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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 16:02:33
My depression is causing me to get some weird and scary symptoms. None of the APs seem to make them go away. Time seems distorted, I'm depersonalized and have derealization, People and my surroundings seem unfamiliar, things in general don't seem to have as much meaning as they used to (like if I'm at a stop lite I'm not as sure that green means go and red means stop), and sometimes my body seems like its not contained within itself.
Does anyone else get these kind of symptoms from their depression. They are very scary.
Thanks,
Dave
Posted by sebastian on January 2, 2003, at 16:36:01
In reply to Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 16:02:33
I was starting to feel that way when I reduced my Zyprexa, it was very scary so I went back up on Zp and the feelings are going away.
Posted by BrittPark on January 2, 2003, at 16:55:44
In reply to Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 16:02:33
Sorry you're having a rough time. Have you been getting adequate doses of the APs you've tried? Different people need different doses of drugs to achieve the same result.
Keep posting to let us know how you're doing.
Britt
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on January 2, 2003, at 16:59:55
In reply to Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 16:02:33
> My depression is causing me to get some weird and scary symptoms. None of the APs seem to make them go away. Time seems distorted, I'm depersonalized and have derealization, People and my surroundings seem unfamiliar
---------------------I've been there many times. Everything seems surreal, you hear yourself speak as if listening to someone else, the world seems to be beyond your access, all immediacy is lost. I think it's even worse than the down mood of being depressed to be so removed from the world and body you inhabit.
The only things I've found to be beneficial for such a state are tegretol (an anticonvulsant), and (oddly enough) LSD. I wouldn't recommend the latter to someone who hasn't taken it before, though.
Posted by doggrrl on January 2, 2003, at 19:17:03
In reply to Re: Depression causing weird symptoms » Dave1, posted by Eddie Sylvano on January 2, 2003, at 16:59:55
My depressions also include those features, which are the most upsetting of all. I totally identify with the sense of not even recognizing your own body and not really knowing whether you should stop or go at a traffic light. I feel that malaise, confusion and dissociation when severely depressed, almost as if I am entirely removed from the socialization process and living under water. At the same time, there is an affective edge to everything that alternates with ambivalence (for me, anyway), so I find myself weeping and numb, alternatively, yet very confused.
Someone mentioned Tegretol. For me, the anticonvulsant Topomax REALLY helped, as did Depakote to a lesser extent. I am bipolar, so my depressions should be seen within the context of that disorder, but I think it is interesting that for two people with dissociative sx, myself and another poster, anticonvulsants seemed to help. I also took Zyprexa at one point. While that helped to some extent, I personally was so tired from it that I found it not as helpful as Topomax, which actually, for me, had an AD effect. For some reason, my feelings of dissociation seemed less indicative of psychotic depression and more indicative of severe withdrawal/isolation/cognitive impairment, or so the shrink said.
Hang in there.
Posted by mattdds on January 2, 2003, at 20:39:43
In reply to Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 16:02:33
Dave,
Yeah, I get the same symptoms, especially after being anxious for a long time. Time distortion, depersonalization, and also deja vu and jamais vu type of feelings (that is the best I can describe them).
I also get weird facial and head sensations; dysesthesias paresthesias, and proprioceptive distortions (e.g. feels like my head is alternately really big, then small). It feels like my eyes are "melting" or sunken way back into my head (I know that is vague, but that is the best I can do). I also get weird headaches that even 800mg of ibuprofen won't kill.
I also have found that these symptoms outlast the affective part of the depression (the low mood). My mood has improved very gradually, but steadily, and with it, perhaps 50% of the weird symptoms have gone away, but much more slowly.
That is interesting that some of you have responded to mood-stabilizers / anticonvulsants. Is it common for pdocs to write out these drugs for this particular symptom pattern? I know Klonopin helps for me with this type of stuff (interestingly, K is also used as an anticonvulsant for absence seizures)
Don't let these freak you out, it's all part of the same process!
Best,
Matt
Posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 20:41:32
In reply to Re: Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by doggrrl on January 2, 2003, at 19:17:03
Thanks for the support. It helps knowing I'm not the only one. My doctor wants me to try clozaril. I'm seriously considering it.
Bye,
Dave
Posted by Noelle on January 2, 2003, at 23:05:07
In reply to Re: Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by mattdds on January 2, 2003, at 20:39:43
At first I read this thread and thought this never happens to me but then I started reading further. I had horrible akethesia when I was depressed like my skin was crawling. Remember when you are depressed there is often a Neurotranmitter like serotonin or dopomine that is in short supply and these are not only responsibly for mood but for the functioning of your brain
Posted by Dave1 on January 3, 2003, at 14:01:19
In reply to Re: Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by Noelle on January 2, 2003, at 23:05:07
Some of my doctors ( I bounce around alot ) are suggesting I'm getting schizoaffective disorder or schizophrenia now. I told one that this weird stuff is from the depression and scary OCD thoughts that I have. He said that since the cause of schizophrenia is unknown that the stuff I just mentioned could be a schizophrenia cause.
Another doctor I consulted with once said the symptoms are caused by the depression, but didn't say anything about schizo...
Finally, a few doctors insist it is all from anxiety. Yesterday I took 4 ativan at once to see if the weird stuff would subside. It did to some degree. ( Now I'm hung over from the ativan).
Bye,
Dave
Posted by Justherself on January 3, 2003, at 23:59:47
In reply to Re: Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by Dave1 on January 3, 2003, at 14:01:19
I've had just about all your symtoms and they are just awful to deal with. I have depression and anxiety which kinda "feed" off each other. The depersonalization is the hardest for me to deal with and I find that clonozapam works the best. I get those weird symptoms when my anxiety is out of control. I know how frustrating it can be when you feel like you're losing what's left of your mind! I just know that clonozapam helps me to settle when I get all wound up with anxiety.
Posted by daizy on January 5, 2003, at 12:35:43
In reply to Re: Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by Dave1 on January 3, 2003, at 14:01:19
> Some of my doctors ( I bounce around alot ) are suggesting I'm getting schizoaffective disorder or schizophrenia now. I told one that this weird stuff is from the depression and scary OCD thoughts that I have. He said that since the cause of schizophrenia is unknown that the stuff I just mentioned could be a schizophrenia cause.
>
> Another doctor I consulted with once said the symptoms are caused by the depression, but didn't say anything about schizo...
>
> Finally, a few doctors insist it is all from anxiety. Yesterday I took 4 ativan at once to see if the weird stuff would subside. It did to some degree. ( Now I'm hung over from the ativan).
>
> Bye,
>
> DaveHi Dave. I was wondering what meds you are on now and if they are working for you? This weird stuff has been happening to me for ages also, am totally at my wits end, as Ive just been told its anxiety and I can overcome it, but this is too weird for anxiety surely? Ive almost exhausted all my options Doc's wise so this board is my only help. For me its not depression causing weird symptoms, its weird sympyoms causing Depression.........................Daizy......
Posted by Dave1 on January 5, 2003, at 15:15:45
In reply to Re: Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by daizy on January 5, 2003, at 12:35:43
Hi Daizy,
Right now I'm on effexor + thyroid hormone T3 + lithium. So far it hasn't worked yet but I've only been on the effexor for a week. I also take 4 or 5 mg of ativan a day. This helps. I've tried all the AP's except clozarill. I have one doctor who is really pushing it and I want to try it but it would be a pain in the butt.
Hope that helps.
Dave
Posted by neetie on January 5, 2003, at 17:11:28
In reply to Depression causing weird symptoms, posted by Dave1 on January 2, 2003, at 16:02:33
Hi,
I've had these symptoms in the past. In my case, they were from borderline personality disorder, not really directly from depression. The atypical antipsychotics helped me with these, as well as Lamictal.
anita
This is the end of the thread.
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