Feeling depressed and emotionless

[braccio]

I am just feeling so depressed and emotionless.  This has been going on for a long time.  I can't smile or laugh, and I'm constantly thinking of how depressed I feel.  I hate being alone, since it gives me more time to think.  I walk around in a fog, sort of tuned out from the world.  My family doesn 't really know how bad I feel, because I'm just more quiet.  I can't convince anyone, even my psychiatrist, that I feel as bad as I do.  I presently take 1000 mg of Depakote (for 18 years), 180 mg of Geodon (for 3 years), and 10 mg of Lexapro (since September).  None of these make me feel any better.  I've just lost any joy in life.  I'm too young to feel like this--I'm only 50.  Anyone have any ideas on what meds have helped them?  Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

[adel_ezz]

the only way in my view that makes you feel not depressed is to achieve something.

people here have clinical depression like myself but have no clue to how i can beat it so that i can go to work. i.e. people wish to pursue their life but can't, whereas in your case and from your previous posts i feel you lost interest. you've got to find something you really like to do and ABOVE ALL that makes you very busy.

ok watching comedy might help. i remember in older movies, kings had clowns to perform in front of them to make them happy. Still when it didn't help they kill the clowns. So really this is not the way to be happy of course in my view though i value what Xila said. But i mean depression is a clinical illness not a lost of interest.

if you choose to watch comedies, don't watch it alone, it won't help, you have to share it with your family. I am sure your family is a nice one, because they chose to live with a depressed person being a big sacrifice they do. Sure they can choose not to, but they want a prescription to make them participate in alleviating your depression.

I don't believe lexapro if it goes up to 30 (max therap dose) can help much, it may of course. But sure if you do something you like, then i bet it will greatly help. Perhaps you know what you like but dare not to embark on it. PLEASE think and do what you like without frontiers even if you choose to quarrel or shout loudly  

[Xila31]

I know this sounds dumb but it worked for me when I was a teen. I would watch stand-up comedy and other comedy shows all the time. I would avoid anything dramatic or sad. I would only watch comedy. I did not smile or laugh, I just would sit and watch it. I still do this to this day. I avoid overly sad or down things. I avoid depressing news stories. I watch as much comedy as I can, esepcially when I am down.

It did take me a very long time to get past the first depression. It started when I was about 10 years old and lasted until I was about 17. At 14 is when I started watching comedy. Monty Python, stand-up, the Simpsons, goofy movies, Mystery Science Theatre 3000, Mr. Bean, etc. Anything to keep my mind of things that were funny. I wasn't on meds, had no therapist, just had to deal with it. I used it like a shield and it helped me get through suicidal times and self-harm. Odd, I know.

So, keep after your psychiatrist for different meds but in the meantime try to stay away from anything that might bring you down too. :)