Posted by Ritch on February 13, 2003, at 10:18:12
In reply to Ritch:Juggling Meds and Frustrating life, posted by jumpy on February 12, 2003, at 22:17:25
> Hey Ritch,
>
> I make sure to read you posts ... you seem to be a wealth of information and experience. I have try all the traditional meds, moved on to the non traditional meds, tried ECT and now on stimulants/benzos/high fish diet. I really have on found relief with nardil, ECT and imipramine+lithium .... all of which I have difficult tolerating from side effects .... mainly unable to hold a relationship from sexual dysfunction and difficulty with work from the memory loss.
>
> How do you deal with the all this suffering that this disease inflicts on us? Any good coping strategies on how to accept this painful life ... not being able to hold relationships, difficulties with work, severe side effects from meds, broke family, etc?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jumpy
It does seem like the quest for the perfect med combo, huh? :) Fortunately, my moods shift in predictable ways (they are seasonal), and I cycle very predictably throughout all of that as well. I always chart stuff as best as possible. All of this *objectifies* the "illness" and makes it a lot easier to handle. I've been having these problems for almost 30 years so I am not having to deal with the "being diagnosed as X" kind of thing. Also when you see the illness as a process that you have limited control over-you self-pity a lot less because you don't sweat every decision you make or wish you had done something differently, etc. The good thing is that more good stuff is *always* going to happen again. When you really *feel* that *certainty* it makes getting through black times a lot easier. You have to remember that your memory is mood-state dependent. When you feel crumby, you have great difficulty remembering anything good in the past. But, you can always remind yourself of that knowledge and it helps you to persevere. Humor helps a LOT. When you get depressed go out of your way to try to watch or listen to something funny and get lost in it. It can make a big difference. I find also that when I am high I get more stable by doing things in a more scheduled (rather than haphazard) manner. If I am depressed I find it helps to force myself to do something different (expose yourself to a novel situation or alternative way of doing something). Hope this helps some.
poster:Ritch
thread:140790
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030208/msgs/200072.html