RenneG, So sorry that you are suffering right now. I actually took Paxil and later Prozac to deal with the "why me?" reaction to my diagnosis. We had a bunch of other family issues at the same time, and I just couldn't cope, work, and do what had to be done for my family at the same time. The Prozac didn't dry me out as much as the Paxil. Also added Plaquenil to help moderate my fatigue and inflammation, and had lower lids permanently plugged to hold on to the drops longer for better relief. After about 10 months, my life settled down, and I was able to taper off the Prozac. Not sure I could have made it without some medical intervention otherwise.

Sometimes depression is a chemical imbalance, and if you don't treat it chemically, you don't get better.

Good luck!

RenneG,
I have been dealing with the same. The last 2 years I have lost both parents and a fiance that walked out while I slept. Not even a goodby. I have another autoimmune disease that was diagnosed in 03 and now this. I am about to crack. I spend days just crying.
I have scheduled a visit to a psycologist and may start meds. I really don't want to add more to my list but I may need to. Just can't get past this sadness. A friend mentioned Lexapro so I may give it a try.

Has anyone tried Vitamin D. We lose sunlight we can get depressed , also getting your hormones balanced. Being a guy its not my expertise though.

At the start of shorter days I start upping my vitamin d levels. from 2000- 4000 now I'm taking 5000daily. As the days get longer and more sun I slide them back.

I honestly never get depressed , I've felt really blue though a few times. I also occupy my mind with things to do. I own pets and they are my depression busters.

I truthfully don't believe drugs are an answer, more a last resort. Exercise also keeps me going.

Raising two new pups this last year has made me feel much better. One of them is a clown he can make anyone just burst out laughing. He does some incredible things ....and you never know when. He opens doors as his latest trick!
I love also going to the comedy club.....take a trip too.

Depression is a serious thing. Feeling blue passes.....

I take 2000 units of Vitamin D daily. My doc started me on that immediately. Right now I am taking citalopram which my doc started me on due to the high doses of prednisone. Hopefully, I can stop taking it at some point in the near future. I do not like taking drugs. haha! A person with Sjogren's probably needs to get over that bias. Since, the prednisone has been reduced, I am going to suggest to my doc to reduce the citalopram so that I can stop taking it. I have been taking it since the beginning of October. I believe it really has helped me cope with all of this mess.... but, i would rather cope through diet, exercise, and natural remedies.

I have had depression for years.I could'nt function & was a complete mess. It is a very different feeling to being a bit down.I would not wish it on anyone. I saw a physciiatrist for two years & eventually found the right medication which I still take. I try to reduce & slip into depression again so I keep taking them. I tried to help myself but could'nt. When you are in the depths of depression knowing what to do & actually doing it are two different things.
We have enough to cope withwith Sjogren's without depression as well.
I am sorry you are going through this .My advice is to get professional help.
I hope you start to feel better soon.

I also take vit D.I live in Australia but was still deficiant. Lack of it can cause depression & flu like aching.

Lots of prayer and faith in the Lord...that's the ONLY way I can find relief and overcome. God's Word is full of hope and comfort; He heals the brokenhearted and depressed. I will pray for you :)

Psalm 40:1-3
"I waited patiently for the LORD and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit; out of the miry clay. And He set my feet upon a rock....He has put a new song in my mouth. Praise to our God!

I've dealt with overwhelming depression for many years. Since I was very young. When I started getting sick it got even worse. I also had severe social anxiety disorder. I talked to my doc and she started me on zoloft. Later I was switched to citalopram, aka celexa. My sympoms drastically improved. I also found it very comforting to confide in my close friends. Therapists are great to talk to but a non-judgmental friend works too. Just find someone to talk to. Faith helps a lot too. I am not religious but have found myself turning to prayer more and more. Of course diet and exercise can help too. Talk to your doc and explore your options. There is help out there! And there is always great help here.

RenneG,I take Citlopram as well as Trazodone - but don't discount pain relief as a benefit to helping depression. My doctors (rheumy and gp) started me on Trammadol for the pain (which I felt was a large part of my depression). I'll never feel "normal" but the combination has helped my depression. Good luck and best wishes on your journey to finding what makes your life as good as possible. Kat

You didn't mention, but are you taking Plaquenil? I take that as well as Imuran. I believe the combination of those two things has helped with the flares and the dryness. Kat

Oh, and 3,000 units of Vit D daily. Ocassionally I take a course of 50,000 units of Vit D daily for a number of months- until things get back on course.

It's the hit and miss and trial and combination of things that works best. Prayer sure doesn't hurt either. :)

I have plenty of days when I ask "Why me?" I have two wonderful friends. One has a 17 year old daughter with Spina Bifida, and the other has a son with severe muscular dystrophy. Sometimes (not always) it helps to think about what those children (and parents) have gone through. Other days, it still doesn't help to know there are people out there who have it worse than I. My husband won't tolerate any signs of depressions while he's present. He'll make me get out of bed and take me to see one of these kids. It always works for me. It's hard, but take one day at a time and force yourself to do something. Just read a book (if you can), watch a romantic comedy on TV, get a pet if you don't have one. And don't be afraid to cry - it helps. (They say we don't have tears - oh yes, we do!) I cry at least once a day. Heck, I pull one of my rat terriers into my bed and we cry together. This site should help, too. If you ever want to talk, I'm here. Sally

Aww your post made me want to cry. I would cry with my cat but he would most likely freak out and run away, lol. I am a firm believer that when your depressed to this extent you have to combine antidepressants and other kinds of things to, keeping a journal, talking to someone, seeing a therapist even if you really get to that point. Depression is a physical illness just like Sjogrens, not just emotional.

Other mental illnesses often require medication, depression (real depression not the blues) is no different. I would talk to your doctor and see about Zoloft. It has minimal side effects, that go away in two weeks and you will see an improvement very fast if indeed you do feel extremely depressed. The only thing to watch out for is most of them cause dry mouth! If anything, it could give you a jump start to feeling better, you can always wean off of it. If you start feeling depressed again, there might be something clinical there.

Depression. This is one of those that you ask which came first the chicken or the egg? I am inclined to believe the chicken (sjs) came first. I don't really get depressed, but I do have many days where I don't want to do things that I used to enjoy because I don't feel well. If you are in pain, stressed, have an overall fatigue and not feeling well you can easily get very down. I have fought taking anti depressants and don't but I have heard about a fairly new one called Pristiq (sp?) that I have heard very positive things about.

There are many things that you have to get under control before you can even think about the natural remedies like exercise, eating right, etc. Although I believe all of these things help you need a little help to get to a point where you even feel like doing these healthy things for yourself. I hope you find something to get you going on the right path to feeling better.

Me again. I do agree with having your Vit D levels checked and your doc can decide how much you need. We always tend to have low Vit D levels which effects alot.

My doc has me on 50,000 IU's once every two weeks. I started out on 50,000 IU's once a week until I got up there. They said I was way off the charts with my low levels. It may have helped.