Thread: New Round For Depression Treatment

Rod

Having had my own wrestling bout with the black dog, I know how hard it can be to deal with these issues with the meds. I am lucky - after a few false starts, we found a flavour of meds that works for me, I got the issues under control and now I'm down to the lowest dose that's available and I'm just 'ticking over' at that level. The great thing is that we know that if this level doesn't work, we can just increase the dose and it will help me through a difficalt patch. And the only side effect I get is a massive headache if I forget to take the meds, so it reminds me to take them by kicking me in the head like a mule.

I'm sure that you and the psychs will find the right meds for you and it is great that your family is helping out.

All the best

Thanks for the reply Jeremy
Over 20 plus years of wrestling I think I would be up about 18 changes of meds. It makes you feel like a guinea pig. And I really hate to have to change. I am glad that you have found a combination that works for you.
I really get annoyed with "do gooders" who say "I wouldn't take any of that" they don't have a clue!!!
My wife is a sufferer as well. So that puts a lot of stress on the girls. So far they are doing alright.
Its frustrating too, to have the time (had to retire early from the work place) the shed the tools and machinery not to mention the line up of projects....but not the will to do the things that are on the list
Better days ahead (I have to keep repeating it)

Keep the spirit of the dog leashed Rod if possible Man rules over beast

Sorry I am one who won't take meds, saw what it did to me as a kid, saw what its done to others as adults.

Ray

Mate

Well done for having the courage to even admit and talk about the issue!!!

Just putting it down on the page is a start to healing and dealing with it all. As it has been said before sometimes you have to get the mix of meds correct and yes its a mine field.

The key for me is staying un-isolated, join a woodworking club? or a support group where you can surround yourself with positive people who are aware of your condition.

I am sending you a virtual BEAR hug and congratulate you for being so brave, you have a virtual family of woodworkers right here.

Milo

Keep going! And keep ignoring those who say drugs are nonsense.

I find excersise also does wonders. Find a class or something cos I can't get off the couch other wise either! Tai chi is my choice! Martial arts of any sort I reckon cos it gets that aggression and energy expressed in an OK environment and used in a useful way! I like tai chi cos it is a martial art but not overtly fighting ! And its harder work than most people think!

Rod,

I have never had any experience with depression, other than a family member suffers from it.

From what I have seen, admitting to yourself that there is something wrong is the MOST important thing. After that it becomes easier.

As Mr Mackey from South Parks says "Drugs are good, M'kay"

Good luck with it.

Geoff.

How would you go writting down, what section of your shed you would tidy up each day
or each week, rather than going in cold all the time?

I say this from no, well little experience within my life but living with obsesive compulsive
and Asperges disorder within my family.It seems to make things a little bit easier to
organise things and not, to get dejected and overwhelmed by tasks. (all the best mate)

Foo

Mr Foo
Thanks for replying!
Yeh, the wife has been saying something similar. Today i actually did go out there with a plan and sort of did some but I was easily side tracked. Its is interesting looking back at what i have been doing and how i went around it. As you say i only need to chip away at it. There is NO dead line and I am the only one I need to answer to.
The latest news is that the Psychiatrist called me and now I have an appointment for 2pm on Monday. I am a little reserved in my attitude toward the appointment, thinking back that it may take sometime to sort my muddled up head out. BUT I am at least getting some help finally
Thank you all for concern for me its much appreciated.

I would be giving the pych as much grief as possible, solely from the perspective of
finding out what can be done!

If you don't throw out all of the variables, then you wwon't get all the answers!

Like I said, good luck and be open minded and take no crap, when it comes to your health!

Foo

Chambezio, FWIW, maybe in the shed start with something small that interests you. Don't set targets. Just go in and have a play at something.

+1 to Tea Lady's suggestion about exercise, pref. vigorous. Works for some people to burn up some of the energy that's squashed.

Good luck.

Chambezio, I can't even imagine what your inner turmoil must be like, but reading your story makes me want to offer a bit of fellow forumite support.

It would be great to hear that you,ve found the right treatment and you're back in the shed.

Good luck

Thanks for the encouraging replies!!!!!!!!!!
I went to see the Psyc on Tuesday. He is a young fellow (early 30s) after all the my history again (third time now in 5 days) he has put me up to 45mg of Avanza (mood stableiser ) and won't give me a day time med until he finds out exactly what I have been on before, so he can properly find something that will work for me. From the partial list that he has, he says I have been on most of the SSRIs as well as the other group of head "drugs".

I told him about the WW II Jeep I have in my shed that needs a complete restoration so he said to spend 2 hours per day, regardless of anything else, work on it as well as 30 minute brisk walk EVERYDAY. He says that regimentation is part of successful treatment and it is up to me to put in the hard yards to make it work.

I also mentioned that I had started to rearrange the shed to accommodate some new machines (new to me anyway) I bought, but have them roughly placed but can't decide whether or where their final placement should be. So I am at a stalemate with that which makes me annoyed because I can't get a solution to my problem. The Psyc says that procrastination is normal in cases like mine.

So the new program for me is....get up have breakfast, get dog and lead and walk down to the bridge below us, on the road, walk back. Its about 3km with a slight down hill all the way but uphill on the way back. Get on computer check in with you guys and who ever else writes to me, then out to the shed. I am still trying to tidy up out there, as there is still a lot to be sorted out. Thankfully I have a mate, who is in a similar situation as me, and is also a mechanic, so the Jeep surgery is not so stressful as I rely on his expertise, so that leaves me the grunt work (cleaning off grease, rust and paint). There is also the mowing which is a twice a week deal due to all the rain we have been having. I am taking advantage of the good season to get the grass to cover the patches which are usually bare especially this side of Christmas.

Because the shed is in disarray I find it very hard to stay out there but if I don't, and come inside, I get annoyed with myself for not getting the shed to a point where I can be comfortable. Can you see a pattern.

The reason I think the Psyc chose the Jeep project is that it something/time just for me. But I am comfortable to interchange the Jeep for other activities. I see him again in 6 weeks so I am going to adhere to his strategy as best I can.

I find too that I have little patience with things which is out of character for me as I am usually placid but at the moment I am snappy with the family if they are within earshot of me. And then I feel disappointed in myself for biting their heads off. This inner turmoil is damned annoying.

I have been complaining to the GP for years that I am always tired but he doesn't seem to want to know. Even getting out of my own way is chore. Is this normal for someone approaching the latter part of there life?

Thanks for spending the time reading my dialog But there maybe some else out there going through something similar to me.

I can't help you with your depression but the symptoms of being not able to do the things that you want and getting motivated is the same as mine at the moment.

I found that doing things is essential, in my case I have got back into cleaning up the garden, weeding , pruning etc. What used to take me one day now takes about 2/3 days but it's better then moping around and at the end of the week something is done.

I've also am continuing my workshop reorganisation, takes longer but slowly getting there. So start on yours. Remember that you'll never get it perfect the first time. As time and circumstances change so will your workshop. So don't worry if it's perfect at this stage.

I find that going in the workshop each day and putting 10 items away helps as in no time it will be a lot better.

Good luck and persevere.

Peter.

I wonder if Tamworth council water treatment plant is still using Potash to stem some troubes they have from time to time.

Good to hear from you again, yep WWII jeep sounds like a good project as does slowly cleaning up irritates the carp out of me too. Why because years of cleaning up after others I now have to clean up for myself.