There is a place for antidepressants in depression and a place for psychotherapy and what seems to work best in the long run is psychotherapy or both. My family has a history of serious depression. It is chemical and responds well to chemicals. Without antidepressants there is overwhelming sadness, intrusive thoughts, and difficulty functioning, even when you know you are basically happy.

Regarding Alice's comments, although doctors didn't attribute my symptoms of MG to depression, I did, not the unexpected weakness, but others. For many years the doctors I was seeing just didn't think anything was wrong. I did attribute to depression symptoms that I now know were due to MG. The difficulty starting jobs I really wanted to do was one of them and having to break tasks down into parts. I have learned that when I stand and stare at a job that needs to be done, it is my body telling my mind there is a very good reason that I shouldn't be doing it.

When treatment for depression interferes with solving problems instead of giving you the energy and tools to do so, then that is not helpful. If you can function and problem solve better with treatment that is good, if you are numb, that is not. nc

..Thank you all for your good thoughts. It is such a strange time for me, not knowinging if my swallowing stopped from the M.G. or the M.S. or some other physical problem OR my subconscious is too Afraid to allow me to swallow. Every time I choke or have to spit out my saliva or clean the area around my feeding tube or look in the mirror and see this strange thing hanging out of my stomach or take my feeds, water and meds thru the tube , it reinforces the idea that I I Can't swallow. I have decided for now not to go on a anti depression drug until I know what I'm dealing with. I do take xanax at bedtime and klonapin once or twice a day if I'm getting to worked up. I think the anti anxiety meds are working o.k. for me right now because I just take them when I really need to. Again Thank you all for your support!

GrannyJo, I am happy to meet you. Hello.

Thank you to everyone who responded to this post, has helped me a lot.

My neuro is also insisting I take antidepressants and I don't think I need them. I don't have clinical depression, but I am facing financial troubles because I am unable to work and am soon reaching a time when I will have no money left to live on, and no medical insurance either. I really need help of some kind and not antidepressants.

I've applied for social security disability and would love to work, but can't find any job that I can do that will work with my MG issues (can barely find energy to even look for a job). I am feeling deperate and asked my neuro what I CAN do, that I need to figure out a source of money to live on, either a job or disability...he offers no real suggestions, tells me my MG is too mild for disability, refuses to fill out any disability related forms, and he tells me to take antidepressants! That solves nothing at all. Maybe I actually do feel depressed now but the reason is because I feel like no one is supportive.

Anyway, I don't want to go on about my troubles here in your post, other than to say I have issues to solve that are causing me to be angry, stressed and scared...not depressed! I'm really working hard at solutions.

I agree with the other posters here, sometimes feeling stressed or upsed is a motivation to fix things in our lives, for me it certainly is, and there is no reason to suppress depression if there is a logical reason for it. It is part of a grieving process for me, as I have lost my old self and can't see a new way into the future yet.

I did go see a therapist recently, because my neuro has recommended this as well, one I've seen before and trust, because I also have PTSD...and he wants me to take anti-depressants, too. I do think he will support my decision not to take them but he asked me to consider it.

In my opinion, unless you (and I) are clinically depressed, we don't need anti-depressants.

Honestly, if I had either a job that I could do that would pay my bills or some other source of income that would cover the basic necessities in life, I'd be happy. In fact I'd be happy immediately, I don't have some sort of imbalance causing a depression. I've started learning how to live with MG and seem to be stabilizing and feel good about thiat, I've even FINALLY accepted that I have limits and will never be my old strong and energetic self, I'm happy to be my new MG self and it does feel good (except when I do some part time temporary work, then I crash for a while and regret trying to work). I love my kids and family. I don't have any reason to be depressed other than the fear of the future and lack of mony. My kids haven't had any christmas presents for two years because of the MG and probably not this year either, I haven't had any new clothes or anything besides food for over 2 years.

If antidepressants will put money in my bank account, I'll take them gladly, but in all honesty, they cost money and I have no medical insurance, I think they will only add to my burden. I need a real solution! I hope the disabilty works out but if it doesn't I am out on the street or more likely asking relatives if they will care for me and my kids, I imagine they will but I hope I don't have to ask...it is really that desperate for me.

What is this thing about doctors and anti-depressants? Why can't the doctors help with actual solutions? I hope this therapist will offer some other solutions, I do have hope in him...

I see from reading this post that I am depressed...hopefully my feelings will motivate me to find a solution soon.

GrannyJo, I do see how having a crisis could make your mind somehow be afraid of swallowing. I have anxiety issues myself and have discovered that there is a mental aspect to my symptoms. Even though I am diagnosed with MG and have antibodies, my stress level can trigger symptoms, maybe if I solve my issues my MG will become less severe, I can only hope, for me and for you...MG is so complicated and unique to each individual, seems as if no one really understands how it works.

I hope you feel better soon.

[You are right, not everybody needs anti-depresants. I think the doctors sometimes don't know how to help, then offer those because they can think of nothing else. Do you have a womans resourse center in your neck of the woods? We have them here, and sometimes they can lead to jobs, and or some help with your bills until you find some kind of job. I know so many in this situation, that have no insurance, and no job. Gosh I hope something comes through for you. Look into A womans resourse center. If you can't qualify for Social security disability, you need a job, not another pill. If you were going to try for disability, then maybe I would consider the medication offered. As far as cost goes, the manufactures often have programs for those who do not have the money for their medications. For several years, before I qualified, I received several of my medications free. Sometimes your doctor can provide them to you from office samples if they know your financial difficulties. I sure know about that too. So sorry you are going though this. Ginnie

Ginnie, thank you. I hadn't thought to ask for office samples or contacting manufacturers. I'll consider the pills. It seems kind of silly that it might help get disabilitiy if I take more drugs. I'll also look for a woman's resource center. Great ideas.

I do want to note here that my kids have state covered insurance, but I do not qualify for it due to the money in my bank account that I am using to live on, money I saved in a retirement account but had to withdraw after getting MG.

I wish you well with your own healing and treatments.

I hope thinks work out for you. I was in the situation of having no insurance eithor. My retirement was destroyed because I had 6 surgeries with no insurance. I hope and pray that does not happen to you. My doctor did give me samples for years. The anti-depressant drugs are considered when you get an evaluation for SS. The more you have in your case about your condition the better it is. I do take anti-depressant, zoloft. I had considered my depression due to the stress of having severe medical conditions. They do work a bit, but are no means a magical solution to feeling low. You said you MG is not bad enough for retirement, or SS, but you mentioned how difficult it was for you to work. It seems like you pay a price for working. I will hope that you find something, maybe through that womens center that can lead to some kind of position where you won't upset the MG. I was a single mother of two also, so I know how hard it is to stay on top of things. Not being able to provide for your family can weigh so heavily on a persons heart. I do wish you all the best, and I will try to think of another avenue that you may be able to persue. ginnie

Thank you Ginnie.

MG means so many life changes, it is overwhelming at times, all I can do is deal with one at a time.

Hello there,

I have flip flopped from depression med to depression med...either they didn't work or they made me sick. I was put on Zoloft 100mg twice daily about 9months ago by my Nuerologist and it has done wonders:-) I suffer form epilepsy, and have had a few surgerys. Zoloft has been the one to work, if you haven't tried this, I would recommend it:-)
I will be praying for you, and hope my advice helped...