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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by floatingbridge on April 12, 2010, at 0:21:16
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people?, posted by mike0388 on April 11, 2010, at 23:02:41
Would declining invites create isolation which might, in the long run, not serve you very well? That it is stressful indicates some feeling register. Not that I have an answer...
Maybe a different therapist-- one to intellectually engage you?Best to you.
Posted by kaylabear on April 12, 2010, at 0:56:55
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » kaylabear, posted by Economist on April 11, 2010, at 22:56:35
Economist,
What is the orientation of your therapist, if you don't mind if I ask?
It sounds like you have a lot of pain trapped deep inside. I am sorry you are having such a difficult time getting well. :(
Posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 1:28:27
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people?, posted by mike0388 on April 11, 2010, at 23:02:41
"I think your trying to tell your doctor you have no problems, just lack of interest, but only you know your problems."
My only problem actually is my lack of interest. But what kind of talk-therapy fixes that? If I have no interest in life I have no interest in life. No amount of talking will make me interested in it again.
Posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 1:52:27
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people?, posted by floatingbridge on April 12, 2010, at 0:21:16
> Would declining invites create isolation which might, in the long run, not serve you very well? That it is stressful indicates some feeling register. Not that I have an answer...
>
>
> Maybe a different therapist-- one to intellectually engage you?
>
> Best to you.Hi, thanks, floatingbridge. You're right, stress is an indication of feeling, I suppose. I am stressed because I am not feeling any interest in my friends and family, and there is some desire to hide this from them so they won't take it the wrong way or take it too harshly on themselves. I am also stressed because my lack of interest (boredom) does not go away no matter what I do.
If I sat at home by myself I would be stressed anyway because of the persistent boredom, but going out to meet friends would be an extra stress in addition to the baseline stress, because then I'd have to put effort into masking the persistent boredom, which requires energy and deliberate planning. So in the end, staying at home exerts slightly less energy and less stress.
Kind of an annoying condition, really.
Nothing is intellectually engaging either, unfortunately.
Posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 1:58:47
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » Economist, posted by kaylabear on April 12, 2010, at 0:56:55
> Economist,
>
> What is the orientation of your therapist, if you don't mind if I ask?
>
> It sounds like you have a lot of pain trapped deep inside. I am sorry you are having such a difficult time getting well. :(
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by orientation.But yeah, persistent boredom and anhedonia is actually quite painful. "Painfully bored", "bored to death", and "so bored I could scratch my eyes out" are phrases for a reason. :/ Now imagine having that feeling for 16 hours a day, every day...for two years...that never goes away...no matter WHAT you do...
Anhedonia at its worst.
Posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 2:23:55
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » Economist, posted by evenintherain on April 11, 2010, at 13:17:55
"i also try to go out and see people once a week or so, because in the past it helped with depression. But it hasn't helped at all for the past 6 months or so, it just makes me more aware that there is something wrong. I still like my friends and want to show support for them, but I find the time spent with them is very unsatisfying (and sometimes unbearable) and makes me sad. Maybe it is some extreme form of anhedonia and maybe it is actually Causing social phobia?"
Yes, I know exactly what you mean by time spent with friends being unbearable and unsatisfying. I believe this is extreme anhedonia. For me, my decision to decline invites from now on is not due to phobia, as I am not fearful of people. In fact, if they didn't mind me just sitting at their parties and not dancing, not laughing, not looking at people, and not responding to questions, I would continue to go. But as you can imagine, a well-dressed girl sitting like this at a party will just be an incredible distraction to everyone. People will either come over and ask what's wrong/if someone just died, or they will think I am being an a-hole/weirdo/begging for attention. Either situation will cause stress upon the party. So my avoidance of people now is not due to fear but rather of concern for their well-being.
Posted by manic666 on April 12, 2010, at 3:45:53
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » evenintherain, posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 2:23:55
where the hell do you live beverlly hills //a party every weekend wow.//in the situation you say your in an dont like //if me i would be hammered 10 minutes after walking through the door just to get by.//your not telling me your friends see you as a bubbly party goer// the condistion you are discribeing would make you the talk of the party an stand out like a beacon,, or you deserve an oscar for you acting
Posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 4:43:51
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people?, posted by manic666 on April 12, 2010, at 3:45:53
> where the hell do you live beverlly hills //a party every weekend wow.//in the situation you say your in an dont like //if me i would be hammered 10 minutes after walking through the door just to get by.//your not telling me your friends see you as a bubbly party goer// the condistion you are discribeing would make you the talk of the party an stand out like a beacon,, or you deserve an oscar for you acting
I live in New York City. It's not really that difficult to find parties and social events every weekend here. In fact, going to a party every weekend is somewhat expected in Manhattan for people my age.
So far, there have only been three or four times when people asked if something might be wrong with me. This is out of probably 80 or so social meetings within the past two years. So, I can play it off extremely well most of the time. Friends are unaware of the stress it causes me to act normal so they continue to ask me out. They do still see me as someone who likes to meet people and dance. It's how I grew up. It's who I should have been right now.
Posted by SLS on April 12, 2010, at 8:08:13
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people?, posted by kaylabear on April 11, 2010, at 21:44:47
> Basically if a person doesn't feel "sadness" with depression, it might be beneficial to look into axis II conditions.
You may be right to some degree. However, the diagnosis of Axis I depression requires at least one of two features. One is sadness and the other is lack of interest.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on April 12, 2010, at 8:23:37
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » manic666, posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 4:43:51
How do you spend your free time?
In what ways does your current condition differ from dysthymia? Perhaps you have a bipolar disorder with comorbid dysthymia. I know of one person with this condition. Have you ever been screened for schizoaffective disorder?
I experience boredom only when my depression begins to remit. Otherwise, I am too vegetative to be bored. When I enter this less severe depressive state, I no longer want to do nothing, yet there is nothing that I want to do.
- Scott
Posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 13:37:55
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » Economist, posted by SLS on April 12, 2010, at 8:23:37
I spend my free time reading and re-reading archives from Psycho-babble and schizophrenia.com. I don't find it very enjoyable, but it holds my interest because there is some chance of discovering a medication that might help me be rid of the boredom/anhedonia. But I imagine that once I have tried every single useless medication and augmentation, and once I have finished reading all the archives, I will have to spend my free time lying down or sitting on a park bench enduring the boredom until evening comes, when I can just fall asleep and be at peace in unconsciousness for a brief 8 hours.
"I no longer want to do nothing, yet there is nothing that I want to do" -- yes, that describes my state very well. I imagine this is what purgatory must feel like. Extremely uncomfortable and joyless, half alive and half dead. I suppose this could be dysthymia. The diagnosis doesn't matter so much to me, only the treatment.
Posted by floatingbridge on April 12, 2010, at 13:42:34
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » SLS, posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 13:37:55
This hasn't been my experience of dysthymia, and though I was surprisingly diagnosed with concomitant anhedonia, I've always had (cr*ppy) feelings.
this brings my tally up to 4 cents
(depression, ptsd)
> "I no longer want to do nothing, yet there is nothing that I want to do" -- yes, that describes my state very well. I imagine this is what purgatory must feel like. Extremely uncomfortable and joyless, half alive and half dead. I suppose this could be dysthymia. The diagnosis doesn't matter so much to me, only the treatment.
Posted by manic666 on April 12, 2010, at 13:52:36
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » SLS, posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 13:37:55
could be your just a toally different person that you used to be//you no like ? im not really into this sh*t anymore, and are in limbo as you struggle to be this new person//i had a hard time comming to terms with a new life i had to take// drunk most the time , up for anything, women ,ect ect, // i still am not over it but suffer guilt from my old life //plus it would have killed me//i think you may well be board with the old you, but dont no the real one yet. does that make sence to you// if not im on the wrong track sorry, im a loony with imotions
Posted by SLS on April 12, 2010, at 14:55:33
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » SLS, posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 13:37:55
> The diagnosis doesn't matter so much to me, only the treatment.
I hope you find what you need to enjoy life again.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on April 12, 2010, at 16:12:28
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » Economist, posted by SLS on April 12, 2010, at 14:55:33
Yes.
> > The diagnosis doesn't matter so much to me, only the treatment.
>
> I hope you find what you need to enjoy life again.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 16:27:26
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » SLS, posted by floatingbridge on April 12, 2010, at 16:12:28
Posted by conundrum on April 12, 2010, at 17:20:20
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » SLS, posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 13:37:55
That describes me as well. Have you considered ever trying a low dose of prozac. Like take a half of a 10 mg pill every other day. It kinda helps with motivation. It doesn't make you bounce of the walls or super excited, but it atleast you feel like doing things.
For me it increases motivation more than pleasure which it only slightly increases. Its sort of impossible to increase one without slightly increasing the other.
Just to be sure, this wasn't caused by SSRIs for you it came out of the blue?
This link describes how I feel, althought it didn't come on slowly. It started exactly 3-4 weeks after stopping prozac.http://www.psychotropical.com/Patient_information_Mental_anaemia.shtml
Posted by conundrum on April 12, 2010, at 17:30:00
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » conundrum, posted by Economist on April 11, 2010, at 22:37:58
Well don't they say psychosis and schizophrenia are caused by high dopamine? I never understood how that manifested in the negative symptoms. Perhaps the drugs you are trying that increase dopamine could be making things worse?
Have you tried APs on their own at a theraputic dose for schizophrenia?
Posted by SLS on April 12, 2010, at 17:35:49
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » Economist, posted by conundrum on April 12, 2010, at 17:20:20
> This link describes how I feel,
Me too.
> althought it didn't come on slowly. It started exactly 3-4 weeks after stopping prozac.
How had you felt prior to starting Prozac? What were you experiencing that Prozac was chosen to treat?
- Scott
Posted by conundrum on April 12, 2010, at 17:50:07
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » conundrum, posted by SLS on April 12, 2010, at 17:35:49
The main thing was anxiety and sadness. I just remember crying some nights and feeling very worried about my future(I was 16 at the time). Not caring if I had been born.
Posted by conundrum on April 12, 2010, at 18:29:15
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » floatingbridge, posted by Economist on April 12, 2010, at 1:52:27
If you get bored at home try playing video games, their addictive pull is impervious to anhedonia.
Posted by manic666 on April 13, 2010, at 4:23:09
In reply to Any med that made you gain interest in people?, posted by Economist on April 10, 2010, at 15:02:48
has anybody thought that Economist may be just pissed off,,life is not all down to medecation an therapy, mainly times worse than the problem///there are millions of pissed off people who just need a kick up the *rs* like we all do now an then.im not saying the poster does //put take a step back an think? is it medical or just real life plain pissed off
Posted by Economist on April 13, 2010, at 7:08:19
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people?, posted by manic666 on April 13, 2010, at 4:23:09
Can't really think of a single thing that pisses me off these days.
Maybe you feel pissed off?
Posted by conundrum on April 13, 2010, at 7:42:31
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people? » manic666, posted by Economist on April 13, 2010, at 7:08:19
Oh, I smell a PBC coming. ;-)
I get the same reaction from people sometimes, Economist. Its like unless your balling your eyes out or have scars on your wrists no one thinks anythings wrong. That your just bored and to do something new and you will get over it. Even though anhedonia is the main symptom is might be easier to tell your friends you have schizophrenia. Its an accepted mental illness, that they can google and see that anhedonia is a main symptom of. I usually just tell people I'm depressed rather then explaining my experience with post SSRI anhedonia. Its just miles simpler.
Manic666, she did say she has schizophrenia and a psychotic break in previous posts in this thread. Anhedonia is a component of schizophrenia, and it only started happening to her after her first episode. I personally think she is not being properly treated and that some of the drugs she is taking could make things worse.
Economist, which antipsychotics have you tried other than amulsipride?
Posted by Economist on April 13, 2010, at 8:13:59
In reply to Re: Any med that made you gain interest in people?, posted by conundrum on April 13, 2010, at 7:42:31
Haha.
Yeah, exactly. For simplicity's sake I tell people I have schizophrenia, even though there's a little more explanation to that (the high-functioning part). "Anhedonia" confuses everyone and "chronic boredom" would just make everyone say, "Oh, so why don't you go out more or read a book or something." Sometimes people understand it better as "depression," too.
By the way, I was an avid gamer (Sim City, Civilization, Counter-Strike, various online games) up until my psychotic break. Doing those things now just feel really forced.
I don't take any antipsychotics on a long-term basis. I am technically supposed to, but since my psychosis isn't a chronic problem (it may not even happen again) I feel comfortable not taking any. I get put on risperdal whenever it does happen though. The amisulpride experiment was just to see if it might do anything for negative symptoms.
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