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I want a new brain

Amadeus

Chews the Cud
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I can feel my depression fighting my meds. My mood is relatively stable, but it feels as though I'm walking through mental quicksand. I can hardly string together a coherent thought. I am at like 40% capacity, and very tired. I spent most of Saturday sleeping.

Stupid dysfunctional brain. Work, dammit!
 
I know this may sound like a very elementary question, but do you exercise and eat well?

I can feel my depression fighting my meds. My mood is relatively stable, but it feels as though I'm walking through mental quicksand. I can hardly string together a coherent thought. I am at like 40% capacity, and very tired. I spent most of Saturday sleeping.

Stupid dysfunctional brain. Work, dammit!
 
Get off those meds!

Some antidepressants do give the side effect of somnolence, drowsiness, fatigue, and other things, but it is extremely dangerous to go off of those medications and stop them abruptly.

If you feel that the meds are causing these side effects consult your pharmacist or physician and see if you can't get them changed.
 
I know this may sound like a very elementary question, but do you exercise and eat well?

Not as well as I should, but probably better/more than the average person.
 
I would recommend consulting with your psychiatrist on increasing the medicine dosage. As a fellow clinically depressed individual, I can tell you that exercise, proper dieting, and even social interactions can assist with thought coherency. I only have intermittent periods of unimpeded thought capacity, but these periods have been occurring much more commonly as I have altered my lifestyle for the better.
 
I'm glad you're doing these things, as I'm sure they help at least a little. I'll say a prayer for you. Remember, all things must pass.



Not as well as I should, but probably better/more than the average person.
 
They put me on that crap once during my PTSD period. I felt like someone else got into my brain so I threw the pills away.

People who have been on them for a while cannot just throw them away. Meds aren't the best option for everyone and they may have not been the best thing for you, but if someone has been taking antidepressants and just tosses their pills out and stops cold turkey they have a very very serious risk for going through withdrawal (pretty much certain with many meds that treat mental illness) and can have seizures and other serious withdrawal related conditions.
 
I would recommend consulting with your psychiatrist on increasing the medicine dosage. As a fellow clinically depressed individual, I can tell you that exercise, proper dieting, and even social interactions can assist with thought coherency. I only have intermittent periods of unimpeded thought capacity, but these periods have been occurring much more commonly as I have altered my lifestyle for the better.

My mental-quicksand periods are relatively infrequent, but when they hit, I'm pretty much a troglodyte. I do recognize the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, although when I was in my best shape, I was also at my worst, mentally. So they do not necessarily go hand-and-hand.

This is just one of those times when my brain has decided to misbehave.
 
Without my meds, I'd be in pretty bad shape. The side effects, which are minimal, are as nothing compared to their benefit.

You should still talk to your doc. Sometimes they have to dial your dosage in and sometimes they have to switch you to something else.
 
Not only as a chemist but from personal and family and friend and student and every other experience I have had:

Meds must be taken on a regular time schedule.

Normally, those on psychotropics must get up and go to bed at the same time.

Naps are available after work or during mid-day if not working,

Dreams can be intense but many wake up "med-satisfied".
 
You should still talk to your doc. Sometimes they have to dial your dosage in and sometimes they have to switch you to something else.

I see my head-doctor tomorrow, coincidentally. However, I'm as recovered as she can possibly get me, so we usually just engage in small talk after I give a status update. She is a sweet little Indian, and frequently tries to get me to pick a religion. :)
 
My mental-quicksand periods are relatively infrequent, but when they hit, I'm pretty much a troglodyte. I do recognize the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, although when I was in my best shape, I was also at my worst, mentally. So they do not necessarily go hand-and-hand.

This is just one of those times when my brain has decided to misbehave.
I have a very similar condition, when my low periods hit, even the prospect of leaving bed or contemplating basic daily functions turn into ambitious undertakings. I combat those times by engaging in enjoyable activities, for me it's writing or playing guitar, and my mental functions seem to resume. It helps considerably to have an activity or hobby to throw the entirety of yourself into.
 
I can feel my depression fighting my meds. My mood is relatively stable, but it feels as though I'm walking through mental quicksand. I can hardly string together a coherent thought. I am at like 40% capacity, and very tired. I spent most of Saturday sleeping.

Stupid dysfunctional brain. Work, dammit!

this happens to me, minus the depression, when I drink a lot of whiskey whilst high.....in times like that, I like to sit out in nature and ponder the universe, while being cognizant that i'm not really able to ponder a damn thing.
 
I can feel my depression fighting my meds. My mood is relatively stable, but it feels as though I'm walking through mental quicksand. I can hardly string together a coherent thought. I am at like 40% capacity, and very tired. I spent most of Saturday sleeping.

Stupid dysfunctional brain. Work, dammit!

in my own case of OCD, social anxiety, and occasional depression, i have found that sticking to a routine helps somewhat, and exercise is essential. always have something to look forward to, even if it's dinner. try to live today as if you were very old and got to come back to right now again.

best of luck, and i understand a bit of what you're experiencing. keep on keeping on.
 
People who have been on them for a while cannot just throw them away. Meds aren't the best option for everyone and they may have not been the best thing for you, but if someone has been taking antidepressants and just tosses their pills out and stops cold turkey they have a very very serious risk for going through withdrawal (pretty much certain with many meds that treat mental illness) and can have seizures and other serious withdrawal related conditions.
Exactly. Depression meds like effexor will land you in a padded room if you're not careful. It's bad enough it closes the blood vessels beteen male sex organs. One med begets another and big pharma laughs all the way to the bank
 
I can feel my depression fighting my meds. My mood is relatively stable, but it feels as though I'm walking through mental quicksand. I can hardly string together a coherent thought. I am at like 40% capacity, and very tired. I spent most of Saturday sleeping.

Stupid dysfunctional brain. Work, dammit!

Been there, done that. It's hell imo. It's a difficult place to be in, and there is not a one-size-fits-all cure, but there are several options to consider, so don't give up if your current treatment isn't working well for you. I never took meds, so I don't even know what the effects are like, but my own approach is to try and get to the bottom of what causes the stress and resolve it. It seems to have a longer lasting effect. Not saying it's easy, but I think it's do-able in many cases.
 
Some antidepressants do give the side effect of somnolence, drowsiness, fatigue, and other things, but it is extremely dangerous to go off of those medications and stop them abruptly.

If you feel that the meds are causing these side effects consult your pharmacist or physician and see if you can't get them changed.



 
At least you're not this guy...


 
Been there, done that. It's hell imo. It's a difficult place to be in, and there is not a one-size-fits-all cure, but there are several options to consider, so don't give up if your current treatment isn't working well for you. I never took meds, so I don't even know what the effects are like, but my own approach is to try and get to the bottom of what causes the stress and resolve it. It seems to have a longer lasting effect. Not saying it's easy, but I think it's do-able in many cases.

Unfortunately, my illness is kind of built into my brain. Some people experience trauma that causes a chemical imbalance, while others are naturally imbalanced. I am the latter.

I volunteered for shock therapy (ECT) several years ago, and found the procedure quite pleasant, although ultimately useless. I liked the orange juice they gave me after each session. :)

I am happy with my drugs, over all. I used to be on 5, but I've been able to cut it back to 3.
 
It's quite obvious that you are not taking anywhere nearly enough.
Up your dose.
 
Unfortunately, my illness is kind of built into my brain. Some people experience trauma that causes a chemical imbalance, while others are naturally imbalanced. I am the latter.

I volunteered for shock therapy (ECT) several years ago, and found the procedure quite pleasant, although ultimately useless. I liked the orange juice they gave me after each session. :)

I am happy with my drugs, over all. I used to be on 5, but I've been able to cut it back to 3.

I would recommend reading some of the books written by James Hillman and Thomas Moore, just for starters, and if you aren't familiar with them. My own issues were initially brought out by emotional traumas, but I found that lifelong habits and dysfunctional thinking and perceiving habits were making it a chronic problem which was not manageable, even once the stress periods were over. It took retraining my outlook and perceptions on myself and the world around me. People who are chronically depressed CAN adapt and change how they interact, and become much more comfortable with themselves and their lives. It helps to bring out the creative side of yourself, and work with it. When you are depressed, there seems to be alot of inner struggle and turmoil. Much of my success was in letting go of the fight, stop trying to control it, and go with it, until there is no longer a conflict. I'm just rambling a bit, so forgive me. I really do feel bad for anyone going through it, and I hope you can, at some point, come to a peaceful resolution that you can live with comfortably.
 
She is a sweet little Indian, and frequently tries to get me to pick a religion. :)

You don't need to pick a religion. You need to find the sacred within yourself. :) You need to find your value, and your self-worth, whatever it may be. Not the shallow dimestore philosophy, but the real you that matters, and that lasts with time and space.
 
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