Posted by n_shrimpie on February 10, 2012, at 23:54:02
In reply to Re: Does abilify work for anhedonia, posted by stewie on February 10, 2012, at 22:45:14
> I posted a lot in response to an earlier thread.
> I will keep this short and say that I do think that Abilify is helping with anhedonia at 1 mg./day.
>
> I do not find it to be sedating - quite the opposite. And I really need to sleep more than 5 hours per night!
>
> Something does occur to me: I am so used to not feeling pleasure and staying home and feeling sad and agoraphobic, that I am continuing the habit of sitting around and not taking too many risks. Depression leaves us with scars, I guess...
> But when I DO get out and make plans or complete plans, I can joke and smile and even laugh. It's just that getting myself to do these things is not part of my routine anymore. Feeling crappy and staying in bed has been my routine for years.
>
> I don't know if this makes any sense to the problems of the original poster...I guess I am wondering if any of it resonates, and hoping very much that you will feel more joy or pleasure, bit by bit.
>
> Today I pissed the day away on this computer and on the phone - missing all of the things I wanted to do. I hope tomorrow will be better. In the end, I DID laugh a few times today, and am less irritable, so, still, better than it has been.
>
> All the best...
This ALL resonates.I've spent 90% of my life on my laptop or in bed, and that pattern is so ingrained and seems so normal that it's very difficult to change. When i was on the nardil, i would think i was joyless, but when i socialized I really was able to experience pleasure, but I'd have to FORCE myself to go do things, was always apathetic, but when i did, i could have fun. Nardil made me tired, so that also caused me to sleep more. And when i was first on the Lamictal, i actively sought out pleasurable experiences, which is of course the ideal. i couldn't believe that people got to feel like this every day instead of just going through the motions of life, but alas, it pooped out on me.I'm now up to 5mg on the abilify, and i've lost the motivation i had at 2mg and in the early 5mg stage. i still have insomnia, but i only feel motivated, wired and restless( which i dislike, but since it contributes to my functionality i tolerate it) for a few hours after i take it but then it subsides and isn't activating, simply gives me insomnia. i doubt that i can afford to remain on the 5mg, and it doesn't seem to be doing much for my mood so I'll probably go down to 2.5. My doctor said i seemed my better today, less confused and i did feel better cognitively this morning than i have in a while, but being atypical, my depression progresses as the day does, so i'm confused and spacey and experiencing complete anhedonia right now.but at least the mornings have improved. i'm really considering exercising in the morning in hopes that it will help my depression. sometimes i fear the depression has caused permanent brain damage,(especially since i've gone pretty much untreated over the past year, just on the lamictal but quite depressed) and i'll never retain my cognitive faculties and that terrifies me.
poster:n_shrimpie
thread:1009756
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120202/msgs/1009960.html