A big problem!

Hi everyone,

I don't know if anyone will be able to help me, but I don't really know who else to talk to about this.

I have had SAD for about 10 years and am only just starting to understand how to treat it in a way that allows me to keep my head above the water all winter. After a reasonably good winter last year, I was approaching this winter with confidence..... however....

My husband of 6 months was diagnosed with depression last week, and has been prescribed Citalopram. He's only been taking it for 5 days but seems miserable (more so than before) and reeeeally tired. I have never taken anti-depressants before - does anyone know if this awful tiredness will go away soon?

I know this is going to sound really selfish and awful, but I am terrified about how this winter is going to go if the meds don't start having a positive effect on my husband really soon. I also feel guilty knowing that I will need to stay positive and motivated for his benefit, but I really don't know how I am going to manage it. In my worst months (December and Jan) I can barely get by myself, never mind having to motivate anyone else too. To put it bluntly, I am terrified.

He doesn't want me to tell anyone else in his family that he has depression, so I don't really know what to do.

I am also worried about what will happen when he (inevitably) drinks alcohol when on the meds. Has anyone else got experience of what happens when you mix Citalopram and alchol?

Has anyone else ever had to deal with a depressed other half when also dealing with their own SAD? Any tips and advice would be really, really welcome.

Sorry for such a negative posting!

Hi Jen,

Thanks for your post, it's just so nice to know I can come onto this forum and let off a bit of steam!

I'm hoping that in a few weeks my hubby will start feeling better. I have been reading a lot of the older posts on citalopram and it seems like it does help some people, but it just takes time. I suppose I will just need to be patient and hope for the best!

The reason I know my hubby will at some point drink while on the meds is that he doesn't want anyone to know he has depression - typical male pride. If he goes out with his pals he doesn't know how else to explain why he isn't drinking! It sounds stupid but if you are in your 20's and live in Scotland, you always need an excuse not to drink... I don't drink during my worst months of SAD, but if you're female then people start assuming you're pregnant!! It's a sad situation but its the reality of life in Scotland where life revolves around going to the pub.

I have tried to get my hubby to accept that the alcohol could be making his depression worse, but he doesn't seem to be willing to believe that!

Anyway, thanks for listening xx

Citalopram takes a while to get going, give it another week and hopefully the side effects will be reduced.