Posted by froggyanna on May 31, 2003, at 18:09:42
In reply to crying triggers/ too empathetic/ zoloft/ buspar, posted by gingersnap on May 30, 2003, at 23:45:51
Hi gingersnap,
I really feel for your situation. Before I started getting treatment for depression about 15 years ago, I had similar "events." While I don't think that my condition was quite as intense as yours, I think that you are probably on to something when you say that this is a "true physical response."
My situation was a bit different. While I *was* very sensitive and emotional in public, and did cry very easily, I could *usually* keep that under control. What happened to me was mostly in private. My uncontrollable crying spells were completely unemotional and purely physical -- they tended to precede grand mal seizures! To make a VERY long story short, I worked for years with a lot of different therapies to find a NATURAL way to reduce my tendency to have these very *rare* seizures. Through diet, and psychological/emotional release work, and relaxation and meditation over the years, I eventually "cured" myself of this condition. The crying was just some kind of physical expression of the jangled nerves in my brain, which then went on to completely charge up and cause the seizure. I never took medication for it. However, eventually, when I realized how depressed I was at times and sought medical treatment for the very first time, all the seizures faded away (I only ever had them once or twice a year and sometimes not for a few years). I also noticed, on Prozac and then Zoloft, a distinct drop in my "ability" or physical need to cry as much in normal situations. My sensitivities were still there but now I felt as if they weren't completely controlling me. I discovered a little more "choice" in the matter of whether I truly wanted to cry or not.
So I guess that's my answer to your question 4. Yes, I think this condition CAN be purely physical and that medication can remove the physical "need" to cry so that you can be a little more choosy about what gets you to cry.
With question 1, I think you just might want to try increasing your dosage (but I'm not an expert -- just talking from my own experience).
Question 2 -- You were taking just 50mg of Zoloft a day, and I've gone up to 150. Right now I'm at 100. Until recently I was vacillating quite a bit, not too sure about what dose was best. Now I'm pretty sure it's 100. I don't really know if there is a maximum.
Question 3 -- *I* take Buspar (buspirone) and Zoloft together, so I bet you could, too! :-) My doc prescribed it for help with my ADD and to potentially alleviate snoring/sleep apnea! (I don't think it's working for that, but I think it is helping me overall, subtly.) I'm currently taking 100mg Zoloft in the morning and 60mg Buspar at night. (Other meds, too, but that's a different discussion.) That's way more than you're currently taking of either, so I'd say give it a try!
I really hope to hear how you're doing with this. I don't think it's something that will go away immediately, but I think it's the kind of thing where you will eventually notice that something has changed. And it will be a solid boost to your self esteem over time, as well, because you'll feel more like you can "handle" different social situations and your body won't "betray" you as much. Please keep us posted!
froggyanna
Quick P.S. At the time I switched from Prozac to Zoloft, I had been going through a period of not taking either. I knew I needed *something* when I realized that as I walked past my TV that was turned on, and I caught the tale end of a "Full House" episode and the Dad was breaking up with his girlfriend, and I got completely taken in by the make-believe drama of it, and without even knowing the story line, I started crying in response to these strangers who I knew were just acting and I cared not one bit about! :-)
poster:froggyanna
thread:230385
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030530/msgs/230463.html