with all the chemo drugs etc and a bit afraid of the pills but I relied on counselling, and writing and my blog and exercise and the great kindness of friends and yoga and mindfulness and even complementary reflexology and facials (Lukes). And I still got mad and sad. Often.
I think it's part if the whole BC experience.

Counselling really helps! I think, even taking meds, you still need to talk, to connect with others, and to work at processing the whole thing.
It isn't fast, but it does get better, slowly, over months and maybe years; and The najority if times will be great happy joyful ones!

Happy Christmas- we are all with you,

Xxxxg

Hi Wilmaone

I was also very low and would not have been able to face counselling without the help of anti depressants if it was the oncologist that prescribed them they probably felt you needed them side effects only lasted a few days and I can honestly say they got me through some dark days. I feel better able to cope and have started counselling which hasn't helped yet but I will persevere. Best of luck whatever you decide this is such a busy time of year especially with little ones it will get easier. Looking at their faces with the Christmas preparations is priceless!
This time last year I had myself convinced I wouldn't be here this year and here I am as excited as a little one!

Happy Christmas x

Thank you ladies.
A very happy Christmas to you all and every best wish for 2013 to everyone.
Thank you all so much for taking time out to post messages of support they really do do the heart and head wonders.
Neadi delighted you got out for Christmas.

Xxx w

Thanks W

So happy to be home!! It's a chocolate day and a day to be happy!

We will work out our coping strategies in 2013, but we will all help each other through!!

Happy christmas and lots of love and happy thoughts xxxx

Hi W, hope you are enjoying Christmas and taking it easy.

Indeed, alot of what the ladies say is right in so far as you could possibly benefit from meeting with a councellor. Having said that, in relation to taking anti-depressants, my own experience is that not all doctors take prescribing anti-depressants lightly but if you are having doubts about the necessity of having to take them you definitely should talk to you doctor about this, and in your specific case, have the pros and cons outlined to you as to whether the benefits of you taking anti-depressants outweigh the risks associated in doing so.

I can only imagine how vulnerable and heart-sick you are feeling at the moment; but if you can remember how many people love you and cherish you and that they are all there to talk to.

Take care and hoping the holidays are good to you x