[ChrisNev]

I've been off painkillers for a month. The sickness and cravings are behind me now, there's just one hurdle I need to overcome. The depression.

I know that bad circumstances are part of the cause, but the depression takes away the energy and motivation needed to do the work to improve my situation in life, creating a catch 22 kind of situation.

I know the other reason is my brain needs to readjust and to start making enough of its own endorphins.

I exercise, and I eat right, tried 5-htp, but the depression is persistent.

I'm just considering taking an antidepressant for a few months. I dont want to be dependent on another drug. But a part of me thinks, wait another month. But enduring another month of spending all my free time alone, not having the desire to do anything, is easier said than done.

[MaisieC]

I don't see anything wrong with trying an antidepressant for a while. I was taking an antidepressant while abusing opiates, and when I quit the drugs I got very depressed. My doctor raised the dose of the antidepressant for a while until I felt better, then we lowered the dose again and I was OK.

I understand your concern about not wanting to get involved with another drug. But the SSRIs are not addictive, so it's not quite the same thing. Of course you can become psychologically dependent on any substance. But you're really making a good faith effort to improve your mood through exercise and diet; if you keep this up, my guess is that you probably won't need to be on the SSRI all that long. I am not a big fan of suffering unnecessarily, and I think you should ask for help.

Do tell your doctor all about your history, and you two can decide together the best thing for you.

Good luck, and please let us know how you're doing.