Stephanie – Interview 21
Stephanie was teaching overseas in an international school when she started experiencing periods of anxiety and depression. She closely linked these experiences with her menstrual cycle. Initially she sought treatment through medication, which worked well, but on her return to Australia Stephanie also found visiting a psychologist helpful. Currently Stephanie is not taking medication and feels that should future experiences of depression occur she is well equipped to deal with them.
Stephanie classifies herself as a strong person. However at the age of 29, while working overseas in an international school, Stephanie began experiencing periods where she could not control her emotions; which she believed were closely related to her menstrual cycle. These periods were defined by anxiety, crying and feelings of being overwhelmed. Eventually Stephanie made an appointment with a GP who, without mentioning the word depression;, told her that she may have an imbalance in her serotonin levels; and gave her a prescription for anti-depressants. Although she experienced side effects, which included a shaky jaw, nausea, reduced sex drive and constipation, Stephanie found that the medication made her feel ‘mellow’, less anxious and she would not cry as often. Psychologists were not easily accessible where she was based, but Stephanie kept regular appointments with her GP, and they would talk through things;.
Once Stephanie was feeling better it was decided that she would come off the medication which she did so by decreasing the dosage slowly. Stephanie stopped taking the medication on a trip home but on her return overseas broke up with her boyfriend, which she found difficult and prompted suicidal thoughts. After putting on a lot of weight and again experiencing bouts of crying, a friend urged her to go back to the doctor. Again the medication helped her to feel better. On returning home permanently Stephanie encountered family problems that she found difficult to deal with. While still on the medication Stephanie went to a GP, whom she found helpful, and organised a mental health care plan that included visiting a psychologist. The sessions with the psychologist, while not groundbreaking;, helped her to gain some alternative perspectives on family issues. After successfully losing weight and feeling better Stephanie slowly stopped taking the medication.
While Stephanie does not believe that anything in her childhood caused her to experience depression she does identify anxiety as being part of her adolescence. Stephanie believes that this may stem from her family’s emigration from a country with a military dictatorship as this was always in the background. However she does not think that dwelling on possible causes; is helpful. Stephanie says she has a tendency to overanalyse things and feels the need to keep herself busy to prevent negative thoughts from taking hold.
During her experiences of depression Stephanie did not feel it necessary to read information on depression. Her advice to others with similar experiences would be to go and see a doctor, and if that doesn’t work to find another. Stephanie found talking through things with health professionals, family and friends particularly helpful. Stephanie now feels that she is able to deal with future experiences of depression should they occur, but considers this unlikely.