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Posted 10/7/2009 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on other forums before for different things, but never for health reasons. It's ironic because I have had so many health issues for so long, but never thought I could get anything useful from one of these places. Aside from physical issues, I was diagnosed with a Bipolar Disorder 20 years ago. Now that I've gotten older, the manic phases are gone and I have had problems only with depression.

I need some advice. I have been on just about every med for depression that there is. They help for a bit, then the doses need increased to the max and then they don't work anymore so on to the next drug. I see my counselor every 2 weeks. I keep a journal. I have great support systems with my husband and parents plus a couple very good friends. I get as much exercise as I can physically tolerate. I write down my blessings every morning and a small list of things that I need to do during the day. I'm in a pretty bad state now, so my list is things like "brush my teeth". You all know where I'm coming from.

I had my last major meltdown on Mothers Day. I cannot seem to recover from this one. I'm a little better but I still would prefer to spend my day in bed sleeping as much as possible.

Has anyone here tried group therapy and what did you think of it?? I have been to support groups for fibromyalgia and all I found there were a lot of negative people. I cannot allow that sort of negativity into my life. I was wondering if support groups for depression are similar or are they more upbeat and positive? Any input would really be appreciated.

Posted 10/7/2009 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

Welcome to HealingWell and the depression forum. I have fibromyalgia too. I also moderate the fibromyalgia forum when I can. It is a wonderful forum and I think you would like it there too.

I have never tried group therapy. But wanted to welcome you to the forum. There are a lot of wonderful members here. I am glad that you introduced yourself.

I know what you mean about the sleeping. With fibro and depression there is a that terrible want to stay in bed. I slept for two years. Then I started adderall and got better gradually. Though I did notice the energy on the first pill. I had to get my endurance up. Now I work a job. Which I hadn't done for nine years. So that is a huge accomplishment for me.

I hope that you feel better soon. Keep posting.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/7/2009 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
yes to group therapy. groups like grow are wonderful and structured. make sure the support group is depression specific. being able to listen to others and be compassionate for one another is very helpful and enlightening. all the best. jamie. thx for posting. i too am looking at adderall.

dx, mdd, severe borderline personality disorder. ps. welcome.

Posted 10/7/2009 1:29 PM (GMT 0)

Learn2fly, are you a foo-fighters fan?  They have a song by that name, I love it.  Welcome!  I never had good luck with Anti-Depressants.  Finally found a Dr. that decided to go from it at another angle, treated my anxiety which was causing depression, depression gone.  I have been on so many meds I can not remember them all, was really about to give up.  The people in this forum encouraged me not to and always had the best advice.  I am currently taking Buspar, 15mg twice a day and Xanax as needed.  So far so good, just a few bumps in the road.

Hope today finds you feelings better. smilewinkgrin

Gem

Posted 10/7/2009 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
yeah cool track gem. jamie :-)
Posted 10/7/2009 7:47 PM (GMT 0)

Jamiee, we have alot of similar musical interest.  Tonight, at our coliseum the Stone Temple Pilots are playing.  I wish I could go, but just could not work it out.  Interstate Love Song is another of my favorites.  I have a lot of favorites since I have such a diverse musical interest.

Get some rest, I hope you sleep well.

Gem

Posted 10/8/2009 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your advice. I will look into that drug you mentioned and group as well.

I love the Foo Fighters, but this "Learning To Fly" song is the one from Pink Floyd. There are so many metaphors in the comparison to depression that I just see it that way. Especially the line "condition grounded but determined to try." Look up the lyrics and you'll understand what I mean.

Seems like you have a really caring bunch of folks in here. I will try and stop back as my energy allows me to do so.
Posted 10/8/2009 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone taken Abilify and how did it work for you??
Posted 10/9/2009 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
yes i have. helped me with negative thoughts and cognitive processes as well. some dr's use it as a mood stabiliser, as did mine. found it very useful. other members will give their thoughts in time. all the best. jamie
Posted 10/9/2009 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I thought it was one of the few mood stabilizers/antidepressants that worked more on the depression than the mania. I might be OK with that added to my Effexor XR. I tried Lamictal, but it gave me an allergic reaction in the first week with the rash on my face and neck. I can't take lithium because it's a salt and caused me to gain 20 pounds of water weight in 3 weeks. I refuse to take Depakote because it makes me feel like I'm thinking through mud and I don't give a hoot about anything. I'm sorry, but I would rather continue this way than to not feel a thing. I need to be able to think too. I won't live my life like a robot.

I don't know if my psychiatrist was mixed up last time I was in there because I asked about Abilify and he told me that it was more of a depressant than an antidepressant. I had read all the literature on it before I went in and was really surprised to hear that from him. I was an RN for nearly 25 years before I had to go on permanent disability. Thanks Jamiee!
Posted 10/10/2009 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

I take abilify with effexor and it has worked wonderful. I am scared to say it, as it might jinx me, but I have had good days ever since I started it. I haven't been depressed and I can think clearly. So I would ask the doctor about it again. I can't understand why the doctor would say it was a depressant. I understand it to be a mood stabilizer and for bi polar. Also for psychotic personalities. But I noticed a huge improvement after I started taking it. I am switching from effexor to pristiq. Only because of weight gain. I guess that you can take a lot less pristiq and get the same results. Something to do with the noreprenephrin (sp). I understand that has more or something like that. I just hope that it helps me lose some weight. I am not gaining, but can't lose for the life of me.

Anyway, I hope that you are feeling better. And I hope that the doctor lets you try abilify.

Take care, best wishes,

Karen
Posted 10/10/2009 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Karen. I was starting to feel like I was losing my ability to read what what written on drug sites and in the drug books. I will request abilify next time I go see him. I have had other people tell me that Effexor XR and Abilify are a great combination. I also have seasonal affective disorder and if I'm feeling this crummy now, I won't make it through the winter. I have a SAD light and it helps some. But I need to be more up than I am to get through this winter. I was at a point for a while that I didn't need anything during the summer. I don't foresee that happening again, but it sure was a nice couple of summers.
Posted 10/10/2009 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
I had a light box too and it did help. I use to cross country ski in the winter and it made it go by so much better. In fact I would get depressed in the spring when I couldn't ski anymore. But with the fibromyalgia and getting older, it is hard to do. But outside activities sure do help. I do walk as much as I can and work part time. So that gets me out. But we have had rain and cloudiness for days and now they are talking snow. So I am dreading this upcomeing winter. I guess all we can do is take it one day at a time. Hopefully each day will be good.

I hope that the abilify works well for you. I have taken effexor for probably 15 years now. I think since it came out. Though I went off of it once and then went back on it. It has worked well for me. When I went off of it that time, I thought that I was well because I was feeling good, not thinking that the medication was what was doing it. I started taking risperdol before the abilify. But it made me gain more weight so I switched. I am glad that I did. I have obsessive thinking. I get stuck on something and can't stop thinking of it to the point that it controls me. The abilify took that away. I also use to talk to myself a lot because of the thoughts getting too compressed into my mind. My psychologist said that when that happens, you start talking to yourself because your brain is too full. I would think a lot and worry. Though the fibromyalgia kind of put a stop to that because with it, I can only handle one day at a time. And that has helped me in itself. So maybe the fibro was a blessing in disguise. I really have changed in that respect.

I guess that I have rambled on enough. I hope that you are having a good night. take care, keep posting. Your posts really are wonderful. You seem like you are a really caring person.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/10/2009 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
hi can anyone give me advise about the drug adderall??? i am on avanza but isn't working well anymore. i have read post from people that are on adderall and they are all very positive about it. pls help. rose-bud40 :)))
Posted 10/10/2009 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
I am taking adderall and it has really helped me. I don't take the timed released because I take generic. And coudn't afford the other.

I take 30mg in the morning and 15 in the afternoon. It works well. Got me out of bed after two years of suffering from depression and fibromyalgia. It is dextroamphetamine salts. If you think it would help you, talk to your doctor about it. If you need energy and focus, it will help.

Best wishes,

Hugs Karen
Posted 10/14/2009 3:21 AM (GMT 0)

getting by said...
I had a light box too and it did help. I use to cross country ski in the winter and it made it go by so much better. In fact I would get depressed in the spring when I couldn't ski anymore. But with the fibromyalgia and getting older, it is hard to do. But outside activities sure do help. I do walk as much as I can and work part time. So that gets me out. But we have had rain and cloudiness for days and now they are talking snow. So I am dreading this upcomeing winter. I guess all we can do is take it one day at a time. Hopefully each day will be good.

I hope that the abilify works well for you. I have taken effexor for probably 15 years now. I think since it came out. Though I went off of it once and then went back on it. It has worked well for me. When I went off of it that time, I thought that I was well because I was feeling good, not thinking that the medication was what was doing it. I started taking risperdol before the abilify. But it made me gain more weight so I switched. I am glad that I did. I have obsessive thinking. I get stuck on something and can't stop thinking of it to the point that it controls me. The abilify took that away. I also use to talk to myself a lot because of the thoughts getting too compressed into my mind. My psychologist said that when that happens, you start talking to yourself because your brain is too full. I would think a lot and worry. Though the fibromyalgia kind of put a stop to that because with it, I can only handle one day at a time. And that has helped me in itself. So maybe the fibro was a blessing in disguise. I really have changed in that respect.

I guess that I have rambled on enough. I hope that you are having a good night. take care, keep posting. Your posts really are wonderful. You seem like you are a really caring person.

Hugs, Karen

Isn't it strange how we go about taking ourselves off the meds because we feel good, then realize it was the meds that put us there? I have done that more times than I care to count. I also am OCD and everything has to have it's place and order. It's driving me nuts that with the fibro flare that started Sunday and the depression I can't get things into any order. 

Thank God for my counselor. She got my Psych appt moved up by a few weeks to get my meds reconfigured. 4 weeks to wait for that now. I'll see my counselor once more before I see the psych doc. Keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have to argue with him. The last one I had to argue with got me on a really bad day. He started off with the "How are we feeling?" question and it went downhill from there. That's the day I had "poor impulse control with aggitated features" added to my diagnosis. LOL. I've matured a lot since then!

Thanks for your kind words. This is a forum I really do feel comfortable posting in. Everyone here is so caring and helpful. Thank you for just being here and giving your time to us!

Posted 10/14/2009 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Learning,

It is wierd how we go off of medications because we are feeling better, but I now know that it is the meds that make me feel good. I am switching from effexor to pristiq due to weight gain. Hopefully I wont have to take a high dose of the pristiq. I take abilify too and that has really helped a lot. Wish I could go off all meds, but that isn't possible.

I hope that your counselor appointment and your pdoc appointment go well. Try to keep an open mind when you go in. I guess they are only human too and can say some stupid things. Or ask stupid questions. Keep trying, you seem to be doing good. I love having you here on the forum. You light up everybody's day.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/15/2009 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for your kind words, Karen. These boards are wonderful! I have never found one where everyone was so supportive of each other. It's hard for me to motivate myself to come online, so I miss some days, or don't stay long. But that will change and I'll be telling everybody what to do.  smhair   I love this little red face! Evelyn
Posted 10/15/2009 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Evelyn,

I am so glad that you like it here. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

Best wishes for a wonderful day.

Hugs, Karen
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