Posted by KaraS on March 8, 2005, at 19:39:13
In reply to Re: Kara, my turn. How you are doing? » KaraS, posted by TamaraJ on March 8, 2005, at 9:39:53
Hi,
> -- I know what you mean. I remember that feeling, and I agree with you that it is possible to feel that excitement, that joie de vivre, again. It's a wonderful thing to hold on to! For a while, I was even having problems with bedtime (weird I know). But, I would just be filled with dread about the thought of going to sleep because I was afraid I would wake up feeling as bad as I did before I fell asleep. It was like if I didn't sleep, I wouldn't have to experience the dread and emptiness anew.
Oh, I know exactly what you're saying. That's a big part of the reason I don't want to go to sleep at night. Add the morning panic to the brew and you've got the rest of the picture. There's that split second when you wake up and realize the situation you're in and the panic starts. Last night I slept too long and today I feel really tired and more depressed. It's definitely counterproductive to sleep too much. Even knowing that, I can't seem to get myself going earlier.
> -- I used to be a real shopaholic. And, when I couldn't find things I liked for myself, I would buy for others - just for the fun of shopping! When my brother was living with me, he didn't have a lot of disposable income (debts, saving for a house, sending money to his girlfriend [now his wife] in Colombia), so I would pick up things for him that he needed and even that he didn't need, but I thought he would like. Now that he is married and has his own place, he keeps dropping hints - I'm running of socks, t-shirts, my jeans are looking pretty bad. Even his wife is joking about it now. When I am able, I love to spoil people - especially my little brother.Your brother is very lucky to have a sister like you. I'm sure you enjoyed spoiling him though.
> --That's good! If you keep doing it on a regular basis for a little while, you will have a better indication if it is helping. And, if the breathing exercises were of some benefit, then go for it. Maybe you can rent a beginners yoga video and start practicing that. I bought a cheap - Yoga for Dummies - video. I am going to start doing that for a while and then I will probably start going to a Yoga centre in my area a couple of times a week.I did some tapping last night around the thought of getting up in the morning. I was trying to program myself to wake up with energy and enthusiasm at the first alarm ring. It didn't work at all. I'm not quite ready to give up on it yet but I am finding it hard to believe that it can do some of the things that the authors claim. I will probably move on to meditation and/or yoga if/when this doesn't work out.
> -- I have the David Burns book as well. I started reading it, and all I kept thinking was Duh! I think CBT can be effective for OCD and constant worry that generates anxiety, but I, too, have my doubts about how effective it would be for that free-floating anxiety that one can not put a finger on where it is coming from. If anything, though, I guess it could teach a person to better manage their reaction to that type of anxiety so that it doesn't spin out of control.
Yeah, exactly. I can't imagine that it could touch that free-floating anxiety. I also find it hard to believe that it can help very much with panic disorder yet there are reports (or studies?) of it doing just that.
> > A friend of mine does yoga nearly every day for two hours in the morning. He swears by it (though he still has needed medication).
> >
> -- Two hours - WOW - that is commitment! I don't think in some cases things like yoga, meditation, deep breathing will ever be able to replace medication, but I think practicing those things can help a person better manage their illness and maybe even have to rely on less medication. Who knows.Actually, two hours a day sounds more like an addiction but it does help him a lot - so who can blame him. I'll be anxious to hear how you do with it.
> -- I forgot to take the additional 25mg last night, so I will up the dose tonight. Hopefully I will be able to tolerate the increased dose. But, so far, no dizziness, no nausea.
So far so good for the lack of side effects. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it stays that way once you go up in dose. I have very little of the anticholinergic effects that I used to have when I took doxepin in the past. I don't have orthostatic hypotension nor do I have dry mouth. My appetite is already too strong though but I think that is probably due to the antihistaminic effects of doxepin. Just a short while ago, I couldn't eat at all. Now I want to stuff my face all of the time (particularly with carbs and sugar) and I have no sense of when I'm full. That's the worst part of it. At first it was a welcome relief to be able to eat but now I wish it weren't such a strong response.
> -- I ask about Klonopin because it has a longer half life than Xanax which means less frequent dosing. I worry about it though because some people find it can, after longer term use, exacerbate depression. I have also heard that it can act almost like a mood stabilizer and may be quite effective for avoidant personality. I am only thinking of possibly adding it for short-term use - a few weeks - just to get rid of the annoying "what if" thoughts, as I get going again. I think I will raise it with the pdoc when I see him.
I hadn't heard of Klonopin being good for avoidant personality disorder but that's definitely another reason to try it. I've also just learned what you said about it being good as a mood stabilizer. That's also another reason for me to try it. Do you think your pdoc will be amenable or do you think you'll have to fight for it?
> -- I think the PM means that it is once a day evening dosing. Ya, Tofranil is imipramine. I wonder if it would cause the tachycardia. I think it may be a more balanced (serotonin/norephedrine) med than nort or desp (which, as I understand it, are predominantly norephedrine). I can understand your reluctance to try it though given your experience with other nort.
I think imipramine might metabolize to desipramine. It would definitely give me tachycardia then but it's not out of the question that someday I try desipramine or imipramine with a beta blocker. My current pdoc wouldn't go for it but they're on my list if nothing else pans out.
> -- I think you are right about the lack of commitment. More and more people just throw in the towel on a marriage or a long-term, living together relationship when the going gets rough instead of trying to work through the problems. I have seen it with some of my friends. It's sad. Then I look at my boss and some of my colleagues or older friends who have been married for 25, 30 years and see the commitment through the good and the bad and I don't feel so sad about it anymore.
My mother told my sister and I to always live with someone first before getting married so we knew what we were getting in to. This is the exact opposite advice that every one of my friends got from their parents. I think there are advantages and disadvantages. My sister did live with her husband first (his mother thought it was horrible) and they've been married for over twenty years now. I agree it's nice to see couples who have been together a long time and are still happy together. Unfortunately that's not the way it works for everyone.
> -- That's the problem I guess - out of sight, out of mind. Unless a person has someone in their corner making a lot of noise, it is probably unlikely that they will be able to get what they need. A sad commentary - a person's good health being, to some degree, nothing more than about profit margins and big business. Maybe the day will come when the general public will band together against insurance companies. And, it isn't even just when it comes to health insurance. Insurance companies are just nickle and diming policy holders, sometimes until they are almost broke and can't afford insurance. I guess it's all about regulation, but I don't think governments have the political fortitude to attempt to impose some kind of more stringent regulatory framework.
Yes, sad state of affairs indeed. The insurance companies are big contributors to political campaigns so the impetus to reign them in is just not there.
> -- I don't know what kind of dance lessons yet. I guess we'll talk to our friend and see what he suggests and go from there. I think it will be fun. Dancing is always fun. I am glad you were able to get out for another walk. It makes a difference when we are able to get out and get fresh air. You're right - it feels good :-) I have been able to get out for walks again (although it has been cold - today it is minus 22 with the wind) and it has been nice. Hopefully the weather will continue to be good in your neck of the woods so that you can keep walking.
I haven't done any dancing lately but I did go out for a short walk today. It wasn't a good half hour or more walk as I had planned but it was something. The weather was perfect so I couldn't blame it on that. I was just really feeling tired. I think oversleeping was the problem today. I am still feeling tired now. I have some coffee brewing now and hope that will wake me up a bit. This is actually a big step for me. I haven't had caffeine in over two months. I think I'll try half a cup first. Recently that would have sent me through the roof with anxiety. The fact that I feel up to trying some now is a really good sign. I'm still a bit scared though. Sounds so silly, doesn't it?
> -- It starts to warm up around May (but even then you might need a light jacket). But, it's so nice when the weather starts to change and the days start to get warmer. You can almost feel the energy all around you as people start to come out of the long winter funk.
I remember what that used to be like. Actually it's probably similar to people going out into the sunshine here after weeks of rain.
Talk to you later.
Kara> -- I will likely be going back to see him next week. So, I'll see what happens. >
Only problem is that with the timing of things, how will you know what improvement is due to nort. and what is due to the doctor?
poster:KaraS
thread:456548
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050305/msgs/468429.html