Posted by Anna Laura on May 19, 2001, at 4:53:58
In reply to Re: Psychological anhedonia? » Anna Laura, posted by PuraVida on May 18, 2001, at 21:53:07
> Hi Anna Laura,
>
> Just to clarify - Do you mean you have been depressed, you think, for ten years, and are just now taking Prozac? I can understand being hypersensitive while depressed, but reaching out and feeling "tough" don't seem to be depressive traits in my book, so I'm wondering if I misunderstood.
>
> Assuming that you did just start taking Prozac, I'd say that you are getting better, in that you are able to think more clearly about life: you realize that this medication has the potential to free you, or "get out of jail". But, you are still not "well" - your brain is used to its old habits of thinking "what if's, self-doubt, and guilt." Give it some more time, and, try to get some help with how you think. Burn's "Feeling Good Handbook" is great with understanding how our thinking can help/hurt us.
>
> If I'm understanding correctly, you are taking a huge step, which of course can be scary. I find myself often, now that I've been on meds for 5 years, getting anxious every now and then because I fear slipping back into my depressed self, mourning the loss my "real self" over the past years, and often, doubting that I'll ever have it "together" again. I think the key for us is to realize that we have an illness, luckily one that responds to medication, and we have to go easy on ourselves. Take it from my experience: if you push yourself too hard and expect too much JUST because you feel better on the meds, you'll end up frustrated because the depression/anxiety you face is so much more complicated.
>
> Take care of yourself: eat right, exercise, buy yourself flowers! Give yourself sometime to re-create your life the way you WANT it, not the way you think it SHOULD be. NOw, if I could only listen to my own advice! :)
>
> Liz
>
Sorry, perhaps my post was too foggy.
I was just wondering if my Prozac poop out might have been psychological rather than biochemical.
I wanted to figure out wether the fading away of the response to prozac was due to my own psychological resistance or not. Is it clear now or is it still foggy/vague?
I was simply asking myself if this apathy was kind of protecting me.....
Anhedonia kind of "helped" me; i was not hypersensitive or shy anymore and could reach out for things : basically i was better functioning while i was depressed cause the apathy prevented me from getting anxious and scared of situations and people as i used to do before getting depressed. Is that clear now?
I realize my statement it's kind of contradictory, but nonetheless ist's my true and personal experience. I've been learning how to reach out for things and all that stuff WHILE I WAS DEPRESSED; That's why i was wondering if deep inside of me i didn't want to get rid of depression/apathy because i was scared of becoming shy and insecure again.Anna Laura
poster:Anna Laura
thread:63193
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010515/msgs/63592.html