Mood-swing meds?
 

Has anyone had experience with pretty severe mood swings and either going on meds (SSRIs, etc) or choosing not to? What are the pros/cons of meds for moods and depression?

I have been going to group counseling for over a year but do not feel that is doing a great job of helping me deal with aspects of my moods, mostly in relationships. My mother has been on all the anti-depressants (currently on Zoloft) and it seems to control her moods a little, but I don't want to try them unless it's absolutely going to help stabilize me emotionally. I usually feel stable enough doing work/school stuff, but when it comes to relationships, I just go a little crazy and am looking at all possible causes, medical and otherwise.

I have been on birth control for about 9 months and know that this sometimes causes mood swings, but these don't seem to be a huge issue since I've always had mood issues in relationships, it seems. Any tips?

Age and experience have a lot to do with relationship mood swings and I think it's great that you are in therapy. Perhaps one on one therapy would be better to address your specific relationship concerns. You may have to shop around until you find a counselor that you can feel comfortable with and whose judgement you trust. Listen to your inner voice, empower yourself.
Please discuss your concerns about the pros and cons of mood stabilizing drugs with your MD, but consider them to be a last option. Moods are ok to have!! Let yourself be okay with that.

Thanks Manuel Hong... I actually just talked to my group counselors about setting up 1-on-1 therapy, and they're looking around for a good person to refer me to. At this rate I'll be going to both group AND individual counseling each week... I should be fixed in no time. :D (I know that it's not about being "fixed," it's a long process of slow change... but I still find it amusing that I am going to be in therapy double-time now).

I agree that drugs should be the last resort. But I also just feel really out of control of my moods sometimes, and I do not want to chalk it up to being "female" (see my threads in "Coming Together" forum!). I've seen a lot of people who had very strong mood swings and then go on meds and actually be stable... so that's why I was wondering if I was missing something up there (chemical imbalance). I want to be healthy and less imbalanced and am working as hard as I can towards that goal... but yeah, for now I think meds are not part of the solution for me.

Glad to hear you've made some moves forward toward working out your problems. I hope it goes well, let us know how it works out.

Oh, and be nice to yourself! I find that the only times when my emotions get out of control is when I don't allow myself the right to have them and judge myself for them. Your emotions can't be changed, only acknowleged and accepted for what they are.

:icare:

i did alot of research on depression and alot of people said that therapy hardly ever works..

Hmmm...If you have the research to back up that statement AfterBurn, I'd like to see it. Would you mind posting the source?

Perhaps the reason I've seen such good results both personally and clinically is because of the combination of medical herbal therapy in conjunction with counseling.

Not all methods work for everyone, but I'll certainly advocate what I've found useful in my experiences...professionally and otherwise.

Uummm, I'm just going to go ahead and dismiss this post as well intentioned ingnorance, which is better than the alternative...

Exercise is suppose to help with depression. Just the natural endorphin release from exercising is suppose to moderate mood swings.

I take anti-depressant meds, since I was a sophmore in high school (I'm a senior in college now). I've gone off it once, and it was one of the worst times of my life. It was truly horrible.
It's been pretty helpful, unless something really stressful happens. Then I go to counseling. Kind of backwards, I know. But with a doc for a mom, the first thing she goes for is the drugs. :p