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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Enigma on February 7, 2005, at 12:13:22
I have severe depression with the standard depression symptoms. Just got back to work after a 3 month short term disability leave. Now I'm wondering if I need to go on long term.
Lately I've been feeling afraid, or uncomfortable with leaving the house. I want to hide in bed all day, and sometimes don't even want to talk to my family.
I wouldn't call it fear, but I just don't want to be around people, and I especially dread going to work.
Is that social anxiety or just part of my depression? I don't remember feeling this uncomfortable with leaving the house before.
I don't hate my job (I think) but I just don't want to go there. I feel like there's anything I'd rather do than be there.
What am I afriad of?
When I do go to work, I'm usually not too bad and have no problem talking to people, going out to lunch with a group, etc.Anyone else have a form of depression that comes and goes as often as one day intervals. I'm never really happy, but some days I can get to work, but other days are like today - I'm home 'sick'. I missed out on a big superbowl party due to my illness as well. Was pissed about that. I just couldn't see myself there. Funny thing is, when I'm in a good mood (rare), I'm usually the life of the party. Go figure.
I'm taking Wellbutrin 450mg mainly for energy, Risperdal for mania and depression (isn't working too well, but used to work ok), and I just started prozac for the 3rd or 4th time. Been on the 'zac for 1 week and I feel no different. I hope it kicks in. It just has to or my employment is gonna be at risk.
I get anxiety attacks lately.. constant worry I'm going to lose my job, my house, etc. which I take Ativan for. I only started getting the anxiety when it was time to go back to work. The threat of losing my job is real. If I go on long term disability, there's a change they'll fill my position and I'll be left out in the cold. I'm currently totally incapable of handling the stress of a new job - the interview process, meeting new people, having to learn a ton of new stuff, etc. Assuming I could get through an interview and 'the' job.
OK, now I'm rambling...
Posted by Spriggy on February 7, 2005, at 12:17:08
In reply to First depression, now social anxiety???, posted by Enigma on February 7, 2005, at 12:13:22
You are on a pretty high dose of Wellbutrin and Wellbutrin is known for causing anxiety even panic attacks as a side effect.
I wonder if you would do better at a lower dose just to rule out the WB causing your anxiety??
Posted by Phillipa on February 7, 2005, at 18:01:19
In reply to Re: First depression, now social anxiety???, posted by Spriggy on February 7, 2005, at 12:17:08
Also, I went out on Disability over the same thing. Now 8 years has gone by and I have severe agoraphobia, which is what it sounds like you may be developing. On the other hand, you say you wanted to go to the Party. My daughter took proxac, and lost her job. She realized her depression was her job. She now has another, has given up prozac, and is very happy. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Ritch on February 8, 2005, at 0:10:27
In reply to First depression, now social anxiety???, posted by Enigma on February 7, 2005, at 12:13:22
>... Funny thing is, when I'm in a good mood (rare), I'm usually the life of the party. Go figure.
...I'm taking Wellbutrin 450mg mainly for energy, Risperdal for mania and depression (isn't working too well, but used to work ok), and I just started prozac for the 3rd or 4th time. Been on the 'zac for 1 week and I feel no different. I hope it kicks in. It just has to or my employment is gonna be at risk.
I get anxiety attacks lately.. constant worry I'm going to lose my job, my house, etc. which I take Ativan for. I only started getting the anxiety when it was time to go back to work...
Hi, I think the WB is making you avoidant/phobic. I got similar symptoms from WB in the past. I couldn't walk on the roof of my house when I was taking it regularly (acrophobia) to clean gutters, etc. Never had that problem before, not with stims not with any other meds. I would find a replacement for it. Maybe Provigil.. perhaps desipramine.. Stratterra.. Dexedrine..
Posted by banga on February 8, 2005, at 8:25:18
In reply to Re: First depression, now social anxiety??? » Enigma, posted by Ritch on February 8, 2005, at 0:10:27
I think this kind of avoidance can spawn from depression. Though my depressions last longer than one day, I have anxiety superimposed...it feels baseless, but I think underneath I fear I cannot handle the world, handle the effort and pressure to talk to others, and work--like with the depression, you start feeling like life is too complicated and you are too vulnerable. And the anxeity that comes with guilt over the depression, am I just copping out?-
If you at the same time obsess over this or other problems, you might look into meds that help with OCD. Suddenly a lot of people reporting success on Luvox. If I get my ruminating mind to stop I am better off.
But people are right you at least might consider if the Wellbutrin is making this worse.
But it does sound like this could develop into agorphobia. The best medicine for this is to try and not give in . Even if it means getting out of your house to do mundane errands, go for a cup of coffee and read a magazine....the more you stay home when you feel like this the more it feeds on itself. And try to set aside the fear and do the harder constructive things with life when possible, but I know you probably know this helps your self-esteem. This comes from someone who knows!! There used to be one of those goofy self-help books out there titled "Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway" My therapist and I laughed--that seems to say it better than weeks of therapy for anxiety.
But a change in meds sounds very very reasonable--esp. going down on Wellbutrin. Are benzos out of the question even short-term for you?
This is the end of the thread.
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