Query for all carers

[spanoo2012]

Hi
I'm new to the forum and a new carer. I just want to enquire as to whether any carers have any experience of recurrent depression. My mother was diagnosed with depression 6 years ago and nobody knows the actual catalyst, my mother included. For the first four years it was a continual run but since 2010 she's had a strange period of positive and negative moods. She's been on all sorts of anti-depressants, to no avail. She is currently coming off her last batch and she's looking at not touching drugs again. This may seem wrong but nothing's helped and it's getting to a point where they just seem pointless.
Any ideas or experience shared would be much appreciated.
Thanks
spanoo xxx

[Myrtle]

Hello and welcome
I've moved you into new members as not all our members get to the bottom of the board to see you

[susieq]

Hello Spanoo and welcome to the forum.

I've no experience with what you describe but what came to mind when you said positive/negative moods was Bi-polar ?

[Brindleboy123]

Hello Spanoo - just wanted to pop in and welcome you to the forum. Again, I have very little advice re depression. My Mum had COPD amongst other things and one of the side effects of this awful disease was the depression and this was one of the most difficult things to deal with - I felt quite helpless at times as to how to help too.

Hopefully, more advice from members will follow. Once again, welcome aboard.

Bell x

[Melly1]

Hi Spanoo,
sorry no experience related to your enquiry, but just wanted to say welcome to the forum.

Melly1

[spanoo2012]

Thank you all for your replies.

The gradual decrease of the drugs are all on doctor advice which is obviously the right thing to do. From what we can all gather, it's not bipolar because her moods aren't extreme as I'm aware that is the definition.

With regards to the clinical depression, reading what you wrote Audrey was comforting. Mum doesnt actually feel depressed per se but she's been told by the medical profession continuasly that its 'recurrent depression'. She's had depression before and says its not the same thing. They are more like blinding headaches that last for weeks and nothing will rid them.

I will definitely stay here because the support is very welcoming.
Spanoo2012 xxxx