![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 Ruby2 on January 15, 2012, at 13:18:08
Hi all--
I'm about to finish up a 6 week course of TMS, which has been incredibly helpful. I was deeply depressed, bordering on suicidal, off work, paralyzed. Started feeling some relief after 2 sessions and it just kept getting better. I'm back at work and feeling well. And now I'm having real anxiety about being well--what will be expected of me now that I am well? What if I can't live up to those expectations? Probably these expectations I'm worried about are mostly my own of myself. I do have an anxiety disorder and my anxiety has kicked up big time in the last week or so, as I'm getting ready to go off TMS...I have 3 sessions left. I'll be talking to the pdoc there, and my own pdoc, and my therapist about this.
But also wondering about others who start to get well and then get anxious about being well. Why can't I leave well enough alone? Why must I be anxious about being well?
Any thoughts out there?
Ruby
Posted by poser938 on January 15, 2012, at 17:38:49
In reply to TMS and post-depression anxiety, posted by Ruby2 on January 15, 2012, at 13:18:08
it is great to hear that the TMS helped pull you out of the depression you were in. i'm about to start TMS sessions in about a week. i think that if i get better with it, i will probably have the same anxiety you are having. i have been nothing like myself in about 6 years, and living a normal life seems so different from my life right now. i just know that if i get to feeling better, i am going to avoid taking medication again at all costs because of some seemingly permanent side effects from them, they are the reason i am in the situation i am in. but if i get better i am going to find me a good therapist to help me start my life again.
Posted by Phillipa on January 15, 2012, at 18:35:33
In reply to Re: TMS and post-depression anxiety, posted by poser938 on January 15, 2012, at 17:38:49
Congrats that it worked but second above post. If it's been a while how strange to feel well once again? Phillipa
Posted by creepy on January 15, 2012, at 18:46:15
In reply to TMS and post-depression anxiety, posted by Ruby2 on January 15, 2012, at 13:18:08
If you dont already, I would get a psychotherapist. This is the kind of thing that you may need some help figuring out.
Also, depression and anxiety can be rooted in early experiences. Talking about them and reality-testing the assumptions youve made about yourself and others can bring you a lot of relief too.
Hope your relief continues. I may also look into TMS myself soon.
Posted by Twinleaf on January 15, 2012, at 22:35:26
In reply to TMS and post-depression anxiety, posted by Ruby2 on January 15, 2012, at 13:18:08
Your experience with TMS sounds very similiar to mine. Do you have a therapist? You can accomplish so much once the depression lifts.
Posted by Twinleaf on January 15, 2012, at 22:51:56
In reply to Re: TMS and post-depression anxiety, posted by poser938 on January 15, 2012, at 17:38:49
The best of luck to you! I hope you'll also find that therapy, plus TMS, exercise and low amounts of medication are the way to go - for stress-related depression particularly. With the bipolar spectrum, I think these are all very important, except that medication probably plays a more important role in the long term.
Posted by SLS on January 16, 2012, at 6:28:53
In reply to Re: TMS and post-depression anxiety, posted by creepy on January 15, 2012, at 18:46:15
> If you dont already, I would get a psychotherapist. This is the kind of thing that you may need some help figuring out.
> Also, depression and anxiety can be rooted in early experiences. Talking about them and reality-testing the assumptions youve made about yourself and others can bring you a lot of relief too.
> Hope your relief continues. I may also look into TMS myself soon.
I agree that these concerns can be addressed through psychotherapy. Psychotherapy might help you get through these issues faster and with greater permanence than you can do it for yourself.I am extremely happy to know that rTMS is helping so much. I might consider it if my prazosin trial yields inadequate results.
- Scott
Posted by Ruby2 on January 16, 2012, at 11:08:36
In reply to Re: TMS and post-depression anxiety » creepy, posted by SLS on January 16, 2012, at 6:28:53
Can't tell you what a relief it is to hear from you all that this shift is normal and will be helped with a therapist. I've had lots of therapy in the past but most of it was before the last two major clinical depressions set in. It has been about 3 years now that I've been suffering to some degree another and the past 6 months were torture.
I highly recommend TMS to folks...can't believe the change it has brought about in such a short amount of time. I have to travel about an hour and a half to get to the place where i get treatment and for a couple weeks went everyday. i'm still waiting to hear if the insurance will cover it or not; i had to take a loan out against my retirement to pay for it but it is TOTALLY worth the cost.
I guess I need the patience and the therapy to work through this anxiety about returning to "normal" and "well" --whatever those things are, seems so hard to remember and I don't want to set the expectation to high for what I can and can't do. And I would imagine that after 3 years of illness it is going to take some months to recover. Patience.
Don't know if I'll be coming off many meds. We're shifting some around a bit and after a period of stability then I think we'll start thinking about pulling some of the meds back. Wish that could happen sooner but I trust my pdoc and the pdoc at the treatment center that I see and they are talking with one another and that is good. Again patience!
Oh, thank you all so much for your encouragement and support. I deeply appreciate it.
I pray for good health and recovery for each of you.
Ruby
Posted by SLS on January 16, 2012, at 12:15:41
In reply to Re: TMS and post-depression anxiety, posted by Ruby2 on January 16, 2012, at 11:08:36
Thank you for taking the time to report your response to rTMS. It is very much appreciated.
I wish you continued success.
- Scott
Posted by Ruby2 on January 16, 2012, at 12:29:19
In reply to Re: TMS and post-depression anxiety » Ruby2, posted by SLS on January 16, 2012, at 12:15:41
Happy to be of some help, believe me!
Posted by Roslynn on January 16, 2012, at 16:17:19
In reply to TMS and post-depression anxiety, posted by Ruby2 on January 15, 2012, at 13:18:08
It is great to hear such a positive response to TMS!
Roslynn
Posted by Ruby2 on January 16, 2012, at 16:53:06
In reply to Re: TMS and post-depression anxiety, posted by Roslynn on January 16, 2012, at 16:17:19
Turned my life around in 6 weeks Roslynn...really good and kind of scary too. :)
Posted by Roslynn on January 16, 2012, at 16:57:06
In reply to Re: TMS and post-depression anxiety » Roslynn, posted by Ruby2 on January 16, 2012, at 16:53:06
> Turned my life around in 6 weeks Roslynn...really good and kind of scary too. :)
I am so happy for you. Please keep us posted on your progress!
Roslynn
This is the end of the 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.