![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 51. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 16:20:42
So I am slowly coming off the Cymbalta. My pdoc wants me to come off it slowly before I try the parnate. It will be about 3 more weeks before I can start the Parnate. :( How I am to survive 3 more weeks of feeling severely depressed? I know I have no choice. I just hope the Parnate helps once I have it on board.
Posted by zana on September 2, 2009, at 16:35:56
In reply to Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 16:20:42
It seems to me that ColoradoSnowFlake used nortryptiline(sp) while she was coming off meds and getting ready to go on parnate. Maybe that's an option.
Sounds pretty rough.
Good luck. Keep us posted.
Zana
Posted by SLS on September 2, 2009, at 16:42:37
In reply to Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 16:20:42
> How I am to survive 3 more weeks of feeling severely depressed?
You will.
Remember that suicidal ideation can be generated by dysfunctioning circuits rather than by well deliberated judgment. I know you have your reasons, as have I, but don't give in to a depressed brain. It will want you to feel suicidal. The key word is "feel". With depression, suicidal feelings generate the thoughts rather than having thoughts generate a suicidal state. A depressed brain is cunning. It wants you to believe that your thoughts are what is at the origin of suicidal ideation.
I hope that made some kind of sense. For a better explanation, you can look for medical literature authored by J. J. Mann. He really does a good job at describing the neurobiology of suicidal states.
Try to reduce your anxiety to a minimum using whatever coping tools work for you. CBT can be helpful.
- Scott
Posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 17:53:41
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » maxime, posted by SLS on September 2, 2009, at 16:42:37
Thanks Scott. I do feel quite suicidal. It's hard to get rid of the thoughts ... they plague me.
Posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 17:55:07
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by zana on September 2, 2009, at 16:35:56
When I last saw my pdoc he didn't seem to want me to combine the Parnate and Nortriptyline. I don't know why. He let me combine it with Adderall the last time I was on it. I see him this Friday and will ask again. Thanks Zana!
Posted by floatingbridge on September 2, 2009, at 18:14:22
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » zana, posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 17:55:07
Jeez, Maxime--three weeks! Okay, the one day at a time approach, one minute at a time.
DBT distress tolerance helped (helps) me.
A book called Lovingkindness. I know I mentioned it before, but sometimes I would just pray (non-religiously) or affirm simple statements from it and found it very soothing (Different from the Louise Hay book). http://amzn.com/1590305574 Actually, I never made it much past the first set of 'prayers'. I can send you some scans if you like.
Does any benzo help? I found xanax to really give me a lift when I was (or am in crisis). Is that permissible in the short term? You need comfort.
Please babble your friends here and post.
much love,
fb
Posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 18:17:21
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » maxime, posted by floatingbridge on September 2, 2009, at 18:14:22
Thanks FB. Benzos tend to make me more depressed. It will be 3 more weeks because I need another week to cut down the Cymbalta, and then two weeks without any Cymbalta in my system. I expect the last two weeks to be the hardest.
Thanks for your support.
Posted by Phillipa on September 2, 2009, at 20:18:26
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » floatingbridge, posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 18:17:21
Maxime you can do it!!!!! Look forward to the parnate and yes it will work for you again. I just know it!!!! Phillipa
Posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 21:22:55
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » maxime, posted by Phillipa on September 2, 2009, at 20:18:26
Thanks Phillipa. I hope it will help again otherwise all this suffering is in vain. Plus I don't know what other med to try if it doesn't. :(
Posted by Phillipa on September 2, 2009, at 21:28:26
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » Phillipa, posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 21:22:55
Maxime like Scott you find the answer. I know it. Love Phillipa
Posted by g_g_g_unit on September 3, 2009, at 1:35:59
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » Phillipa, posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 21:22:55
hey maxime, just wanna wish you best of luck. i don't really have any advice. if you're ever bored and wanna chat, i'm here . take care
Posted by bleauberry on September 3, 2009, at 18:33:41
In reply to Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 16:20:42
Yeah, that is tough. Real tough. Damn, I wish you didn't have to go through that. It's bad enough having bad side effects, or being depressed while on a med that is supposed to uplift instead. But to be even more depressed coming off of them is a cruel irony of psychiatric.
I was moderately depressed before Cymbalta. I was made even more depressed while on it. Then when I weaned off it, it made me yet even more depressed. God I was so far from my baseline I thought I'ld never get back.
But I did. It does get better.
We're all different. The best thing I could do, and the best thing I think anyone can do, is to stay busy in order to distract and pass time. The worst thing to do is watch the clock. Staying busy could be anything...window shopping a mall, walking somewhere, working, house chores, water the lawn, pull weeds, buy some oil colors or acrylic colors and paint landscapes on cardboard or wood or canvas even if you don't paint, put headphones on and dance till you drop....movement is good, creativity is good. Keep moving. Keep the mind occupied.
None of it will be desirable thinking of doing it. All of it will be an extreme effort to get started. Much of it will not be enjoyable. I mean, come on, how can someone enjoy a walk when they feel deathly depressed? Can't. Impossible. But, and a big but, it passes time, it fills the senses, it offers momentarily distractions, and it helps the day fly by faster. That's what we want. Days to fly by fast. Staying busy and moving does that. Here and there, there will actually be some momentary decent moments you would not have experienced otherwise. They are worth the effort. Stepping stones.
Heavy exertion, I mean like really moving, will also stimulate the noradrenergic pathways and give a slight natural lift to help you through.
Hard when you are so tired and depressed, believe me, I know. But it is SOOO important to just do it. I don't know of any other helpful things to make the clock go faster than that.
In my own limited experience with the two meds in question, Parnate blows Cymbalta absolutely in the weeds, so you have that to look forward to. Now get out and get moving doing something.
Posted by Maxime on September 3, 2009, at 21:18:13
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by g_g_g_unit on September 3, 2009, at 1:35:59
Thanks for your good wishes. They mean a lot to me.
Posted by Maxime on September 3, 2009, at 21:19:21
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by bleauberry on September 3, 2009, at 18:33:41
I try to keep doing things on a daily basis. I am not working right now which makes it tough. I am working on my application to do my PhD and that keeps me busy. I also exercise everyday.
Thanks for the tips!
Posted by maxime on September 4, 2009, at 10:54:04
In reply to Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 16:20:42
So I saw my pdoc this morning. He still doesn't want to prescribe the nortriptyline to take with the Parnate.Sigh. He isn't usually this stubborn.
I see him in two weeks to get the script for the Parnate.
I'm off to Vermont for the weekend. bye
Posted by maxime on September 7, 2009, at 16:03:10
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by maxime on September 4, 2009, at 10:54:04
God, I am feeling bad. Really depressed and unable to focus. I want it to go away before I take matters into my own hands.
Posted by maxime on September 7, 2009, at 16:26:52
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by maxime on September 7, 2009, at 16:03:10
It's weird that I can positive for other people on the board, but when it comes to myself, I am all negative and hopeless.
Posted by Nadezda on September 7, 2009, at 16:41:52
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by maxime on September 7, 2009, at 16:26:52
I used to be-- am and still somewhat-- that way, too. My T used to point it out all the time.
This may sound dumb, but I really think being positive about yourself is something you can practice and learn. If you try thinking about a situation and use this thought experiment. Try thinking, "omg, this is hopeless." Then try thinking, "I can do this. I know I can."-- or well, something that you might say to yourself to mean one or the other.
And you'll find, I think-- I certainly did-- that saying one made me feel much worse, and saying the other actually made me feel better. At the very least, the first makes you feel worse and the second doesn't..
I find that incredibly useful to know.
Of course, putting it into effect to the point where it changes you life is a lot of work but-- you can actually do it.
I don't know if the thought experiment will show anything for you, I know this is a rough time. But it does have the effect for a lot of people-- again, just as a thought experiment about how much control what you say to yourself about situations-- which you can change-- has over how you feel about yourself, and what you can do.
I'm sorry about how hard things are now and I hope things get better soon.
Nadezda
Posted by maxime on September 7, 2009, at 20:07:22
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » maxime, posted by Nadezda on September 7, 2009, at 16:41:52
Thank you very much for your suggestions. I will try them. Thanks for your concern.
Posted by Phillipa on September 7, 2009, at 20:46:30
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » Nadezda, posted by maxime on September 7, 2009, at 20:07:22
Maxie did you feel any better when away? Oh I do know the feeling hence all my posting on babble. Phillipa
Posted by maxime on September 7, 2009, at 21:31:28
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » maxime, posted by Phillipa on September 7, 2009, at 20:46:30
No, I was unable to experience any joy or improved mood whilst in Vermont.
Posted by maxime on September 8, 2009, at 8:40:20
In reply to Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by maxime on September 2, 2009, at 16:20:42
Today I heard that I didn't get a job that I had two interviews for. I f*ck*ng hate myself!!! Loser.
Posted by floatingbridge on September 8, 2009, at 10:24:09
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times, posted by maxime on September 8, 2009, at 8:40:20
Maxine, that is very untimely news--I am so sorry.
To me, you are very dear. I think of you as competent, intelligent, successful, caring, and very professional. You'll land the right position, and you'll be feeling much better on parnate. Disappointing news (and pain) comes and goes. (Though we can habituate ourselves to believe them more permanent--I speak for myself.) Your core strength, and your friends here, remain.
lots of love today,
fb
Posted by maxime on September 8, 2009, at 15:30:20
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » maxime, posted by floatingbridge on September 8, 2009, at 10:24:09
Thanks FB. When I am not feeling well, everything seems like a disaster that I cannot survive. I've been through rough times before and I have always come out of the them briefly. I've decided that I am going on a trip to Calgary to see some old friends. I need to get away from here to clear my head. Thanks again FB.I needed those hugs.
Posted by maxime on September 8, 2009, at 19:46:52
In reply to Re: Withdrawing ... rough times » floatingbridge, posted by maxime on September 8, 2009, at 15:30:20
Great. My friend doesn't want me to come to Calgary to visit her because she wants to work with her horses. I am really upset and crying now. I really can't take all this rejection. I want to die.
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.