Posted by phoeb on April 8, 2004, at 15:35:42
For nine months last year I was severely depressed with severe anxiety -- tried all the SSRI's (made me more anxious and agitated, felt that my brain was on fire), some tricyclics, 25 ECT treatments, and I kept getting worse. The psychological pain was so severe I repeatedly said I would rather all my limbs be cut off without anesthesia than feel the pain I was feeling. Some days I locked myself in the bathroom and screamed for hours because of the unbelievable pain. I repeatedly envisioned my body cut into little pieces, wished that were so.
First, is it common for depression to cause such intense pain without lethargy, etc.? Is it a certain type of depression? Has anyone experienced this?
Happily, Nardil was the lifesaver. But for months after starting it I cycled exactly every three weeks between being completely FINE and horribly depressed. At least I had regular periods of relief, though.
THEN, one morning when I started my bad part of the cycle, I was so anxious that I was afraid I would commit suicide just to relieve the severe anxiety. I had some zyprexa leftover from when I tried taking it regularly at night and decided to take it that morning. MIRACULOUSLY, I felt better within an hour, AND that was the end of my cycling. I've never experienced anything like severe anxiety again (it's only been a year, but still...)
Now, whenever I get very upset (usually from the trauma of the depression itself; I actually have PTSD from it) I take a tiny dose of zyprexa and it helps immensely. It does make me feel a bit dopey, but it's well worth it. It seems like if I cut of the anxiety at the bud it inhibits a snowballing effect that leads to a depressive cycle.
Anyone else have a similar experience with zyprexa "as needed?" I recommend to anyone with severe anxiety or even severe crying jags to try a small dose of zyprexa as needed.
poster:phoeb
thread:334175
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040407/msgs/334175.html