iuparrothead wrote:ejr is right on... great advice!
Melli- I have been dealing with seasonal affective disorder for probably the last 6 to 7 years now... and it's getting more intense every year. It's really tough for me when the days get shorter and I rarely see the sun for weeks. After the holidays is a really tough time... especially until around March when the days start getting noticeably longer. See your doctor... tough out the winter and work hard at focusing on the positives... forcing myself to be optimistic about spring has helped a lot, but it's not easy... it's just helped.
Did your Doc prescribe UV therapy? I don't know if I could just sit infront of a lamp I would try a tanning bed inbstead. Get a tan then take a 2 week trip to Key West that might help cheer ya up.
That's it, that's what I was talking about "seasonal affective disorder". I first read about this in College and from what I remember it's common and it just affects some worse than others. It doesn't help that these days most people who work normal daytime hours 8-4/9-5 (fortunately I don't) go to work when it's dark and go home when the sun is just setting or is already gone. Hang in there
Depression and Anxiety are two different disorders requiring two differnt type of meds if you so choose the pharmacological approach. The trick for finding the correct dx is having an assessment done. Some with anxiety...Generalized or specific often find themselves depressed in dealing with the anxiety. Other who are depressed become anxious about being depressed and panic disorders or generalized anxiety can develop.
Cognitive therapy, RET and behaviorial therapy have been successful treatment alternatives alone or in conjunction with meds.
If however you are not experiencing some of the major symptoms,,,lack of appetite, eating to much, unable to work..difficult time sleeping or sleeping to much, withdrawn, perhaps something recently has happened that triggered the most recent episode?
As for Seasonal Affective Disorder, the balance is found in knowing the history of your specific symptoms. If the same time every year you begin to experience SAD ....one to accept it, understand and remain in control of your reaction to it or for some the thought of having it year after year just wears them out and other symptoms like anxiety or increased depression often begin to develop. The anticipation of the experience can often be as much or more intense then the actual onset of SAD. Kinda like a dripping faucet...it is not the drip that keeps you awake, it's the anticipation of the next drip that does.
-------------------------------------------------------- There is no place like Cabo in the winter
While I agree with bumper about anxiety and depression being 2 different different things and how one can triger the other and vice versa it's always best to talk to your physician who can best determine your course of action and what you should do should you experience any prolonged period - and by prolonged that's usually a consistant feeling lasting at least 2 weeks that you just can't shake. Also know that you are not alone. Some of todays medicines can actually treat a variety of problems with just one pill.
Well...(said in my best Bubba voice) I've been on sabbatical.
ph4ever wrote:While I agree with bumper about anxiety and depression being 2 different different things and how one can triger the other and vice versa it's always best to talk to your physician who can best determine your course of action and what you should do should you experience any prolonged period - and by prolonged that's usually a consistant feeling lasting at least 2 weeks that you just can't shake. Also know that you are not alone. Some of todays medicines can actually treat a variety of problems with just one pill.
I'm 100% with Connie on this................. Also all of the other posts are quite helpful as well............
bumper wrote:Consider a mental health professional if not comfortable with a general practioner
Thats cool too, but they are very quick to write out a prescription before getting to the root of the problem.............. I tried as long as I could not to have to take meds, but I reached the point of mentally hitting rock bottom and had no other choice.............
bumper wrote:Consider a mental health professional if not comfortable with a general practioner
Thats cool too, but they are very quick to write out a prescription before getting to the root of the problem.............. I tried as long as I could not to have to take meds, but I reached the point of mentally hitting rock bottom and had no other choice.............
I think going to a g/p first is best. That way you can rule out any possiblity of your problem being medical based by having a complete physical to rule out any other illness first.
Well...(said in my best Bubba voice) I've been on sabbatical.
Mental health has changed significantly over the years. Managed care has firmly put restrictions on how many sessions, type of sessions, pay for sessions etc. It has become expedient to refer for meds. Any mental health professional worth their salt would refer for a physical to rule out organic/physical problems, if they don't, hit the ground running.
Some clients do not want meds under any circumstances and unfortunately they find paying out of their pocket to bypass managed care can become costly. But they cut their own path and are in charge of their treatment. Having an initial assessment is imperative for the client/therapist to isolate the issue/problem and design an effective treatment plan.
and you certainly are not alone
-------------------------------------------------------- There is no place like Cabo in the winter
bumper wrote:Consider a mental health professional if not comfortable with a general practioner
Thats cool too, but they are very quick to write out a prescription before getting to the root of the problem.............. I tried as long as I could not to have to take meds, but I reached the point of mentally hitting rock bottom and had no other choice.............
I think going to a g/p first is best. That way you can rule out any possiblity of your problem being medical based by having a complete physical to rule out any other illness first.
bumper wrote:Consider a mental health professional if not comfortable with a general practioner
Thats cool too, but they are very quick to write out a prescription before getting to the root of the problem.............. I tried as long as I could not to have to take meds, but I reached the point of mentally hitting rock bottom and had no other choice.............
I think going to a g/p first is best. That way you can rule out any possiblity of your problem being medical based by having a complete physical to rule out any other illness first.
You are correct Lady Connie..................
Would you two stop agreeing already! You're frightening me!
bumper wrote:Consider a mental health professional if not comfortable with a general practioner
Thats cool too, but they are very quick to write out a prescription before getting to the root of the problem.............. I tried as long as I could not to have to take meds, but I reached the point of mentally hitting rock bottom and had no other choice.............
I think going to a g/p first is best. That way you can rule out any possiblity of your problem being medical based by having a complete physical to rule out any other illness first.
You are correct Lady Connie..................
Would you two stop agreeing already! You're frightening me!
Don't get jealous Mal......... You & Connie are a part of my fantasy.....
bumper wrote:Consider a mental health professional if not comfortable with a general practioner
Thats cool too, but they are very quick to write out a prescription before getting to the root of the problem.............. I tried as long as I could not to have to take meds, but I reached the point of mentally hitting rock bottom and had no other choice.............
I think going to a g/p first is best. That way you can rule out any possiblity of your problem being medical based by having a complete physical to rule out any other illness first.
You are correct Lady Connie..................
Would you two stop agreeing already! You're frightening me!
Don't get jealous Mal......... You & Connie are a part of my fantasy.....
IsleReef wrote:
Thats cool too, but they are very quick to write out a prescription before getting to the root of the problem.............. I tried as long as I could not to have to take meds, but I reached the point of mentally hitting rock bottom and had no other choice.............
I think going to a g/p first is best. That way you can rule out any possiblity of your problem being medical based by having a complete physical to rule out any other illness first.
You are correct Lady Connie..................
Would you two stop agreeing already! You're frightening me!
Don't get jealous Mal......... You & Connie are a part of my fantasy.....
How depressing is that!
I kinda find it "kinky".......... Oh if ya only knew...........
1) There is a difference between being depressed, and having depression. All of us get depressed from time to time. True depression is something far different that that, and far more encompassing.
2) One of the things I have learned from friends, and from my reading, is that successful treatment of depression involved both pharmaceutical and psychological treatment--not just one or the other.
1) There is a difference between being depressed, and having depression. All of us get depressed from time to time. True depression is something far different that that, and far more encompassing.
2) One of the things I have learned from friends, and from my reading, is that successful treatment of depression involved both pharmaceutical and psychological treatment--not just one or the other.
iuparrothead wrote:ejr is right on... great advice!
Melli- I have been dealing with seasonal affective disorder for probably the last 6 to 7 years now... and it's getting more intense every year. It's really tough for me when the days get shorter and I rarely see the sun for weeks. After the holidays is a really tough time... especially until around March when the days start getting noticeably longer. See your doctor... tough out the winter and work hard at focusing on the positives... forcing myself to be optimistic about spring has helped a lot, but it's not easy... it's just helped.
Did your Doc prescribe UV therapy? I don't know if I could just sit infront of a lamp I would try a tanning bed inbstead. Get a tan then take a 2 week trip to Key West that might help cheer ya up.
That's it, that's what I was talking about "seasonal affective disorder". I first read about this in College and from what I remember it's common and it just affects some worse than others. It doesn't help that these days most people who work normal daytime hours 8-4/9-5 (fortunately I don't) go to work when it's dark and go home when the sun is just setting or is already gone. Hang in there
Don't get me wrong... I don't necessarily need to be "cheered up"... just need to work at fighting the blahs & blues! But thanks for the Key West suggestion. Yes, the tanning bed would do me some good... I'll be starting up the fake baking again in preparation of shorts & skirts season very soon!
`How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.
`You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.'
iuparrothead wrote:ejr is right on... great advice!
Melli- I have been dealing with seasonal affective disorder for probably the last 6 to 7 years now... and it's getting more intense every year. It's really tough for me when the days get shorter and I rarely see the sun for weeks. After the holidays is a really tough time... especially until around March when the days start getting noticeably longer. See your doctor... tough out the winter and work hard at focusing on the positives... forcing myself to be optimistic about spring has helped a lot, but it's not easy... it's just helped.
Did your Doc prescribe UV therapy? I don't know if I could just sit infront of a lamp I would try a tanning bed inbstead. Get a tan then take a 2 week trip to Key West that might help cheer ya up.
That's it, that's what I was talking about "seasonal affective disorder". I first read about this in College and from what I remember it's common and it just affects some worse than others. It doesn't help that these days most people who work normal daytime hours 8-4/9-5 (fortunately I don't) go to work when it's dark and go home when the sun is just setting or is already gone. Hang in there
Don't get me wrong... I don't necessarily need to be "cheered up"... just need to work at fighting the blahs & blues! But thanks for the Key West suggestion. Yes, the tanning bed would do me some good... I'll be starting up the fake baking again in preparation of shorts & skirts season very soon!
`How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.