Posted by ChrisK on April 12, 2002, at 6:16:26
In reply to Re: Janelle, Can I Say Something... » ChrisK, posted by Janelle on April 11, 2002, at 1:40:29
Janelle,
To address your questions. I still take 7.5 mg/day of Zyprexa and it helps me more than anything else as far as my ability to think clearly. My doctor let me play with my dosage a lot once we determined that I was being helped by it. I finally landed on the 7.5 mg dose once per day. I definitely notice a difference if I miss 2 doses.
Mirapex is a Parkinson's med that has some nice AD effects. I am taking it off label obviously but it has relieved a lot of my anhedonia. Check out these two sites:
http://www.parkinson.org/mxdepress.htm
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.resistant.html
The 2nd site has the info 1/2 way down the page.
As far as disabilty goes, I have been getting SS Disabilty for about 3-4 years now. I have a BS in engineering and had some pretty good jobs but after losing one of those jobs due to the depression I just couldn't function as an engineer anymore. I became suicidal and spent some time in mental hospitals. SSDI determined that I was indeed incapable of holding a job that was up to my education and experience and OK'd my disability.
Now, I am feeling better and going back to school in order to make a change into the area of computer administration. I can stilll get the disabilty while I'm in training but I hope to find a full time job this year and get off the SSDI.
If I had known while I was working that most of my problems were symptoms of my depression I may have been able to take a leave of absence from my job and get help without losing that job. It just didn't work out that way. Hindsight is 20/20 and now I can see how I ended up where I did.
If you think you may need to go on disabilty it is best to start early. They take their sweet time and have a history of declining the first application for people with mental illness problems. It's not a lot of money compared to holding down a job but it helps pay the rent and food.
You mentioned that you recognized the feelings of panic attacks or anxiety attacks - have you tried a Benzo for those? I had terrible attacks for a couple of years but got relief from Klonopin. There were times that the pressure from the anxiety was so great that I literrally couldn't do anything but lay on the floor crying. I wouldn't wish those attacks on anybody. They have been gone now for quite a while. I occassisonally get a mini attack but it's always something I can get through without breaking down completely.
Hope this answers some of your questions,
Chris
poster:ChrisK
thread:102127
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/102851.html