Been on meds 6 weeks today and feel as bad as I did when I started

I use to take risperdol and switched to abilify. It calmed my mind right down. Mine raced too, as you said yours does. So that might be something to consider. Talk to your doctor about that. If it really gets bad, call the office and discuss with the nurse or receptionist. There are ways to get relief.

You could just be having a bad day. Everybody has them, even people without depression. But I would say something if this continues.

Have you ever tried meditation. It works wonders. And try to focus on the task at hand at the time and nothing else. Being aware really helps you think clearer.

I hope that you feel better. The abilify works wonders for me, and, it could be something that you might want to consider. Keep trying, you really are doing well. Even with a bad day here and there once in a while.

Hugs, Karen

Hi Gem,

That is the reason that I quit the risperdol. I gained a lot of weight. Abilify isn't as bad. I have obsessive thinking. I get something on my mind and I can't get rid of it. Now it is easier to distract me from that type of thinking.

My sister takes seroquil and it works well for her. Is there anything else similar that you could take? If not, ask about abilify. It is expensive though. I have insurance so I only pay a co-pay, but it is still expensive, I take a lot of different meds and it adds up.

Try to take things one thing at a time. One day at a time. We can work on these things and often take charge of our thinking somewhat. It isn't always easy, just try to slow down your thinking and focus on what you are doing. For instance, if you are watching tv. Think about that. Or if you are writing an email. Think, "I am writing an email". Say it out loud. Eventually your mind wont wander. I can be writing one thing and thinking of another. It is hard for me especially now, because I have a job now and I know that I am slow compared to the other people and I think about how I could maybe do better. But that is just a waste of energy. Especially since it is my day off. So I do my best to focus on what I am doing at the time. Evenutally the other will come to me. I think I just need repetition to get this mastered.

So it can be done, medication helps and so does mindfulness. And walking is a wonderful form of therapy.

Keep on trying and keep posting, we are all here for you. You will be able to do this, it just takes time.

Hugs, Karen

hey gem, mindfulness practice is very helpful, works by single focus techniques. highly recommend it. sorry that abilfiy is exp. seroquel, well i would talk to your doc about this as it is an anti-psychotic, yeah becoming more prolfic in treatments of affective disorders. primary for the treatmemt of schizophrenia. yes i am down as being someone diagnosed with this so i can get this drug, yeah have had episodic dx of schizophrenia and other affective disorders in the past. works well, but not for depression dx. all the best, jamie. hey keep fightin, here for ya.

Dear Zapped,

Thanks for your post and I think you are right, I do not want to accept the BP diagnosis.  I started going to a PDoc about two years ago.  I tried Lamictal, Seroquel, Depakoe, Thorizine, Lithium and others I do not even remember.  I always had a bad reaction to the med or the side effects were intolerable.  The last med my Dr. put me on was Risperdal, I was doing OK with it but had a rare allergic reaction to it, two weeks after PDoc. retired.  I tappered off the med and I did ok with just Xanax for a while but then the bottom feel out.  It was going to take so long to get in with another PDoc that I finally just went to an MD because I just could not hang on any longer.  New Dr. knows the meds I had been on but felt like maybe they were too strong for me since I seem to be pharmceutically challenged and put me on a low dose of Celexa because when I saw her I was very depressed and anxiety out the roof.  I did tell her that previous Dr. thought AD's were a bad idea for me because I always leaned toward mania and not depression, that I needed a mood stabilizer.  She thought a low dose of AD might help, 10 mg Celexa, and it has except the last few days I have been manic as all get out.  Your post made me realize that I really do need to go back to a PDoc and I am going to make an appointment today as I know I have to hang until I can get in.

The part about Jesse was a post I was responding too about trying natural rememdies, St. Johns Wort, 5-HTP etc, maybe I put in under the wrong topic, sorry for the confusion.  And yes, I really have no one to talk to so I do tend to go on a bit in my post.  I love to write and I need to vent.

I appreciate your honesty, it opened my eyes this morning and you are right, I am unwilling to accept but I guess I will never feel truly better until I do.

Thank you, please write me back

Gem, BP Gemini that is

Hi Gem, I'm so sorry! I know how hard you've been trying these past weeks. I hope you do get some medical help with this, because you don't deserve to suffer this way. I wish I had some words of wisdom right now. Just know that I care about you and support you in your efforts to get better. Please let us know how it's going, and whether or not you were able to get some help. ((((hugs))))

Raniah,

Thanks, you are so sweet!  After I ate lunch yesterday I felt like a different person.  Go figure!  I also called my Dr. yesterday and she told me to change the time of day that I was taking my med, that perhaps since I am over the initial side effect stage that taking it at night was affecting my sleep.  So I did not take it last night, took it after breakfast this morning and I feel fine.  Could it be that simple?  Or have the past few days, since I have been on med less than 8 weeks, just been my body adjusting to the med?  This has been a weirde ride but with each day I do have hope that stability and peace are just around the corner for me.  I got a post yesterday from "zapped" who suggested that I might be Bipolar, well maybe I am, I was always more manic than depressive until I started getting bounced around on meds.  I really am not concerned with pinpointing a diagnosis as I am just getting the proper treatment.  My real problem is PTSD, 8 years ago I was brutally assaulted by someone who broke into my home while I was there alone.  Counseling has helped with that, and as bad as it was there have been alot of good things in my life since then.  i survived this attack for a reason, God has spared me for a reason and that is what I believe, I just need to get my body and mind on the same track and I will be OK.

Thanks, you are such a blessing to talk to.

Gem, smiling Gem today!