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Thank you all for sharing with me. You have all offered helpful and meaningful thoughts - much appreciated.

I don't think bi-polar. My daughter has never had dramatic highs and lows. Mostly a quiet thoughtful girl who just wants to do well. Probably too well. I think it has been hard work and stress at Uni for too long without a break. She is a perfectionist (like me) and sets herself terribly high standards that she can't always meet. Who can?

It took a couple of months before she gave up and decided to try the pills. Her doctor has talked with her thoroughly I think. My daughter knows to keep in contact with her doctor, and that we love her and would drop everything to drive down to her if she phones, no matter what time of day or night it is. And she has just started the pills so we are on the "wait and see" lap. It may well be all fine once the side effects settle down.

You have all helped me with my own worries about things. To be fair, if my daughter becomes happy again, I don't care how long the pills are needed. Also, if Aropax doesn't quite suit, then she may be able to move on to something like Cipramil that does help. And that's helpful to know.

Thanks everyone.

Lee Donna, I don't think it's healthy to think in terms of Aropax is good/bad and if bad daughter could try Ciprimil. Let her be guided by her doctor as to which medication she is on. We none of us are experts and because something suits one person it may not suit another. And there are many more medications in the mental health arsenal than just Aropax and Ciprimil.

Hi LeeDonna, yes I agree with AJ's comments.
My husband hit a brick wall with burnout a couple of years ago and journeyed through depression for the first time ever in his life. With the understanding of a great doctor and the prescripton of an anti depressant it was wonderful to see his dispair turn to hope a couple of weeks after starting it. It really was a gradual journey and one we both grew through.
Your role is obviously in love and support for her and she has that thread to hold on to when her world seems less than rosey for her at the moment. I hope that soon she regains some sparkle and beautiful colors back in her life, that she regains some happiness and hope for her future.
Life with depression can be good, in fact it can be fantastic with the right help and support. It's been great to see the ads on tv (John Kirwin?) helping us all to acknowlege depression.

Thanks AJ and Roseyone. Don't worry - I won't be interfering with what my daughter is prescribed. It is just useful to know that there are other options if this particular drug doesn't quite work for her. If in a few weeks, my daughter is struggling with it, at least I know to encourage her to ask her doctor about alternatives.

Hopefully there are not too many doctors here who will prescribe a drug because their patient's mother reckons that they should!! (joking...)

However I do wonder if the doctors prescribe Aropax because it is the best known. It is the most common. Whether it is best known because of advertising or effectiveness, I don't know.

Hi everyone, my name is Louisa and I'm am 27 years old and for the last 6 months I have experienced so much sadness with no real cause. I was first put on antidepressents at the age of 16 and have been on them ever since...6 months ago I decided after all the side effects that I couldn't handle it and I needed a break. I had tried everyone my doctor could prescibe and had had enough. For the first 3 months I was ok, happy their were no more side effects , but then something just switched. I would wake up every morning with so much sadness and would just put my head back under the covers and wish it was still dark. Everything I did was an effort, geting dressed, eating breakfast, facing people, going to work,...I had nothing to be sad about I have a good life, a man that loves me, a child who is so precious, but I felt like I was living in a bubble just watching from the outside. I went back to my doctor and he prescribed me Aropax. I have been on it for only 2 weeks and have never felt so good..I wake up happy when I see the sun shining, I can laugh at a funny joke, I can have fun and not care so much about what people think of me. Aropax is a life saver. Aropax has given my life back, my laughter back, my happiness...It is hard to think that I need a tablet to make me feel this way, but at the end of the day we have to remember that the body and mind is so complicated. If I have a chemical imbalance then I can't control that. So I have Aropax. And I am grateful that I live in a day and the age where I can be provided with this.
I believe that we are all seeking happiness. If we are happy then what else really matters?? I can finally be me.

Louisa28, I'm glad you are feeling better. That's fantastic. And thanks for sharing your story on RW. How about starting another thread and telling us a bit more about yourself. Welcome to RW.

Welcome Louisa28 . You are on the right track to wellness now it seems, so good for you. It usually does take quite some time and a lot of patience to overcome severe depression, so remember that if you now and then still have a bit of a down day. Rome was not built in a day as they say. Work closely with your doctor and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and in time this awful phase in your life will be a thing of the past. Look in and join in the postings and fun and games that we have on th is site. These ladies here can't help but make you smile!

Aropax is a lifesaver.
However, GP's dish it out when its not needed - I would suggest everyone be referred to a psychatrist to have a formal assessment made - particularly children/teens.
Great child psych in Auckalnd is Jan Reeves - ask for a referral.

Dont' believe in drugs without counselling. I found a fantastic counsellor after a number of hit and misses Jo Kingsbury 8465313