Beating the blues without antidepressants

I too feel some stigma to the ‘mental health’ and ‘depression’ labels. I also feel i have not agreed to follow up any treatment or speak to my dr at length as i too do not want a ‘metal health’ record.  Silly really!  

@Queendonut and @kmakm   I too was worried about having a record of "mental health issues"  recorded against my name if ever I applied for insurance, employment, etc but not when I went onto Effexor. It was after my diagnosis, mastectomy and subsequent chemotherapy problems which ended up with me speaking and walking as if I had Parkinson's Disease. I was given the choice by my neurologist to attempt one more chemo cycle (I only had 2 AC) or stop. That was such a HUGE decision that altho I had input from Drs, family etc it was basically MY decision alone. Would I get worse and not b able to walk or speak at all or would I get a recurrence if I didn't take the full chemo regime!!!
I decided that as I was NED I didn't want to chance any more chemo.  However in making the decision I was emotional, irritable, stressed etc so my GP referred me to a psychologist. I was annoyed to see on the referral I was listed as Depressed and when I argued against that, my GP said she had to use that term to get me on a Mental Health Regime thru Medicare.
  I think it is wrong that anyone who has to go through the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment HAS to b listed as Depressed to gain Medicare assistance.  As it was I only saw the Psychologist twice for a chat mainly about my family and support and feel I resolved everything myself, but I still wonder if in the future my "Mental Health" issues will b raised against me. However we have to do what is best for us at the time!

@Queendonut I speak openly about my mental health and menopause. The societal stigma surrounding these overwhelmingly common conditions drives me nuts. K xox

Wise words- i think i will be a little more likely to accept the next offer from my `Dr.  

@Queendonut I started on antidepressants during chemo. I'd never been on them before. My mental health was deteriorating and while reluctant, having had a family member who refused to take them and suffered horribly as a result, I had promised myself I wouldn't make that mistake. It took the combined gentle suggestion from my counsellor, GP and breastcare nurse in the space of 24 hours to get me onto them. It was the latter who tipped me into agreeing. She used the same words as the others but somehow in a way that seemed so logical and sensible. I can't remember exactly what she said, but the gist of it was 'why suffer if you don't have to'.

I have so far managed to avoid the antidepressants but sometimes I think I should give in and take them. 

I take cannabis oil for depression but it does a lot more than treat depression. My chemo brain neural pathways are being healed. My PTSD is touch wood gone. I am on low dose but I hope it interferes with any cancer returning.
I also eat cashews in down times as those are supposed to help lift depression too. I like the honey roasted ones though and they tend to pack on the weight so its not a regular treat.

Hi everyone, a bit late to the discussion but thought I would suggest 2 alternatives.  I have tried about 6 natural or alternative products for the relief of menopausal symptoms, all unsuccessfully. (I had a surgical menopause after endometriosis at 39 yo and was  told by GP that I am in the 10-15% category of women whose menopausal symptoms never resolve, yay!!!)  Several months ago I read on another B/C forum that lots of ladies were taking Happy Hormones and so tried the powder (they also have capsules) - available online. Altho I felt generally healthier it did nothing for my hot flushes. Several others suggested half dose of Effexor which is an anti depressant and I jotted down the name but didn't feel I needed it.  Fast forward to 4 wks before my DIEP and thoughts of if I was making the right decision saw me not sleeping well, stressing, crying, generally feeling down so my GP prescribed Effexor and altho there were initial feelings of nausea it was worth pushing thru.  I have felt very calm and the hot flushes went after 4 or 5 days! It makes life so much more bearable, I am much calmer to live with and it seems for me the "natural" products aren't effective. Hope this helps others in the same situation.

Hi @Josephine66
See below the about herbs and botanicals link, a great resource to search current evidence
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs

@kezmusc good point, yes I should've noted that in my original post. I am ER+ however am choosing not to take hormone therapy. I've had a couple of goes and have decided my quality of life is more important. I didn't cope on hormone therapy 😞