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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bissie66 on April 11, 2001, at 11:22:39
i take neurontin (1800mg.) and celexa (30 mg.) normally i do okay . . .at least half the time anway, i'm actually happy.
i've been really depressed and ruminating A LOT wiht the change of seasons. it has gone from winter to summer (no spring) where i am, and i find this abrupt change in weather always throws me. i am ruminating about bad things that happened when the weather was warm in the past. has anyone else expereienced this?
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 11, 2001, at 13:19:31
In reply to Ruminating, posted by bissie66 on April 11, 2001, at 11:22:39
Maybe you could benefit from the addition of a little Lamictal or Tegretol to jumpstart the other medications you are taking.
> i take neurontin (1800mg.) and celexa (30 mg.) normally i do okay . . .at least half the time anway, i'm actually happy.
>
> i've been really depressed and ruminating A LOT wiht the change of seasons. it has gone from winter to summer (no spring) where i am, and i find this abrupt change in weather always throws me. i am ruminating about bad things that happened when the weather was warm in the past. has anyone else expereienced this?
Posted by avoet on April 11, 2001, at 20:12:29
In reply to Ruminating, posted by bissie66 on April 11, 2001, at 11:22:39
> what do you ruminate over?
Posted by bissie66 on April 12, 2001, at 11:28:00
In reply to Re: Ruminating, posted by avoet on April 11, 2001, at 20:12:29
> > what do you ruminate over?
the newly warm weather seems to send warm-weather memories to my brain -- so, for example, i'll have a warm-weather memory of taking my kids to play group in the summer and i'll ruminate over how i don't get to do that anymore (b.c. i'm divorced, only have the kids 50% of the time, and work full-time now. it leads to depression about my situation.) or i ruminate about bad things that happened in warm weater, for example, the depression i went through in april/may '99, the horrible fight i had with my then-husband 2 years ago in the summer that was the final straw leading us to separate. or memories of terrible, anxiety-filled summer vacations with my family in childhood.
Posted by Dubya on April 12, 2001, at 18:47:56
In reply to Ruminating, posted by bissie66 on April 11, 2001, at 11:22:39
Yes, I do that too. I associate bad experiences I've had in the past in warm weather w/warm weather and so forth.
Posted by Cece on April 14, 2001, at 23:32:57
In reply to Re: Ruminating » avoet, posted by bissie66 on April 12, 2001, at 11:28:00
Hello-
This is so interesting to me- for the longest time I (and my recently ex-pdoc) have thought that I had some kind of reverse seaonal affective disorder, as I get very depressed by mid-summer and am not okay until October.
But last summer, I had been taking Lamictal for awhile which was lifting my mood, and as I started to sink into summer depression I caught myself and saw memories fly by of childhood summer misery. I realized that association was at least part, if not all of how this cycle developed for me.
I only recently found the word "ruminating" here on P-B, and realize that it fits me and a good part of my 'problem' to a tee.
So, I'm trying 'anti-ruminating' meds. I briefly tried Zyxprexa, which I could tell right away helped, but I was afraid to take a decent dose because of weight gain. Now I'm trying Geodon- can't tell yet if it will help, and am a bit disappointed that I didn't get the immediate hit that I got with Zyprexa.
Do you take any meds for your cud-chewing?
I love your description of "warm-weather memories"- it's like how smells can transport us to another time and place.
Good wishes,
Cece
> the newly warm weather seems to send warm-weather memories to my brain -- so, for example, i'll have a warm-weather memory of taking my kids to play group in the summer and i'll ruminate over how i don't get to do that anymore (b.c. i'm divorced, only have the kids 50% of the time, and work full-time now. it leads to depression about my situation.) or i ruminate about bad things that happened in warm weater, for example, the depression i went through in april/may '99, the horrible fight i had with my then-husband 2 years ago in the summer that was the final straw leading us to separate. or memories of terrible, anxiety-filled summer vacations with my family in childhood.
Posted by bissie66 on April 17, 2001, at 8:56:50
In reply to Re: Ruminating » bissie66, posted by Cece on April 14, 2001, at 23:32:57
Hi Cece! i loved your post. i too only heard the term ruminating on this board, but it fits me perfectly too. if only i could stop my brain from engaging in negative activities! what kind of meds are zyprexa and geodon? i take celexa 30 mg. and neurontin 1600 mg. i've never talked to my pdoc specifically about ruminating -- i tend to feel self-concious about always diagnosing myself. were zyprexa and/or geodon prescribed specifically for ruminating?
i know what you mean amout seeing your summer-time childhood memories flash before you. i am recalling terror-filled summers. absolutely awful.
take care! bissie
> Hello-
> This is so interesting to me- for the longest time I (and my recently ex-pdoc) have thought that I had some kind of reverse seaonal affective disorder, as I get very depressed by mid-summer and am not okay until October.
> But last summer, I had been taking Lamictal for awhile which was lifting my mood, and as I started to sink into summer depression I caught myself and saw memories fly by of childhood summer misery. I realized that association was at least part, if not all of how this cycle developed for me.
> I only recently found the word "ruminating" here on P-B, and realize that it fits me and a good part of my 'problem' to a tee.
> So, I'm trying 'anti-ruminating' meds. I briefly tried Zyxprexa, which I could tell right away helped, but I was afraid to take a decent dose because of weight gain. Now I'm trying Geodon- can't tell yet if it will help, and am a bit disappointed that I didn't get the immediate hit that I got with Zyprexa.
> Do you take any meds for your cud-chewing?
> I love your description of "warm-weather memories"- it's like how smells can transport us to another time and place.
> Good wishes,
> Cece
>
>
> > the newly warm weather seems to send warm-weather memories to my brain -- so, for example, i'll have a warm-weather memory of taking my kids to play group in the summer and i'll ruminate over how i don't get to do that anymore (b.c. i'm divorced, only have the kids 50% of the time, and work full-time now. it leads to depression about my situation.) or i ruminate about bad things that happened in warm weater, for example, the depression i went through in april/may '99, the horrible fight i had with my then-husband 2 years ago in the summer that was the final straw leading us to separate. or memories of terrible, anxiety-filled summer vacations with my family in childhood.
Posted by jrw on April 18, 2001, at 15:04:43
In reply to Re: Ruminating » bissie66, posted by Cece on April 14, 2001, at 23:32:57
Hi,
I can relate to this summer seasonal depression...
have had it for years. For me, I think it's a
combination of bad summer memories and actual
difficulty with heat, humidity, and sunny days.Would be interested in any insights anybody could
share.Thanks,
J
> Hello-
> This is so interesting to me- for the longest time I (and my recently ex-pdoc) have thought that I had some kind of reverse seaonal affective disorder, as I get very depressed by mid-summer and am not okay until October.
> But last summer, I had been taking Lamictal for awhile which was lifting my mood, and as I started to sink into summer depression I caught myself and saw memories fly by of childhood summer misery. I realized that association was at least part, if not all of how this cycle developed for me.
> I only recently found the word "ruminating" here on P-B, and realize that it fits me and a good part of my 'problem' to a tee.
> So, I'm trying 'anti-ruminating' meds. I briefly tried Zyxprexa, which I could tell right away helped, but I was afraid to take a decent dose because of weight gain. Now I'm trying Geodon- can't tell yet if it will help, and am a bit disappointed that I didn't get the immediate hit that I got with Zyprexa.
> Do you take any meds for your cud-chewing?
> I love your description of "warm-weather memories"- it's like how smells can transport us to another time and place.
> Good wishes,
> Cece
>
>
> > the newly warm weather seems to send warm-weather memories to my brain -- so, for example, i'll have a warm-weather memory of taking my kids to play group in the summer and i'll ruminate over how i don't get to do that anymore (b.c. i'm divorced, only have the kids 50% of the time, and work full-time now. it leads to depression about my situation.) or i ruminate about bad things that happened in warm weater, for example, the depression i went through in april/may '99, the horrible fight i had with my then-husband 2 years ago in the summer that was the final straw leading us to separate. or memories of terrible, anxiety-filled summer vacations with my family in childhood.
Posted by Cece on April 18, 2001, at 22:26:23
In reply to Re: Ruminating, posted by jrw on April 18, 2001, at 15:04:43
Hi J-
My summer depression relates also to heat and light- for me, the glare of a hot summer sun bouncing off a white wall, or city paving, is like being attacked. I have to withdraw and hide away. If I don't have to do much, I'm okay. But if I have to go out into the world, do complicated things, or even relatively simple things like figuring out how to schedule getting my car serviced - I'm a complete wreck and have to fake it and hope I won't get found out.
I live (in N. California) where the summers are dry, and the heat is mild compared to many other places. But we do get hot spells, and I really suffer. The dryness also bothers me- it is so unrelenting. I was a little kid in Washington, DC where there is plenty of summer heat and humidity.
I don't remember experiencing this before my first year of college. It has been with me since then (I am 52), although it took me many years to really see the pattern.
A change in weather helps my mood. If we get a rare summer rain here, my body relaxes. I feel better when the sky is clean and clear, rather than smoggy/hazy. Sometimes I ask myself 'is this some kind of allergy?'.
It is hard to tease this all apart and sort out past experience from some sort of innate physiological experience. Until last summer, I was positive that I had a seasonal affective disorder, just not the usual kind (i.e. winter). Then I had this flash of insight, or so it seemed, and I felt that I was getting flipped out because summer day camp was about to end and I'd be thrown into my parents' clutches unshielded.
But I'm confused: I can dredge up terrible childhood memories from any time of the year- so why is summer so potent? I think that there is some bodily chemical imbalance at work. And the fact that you mention weather as being key to you, is I think some kind of clue- I feel the same thing so strongly. But I don't have the answer, and unfortunately, I haven't found that pdocs are real interested in this. I wish I knew whether anyone is researching it anywhere.
The outstanding feature for me- although not the only important one- is the light, the bright cruel piercing light.
Best wishes,
Cece> Hi,
>
> I can relate to this summer seasonal depression...
> have had it for years. For me, I think it's a
> combination of bad summer memories and actual
> difficulty with heat, humidity, and sunny days.
>
> Would be interested in any insights anybody could
> share.
>
> Thanks,
>
> J
>
Posted by Cece on April 18, 2001, at 23:09:55
In reply to Re: Ruminating, posted by bissie66 on April 17, 2001, at 8:56:50
Hi Bissie-
I learned about Zyprexa and Geodon on this board. What a resource! Zyprexa has been around for some time, Geodon is brand new. There are other drugs in this group- one that I know of is Risperdol.
What they are is "atypical anti-psychotics"- which sounds scary at first (to me at least), but they seem to help a lot of people with mood disorders, particularly bipolars.
As I read people's posts, I started to wonder if they might help me. Even when I'm happy, there is a part of me that is brooding on one thing or another. I have thought of myself as 'contemplative', 'thoughtful', etc.- incorporating this quality into my self-identity. But reading other people, I began to let myself feel what a prisoner I am to these thoughts that bind and keep me from fully engaging in the present. Also, I began to see and admit that much of this brooding is negative and not at all useful.
The problem with Zyprexa is that weight gain is a common side effect and I am already overweight. Geodon, the new one, is supposed to rarely have this effect. However, I can now say, after trying it for a few days that Geodon isn't for me- it made me feel quite disasociated, and then I started to get depressed and labile. So, I'm trying a real small dose of Zyprexa, which seems to quiet my mind just a tad, just enough to let in a little fresh air.
Nice to talk with you,
Cece> Hi Cece! i loved your post. i too only heard the term ruminating on this board, but it fits me perfectly too. if only i could stop my brain from engaging in negative activities! what kind of meds are zyprexa and geodon? i take celexa 30 mg. and neurontin 1600 mg. i've never talked to my pdoc specifically about ruminating -- i tend to feel self-concious about always diagnosing myself. were zyprexa and/or geodon prescribed specifically for ruminating?
>
> i know what you mean amout seeing your summer-time childhood memories flash before you. i am recalling terror-filled summers. absolutely awful.
>
> take care! bissie
This is the end of the thread.
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