26yr.old suffering lifetime of depression: raised in divorce/alchoholic household; are meds worth it? Lexapro?

Been suffering from anxiety and depression all of my life- I don't want to point blame, but would say it arose from an alcoholic father and early childhood divorce. First attempted medication in high school, but found alcohol to be a much quicker fix...I have been a heavy drinker since-- most notably through college (not sure how I made it out). I try to remain self-reflective of current drinking habits now, have a great job and feel that I continue to impress people, but feel really empty inside. With the recent end to a long relationship, I am contemplating medication (Lexapro specifically). I feel that I have never been able to concentrate due to a wondering, depressed mind and it is currently worse then ever.

I have attempted positive thinking practices, finding religion, drugs, and whatever else I can to find inner peace but always get distracted . Is medication the answer? My worries stem from side-effects and the idea that I cannot drink alcohol. Any advice?

I'm 24 years old and I was on Lexapro (currently on Celexa, which is very similar...my Rx insurance wouldn't cover Lexapro). Personally, Lexapro worked wonders for me. It doesn't "cure" the depression, but rather helps put you back in control of your thoughts - you can "deal" with life better. It helped me A LOT with my anxiety especially. There were times I was afraid to leave the house b/c I didn't want to have an anxiety attack.

Side effects can vary, but common ones seem to be loss of sex drive, nausea (only at first), dizziness (ditto), etc. It typically takes a few weeks for the medication to take effect, so you may not notice a difference at first. As far as taking it with alcohol, personally I've done it (when I go out, only every now and then), and mostly the after effects are like having a really bad hang over. It's really not something you want to do that often. Alcohol is a depressant anyhow, so maybe start thinking about weaning yourself off of it, or at least not drinking as much. Talk to your doc about the effects of alcohol and Lexapro to get a more accurate idea on what to expect.

More importantly, hang in there. You can make it through!

DO NOT TAKE LEXAPRO!!! Here is an idea.. try herbal remedies green teas etc. No additives in food or chemicals. Try to eat natural and wear natural fibers. Get your person inside and out as close to the earth as you can. Plant some flowers get some houseplants pour yourself into those. I went of lexapro and have done this I feel 100 percent better. it would of been easier to make these changes if I didn't have to withdraw from lexapro

by drinking uncontrollably, are you not doing what your father was doing? i understand that you want to numb the pain of a bad childhood, and i am so sorry that you had to suffer. i also understand that for some, the idea of having a chemical control your emotions (such as an anti-depressant) may seen bizarre and unnatural, but geez, let me tell you, i suffer from depression and an eating disorder, and when i don't take my SSRI, i feel like crap. i have been on alot of them, lexapro, prozac, paxil...ugh, but the best i've found is cymbalta personally, but the best thing for me may not be the best for you or anybody else, so go talk to a doctor, and maybe get some counseling. please stay strong, good luck, and i hope that you feel better.

therapy

Your life at your age at 26 is exactly my life. I mean exactly! But I didn't resort to anti depressants, because they were not as popular in my time...

Eventually, I became a professional stunt/actress and obtained my CNC in nutrition.

I couldn't have kept up if I didn't have the distracted gene. I am always distracted, but learned that its really because I get bored from a routine or a teacher lecturing me.

My belief is that medications would have probably allowed me to be a complacent person living in the world of mediocrity with a nice house with a little white picket fence.

I am not meaning to offend you as you are very serious and upset due to the pain that is unresolved for you. But, if I were you, I would embrace it and forgive and no... it isn't an overnight process. I've punched a few walls in my life time.

I love this http://www.thesecret.tv

and feel that you need to know this http://www.breggin.com

I hope you find your joy!

dont take pills ull get hooked and its hard to get off. Tlking is good way to get it all out. maby get a councler or talk to friends and family, really u should talk to ur dad.

Try a book called "Potatoes not Prozac"-- children of alcoholics inherit specific brain chemistry that makes them prone to depression. You can repair and heal your brain and be free of depression, anxiety, alcoholism, sugar cravings.

I talk Lexapro and I like it a lot. I just take 10 mg. but it's enough to take the "edge" off. It is a great drug for anxiety primarily. I used to be against anti-depresants thinking it would just mask the problem but I think genuinely that it increases the saratonin levels and doesn't make you think endlessly about stuff that really doesn't matter. Once you have a healthy mind you can see that you react irrationaly sometimes. Counseling can help too if you need to work out your past. I wish you the best of luck and much happiness in the future.

I am a fan of psychiatric medication when used correctly. However, I wonder if you have tried therapy. Therapy might help you explore your childhood issues and has been found to be effective in both depression and anxiety. I would find a competent therapist and then consider mediction only if you do not find relief. For a good therapist ask your GP. Also, don't think that you have to stick with the first therapist you see. If you do not feel that the person is right for you, find another. In therapy it is necessary to have good rapport with the person you are seeing, otherwise you won't get the help you need. One strong factor to consider is that you are still drinking alcohol, even if only a little, and medication does not mix well with alcohol. Medication will probably help your feelings of emptiness and other symptoms of depression, but I would put it on the back burner until therapy has been given a good honest try.

check it out,a lot of use come from the same or even worse childhoods,things happened to me take would make most people cute their wrists,you might have chemical in balance that meds could help!(BUT id try this first)--stop living in the past so what your folks split the sheets!and drank.did they beat you sell you for drugs,burn you?look all I'm saying is you make your own destiny no one else.let go of the past cause you can never change it,so stop dwelling in it. your young get out there an live. make the kind of life you always wanted,no one,no drug can do it for ya!! It might have been bad ,BUT IT COULD OF BEEN WORSE!!

Hi hun! I have suffered from depression and anxiety most all of my life too. I came from a family of divorce, alcohol and sexual abuse, so I know what you are going through, our past memories have a way of taking us down to depression, I hope you can find some healing here, through therapy. I am now in therapy and on some meds. My doctor chose effexor for me, it has took the edge off, also I have paranoia of people and places. I believe the combination of therapy and meds are the key to a lot of mental problem, it has saved my life, I am a lot better because of it today. Congratulation on stopping the booze, keep up the good work, alcohol detroys lives, glad your off from it. I would try the lexapro my girl friend takes it and she says it is a miracle drug for her and has saved her life. If it doesn't work try something else, everyone is different when it comes to meds, some work for other, while they don't for someone else. Good luck! I wish you well! Hugs! Von

I have been on paxil for 8 years and I don't know what I would have done without it. It is worth every bit of it. You will be so surprised on how much better you feel and your mind is so much clearer. Go for it. You'll be glad you did! Good luck!

Count me in on the "Lexapro is helping me bandwagon" along with the two people above. I have only been on it a short time and it has really helped me conquer my anxiety and panic and I feel good about things again. I drank too, mostly binging on the weekends and haven't had a drink in two weeks and that makes me feel better too.Good luck with whatever you choose.

I drank without any problems while on Lexapro. I took it for anxiety and it was a God-send. I helped quiet the "background noise" (my own self-critical thoughts). I finally switched to a non-SSRI because I couldn't get rid of the sexual side-effects. But that was just me. Others have been known to either not have them, live with them, or cure them. Here's a site that lists possible cures:
http://www.spermalot.com/spermalot/SSRIs...

Don't think that this is a character issue. I was in the same boat. I always thought that is was "my fault" and that if I just had a stronger will I could get over the problems. A strong will helps fix some problems, but I don't think I ever could have gotten over my issues, which I still have a little bit of but they are very tamed. Take the medicine. If I'd started taking this med when I was 18 my life would be completely different now.