I feel hopeful, enthusiastic and productive

I live near a major highway on a mini-farm with chickens, ducks and goats. I have a domestic partner and two wonderful sons.

I now love to sit on my porch, watching the chickens peck the ground and enjoying the sunshine. But, not too long ago, I used to sit on this same porch and think how easy it would be to walk into traffic.

I suffer from Major Depressive Disorder and was diagnosed around age 19. In my 20s, I married a man who was physically abusive and subsequently divorced him. I remarried, but he too became verbally and emotionally abusive.

During my depressive episodes, my kids would describe me as a “zombie.” I knew I needed help.

Finding the GeneSight Test
In my 20-year battle with depression, I felt like my previous doctors kept throwing medicines at me. None were working. Or, if they had a slight improvement in my symptoms, I would have to deal with awful side effects. So, my doctors would prescribe another medication to counter the side effects.

At one point, I was taking nine different medications. I was on so many medicines that I literally would fall asleep during conversations. I was not functioning at all – and when I tried to function, I would end up in tears.

When I moved in with my partner in a new place, I started with a new psychiatrist. After a year, he suggested that I take the GeneSight Psychotropic test. I had never heard about the test, but after he explained it, I was excited and was like: “let’s do it!” After years of having medications thrown at me, it seems like a more logical, scientific approach.

I took the GeneSight test that day. When we got the results back, my psychiatrist reviewed them with me. I found them easy to understand. Out of the nine medications, five of them were not genetically compatible with me. We decided to ween off five of the medications – including one I had taken on and off for 20 years and never really seemed to help. We then added a new medication.

Improving My Score
It took a few weeks, but I started functioning better. When I was on my previous medication regime, I felt like only functioned at a 50 percent level. Now, two years later, I am taking genetically optimal medications and I feel like I function at 90 percent – quite an improvement for me!

I feel phenomenal. I feel alive. I feel hopeful, enthusiastic and productive. My partner no longer has to call me to tell me to get out of bed, brush my teeth, etc. I can get up and do things. I can help my kids and do laundry – stuff that seemed impossible before. There are still tough days, but now I know that it is just a tough day, it’s not hopeless.

There are not enough good things to say about the GeneSight test. It saved my life. I tell people who are suffering from depression: “If you are having a hard time with your medications, take the GeneSight test. It was the best thing I have ever done for my mental health.”