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Today, 22 November 2009

› SACP attacks Malema

› Meteor 'flash' in Gauteng

› Malema attack 'racist'

› Govt settles with Pikoli

› Will cops play brokers?

Yesterday, 21 November 2009

› SACP attacks Malema

› Match-fixing stuns Europe

› JZ hails Miss World effect

› Henry offers replay

› No armchair ride for Boks

Question

Is constant worry, frequent visits to the loo, exhaustion/fatigue all symptoms of depression? If so, what anti-depressant do you recommend other than St John's Wort?

Please include those which can be obtained with a prescription and those which can't.

Answer
Could be. The visits to the loo suggest that you are also experiencing a fairly high level of anxiety.

Anxiety and depression often arrive in someone's life together, though a state of anxiety that has become constant will also cause the symptoms you describe, in which case the problem is better described as some kind of anxiety disorder, rather than "depression" as such.

But in any case, it's a mood disorder that's happening and the treatments are similar. If you want to go the natural route, talk to someone in a good, well-informed health-remedy shop. Our local one has a good range of dietary supplements that may be able to help; and they tell me that there is a South African plant, "Sceletium", which can be taken for depression or mood upsets and which is even more effective than St John's Wort.

You need to remember that with any herbal supplement or medicine, you can still get side effects. This is certainly the case with SJW, which disagrees with a lot of people.

And a further problem is that these medicines are uncontrolled, both with respect to the best dosage (of whatever the active ingredients are) and to quality, so that you cannot be sure you are really getting what you pay for.

For the anxiety, you may find that Rescue Remedy is helpful and calming, and people report good results from Chamomile Tea which is very easily obtained from any supermarket.

You may also find it helpful to consult an alternative practitioner: homeopath, reflexologist, or aromatherapist (aromatherapy can be very helpful, especially at times of the day when you are tired and tense).

The best people are those who will support you and not try to "push" their philosophy or system of treatment, nor try to undermine your respect for the medical profession or discourage you from seeking medical advice.

Vice versa applies: the best doctor to help you will probably be someone who is willing to assist you in finding a treatment you feel you can live with.

Prescription antidepressants, many also effective against anxiety, come onto the market all the time. The new ones have fewer side effects. They have the advantage of being controlled and regulated, and you will have the support of your doctor.

Antidepressants are not addictive, though it may be necessary to withdraw from them slowly and you may need to take them for quite a long time (at least six months) before you're ready to go ahead without them.

The process can be helped along if you also consult a psychologist for at least a few sessions of psychotherapy, to learn some skills and deal with issues that would otherwise get in the way.

I can't recommend a specific medication as this is a decision for you and your doctor need to make together.

However, do take care if the doctor recommends a tranquilliser or sleeping tablet, especially if you are expected to take it for more than a couple of weeks and if no guidance is given about how you are going to cut it out after that.

It's bad enough having to deal with depression and anxiety, without adding a tranquilliser dependency to your problems.