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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cass on July 2, 2000, at 0:23:57
I have been hit with a bad depression. I can't figure out if it is because of having nothing special to do on the holiday week-end, or having started a new med or some other physical reason. I have been drinking lately, too. I recently added Dexedrine to my list of meds which are Celexa and Seroquel. Could Dexedrine cause this? I feel extremely lonely and sad at the moment. No one has called me to do anything on the 4th. Everyone is busy with family or travel plans. Whatever feed-back you have, I would appreciate it.
Posted by paul on July 2, 2000, at 1:17:17
In reply to Feeling blue. No plans for the 4th, posted by Cass on July 2, 2000, at 0:23:57
cass-
would you consider losing the booze? the trash never helped anyone and with all the other brain-rearranging meds you're on, why mess up the house w/alkyhol? yes, i know-my colors are showing but i never knew anyone who got jack-diddly out of drinking while on meds. pardon the pedagogy, but der booze is a depressant. i'm sure you know this. what about getting on the phone and doing some event-setting up of your own? sometimes i find that the perfect event is just waiting for me and all it took was a simple phoney-call.
my .02$
pcl
Posted by Jennifer on July 2, 2000, at 5:12:31
In reply to Feeling blue. No plans for the 4th, posted by Cass on July 2, 2000, at 0:23:57
Cass, I don't know for sure, but I don't think the dexidrine would do that. It's probably the alcohol in addition to a "holiday low". Are there any activities going on for the fourth in your town? Plan on going to something by yourself...it will lift you up to get out and about. My kids will be gone on the fourth to camp, and my husband is working 4-12. I plan on getting some fireworks on Monday, and once I start lighting them off in my cul-de-sac, I guarantee you I'll have plenty of guests (although they'll probably all be kids!) I guess the point is, drop the depressing alcohol, and FIND something to do! Let me know what you come up with. I'll pray that something awesome drops in your lap! Promise no more booze-okay? Care about you...Jennifer
> I have been hit with a bad depression. I can't figure out if it is because of having nothing special to do on the holiday week-end, or having started a new med or some other physical reason. I have been drinking lately, too. I recently added Dexedrine to my list of meds which are Celexa and Seroquel. Could Dexedrine cause this? I feel extremely lonely and sad at the moment. No one has called me to do anything on the 4th. Everyone is busy with family or travel plans. Whatever feed-back you have, I would appreciate it.
>
Posted by claire 7 on July 2, 2000, at 6:57:28
In reply to Feeling blue. No plans for the 4th, posted by Cass on July 2, 2000, at 0:23:57
Dear Cass: I'm sorry to hear you're blue. Don't have any good advice, unfortunately. I don't know if going out to a public gathering
would make you feel better or worse! If you think it might make you feel better, though, try it. If nothing else, you might get some goose-bumps from some really spectacular light shows!
Wishing you the best,
Claire
Posted by SusieAB on July 2, 2000, at 12:43:03
In reply to Feeling blue. No plans for the 4th, posted by Cass on July 2, 2000, at 0:23:57
Hi Cass,
I tend to feel blue on holidays, too. Based only on my own personal experience, I can say that sitting there and feeling sorry for yourself will only make matters worse. Even though I am on medication for depression, I can still sit around on my pitty pot and feel sorry for myself. Look around you. There is bound to be someone else that doesn't have plans and would appreciate the company. Or call and invite yourself to someone else's event. Been there, done that, and it works. I have also found that working on a project around the house takes up my time so I can't sit around and feel sorry for myself. I have discovered that feeling sorry for myself is an indulgence that I can't afford. The above is only my opinion based on my experience. Good luck, Cass.
Posted by Greg on July 2, 2000, at 13:11:49
In reply to Feeling blue. No plans for the 4th, posted by Cass on July 2, 2000, at 0:23:57
Hi Cass,
So sorry to hear that you're riding the wave of a bummer right now. I get real down around Thanksgiving and Christmas, not real sure why. Some of the others have commented on alcohol being a possible reason why, gotta jump on the bandwagon on that idea. Alcohol really does tend to make things worse (an alcoholic's point of view, so take it for what it's worth). Amphetamines and alcohol always made me extremely depressed and I'm not sure why I did it, could be a possible cause for you too. Holidays are a real tough time for a lot of people, so know that you aren't alone. Do you have any local 4th of July events in your area? Maybe it might just help to get out and go to one and see how it makes you feel. try to get out and do something. Sometimes the best times (and most fulfilling ones) are the times we spend with ourselves. Be sure to go somewhere for the fireworks! You never know, your phone might just ring when you least expect it and it will be someone who doesn't have plans either, might turn out to be the best 4th you've ever had! I hope everything turns out well, and there are a lot of people here who will be thinking of you.
XXOO,
Greg> I have been hit with a bad depression. I can't figure out if it is because of having nothing special to do on the holiday week-end, or having started a new med or some other physical reason. I have been drinking lately, too. I recently added Dexedrine to my list of meds which are Celexa and Seroquel. Could Dexedrine cause this? I feel extremely lonely and sad at the moment. No one has called me to do anything on the 4th. Everyone is busy with family or travel plans. Whatever feed-back you have, I would appreciate it.
>
Posted by paul on July 3, 2000, at 1:01:20
In reply to Re: Feeling blue. No plans for the 4th, posted by SusieAB on July 2, 2000, at 12:43:03
i second the "invite yourself" method. has NEVER failed me yet. and it's rarely the same folks as the previous year. of course, what with packing and all, the whole silly mess will likely pass me by anyhow. i like my ONE good ear just the way it is, thanks. the neatest thing-fireworks wise-i ever saw was a bottle rocket exploding UNDER water. now THAT was farout.
good luck in getting busy!
pcl
Posted by Cass on July 3, 2000, at 1:11:51
In reply to Re: Feeling blue. No plans for the 4th, posted by paul on July 3, 2000, at 1:01:20
I was too quick to assume no invites were coming my way. I do have plans now. I also spoke to a doctor who told me that Dexedrine could very likely exacerbate depression. I'm sure the drinking has not helped one bit either. I'm going to try to stay away from it. Anyway, I'm feeling a little better, and I sure appreciate all your feedback. Happy 4th of July to all of you.
Posted by noa on July 3, 2000, at 11:17:47
In reply to A medley of solutions (at least for now), posted by Cass on July 3, 2000, at 1:11:51
I'm glad to hear you are feeling a tad better. I was going to suggest doing some volunteer work, like visiting infants and children at one of the poorer hospitals. This is something I have done on and off for about 6 years, and it always makes me feel needed. My heart goes out to the little ones stranded without their families in a resource-poor hospital, where the nurses are short-handed. They need someone to hold them and play with them and read them a story. It helps me feel better about myself because I see the results immediately that I am contributing to someone else's life, even if only for a brief moment.
I also was reminded, as I read your post, of the July 4th holiday 16 years ago, when I was 23 years old. On the afternoon of the 1st, I was deadly depressed. Usually, when I was at work, I was protected from my horrible depressive thoughts and suicidal feelings. But that afternoon, knowing I had no plans for the holiday, my "monster" snuck into my consciousness. My suicidal urges became stronger and stronger, and though I had had such strong urges before, never before had I felt this determined and thought of a plan that would actually work. I knew that if I went home, I would be likely to carry it out, and so I needed to get serious help or it would happen.
When I left work, instead of going home, I walked (back in my pre-car days, when I got lots of exercise from walking the mile to and from work) to the emergency room of the local hospital. I waited in the waiting room a while, but then a big trauma came in, with several wounded (gun shots, I think), so I left, knowing I would have waited all night at that point. Coincidentally, my HMO (Harvard Community Health Plan) was just next door, practically, from the hospital, so I went there. It was after hours, but they had a psychiatric social worker on duty for emergencies. I spoke with her and told her I believed I needed to go into the hospital becasue I was seriously considering suicide. She agreed, called my therapist, and then arranged for a taxi to take me to the hospital.
By the time I was checked in, it was midnight and the date was July 2. I refused the medical check up, as I really did not like the doctor who was rather cold and impersonal and seemed annoyed that I disturbed him at that hour of the night. I was interviewed by a semi-literate technician, who took my shoes away, which felt like an indignity to me. I spent my first 24 hours on a locked unit, where overeager psychtechs took vitals all too often. Otherwise us patients just hung around in a sparse lounge being misearable.
There was one occupational therapist who came around to offer an art therapy group, and I chose to participate, which was good because I enjoyed it. This particular therapist turned out to be one of a few professionals at this hospital that had anything to offer.
I met with a psychiatrist once during this first day, and he decided to move me to an unlocked unit. Thank God.
On the unlocked unit, I met many interesting people among the patients. This unit was not staffed by techs, but by nurses, who had more to offer. In particular, there was one nurse who was very helpful. Otherwise, I just felt the nurses were there to record our every move and hand out medication. Still, on the unlocked unit, there were more therapy group options, which I opted to try, since boredom was my enemy. Mostly, though, these groups were fairly silly, run by inexperienced young activities therapists. But the OT from the first day led several, and I chose hers as much as I could.
July 3, my doc told me he would change the orders to give me priveleges to go out of the unit to other groups. But July 4 came and he had forgotten to give the orders and was on vacation. So, July 4, I was stuck inside and bored, because there were no on-unit groups that day. I was furious at the doctor, of course.
I remember watching the concert and fireworks on the local PBS station. John Williams was newly appointed pops conductor. One of the patients, Scott, asked, "Do you guys know what Arthur Fiedler is doing now?" --"Decomposing". This is one of the few jokes I have heard in my lifetime that I actually can remember! It was wonderful. It broke the ice in the little group of us patients who had gathered around the telly to watch the celebration.
July 5, the doc changed the orders, which allowed me to go around on the hospital grounds, which was helpful. The weather was great, and it was good to get outside. Also, it enabled me to go to the music room, and to the dining room without a nurse escort. But, the doc missed his appointment with me that morning, and I was furious again. He claims I missed the appointment with him, which I was certain was incorrect.
July 6, I was able to leave. A friend of my brother's picked me up and took me home.
That hospital experience, my only psych hospitalization, was a bottom-hitting point. It kept me safe for those few days when I was so vulnerable, but it didn't do much more therapeutically. Still, the one nurse that was helpful, put me in touch with a therapist at Family Services who was starting a group, and that group helped me immensely. Shortly after starting that group, I began to pull myself together. I still struggled with depression, but the suicidal urges went away.
This is the end of the thread.
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