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[ZoloftGal]

Hi,

I'm brand new to both this forum and to depression in general. I've been sick for probably 4 years now and officially diagnosed in November. When I was on Zoloft, I was doing all right but I stopped it for a while (just kept forgetting to take it) and am on my way back to tapering up to a working dose. I used to be a "Type A" feisty workaholic and I have no idea where this girl ended up. How did I get to the point where doing the laundry seems an impossible task? I get nothing done during the day, live alone, and am watching the dishes pile up, the laundry not get done, piles of stuff on the floor because I'm too lazy to put things back in their place? I used to be a neat freak with an immaculate apartment and high energy. The worst part is that now that I'm an adult with a job, I've become disconnected from my college buddies who are now all across the country and am alone. No boyfriend, no friends. The people that I've managed to hold on to do not understand depression and insist I "snap out of it" or "just put your mind to it and you'll get it done". I miss myself. Any suggestions?

[MaddieLouise]

Hi Zoloftgal and welcome to the DF!

Being a fiesty workaholic (who was probably a bit obsessive too) is not a healthy state to be in either. Depression can manifest itself in the apathy you are displaying (pretty much not caring about how things look, not cleaning, not doing laundry, etc.), but if the Zoloft does its job (and some therapy would probably help), you will start feeling motivated again.

As for disconnection with college friends, it's pretty normal. You grow up and life continues. You have to make new friends. If you have something you like to do, see if there is a local club or group that does this and join it.

Let us know how you progress!

Sincerely,

MaddieLouise

[Tomatheus]

Hi ZoloftGal, and welcome to Depression Forums!

I just wanted to say that I could relate to what you wrote about going from being a workaholic to not having the energy to get simple things done. Though I certainly seemed to devote a disporportionate amount of my time to my work before my depressive symptoms set in, I miss having the energy that I used to have before the onset of my symptoms. I would second MaddieLouise's suggestions and recommend that you continue to take your Zoloft and that you make use of your doctor and any other professionals (therapists, counselors, social workers) that you think might help you get to the point that you want to get to. I also think that learning about your illness can help you understand it better and possibly help you cope with it better, so finding some books on depression or even reading more about it on the Web might be something else that you'd want to look into.

I wish you luck with your treatment. May you succeed in reviving some of those feelings that you seem to have lost since your symptoms set in.

Tomatheus

[msmanic]

Welcome!! I used to co-produce commercials with my ex-husband and had a theater company at the same time. Now I have a regular day job, so to speak, work part-time and can't even imagine how I used to do all that I did. I have bipolar illness though. I've swung in the other direction though, the depressive side, but it feels like I'm slowly coming back to center. Do you think you might have bipolar symptoms? Just wondering. Just when you said you were this zippy type-a person, it reminded me of me.