[Joy]

I'm glad you shared your struggles with us. I think you will find a lot of comfort here. I sure do. I'm curious as to whether you were naturally post-menopausal, chemopausal or doing zolodex or lupron to become menopausal. Menopause itself can create depression for some anyway. And just like PMS the degree varies. By taking an aromatase inhibitor we are basically wiping out all traces of estrogen. Estrogen levels affect so much in our bodies. So the depression could be a very real physiological effect from playing with hormones. It is always compounded by a stupid cancer diagnosis, treatment and all the nonsense that goes along with it.

An anti-depressant as well as diet (see R.B.'s posts)/guided imagery/hypnotherapy could really brighten things up for you. I feel that if there is something(s) that exist to help our outlook we should take action. Why waste time feeling so blue so consistently when there is so much about life to enjoy?

I know depression intimately as I have had it so much of my life. Since childhood even. Curiously the only times Idid not have it and felt so great was when pregnant both times and while I was nursing (which I did for quite awhile). So I know there is a hormonal component to it. Once my cycles started back up, the depresseion came back and not for just a couple days around my periods, but pretty much all the time. I call it the blackness.

Before cancer I lived a very holistic life. I did not want to take drugs for anything. I didn't even own asprin, etc. I had my babies at home and felt very strongly about nutrition and its effects on everything (I still do). But prior to my first dignosis the depression was really bad and then I got THE NEWS and I said, "screw it-I need something to help get me through this because this is hard enough." I went on a very low dose of effexor and have been on it for 7 years. We had to raise the dose when chemopause/ovarian suppression practices really made me menopausal because the blackness was so bad. It has made a big difference and remember this is counter to how I lived my life for so long.

So, I would never tell anyone that I know what is right for them because everyone's ideals and beliefs are important and to be respected by all. I just wanted you to know that there is someone out there who really understands depression who is rooting for you.

Nurture yourself and let us know how you are doing.