I'm sorry you're feeling so down.

Have you tried exercise? Different anti-depressants (even if only temporarily)? Yoga/tai chi or something else relaxing? Talking to someone (professional)?

Everything gets through these spells differently. Myself, I just accepted antidepressants for the first time, and it was a big and hard step to admit I might need them, but it's helping so it's worth it. I also am trying to buff up my healthy eating and find constructive things to do, and start doing "MS Yoga" at home. It's tough.. For me, mental issues such as sadness are harder to handle than physical issues, even big ones..

Hang in there!

Thank you for your advice. I just bought a chair yoga for MS. I will try that!

I'm diagnosed with bipolar disorder so I truly sympathize with how you're feeling right now. It's not a fun place to be. There are some things you can try that might help besides medication.

Have you tried using a journal, here or on paper? Setting some guidelines for yourself can make it very therapeutic and useful. Set aside a time to do it, get all of your negative feelings out at once. If you start to dwell on issues during the day you remind yourself that you will journal about it later. Here's a quote (the whole thing is pretty long) from a study that I thought you might find interesting.

"Patients with mild to moderately severe asthma or rheumatoid arthritis who wrote about stressful life experiences had clinically relevant changes in health status at 4 months compared with those in the control group. These gains were beyond those attributable to the standard medical care that all participants were receiving. It remains unknown whether these health improvements will persist beyond 4 months or whether this exercise will prove effective with other diseases.

A growing amount of literature suggests that addressing patients' psychological needs produces both psychological and physical health benefits. Expressive writing is one such technique that has been used successfully in several controlled studies.

Although it may be difficult to believe that a brief writing exercise can meaningfully affect health, this study replicates in a chronically ill sample what a burgeoning literature indicates in healthy individuals. Mechanisms underlying these effects have not been established, although several have been proposed. "

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/281/14/1304.full

Exercise is also an excellent suggestion. It's been shown to be just as effective as antidepressants in some studies.

You are not useless or worthless, you are a person who deserves to be happy. Have you ever read The Spoon Theory? It's a short story online. Reading it always makes me feel determined not to let my symptoms get the better of me. If you'd like to read it here's the link.

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/

I hope you feel better soon.
((big hugs)) Crystal

First of all no one is useless!!! I worked with most severely handicapped for years and have to say that each one affected my life greatly and contributed to my emotional well being more han I can ever express in words.
That being said, I agree that antidepressants are hard to adjust. But in time they do find the right mixture. I take several. Every so often my body decides it;s had enough and it;s back to square one again.
Diet is everything!!! A healthy well balance diet is essential to your physical and mental well being. I am currently on my way to vegetarian. No more red meat. Only fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains. Haven't quite gotten rid of the fish and chicken yet. But I feel a tremendous difference already.
Exercise is also a big help. Moving helps the to keep the body motivated.Even if it is only to go outside.
I go to a therapist also. I look forward to it most visits. It helps alot.
If you can get out, then I recomend going to a veterans center or a home for the mentally disabled and volunteering an hour a week to start. It's nothing really. Just companionship. At first it is pretty uncomfortable but not too long into it you start to see something amazing. Life!!! So many people with so little and yet so hopeful and grateful. It's amazing to see and a blessing in disgise to experience it.
Good luck to you and I hope you feel better soon.

I agree with everything that's been said, good nutrition, exercise and also a well balanced regime of vitamins and supplements. If you do the best you can for your body the mind will or should eventually feel better as well.

It helps to have an external point of focus, be it volunteering, yoga, hobbies, regrouping your energies and focusing on what's good for YOU (perhaps research the anti inflammation diet).

You need to start promoting your own well being doing whatever is necessary for that to happen. You are important, you are the best, you are NOT useless and if you want to live with just your husband than you need to speak up and make it happen.

I would definitely try another anti depressant!, i have a very good friend with ms too and she told me that if i started to feel depressed to take antidepressants because they have really helped her, i will not hesitate, sometimes i feel useless too but i am not depressed about it yet.

"I live with my husband and his two brothers. My mother-in-law passed away last year. I thought after she passed away my husband and I would move into our own place but that hasn't happened! "

Why haven't you two moved out on your own? Have the four of you always lived together?

I thank everyone for their advice. Bobby, it is hard living with 3 men. We have more than 1 TV so that is never an option. I really feel as though my husband has some misplaced sense of responsibility.

I have asked to move and it is always "you do the work checking into the details. This is what I am willing to spend. So find it and we'll move"

I have tried it and NOTHING! They have put so much into this house neither one is willing to give an inch in leaving anything behind or forfeiting their share.

Guess I am stuck!

I understand the living with family thing..

My husband and I bought a house last year, and with the economy and life situations that occured.. We now have me, my husband and my son (original plan).. and my sister.. and her son (4 years old).. and my husbands sister.. her husband.. and they have a baby due in 2 months. So now instead of supporting a house of 3 i'm supporting a house of soon to be 8. Sure, I could tell them to leave.. But it's family, and one day I might be on the other end of the situation.

My advice.. If you have to suck it up and live with it.. Establish boundaries and make sure you have some of your own space.

I can sure understand that sadness thing. It is very real and it is also part of the MS (yeah I know, what isn't?). It is called "lability" - ref: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/symptoms/emotional-changes/index.aspx

Sometimes I feel like crying non-stop. I believe I have a good reason for it considering how much this disease has stolen from me. However, one cannot deny the physical problem of MS having its own ugly role in how we feel not only emotionally but physically as well.

If you went to a doctor, they'd likely put you on some sort of prescription anti-depressants I think. Personally, I've had little luck with any of the drugs used to treat depression.

I don't know where you are located but maybe getting some legal marijuana would help you a lot with your mood and both physical and emotional pain.

You might also try to find a psychotherapist or a psychologist. If you find the right person, they can be of great help I have found.

I hope you are feeling not so sad soon. I hate that feeling and it often makes one feel as you describe, both worthless and at least in my case unloved; sometimes hated by those out there that do not believe that I have MS. :(

In the meantime, please take care of yourself.

You touched my heart. For me, prayer is the best answer. He can guide U and most importantly, comfort you.

Hang in there. I've dealt with these feelings although know one can totally identify with how YOU are feeling... we are each so individual.

I too have been dealing with MS a long time (since January 1987). BTW this is a wonderful place (Daily Strenght) to meet people (the only people) who know what you are dealing with, to some degree. These are my peeps! I lean on them often.

Privileged to pray for you my friend.

Love, Amy