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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ELA on January 10, 2002, at 11:04:18
don't want 2moro to be as bad as this, anything I can do?
Posted by finelinebob on January 10, 2002, at 11:22:36
In reply to terrible day, posted by ELA on January 10, 2002, at 11:04:18
> don't want 2moro to be as bad as this, anything I can do?
You know, my MD, my psychofarmer, and my therapist all say the same thing and usually in this order: exercise and stop doing things that make you feel bad.
Yeah, right.
[Dr:"Does your arm hurt when you do that?" Patient: "Ouch! Yes!" Dr: "Well, then don't do that..."]Exercising always does help me, but getting the motivation and will up to do it interferes most of the time.
As for stopping doing what makes me feel bad, it really means doing something that makes me feel good ... that vacuum of "not doing anything" is as much of a black hole as doing bad stuff.
So, for me, doing something fun would mean playing with my puppy all day ... or as much of the day as I could stand. If you don't have a puppy available...
... a day at the spa?
... a day of window shopping?
... a day roaming through old book stores?
... a day roaming through old ____ stores?
... a visit to a museum/tourist attraction that people where you live normally take for granted?
... take a hike (literally, not figuratively)?In any event, doing something good for me usually means getting out of my apartment for an extended period of time, no matter how anxious that prospect makes me.
hth
finelinebob
Posted by sid on January 10, 2002, at 13:57:20
In reply to terrible day, posted by ELA on January 10, 2002, at 11:04:18
Plan something you like if you can, for tomorrow or the weekend. I don't know about you, but nature soothes me almost anytime. Can you go take a walk in the woods? Walk in the snow, go skating outside, cross-country ski? Or if that's not possible, walk in the city watching people and things along the way, just for the heck of it, go to a movie and come back home by foot.
> don't want 2moro to be as bad as this, anything I can do?
Posted by IsoM on January 10, 2002, at 15:23:21
In reply to terrible day, posted by ELA on January 10, 2002, at 11:04:18
I had an understanding pdoc who would recommend I take a couple of extra tranquilisers for a day(alprazolam at the time) & sleep for that period of time. It helped restore me a little, enough to then tackle the other good suggestions made from sid & finelinebob. It might not be good for others, but helped me.
> don't want 2moro to be as bad as this, anything I can do?
Posted by Noa on January 10, 2002, at 16:54:40
In reply to Re: terrible day, posted by finelinebob on January 10, 2002, at 11:22:36
You know, this reminds me of when I was in the hospital years and years ago. The hospital treatment was nothing to write home about but the managed care program, believe it or not (this was almost two decades ago before hmo's got the stinginess down to a science, and it was a not-for-profit health company), sent a psych. nurse to visit their patients in that hospital for additional help. She had me try to generate things I might enjoy--she used a huge checklist to stimulate the ideas. She had me make a list to put on my fridge when I got home so I could have it there to see for when I couldn't generate the ideas myself due to mood.
Also, I think thinking *small* is important. A friend once told me that she considers a day a "good" day if even just one tiny, little good thing happened that day. That has helped me sometimes. It helped me be more aware of some of the good moments during the day--really little things like when you and someone else (a stranger, a coworker, a friend, a family member--doesn't matter who) make a connection for a few seconds, like laughing at something funny together, or sharing an interesting thought. Or a bird singing. Or seeing something pretty. Or one task getting done. Or having a smooth commute to work. Like I said, THINK LITTLE.
And, I agree about having something to substitute. Like telling someone to not pay attention to something that is staring them in the face! You have to give them something else to look at instead.
Another thought, if you're up for it, that is, is whether you might enjoy doing a little bit of volunteer work in your community--something that would be enjoyable to you, not taxing.
Posted by Krazy Kat on January 11, 2002, at 12:20:50
In reply to terrible day, posted by ELA on January 10, 2002, at 11:04:18
ELA:
I don't know if I should suggest this (definitely check with your pdoc first), but I add a little extra Prozac on the days I feel terrible. I take 50 mg now and today I went up to 60 - I feel much better. I will drop it back again in a day or two.
I don't know if this works with other AD's. Again, I would ask your pdoc first.
Hope you feel better.
- K.
Posted by sid on January 11, 2002, at 19:14:17
In reply to terrible day, posted by ELA on January 10, 2002, at 11:04:18
Posted by ELA on January 12, 2002, at 11:41:51
In reply to ELA, how are you today? (nm) » ELA, posted by sid on January 11, 2002, at 19:14:17
Not good unfortunately. I am going back to uni 2moro and the more i think about it, the more nervous and worried i get. I am now faced with the prospect of having to go to another doctor and explain the whole situation over again. Also, I've been surrounded by my family for the past couple of months and now I will be "alone" again. Yeah, I have lots of mates but they're not always as good! trying not to worry but it's difficult. Think I may start running in the mornings again as a kind of release, what do you reck...
Posted by sid on January 12, 2002, at 12:26:28
In reply to Re: ELA, how are you today? » sid, posted by ELA on January 12, 2002, at 11:41:51
Running sound good... try to do it where you like the vista and think of nothing except how great it is just to enjoy this moment. I think if we all get one instant per day where we think that this specific moment is worth living, we are on the right track.
I don't understand what you mean, can you explain:
> I am going back to uni 2moro...
= > uni?Don't get discouraged, find some patience for the process. Have a fit from time to time if you need to; I used to scream alone in my car when I was losing patience with my major depression and it seemed I was not going to get rid of it.
Well, keep us posted. We'll keep reading you.
> Not good unfortunately. I am going back to uni 2moro and the more i think about it, the more nervous and worried i get. I am now faced with the prospect of having to go to another doctor and explain the whole situation over again. Also, I've been surrounded by my family for the past couple of months and now I will be "alone" again. Yeah, I have lots of mates but they're not always as good! trying not to worry but it's difficult. Think I may start running in the mornings again as a kind of release, what do you reck...
Posted by ELA on January 12, 2002, at 13:34:00
In reply to Re: ELA, how are you today? » ELA, posted by sid on January 12, 2002, at 12:26:28
>
> I don't understand what you mean, can you explain:
> > I am going back to uni 2moro...Sorry, "uni" = university or college if you're American I think? I'm at Cambridge University studying for a degree in Teaching. This is also causing me anxiety at the moment as I have long placements comng up and I'm not sure that i am going to be able to cope with them at the moment. I can't bear to not do it, though. Sometimes my work is all that keeps me from losing the plot completely...
Posted by sid on January 12, 2002, at 18:49:29
In reply to Re: ELA, how are you today? » sid, posted by ELA on January 12, 2002, at 13:34:00
Me too. My work kept me alive many times.
As a therapist once said: you might have become a workaholic, but at least you got several degrees out of it. You could have gotten into drugs or alcohol, that would have been much worse.
I'm not a workaholic anymore, thanks to the depression, my brain needed a break.
Can you get some support at the "uni" ? A therapist perhaps or some counselling on how to better deal with stress and anxiety? Group therapy on stress and anxiety? Sometimes having someone accompanies you in your difficulties helps. And keep writing here...
Have fun at the uni.
> >
> > I don't understand what you mean, can you explain:
> > > I am going back to uni 2moro...
>
> Sorry, "uni" = university or college if you're American I think? I'm at Cambridge University studying for a degree in Teaching. This is also causing me anxiety at the moment as I have long placements comng up and I'm not sure that i am going to be able to cope with them at the moment. I can't bear to not do it, though. Sometimes my work is all that keeps me from losing the plot completely...
This is the end of the thread.
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