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gonZo

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Re: Depression
« Reply #15 on: December 07, 2013, 02:26:22 PM »
Meanwhile, consider getting some bright "natural light" lightbulbs (which output more of the indigo/violet spectrum than regular bulbs or mini fluorescents). If you have Seasonal Affective Disorder as an aspect of your depression (and it kinda sounds as if you do), they'll help. They cost about the same as regular incandescent bulbs, and if you can't find them in a regular grocery, try a natural foods store.

BTW, if you're ever willing to try different anti-depressants again... I also had a bad reaction (more depression) to the standard 20mg dose of Prozac, but I get a noticeable improvement in mood when taking a 10mg half-dose per day.
« Last Edit: December 07, 2013, 02:38:56 PM by gonZo »

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Robin_K2

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Re: Depression
« Reply #16 on: December 08, 2013, 12:25:15 PM »
Thank you gonZo. I think that Prozac is too risky for me; last time I was on it there were some very unfortunate results. But I recognize that many benefit from it. It's a good prescription for most.

Today is a long day.

Pal says: what about Zoloft? That was popular as hell not too long ago and many folks reported good results?
« Last Edit: December 08, 2013, 12:33:50 PM by Palomine »

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pedonbio

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Re: Depression
« Reply #17 on: December 08, 2013, 11:09:00 PM »
I agree with Pal-- You could stock a pharmacy with nothing but antidepressants. There are the multi-generational varieties and new ones coming online every year. Depression, like porn, is a growth industry.
Someday, chi1dren, this entire fuck-up will be yours.

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Robin_K2

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Re: Depression
« Reply #18 on: December 09, 2013, 11:16:45 AM »
Thanks to everyone. I made the call -- and learned that my former counselor no longer works there. (I depend on a county agency, because I have no health insurance.) They only do intake Tuesday through Thursday, and it's in-person, so I'll be there bright and early tomorrow. I feel better just having set some wheels in motion.

Yes, Zoloft was great for me in the past.

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Djoser

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Re: Depression
« Reply #19 on: December 20, 2013, 03:08:46 PM »
I think I have chronic depression issues as well. I haven't been examinded for it, but of the people I am around say that I am too pessimistic, even though I consider myself realistic. Also I get sad too often, even though my life is not bad (although I do wish it was much better)
Welcome to the internet, where men are men, women are men, and childr3n are the FBI

If it hurts, it means that you're still living

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titmouse

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Re: Depression
« Reply #20 on: December 25, 2013, 11:51:01 AM »
A toast to the holidays.

may they Suck less in the future
FUCK CHRISTMAS!

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pedonbio

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Re: Depression
« Reply #21 on: December 25, 2013, 04:29:49 PM »
One of the many myths about suicide is that it is common in December. It is not; quite the opposite. In the United States the statistical frequency of suicide is lowest in December. It peaks in April to June.
Someday, chi1dren, this entire fuck-up will be yours.

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NotElvis

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Re: Depression
« Reply #22 on: January 20, 2014, 11:23:48 PM »
(ugh, I realize after writing this that I'm indulging in a whine-fest.  My apologies)

"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm."

It sounds at first like it's mocking the condition - but at times, I feel like it's also remarkably spot-on.

Eh, have gone through it before.  I think.  At least I was diagnosed with it, but I suspect that was more so the "psychiatrist" could just give me ever increasing doses of drugs.  For me, the SSRI/SNRI drugs either had no effect, or turned me into a zombie.  And had side-effects.  Yeah, nobody warned me about post-SSRI sexual dysfunction ahead of time.  That in and of itself is also, unsurprisingly, depressing.  Thankfully that has also gone away (though I've read it can last days, weeks, months, or the rest of your life).

I'll probably have a few other things to say about Lexapro, Cymbalta, Effexor, Wellbutrin, and Mirtazapine at some other point....  Most of them, after my experiences of the doctor saying "increase the dose.  Increase it again.  Increase it again." until I got headaches leave me at a point where if a doctor prescribed them, I'd outright refuse.

Got past the depression, though I don't know if anyone ever fully COMPLETELY shakes off the melancholy.

My birthday is close to Christmas.  New Year's is close to Christmas.  I've never been one who's been much on holidays, or remembering exactly what falls when.

However, my relationship with my girlfriend has been tumultuous in the past year.  It's been up and down and up and down, and, well, I got re-dumped just in time for the birthday/holiday cluster.  As in, I was dumped a little before my birthday.  And I was then dumped again a little before New Year's.  Oh, also in early October, also I think June, and also January of last year.  And while we did NOT get back together after the new year this time, it was sort of an ambiguous state of affairs prior to the last breakup (mid-Dec) and the last, very recent conversation.

The weird part is, some of the times that happened, it didn't bother me.  This time, despite the fact that she was (as usual), unpleasant, hypocritical, verbally bullying, etc., and most of all, despite the fact that the things she said came close to blatantly showing how much of a double-standard she was holding, it hurt.

A lot.  FAR worse than before.  It seems completely counterintuitive.  I don't know why I feel this way.  But we last spoke a few hours ago as of this writing.

People are multi-faceted.  She had good sides, and bad sides.  For a while her good sides were predominant.  Or maybe I was turning a blind-eye or downplaying her bad sides.  For the past year, on and off, it's like her bad aspects were beating up her good aspects and taking their lunch money.

She proved that she was not relationship material.  A lesson I learned 3-1/2 years too late.  She proved that most of what she preached, she didn't come anywhere near practicing.  And, yet, somehow, her proving that leaves me feeling far more miserable than when I wasn't sure, more miserable than when she was pushing me in the direction of *believing* that it was mostly my fault.

I'm rambling.  I am going to stop.  I am running on a lack of **82** and will no doubt make less and less sense as I keep typing...
« Last Edit: January 20, 2014, 11:26:13 PM by NotElvis »

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pedonbio

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Re: Depression
« Reply #23 on: January 23, 2014, 04:18:06 PM »
Is depression anger without enthusiasm?

Who knows? I don't. A few decades ago there were efforts to analyze and quantify emotions, and I recall that anger and depression were considered opposite poles of a continum.
Someday, chi1dren, this entire fuck-up will be yours.

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Zorro

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Re: Depression
« Reply #24 on: September 13, 2014, 03:41:42 AM »
Well I have been back on citalopram (Celexa) for the last few weeks and I no longer cry at commercials, movies and some of my favorite TV shows that are not on cable.

Since canceling cable I can get network TV with the digital HD antenna plus Netflix with my Xbox 360. Right now I am going through 9 seasons of Criminal Minds which was difficult to watch.

Some of the common side effects with this drug are dry mouth, dizziness, tiredness and yawning, but the benefits are worth it.

« Last Edit: September 13, 2014, 03:43:14 AM by Zorro »
WHEN STARTING OR ANSWERING THREADS/POSTS, LINKS ARE SHOWN TO PROVIDE SOURCE INFORMATION INSTEAD OF JUST COPYING/PASTING PERSONAL OPINIONS.

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pedonbio

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Re: Depression
« Reply #25 on: September 13, 2014, 01:14:22 PM »
Zorro, I used to think about dry mouth as a minor side effect until my dentist explained that a vast array of drugs cut saliva production, which makes teeth very vulnerable to cavities. He suggested I carry one of those silly water bottles around and sip often to protect my teeth. Virtually all blood pressure meds do that. Besides, I hate waking up with a mouth that feels like the Sahara.
Someday, chi1dren, this entire fuck-up will be yours.

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Robin_K2

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Re: Depression
« Reply #26 on: September 13, 2014, 02:55:44 PM »
That's very good news, Zorro. I'm glad to hear it! You may want to check with your pharmacist -- I bet the side effects may subside over time. Even if not -- as you say, the benefits are worth it.

I once cried watching "I Love Lucy." (The episode where she doesn't know how to tell Rickie she's pregnant.) Seemed like the thing to do at the time. So I fully understand. I'm on meds myself now, and pretty glad of it.

So a big thumb's up!

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Zorro

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Re: Depression
« Reply #27 on: September 13, 2014, 08:30:54 PM »
Zorro, I used to think about dry mouth as a minor side effect until my dentist explained that a vast array of drugs cut saliva production, which makes teeth very vulnerable to cavities. He suggested I carry one of those silly water bottles around and sip often to protect my teeth. Virtually all blood pressure meds do that. Besides, I hate waking up with a mouth that feels like the Sahara.


The dry mouth only lasted a couple of hours and it only was for like 2 nights after I went to bed. I kept a water bottle close to help with it. I am also on blood pressure meds, but I never had a problem with the dry mouth symptom.
WHEN STARTING OR ANSWERING THREADS/POSTS, LINKS ARE SHOWN TO PROVIDE SOURCE INFORMATION INSTEAD OF JUST COPYING/PASTING PERSONAL OPINIONS.

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Robin_K2

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Re: Depression
« Reply #28 on: February 02, 2015, 01:45:50 PM »
Someone here (whom I will not name) has reached out to me via PM, relating a little bit about his/her current deep depression.

I'm trying to help, and I've encouraged this person to also share in this thread. I know that this time of year always gets me down. I've found medication very useful year-round (I'm on it now), but this person chooses not to go that route at this time.

I've also found that exercise, especially hard exercise, is good; it releases all those good brain chemicals that everyone needs.

I know that some people find medititation useful, or spirituality, or "mindfulness" or creating a daily gratitude list.

Any other ideas? And how's everyone else doing?


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gonZo

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Re: Depression
« Reply #29 on: February 02, 2015, 08:30:15 PM »
Meditation in combination with hatha yoga (which is easy and gentle) are good, especially if you're suffering from depression with anxiety. Other things are so simple that they never occur to many people: buy a bowlful of fruit or flowers every week and put them where you'll see them often; get a pet; go outside and walk, etc. If you're stuck inside, find a window and sit in a sunbeam.

Perhaps most importantly, pay as little attention to the news media as you can afford to. People weren't designed to shoulder the burdens of the whole world. Two hundred years ago, all a person had to cope with was bad news from his/her own family and a few friends and neighbors. Today, mass media make it possible for you to feel the suffering of millions of people, and there's usually not a damned thing you can do to help them. That can a powerful depressant. Shutting out big chunks of the world may seem like willful ignorance/insensitivity, but if you're not prepared to confront the harsher aspects of existence on a daily basis, it's purely a survival strategy. It's fine to be vaguely aware that many people are suffering, and to wish better lives for them, but there's little to be gained from seeing their desperation in high definition.

Namaste,
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g
« Last Edit: February 02, 2015, 08:42:48 PM by gonZo »