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How do you get yourself out of the house?

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Posted 10/9/2009 9:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I'm new on this board.

I struggle with depression for which I was hospitalized but am trying to overcome without medication.
Recently I started a new life in a new country and everything has been going great, until the last two weeks, now I can't get myself going. I'm not going out, I'm not going to work and I'm telling lies left right and center to try and avoid people.

So to all those who know how I feel, I just wanted to ask...how do you get yourself out of these humps? any advice?

Thanks
Posted 10/9/2009 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Smudge,

Welcome to HealingWell and the depression forum. I am so glad that you have joined us and I am sure there will be many different responses to this post.

For me it was a long time before I was able to get out, but at that time, I didn't have to work, so it wasn't such a big deal. I just gave myself some time. But if you have to work, it is a different story. You don't want to lose your job. It took medications for me, which if I remember right, you aren't taking any.

Have you tried going for short walks? That really helped me a lot. It got my heartrate up and I was able to do more. I always felt so good after a walk. I walked my dogs, so it was at a fast pace and that really helped. Even if you just go for a little while it still helps.


Have you tried psyching yourself up for it and just going? That often helps too, because once you get there you tend to feel better and can get back in the right frame of mind for work.

Either way, I hope that you feel better. Are you still going to counseling? Maybe your counselor has some good ideas for you. I can tell that you are troubled by this, and you really do need to work. It makes you feel better about yourself, it does me anyway. And if you are depending on the income, you really need to try really hard. As I am sure that you are.

Keep posting, this is a wonderful forum with a lot of compassionate members. I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/9/2009 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Smudge!

Did you say you recently moved to another country? Do you have friends there? It must be very difficult to deal with all of that at once.

Getting out isn't the easiest thing for me either. It rains a lot here and my fibromyalgia really acts up in the dampness. Even in good weather I have to push myself. It does make a world of difference though. I had to find an alternate activity for the days I can't walk. So, I came up with dancing by myself (or with the dog) for about 15 minutes to a fast beat. Something about just moving around to the music works almost the same as walking. There are some days when I hurt so much I can't even do that, so on those days I do a lot of gentle stretching exercises with some upbeat music on. I hope that helps give you some ideas if you don't want to or can't leave the house.

I wish I could handle my depression without medication. That's just not gonna happen in my lifetime. I can barely hang in there some days with all the meds I do take. Now I'm looking to add more or change my antidepressants. I've been doing all the other things I have to do, but I just can't snap out of it this time.

Good luck to you!
Posted 10/10/2009 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
It is cool to hear that somebody does the same as I do. I dance by myself too when I can't walk. And when I do walk, I take my dogs.

Another coincidence is I am switching my meds too. I am going from effexor to pristiq. They are very similar so the switch should be easier than it usually would be. Effexor is hard to go off of. But instead of five pills a day, I will be taking one. I take a lot of medication between depression and fibromyalgia. I think I am right now taking ten different things a day. But that includes blood pressure and chloresterol medications, also something to sleep on.

It is nice to know that you aren't the only one.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/10/2009 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
You must be my sister from another mother! I have to take meds for my thyroid, cholesterol and a host of other things. I don't even bother to count how many anymore. Since I take the Effexor XR, I only have to take one of those a day rather than multiple doses. I've gone off it without any problems. But I usually don't react to meds the way others do.

You said you take meds for cholesterol. What are you taking? I cannot tolerate the statins because they increase my pain. The only one I can take is Crestor since it is such a low dose. I also take Zetia. That combination has been pretty good at keeping my numers under control.

This should probably go in the fibro section, but I'm already here so I'll just say it. It has been proven that people with Fibro have sleep disorders. We do not get into that good deep healing sleep that everyone else gets. Our brains decide to fire off alpha waves (the ones that are active when you are fully awake) during the middle of the night multiple times for no apparent reason (other than to tick us off). I quit following all those good sleep hygiene techniques because they didn't do a darn thing for me. I take Ambien and love it! Sometimes it doesn't work, but I can at least get about 5 or 6 hours a few nights a week with it. I can't take Trazadone or Serzone because they give me horrible nightmares.
Posted 10/10/2009 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
I take ambien too. And love it too. It always helps me get a more restful sleep. I take simvastatin. It is a generic cholesterol medication. My good cholesterol is low. But my bad isn't high. If that makes sense.

I know what you mean about the fibro and sleep. I slept for two years in the beginning and was always tired. I dream a lot too. But I always thought that the rem sleep was good for you. Obviously not so good. But with the ambien, I wake up feeling descent. Once I get my meds into me I feel better. It takes a little while, so sometimes I go back to bed until they kick in. Then I am into the coffee to get me going. I take adderall to stay awake during the day and it gives me energy to function. It really helps a lot. Also norco for pain. I have been waking up in a lot of pain due to the weather I believe. It has been cold and rainy here, tonight it is suppose to snow. I live in Michigan. Where the weather always changes. lol...

I hope that you have a good day. I have to get ready to go to work. This is my first job in seven years. I only can handle part time, but it helps with finances and I feel better about myself now. Though I had a few days off and it is kind of hard to get back in to the swing of things. Hopefully she will work me more next week.

Have a great day learning, it was nice to read your post.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/12/2009 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
yes to me walking, and my dog too. we walk. try to take in things slowly. big thing moving to another country. try to find support services etc.  i have found from other members who have moved country that it takes time to settle. remember we are here for ya, okay. jamie.

dx, mdd, severe borderline personality disorder

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