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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by detroitpistons on March 20, 2006, at 9:52:13
I sometimes wonder what people think of me when I'm depressed and/or anxious. People definitely have made comments to me in the past because the way I would talk would show my excessive worry and anxiety. As far as the depression part, I don't know if people notice a big change in me. I tend to isolate myself, and so when people do see me, they probably just think I'm in a bad mood that day or just in a "funk." Inside I feel absolutely terrible, so I feel much worse than what I actually show externally.
It takes a lot of effort to put on this mask. My energy levels are very low as it is. It's hard for me to make conversation, and I'm not really interested in talking about anything. If something funny happens, I usually have to force myself to laugh. During these times, I just stay home as much as possible and try to avoid people and lay on the couch. I don't think anyone really suspects clinical depression.
What are your experiences?
At work, if I learned the job while I was not so depressed, then I can generally accomplish my job duties, although my performance is at a minimum.
Posted by SLS on March 20, 2006, at 18:50:14
In reply to How well can you mask your anxiety/ depression?, posted by detroitpistons on March 20, 2006, at 9:52:13
Ditto.
All I can say is that you are definitely not alone.
- Scott
Posted by deniseuk on March 21, 2006, at 6:36:50
In reply to How well can you mask your anxiety/ depression?, posted by detroitpistons on March 20, 2006, at 9:52:13
Hi,
I would say I'm very similiar to you, for instance today at work, I'm sitting at my desk forcing myself to do tasks, I have very little motivation and don't really want to speak to anyone if I can help it. I can talk to people but find it hard to muster up much enthusiasm about anything. Having said that I still feel hurt when I feel like I'm being excluded from anything even though I really don't feel like getting involved :-)
I think the only people who really know how bad your feeling are the people you are closest to.
I feel really as though I may as well just stay in bed for all I'm getting out of today.
This is all on 40mg of Seroxat, if I wasn't taking anything at all right now then the cracks would probably start to show. I don't go completely off my trolley but the anxiety gets much much worse and I'm constantly nipping away from my desk and going off for cigarrettes, my concentration gets worse and I feel like telling everyone and anyone how bad I'm feeling and how I just want to die :-)
Zyprexa really helps me and I should take it (my mum tells me to take it) when she can see that I'm very down. But then I keep stalling from taking it feeling as though somehow I can pull myself out of the depression.
Denise
Posted by detroitpistons on March 21, 2006, at 8:56:19
In reply to Re: How well can you mask your anxiety/ depression?, posted by deniseuk on March 21, 2006, at 6:36:50
> Hi Denise,
>
> Having said that I still feel hurt when I feel like I'm being excluded from anything even though I really don't feel like getting involved :-)
>I know exactly what you mean.
> I think the only people who really know how bad your feeling are the people you are closest to.
>I live in a different city from everyone who I'm really close to, so really nobody that I know really understands. I speak to the people who are closest to me over the phone, but I still don't think they really understand because they don't see me or talk to me on a regular basis. Sometimes I just want to tell someone else, but I know I shouldn't because I'm scared they'll start seeing me differently.
> I feel really as though I may as well just stay in bed for all I'm getting out of today.
>Ditto for me when I'm depressed.
> This is all on 40mg of Seroxat, if I wasn't taking anything at all right now then the cracks would probably start to show. I don't go completely off my trolley but the anxiety gets much much worse and I'm constantly nipping away from my desk and going off for cigarrettes, my concentration gets worse and I feel like telling everyone and anyone how bad I'm feeling and how I just want to die :-)
>
> Zyprexa really helps me and I should take it (my mum tells me to take it) when she can see that I'm very down. But then I keep stalling from taking it feeling as though somehow I can pull myself out of the depression.
>You really should think about changing your medication regimen. It sounds to me like the Seroxat (Paxil in North America) has pooped out on you. I was where you are now while on Lexapro, and I swithched meds and broke the depression. You shouldn't be as depressed/anxious as you sound while on an antidepressant. Obviously, it's not working. Tell your doc and change it up. There's hope.
Take care of yourself,
Marc
Posted by deniseuk on March 21, 2006, at 11:11:37
In reply to Re: How well can you mask your anxiety/ depression?, posted by detroitpistons on March 21, 2006, at 8:56:19
Hi,
Well the Psychiatrist has tried augmenting with buspar, tegretol, thyroid hormone, to no avail.
I'm not sure what to switch to. The only thing that helps is taking Zyprexa now and again or even adding 40mg of Mirtazapine now and again.
Denise
Posted by detroitpistons on March 21, 2006, at 11:25:15
In reply to Re: How well can you mask your anxiety/ depression?, posted by deniseuk on March 21, 2006, at 11:11:37
Denise,
Seroxat or Paxil worked very poorly for me. Everybody's different, but I seem to respond better to AD's that work on norepinephrine like Effexor and Cymbalta. Maybe try Cymbalta? Is it available in the UK?
Hope you find what works,
Marc
> Hi,
>
> Well the Psychiatrist has tried augmenting with buspar, tegretol, thyroid hormone, to no avail.
>
> I'm not sure what to switch to. The only thing that helps is taking Zyprexa now and again or even adding 40mg of Mirtazapine now and again.
>
> Denise
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on March 21, 2006, at 12:07:45
In reply to Re: How well can you mask your anxiety/ depression? » deniseuk, posted by detroitpistons on March 21, 2006, at 11:25:15
Hey there,
I tried reboxetine a SNRI prescribed by my GP so if you think that noradrenaline (norepinephrine) is your 'problem' then give it a go...also Dulexetine is avaible in the UK - I think this is Cymballta. Not too sure through....I sneaked a peek in the BNF, avaiable at my local waterstones!!
Can you go Zyprexa full time??? My mother in law takes it. (although she lives in the ROI).
Meri
> Denise,
>
> Seroxat or Paxil worked very poorly for me. Everybody's different, but I seem to respond better to AD's that work on norepinephrine like Effexor and Cymbalta. Maybe try Cymbalta? Is it available in the UK?
>
> Hope you find what works,
>
> Marc
>
>
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > Well the Psychiatrist has tried augmenting with buspar, tegretol, thyroid hormone, to no avail.
> >
> > I'm not sure what to switch to. The only thing that helps is taking Zyprexa now and again or even adding 40mg of Mirtazapine now and again.
> >
> > Denise
>
>
Posted by jedi on March 21, 2006, at 23:50:30
In reply to How well can you mask your anxiety/ depression?, posted by detroitpistons on March 20, 2006, at 9:52:13
For years, while living with dysthymia, I could hide my depression fairly well. It is just not acceptable in the business world to show how you really feel, if that feeling is depression. The energy I expended while putting on this face was tremendous. I would be completely exhausted by the end of the workday. When I fell into major depression, there was just no hiding it. My depression is atypical with social anxiety, so I would just not leave the house on bad days. By this time I was self-employed, so I could adjust my schedule; but talk about lack of production. The "fake it till you make it" philosophy didn't work very well for me, when major depression hit.
Take care,
Jedi> I sometimes wonder what people think of me when I'm depressed and/or anxious. People definitely have made comments to me in the past because the way I would talk would show my excessive worry and anxiety. As far as the depression part, I don't know if people notice a big change in me. I tend to isolate myself, and so when people do see me, they probably just think I'm in a bad mood that day or just in a "funk." Inside I feel absolutely terrible, so I feel much worse than what I actually show externally.
>
> It takes a lot of effort to put on this mask. My energy levels are very low as it is. It's hard for me to make conversation, and I'm not really interested in talking about anything. If something funny happens, I usually have to force myself to laugh. During these times, I just stay home as much as possible and try to avoid people and lay on the couch. I don't think anyone really suspects clinical depression.
>
> What are your experiences?
>
> At work, if I learned the job while I was not so depressed, then I can generally accomplish my job duties, although my performance is at a minimum.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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