Hi... Been away for a bit - just busy with school, but now the weekend is upon us so as usual I've got a schedule packed with...nothing. School has become my way of staying focused and getting...
Hey CatLove, I was on Paxil for a few years and did gain weight while on it. At one point my dr increased the dosage and that was when I really noticed a change in my appetite - I was much more...
Michelle, What form of sign do you use? (If it is okay to ask) I'm curious because I'm studying ASL at university....
Hello Sad, I'm so sorry your vacation didn't turn out the way you expected. Remember that you can't change the way people choose to behave, and that your mother's behaviour has nothing to do with...
Karen, it made me laugh to picture a pushy german shepard. Maybe she was just excited to see someone new and wanted to be right there where the action was. I'm sorry you haven't been able to exercise...
Do you have skates? I skated a few days ago and actually had a good time. It was a good atmosphere and people were nice - if you have skates and a rink nearby it's a good way to get out, get some...
I read something lately about lack of deep sleep lowering serotonin levels. Lower levels of serotonin are also associated with depression. The serotoninergic system modulates mood and emotion, as...
Hey everyone, From reading the posts here it seems like we are all going up and down on the blue scale. Not literally blue, which would be interesting, but feelings wise. Gillian - I hear you on the...
Oh, if anyone feels we should start a new thread, that's fine too....
Hi JOC, That's great that you've been able to get by without taking clonazepam. But remember that if you feel you need it it's okay to take it-it's not a bad thing. School started yesterday, and it...
Hi Sesara, If it does turn out to be a thyroid problem, then as you said, there will be something that can be done about that, and then you'll feel better. But if that isn't the case you're still...
A botanical garden sounds so nice...I'm glad you're feeling a little better. The anxiety and shaking is hard - i've had times where I shake so much at night that the whole bed vibrates. But it gets...
Living in a rural area can make it difficult to find the support you need - small local clinics don't always have a psychiatrist on staff, and sometimes even general counselors can be hard to find in...
Sounds like you are having a difficult time. I know I, and other people, keep saying that this is a hard time of year, but it really is. It's tough feeling low when it's the holidays are in full...
With the ex situation it sounds like you might be just lonely - only because you say he wasn't very nice to you. But this time of year, after the holidays are all over, can definitely be hard and can...
Thanks for the links....I read the information and it will be something that I bring up with my doctor next time I go in. I was never told hormonal contraception mentods could have an effect on...
I don't think that's messed up, I think it's just a good example of how we can twist things around in our heads so that even things that are good can take on a negative spin. Hopefully you are now...
People have given some excellent advice already. It sounds to me like you need to make a definitive decision about what you want to do. I don't think that cheating or finding someone to make you...
I struggle often with feelings of guilt whenever I do things to make myself happy, because it seems selfish. Even though I know I need to take care of myself, I still get uncomfortable if I think I...
I definitely believe that people can and do get better. As Karen said there isn't always a quick fix, and it can require that you work with doctors and try several different things before you find...
You are right - love is so important, and yet we let it go or let it slip away sometimes. It can be hard to let people love us when we sometimes doesn't even love ourselves. Your post has made me...
Does anyone know about links between, or has anyone had experience with hormonal contraception and worsening feelings of depression? I'm curious about birth control pills specifically. I switched...
My depression&anxiety also began in high school. I had been feeling down for about 6 months, and then had my first ever panic attack while outside for gym. I think we were practicing for track and...
I do think that feeling like you need to control your environment can lead to more feelings of unhappiness. And you might be right, Karen, that it could be that depression may sometimes stem from a...
I sometimes feel pain due to depression, but I think it may be due to tension/stress that sometime accompanies it. My chest will sometimes feel tight, especially if I have been extremely upset or...
JOC - No, I'm just on christmas vacation. School starts again next week. Getting a little worried about it because my depression has worsened over the break. The whole school experience has been a...
It seems like everyone can agree that the holidays get stressful and can be difficult at the best of times, and when you've recently broken up with someone it makes it harder because you can end up...
That does make sense.... I think that I assume everyone else is leading a fantastically busy social life, with friends all around. Maybe that's one of the myths of life in your 20's - that everything...
Wow, you don't log on for a day and you miss so much! JOC - we're not that far apart geographically - I'm in Ottawa for school, but am home in the country until after new years for the holidays. I...
Getting by - your rock cutting sounds really interesting. Hobbies are good to have....though I've let most of mine go for the past few months. I still read a lot. Used to draw and paint, write, play...
Tennis - Sorry you are having a difficult time. I've never really liked being touched either. I'm not a "hugger". You know those people you see who always greet their friends with a hug and "Ohhhh!...
JOC - Effxor worked for you? I have a friend who started Effexor XR in July for depression and it seems like all it has done is made him angry. He doesn't seem any happier or relaxed - he says he...
Tennis - that's exactly how I feel. I don't have a lot of people that I am close to and I don't want to put everything on them. And like you I don't want to be pitied. But it is nice to know that...
They ARE understanding - depression and anxiety run in my family. But I always feel like I'm a burden because of it. I don't want to be a drain on anyone or bring other people down. But I hadn't...
Hi Joc, I was on Paxil for several years and it definitely caused me to gain weight and also made me more aggressive. I lost the weight after going off it, and like you and mogli I still take...
Just to give some backstory - I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder and Depression when I was 15, and have been coping using various methods since then. I'm female, 26 now, and in University, and have...
Those are all good suggestions. It CAN be a difficult time of year. Sometimes it can feel like there is a lot of pressure to be "cheerful" and "festive", which can be fun but which can also be...
I was on Paxil for six years, from ages 15 to 21. During that time my weight increased dramatically. I remember feeling much more hungry. I went off the medication about four years ago and found that...
Scissor Sisters have a few good 'get up and move' sort of songs. I also like: The Darkness - I Believe in a Thing Called Love The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger The Killjoys - Rave and Drool These songs...