Posted by llrrrpp on July 31, 2006, at 23:03:06
In reply to There are plenty, posted by UgottaHaveHope on July 31, 2006, at 4:17:41
Hi Johnny,
I have a lot of anxiety, which manifests itself in procrastination and various stupid rituals of TV watching and internet-playing in denial of my life falling into pieces around me.Severe depression from Feb-June 2006. Started therapy in March. At first supportive therapy, because I was in really bad shape. couldn't think straight or follow conversations. Several suicidal crises, but I was never hospitalized.
Started cymbalta 60 mg, felt about 30% less depressed. I take seroquel (25 mg) at night, as needed. This helps get rid of anxious voices that would wake me up and keep me up all night long. Sometimes I only take a half dose. Nowadays, if I'm super sleepy, I don't take it at all.
Increased dose to 90 mg cymbalta, which helped kind of kick start my feeling good again. I was pretty groggy and out of it, though, so my pdoc also prescribed me provigil 200 mg (taken in am). This is better for me than coffee, because coffee was giving me jitters and making me feel anxious- AND I was still sleepy! Occasionally, I get a nice mild euphoria on provigil. kind of like a coffee high (once upon a time when I could get high on coffee)
I also increased my dose of vacation. In July and August I will be out of town for a total of 37 days. This is good, because it helps me get out of my depressive rut of sitting at my desk spaced out all day long and zoned out on the couch all evening. Vacations force you to be active and social.
Best of luck to you. I hope you find something that works. It took me about 2.5 months before I started to feel like I could sustain a feeling of getting better. Therapy has helped a lot. Helped me realize when I need to adjust my lifestyle as I get better. Helped me mend relationships that I had neglected because they were too difficult during my severest depression. And helped me recognize what thoughts/behaviors might precede and exacerbate a depression.
-ll
poster:llrrrpp
thread:672048
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060724/msgs/672455.html