Changes

It is morning. The toughest part of my day. Getting up and getting going takes me forever! I recently stopped taking anti-depressants after many years on them. My mornings are definitely tougher without them. But I decided it was time to give it a try. (I am not suggesting, mind you, that ANYONE on medication for anything go off their meds. This is partly my shrink's doing.) The most noticable effects of this are physical. I am dizzy, I wake up stiff and sore, I fatigue more easily. These symptoms scare me, they sound like MS and other nasty illnesses.

I have several reasons for trying this. First, I don't like the idea of taking ever increasing numbers of medications- which as we age, many of us have to do. I wish to save my liver and kidneys as long as possible. Second, I would like to save my health care dollars. Third, I have changed my diet, and want to see if that helps my depression. Fourth, I have never tried other strategies for dealing with depression without the medications.

Now, I must admit, that some symptoms of my depression have begun to reappear. So far, they are tolerable. And if they become unmanagable I will certainly go back to the meds. But, I think it is important to give other strategies a fighting chance. The things I am trying include: exercise, diet changes, journaling, therapy. These all take some time to manifest their effectiveness- just as the meds do when you first start taking them. The biggest problem I am having is consistency. But that has always been an issue with me. I just have to keep working at it.