![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ChicagoKat on September 30, 2012, at 10:30:51
Hi all,
Today is my husband's birthday, and I'm just looking for any ideas on controlling both my depression and anxiety for the day. I've taken a Ritalin (but tempered it with gabapentin), so hopefully that will take care of the anxiety (by the way, it's most likely the last Ritalin I will ever take - Yay!!) But I'm feeling really depressed today, and to make things really difficult I'm in a washout so I can start Nardil on Tuesday. So there are really no medications I can take. I had started crying while I was with him this morning, so that's why I raced upstairs to see what was going on here on PB. But we are going out for Indian for lunch - his favorite - and I am SO afraid that I am going to break down sobbing while I am with him and in the middle of the restaurant. I want so badly for this to be a completely happy day for him b/c he is so good to me, he has really put up with a lot b/c of my illness and is still standing by me. Plus, he lets me get away with letting the house be in a state of disaster. In short, he is a wonderful husband and deserves to have one happy day without having to deal with me and my negative emotions.
So, any ideas??
Thanks so much,
Kat
Posted by sleepygirl2 on September 30, 2012, at 11:05:51
In reply to Methods to control my emotions today, posted by ChicagoKat on September 30, 2012, at 10:30:51
Deep breathing, stretching, Ativan, focus on him, take a walk with him after lunch?
Posted by gadchik on September 30, 2012, at 12:27:17
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » ChicagoKat, posted by sleepygirl2 on September 30, 2012, at 11:05:51
Kat,just letting you know, Ive been there. I remember being in restaurants and crying. Id have to race to the restroom. I remember looking around at everyone enjoying their meal,and I felt as if I were hovering on the outskirts of society. So difficult when youre in that position.I hope you do well today,and your hubby has a wonderful birthday.
Posted by phillipa on September 30, 2012, at 12:46:08
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today, posted by gadchik on September 30, 2012, at 12:27:17
Me also you just do the best you can do. Phillipa
Posted by schleprock on September 30, 2012, at 12:55:27
In reply to Methods to control my emotions today, posted by ChicagoKat on September 30, 2012, at 10:30:51
I'm not sure Indian is such a good idea. Spicy foods can sometimes provoke anxiety.
Posted by phidippus on September 30, 2012, at 15:42:35
In reply to Methods to control my emotions today, posted by ChicagoKat on September 30, 2012, at 10:30:51
First off, adding extra stress by pressuring yourself to be at your best is going to work against you. If you breakdown and cry just explain you're crying out of joy. Pay him more attention than yourself. Act like you want to feel. You're going to be fine.
Ericc
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 30, 2012, at 17:41:19
In reply to Methods to control my emotions today, posted by ChicagoKat on September 30, 2012, at 10:30:51
Can you take a single dose of a benzo (1mg of ativan or xanax, or the equivalent in any of the others?)
Dont blame your self if you arnt the life of the party, just do your best, and when you're in bed tonight, tell hubby that you love him and that you're glad he's there for you.....that will be the best present he will get.
Posted by bennybenzo on October 1, 2012, at 12:39:14
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 30, 2012, at 17:41:19
1 mg Ativan ., PROBLEM SOLVED
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 1, 2012, at 13:55:23
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today, posted by bennybenzo on October 1, 2012, at 12:39:14
> 1 mg Ativan ., PROBLEM SOLVED
LOL if only. I'm completely tolerant to benzos...1 mg of Ativan would be like taking a sugar pill to me. At this point, it would probably take a whole bottle of ativan for me to feel any effect. and the strange thing is, i don't withdraw from benzos, i stay at the same level of tolerance. so my doses got higher and higher, but not b/c i was abusing them but b/c the tolerance just stayed. i have a feeling i'll remain tolerant to benzos for the rest of my life, but that's ok b/c gabapentin works for me. hey, at least i never had to suffer benzo withdrawal did i?
but for me benzos are out, probably for life. thanks for the suggestion anyway.
Kat
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 1, 2012, at 13:56:44
In reply to Methods to control my emotions today, posted by ChicagoKat on September 30, 2012, at 10:30:51
> Hi all,
>
> Today is my husband's birthday, and I'm just looking for any ideas on controlling both my depression and anxiety for the day. I've taken a Ritalin (but tempered it with gabapentin), so hopefully that will take care of the anxiety (by the way, it's most likely the last Ritalin I will ever take - Yay!!) But I'm feeling really depressed today, and to make things really difficult I'm in a washout so I can start Nardil on Tuesday. So there are really no medications I can take. I had started crying while I was with him this morning, so that's why I raced upstairs to see what was going on here on PB. But we are going out for Indian for lunch - his favorite - and I am SO afraid that I am going to break down sobbing while I am with him and in the middle of the restaurant. I want so badly for this to be a completely happy day for him b/c he is so good to me, he has really put up with a lot b/c of my illness and is still standing by me. Plus, he lets me get away with letting the house be in a state of disaster. In short, he is a wonderful husband and deserves to have one happy day without having to deal with me and my negative emotions.
>
> So, any ideas??
> Thanks so much,
> KatThanks for all the ideas everyone! We ended up having a great birthday. Much appreciated.
Kat
Posted by phillipa on October 1, 2012, at 20:49:46
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » bennybenzo, posted by ChicagoKat on October 1, 2012, at 13:55:23
Kat I hate to change the subject. First congrats on BD!!!. Now you say you are tolerant to benzos but gabapentin works. How did you do the switch? And I'm no sure what you mean by stays with you? Phillipa
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 2, 2012, at 8:52:20
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » ChicagoKat, posted by phillipa on October 1, 2012, at 20:49:46
> Kat I hate to change the subject. First congrats on BD!!!. Now you say you are tolerant to benzos but gabapentin works. How did you do the switch? And I'm no sure what you mean by stays with you? Phillipa
Hi Phillipa, I hope you are well.
First, it's the tolerance to benzos that stays with me. I don't suffer withdrawal when I stop them; my level of tolerance just stays at the same level that it was at when I stopped taking the benzos. So now, it would probably take practically a whole bottle of piills for me to feel any effect from a benzo (I'm exaggerating just a bit on that lol).
As far as switching from benzos to gabapentin, I just switched. I stopped taking the benzos, which weren't working anyways, and began taking gabapentin. Of course, when I started gaba, it was at a much lower dose, which worked great, but the only unhappy thing about gaba (to me) is that tolerance builds up very rapidly.
Hope that info helps. Take care!
Kat
Posted by phillipa on October 2, 2012, at 19:14:40
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » phillipa, posted by ChicagoKat on October 2, 2012, at 8:52:20
Wouldn't you be prone to seizures just stopping benzos? Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on October 2, 2012, at 19:59:27
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » ChicagoKat, posted by phillipa on October 2, 2012, at 19:14:40
At high doses, seizures can be a risk.
Eric
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 3, 2012, at 9:33:21
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » ChicagoKat, posted by phillipa on October 2, 2012, at 19:14:40
> Wouldn't you be prone to seizures just stopping benzos? Phillipa
That's the weird thing: I get absolutely NO withdrawal effects when I stop them. And the tolerance level stays exactly where it was if I come back to them, ie I need just as much drug to achieve any effect.
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 3, 2012, at 9:35:17
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » phillipa, posted by phidippus on October 2, 2012, at 19:59:27
> At high doses, seizures can be a risk.
>
> EricI'm well aware of that Eric.
But, as I just told Phillipa, I get absolutely NO withdrawal effects when I stop benzos, and my level of tolerance stays exactly where it was when I stopped them.
Posted by phidippus on October 3, 2012, at 12:03:50
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » phidippus, posted by ChicagoKat on October 3, 2012, at 9:35:17
Same here.
Eric
Posted by phillipa on October 3, 2012, at 20:40:09
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » ChicagoKat, posted by phidippus on October 3, 2012, at 12:03:50
Ditto so who decided that discontinuing benzos caused seizures? Phillipa
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 4, 2012, at 10:24:12
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » phidippus, posted by phillipa on October 3, 2012, at 20:40:09
> Ditto so who decided that discontinuing benzos caused seizures? Phillipa
I think Eric might have posted something. But regardless, whoever said it is correct...if you are on higher doses of benzos and stop them cold turkey, you may have seizures.
Unless you're a strange one like me, of course. :)
Kat
Posted by phidippus on October 4, 2012, at 16:57:30
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » phidippus, posted by phillipa on October 3, 2012, at 20:40:09
I was joking around. They ARE considered anticonvulsants.
Eric
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 4, 2012, at 17:57:08
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » phillipa, posted by phidippus on October 4, 2012, at 16:57:30
> I was joking around. They ARE considered anticonvulsants.
>
> EricHi Eric, how are you?
Yep, you're right, they're anticonvulsants. But you were also right before when you said they can cause seizures during withdrawal. If someone is on a relatively high dose of a benzo, and stops it cold turkey, he or she may be prone to seizures. If on a really high dose - eg, 8mg/day of Xanax - they definitely WILL have a seizure.
Kat
Posted by phillipa on October 4, 2012, at 21:30:34
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » phidippus, posted by ChicagoKat on October 4, 2012, at 17:57:08
Low dose none? If so that is why I could always stop in the past. Phillipa
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 5, 2012, at 13:15:19
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today, posted by phillipa on October 4, 2012, at 21:30:34
> Low dose none? If so that is why I could always stop in the past. Phillipa
I'm not quite sure I understand your question Phillipa, but if you mean that if you were on a low dose of Xanax - I believe you said you were taking 0.5mg of it, which is a low dose - that if you stopped it cold turkey you would not have seizures...if that is what you wondered, you are correct. Stopping such a low dose all at once would in almost complete probability not cause seizures at all. If I got your question wrong let me know and I will answer to the best of my ability. Hope you are well.
Kat
Posted by phillipa on October 5, 2012, at 21:29:15
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » phillipa, posted by ChicagoKat on October 5, 2012, at 13:15:19
Kat yes that was the question thanks Phillipa
Posted by ChicagoKat on October 6, 2012, at 9:53:41
In reply to Re: Methods to control my emotions today » ChicagoKat, posted by phillipa on October 5, 2012, at 21:29:15
> Kat yes that was the question thanks Phillipa
My pleasure Phillipa :) Enjoy your weekend!
Kat
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.