Posted by Sarah T. on January 27, 2006, at 2:25:20
In reply to Feeling paralysed, and thinking of stopping meds, posted by Racer on January 26, 2006, at 18:37:50
Hi there, Racer,
I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling so depressed. This winter has been particularly bad, hasn't it? I've met so many people, both online and off, who have been more depressed than usual this winter.
I've been feeling pretty awful a lot of the time. Although I'm not on the medications you're taking, I do think my current depression is largely hormonal. Are you still on that medicine (what was it? Clomid?). A few weeks ago, you said that it might be aggravating your symptoms. Did you discontinue it?
I find that exercise is a terrific antidepressant. The only problem with it is that I have to do it every day, but then, meds have to be taken every day, too, so exercise is a medicine of sorts. I prefer swimming, but anything that gets your body in motion and the circulation going seems to help. I aim for about 30 to 40 minutes per day. It helps everything, physically, mentally and emotionally. If it's too cold to exercise outdoors, do you have a YMCA or other sports facility near you? If you have a hard time getting motivated to exercise on your own, how about taking an exercise class?
Another exercise-type option is taking a dance class. I took one recently. It was all adult women of all shapes and sizes. We had a great time moving to music. I felt horrible before each class, but by the time the class ended, I had undergone such a transformation that when I walked home, I felt like dancing all the way home.
I realize that when you're very depressed, the mere suggestion of exercise might seem like a cruel joke ("What?!! You think I ought to go out and exercise?? How can I do that when I can't even get up off the couch?"). But exercise really does have an almost magical power to transform mood.
For many people, exercise seems to allow their antidepressants to "kick in." A week or so ago, Linkadge posted an interesting article here on PEA, phenylethylamine, which is produced in larger quantities during exercise and during sex. It is also in dark chocolate. Just as endorphins are the body's own opiates, phenylethylamine might be thought of as the body's own amphetamine. The article that Linkadge posted suggested that PEA blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine, so it functions as an antidepressant, and that might explain why exercise augments or jump starts other antidepressants.
Do you have seasonal affective disorder? If so, have you ever used a light box?
I hope you'll be feeling better very soon.
Sarah
poster:Sarah T.
thread:603138
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060122/msgs/603320.html