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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tabitha on May 2, 2016, at 16:25:40
Hi. For those of you with mood disorders, I'm curious about how you self-monitor to notice that you are entering a depression. I get fooled time and time again because it comes on so slowly that the distorted thoughts seem true. I'm also used to putting up a normal-seeming front because I don't want to be a drag or seem crazy. Because of that, others don't notice my depression until it's really severe.
The end result of not successfully noticing I'm having another episode is that I go months or years without getting my treatment updated.
I keep thinking there must be some indicator I could learn to see. What do you folks do? Do you self-monitor or count on your pdoc or therapist to monitor you?
Posted by SLS on May 2, 2016, at 18:19:09
In reply to How do you monitor depression for yourself?, posted by Tabitha on May 2, 2016, at 16:25:40
> Hi. For those of you with mood disorders, I'm curious about how you self-monitor to notice that you are entering a depression. I get fooled time and time again because it comes on so slowly that the distorted thoughts seem true. I'm also used to putting up a normal-seeming front because I don't want to be a drag or seem crazy. Because of that, others don't notice my depression until it's really severe.
>
> The end result of not successfully noticing I'm having another episode is that I go months or years without getting my treatment updated.
>
> I keep thinking there must be some indicator I could learn to see. What do you folks do? Do you self-monitor or count on your pdoc or therapist to monitor you?I imagine the prodrome symptoms differ from person to person. For me, the early signs of depression are feeling lazy. I am less interested and motivated to do things. Eventually, I begin to feel drained of energy and vegetative. I tend to stare into space. I lose my ability to read with comprehension and exhibit memory impairments. I become less interested in being around people and am generally less social.
I don't know if a mood chart would help:
http://www.bipolarscotland.org.uk/leaflets/mood-monitoring.pdf
I used this one for a little while.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on May 2, 2016, at 19:59:53
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » Tabitha, posted by SLS on May 2, 2016, at 18:19:09
By this I would conclude that I've never been depressed. Maybe bad mood or down. But anxiety is what I exhibit with OCD characteristics like repetitive thoughts and thinking what is the worse thing that can happen. Why docs gave me SSRI"s is most likely when new out they were supposed to; work for anxiety. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on May 2, 2016, at 21:24:38
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » Tabitha, posted by SLS on May 2, 2016, at 18:19:09
> > Hi. For those of you with mood disorders, I'm curious about how you self-monitor to notice that you are entering a depression. I get fooled time and time again because it comes on so slowly that the distorted thoughts seem true. I'm also used to putting up a normal-seeming front because I don't want to be a drag or seem crazy. Because of that, others don't notice my depression until it's really severe.
> >
> > The end result of not successfully noticing I'm having another episode is that I go months or years without getting my treatment updated.
> >
> > I keep thinking there must be some indicator I could learn to see. What do you folks do? Do you self-monitor or count on your pdoc or therapist to monitor you?
>
> I imagine the prodrome symptoms differ from person to person. For me, the early signs of depression are feeling lazy. I am less interested and motivated to do things. Eventually, I begin to feel drained of energy and vegetative. I tend to stare into space. I lose my ability to read with comprehension and exhibit memory impairments. I become less interested in being around people and am generally less social.
>
> I don't know if a mood chart would help:
>
> http://www.bipolarscotland.org.uk/leaflets/mood-monitoring.pdf
>
> I used this one for a little while.
This should be the chart itself:
- Scott
Posted by J Kelly on May 3, 2016, at 5:12:39
In reply to How do you monitor depression for yourself?, posted by Tabitha on May 2, 2016, at 16:25:40
> I'm also used to putting up a normal-seeming front because I don't want to be a drag or seem crazy. Because of that, others don't notice my depression until it's really severe.
This sounds like me. This last time my family confronted me. I was basically bedridden when I finally went to see my pdoc. Why I waited so long is beyond me.
>
> I keep thinking there must be some indicator I could learn to see. What do you folks do? Do you self-monitor or count on your pdoc or therapist to monitor you?For the first time I've committed to weekly therapy. I'm counting on her and my pdoc to monitor me. Hope you find something that works!
Jade :)
Posted by SLS on May 3, 2016, at 7:09:02
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » Tabitha, posted by J Kelly on May 3, 2016, at 5:12:39
> For the first time I've committed to weekly therapy. I'm counting on her and my pdoc to monitor me.
I hope that your plan works well.
- Scott
Posted by J Kelly on May 3, 2016, at 11:10:03
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » J Kelly, posted by SLS on May 3, 2016, at 7:09:02
> > For the first time I've committed to weekly therapy. I'm counting on her and my pdoc to monitor me.
>
> I hope that your plan works well.
>
>
> - ScottThank you :)
So far my plan is working very well. How are things for you? Are the Prazosin and desipramine still providing some mood improvement? I hope so.
Jade
Posted by Tabitha on May 3, 2016, at 16:00:23
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » Tabitha, posted by SLS on May 2, 2016, at 18:19:09
> For me, the early signs of depression are feeling lazy. I am less interested and motivated to do things. Eventually, I begin to feel drained of energy and vegetative. I tend to stare into space. I lose my ability to read with comprehension and exhibit memory impairments. I become less interested in being around people and am generally less social.
Interesting. I'm nearly always feeling lazy and non-social, at least for a large portion of the day.
>
> I don't know if a mood chart would help:
>
> http://www.bipolarscotland.org.uk/leaflets/mood-monitoring.pdf
>
> I used this one for a little while.
>That's interesting. By those measures I'd say I veer from high depression up to low depression, and very occasionally reach the halfway mark between normal and hypomanic. Back when I was diagnosed unipolar depressive and on SSRI only, I'd range up to hypomanic.
Posted by Tabitha on May 3, 2016, at 16:02:07
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself?, posted by Phillipa on May 2, 2016, at 19:59:53
> By this I would conclude that I've never been depressed. Maybe bad mood or down. But anxiety is what I exhibit with OCD characteristics like repetitive thoughts and thinking what is the worse thing that can happen. Why docs gave me SSRI"s is most likely when new out they were supposed to; work for anxiety. Phillipa
Yes, I remember when SSRI's were used for all kinds of symptoms. So what do you use for anxiety now?
Posted by Tabitha on May 3, 2016, at 16:08:32
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » Tabitha, posted by J Kelly on May 3, 2016, at 5:12:39
> For the first time I've committed to weekly therapy. I'm counting on her and my pdoc to monitor me. Hope you find something that works!
>
> Jade :)
>
>I hope that goes well for you. Part of my disillusionment with therapy was that of the five therapists I saw, only one recognized my depression and recommended a med consult. The others saw all my distorted thoughts and self-hate as endless fodder for talk therapy.
Posted by baseball55 on May 3, 2016, at 18:37:57
In reply to How do you monitor depression for yourself?, posted by Tabitha on May 2, 2016, at 16:25:40
My p-doc/therapist always worried because the descents happened so fast. I could go from feeling okay to suddenly getting ready to kill myself.
He urged me to work with a DBT therapist and I started to watch this more closely. I realized the first sign was a loss of levity. I felt irritable, angry, lost any sense of humor or lightness. That might last a few days. After that, the fall was so far and deep that I would end up pacing all night trying to keep myself from killing myself. But recognizing that loss of levity made me call my p-doc and start immediately on abilify, which has been this magic med for me. I take it and within 48 hours, I'm better. Then within two weeks, I've gained 5 pounds. So I take it as a prn now. Just to pull me out once I start noticing the irritability.
> Hi. For those of you with mood disorders, I'm curious about how you self-monitor to notice that you are entering a depression. I get fooled time and time again because it comes on so slowly that the distorted thoughts seem true. I'm also used to putting up a normal-seeming front because I don't want to be a drag or seem crazy. Because of that, others don't notice my depression until it's really severe.
>
> The end result of not successfully noticing I'm having another episode is that I go months or years without getting my treatment updated.
>
> I keep thinking there must be some indicator I could learn to see. What do you folks do? Do you self-monitor or count on your pdoc or therapist to monitor you?
Posted by rjlockhart37 on May 3, 2016, at 22:38:12
In reply to How do you monitor depression for yourself?, posted by Tabitha on May 2, 2016, at 16:25:40
i usally know when im depressed.......there's 3 kinds for me, 1 the unmotivated and irrtible part where im awake but i don't feel like doing anything, but i have energy, then there's my famous gloominess stages, and then the heartache depression where i feel very sad.
i think it's internal practices of thinking to help someone carry on with the burden of being depressed alot kinda like don't sit and think why im depressed, just carry on and move through the day, like someone who is in pain, learn to deal with having it and try to carry on through out the day. But still depression is very pale and gloomy, like waking up to a grey dark sky everyday, even though it's bright sunshine during the day.
but if you really wanted to moniter, you could write down in a journal like frame, if you have the mental energy to do it, and write your mood status
Posted by phidippus on May 6, 2016, at 6:42:44
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » SLS, posted by Tabitha on May 3, 2016, at 16:00:23
For me the big sign of depression coming on is I start to feel less interested in the things I used to be interested in. I find its no good to monitor your thoughts for signs of depression. It is better to monitor your behavior.
Eric
Posted by Phillipa on May 6, 2016, at 9:53:00
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » Tabitha, posted by phidippus on May 6, 2016, at 6:42:44
Eric and then continue to do what you normally and ignore the mood so to speak. That is what I do. Kind of fight it and carry one. Phillipa
Posted by J Kelly on May 6, 2016, at 9:58:45
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » Tabitha, posted by phidippus on May 6, 2016, at 6:42:44
I find its no good to monitor your thoughts for signs of depression. It is better to monitor your behavior.
>
> EricGood point. It seems obvious but I hadn't looked at it that way.
Jade
Posted by Tabitha on May 6, 2016, at 14:02:04
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » phidippus, posted by J Kelly on May 6, 2016, at 9:58:45
Yes, I also notice that favorite activities lose their appeal. But my thoughts tell me I'm just done with those interests, or that I was foolish to be so enthusiastic about them in the past. If I force myself to do the things, the pleasure is gone. I guess that would be an indicator itself, right?
I think my brain is just really good at rationalization, so I'm fighting between "is this depression" and "have I just changed in some way that makes sense"
Posted by phidippus on May 6, 2016, at 15:45:57
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself?, posted by Tabitha on May 6, 2016, at 14:02:04
Feeling like you have to force yourself to do familiar and interesting things is certainly a sign of depression.
Your brain is not rationalizing-you are simply locked in a decision making process that is guided by anxiety.
Eric
Posted by Tabitha on May 6, 2016, at 20:13:47
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » Tabitha, posted by phidippus on May 6, 2016, at 15:45:57
> Feeling like you have to force yourself to do familiar and interesting things is certainly a sign of depression.
>
> Your brain is not rationalizing-you are simply locked in a decision making process that is guided by anxiety.
>
> EricHi, Eric. What's happening is that I come up with reasons that my behavior has changed other than depression. I think that fits this definition of rationalizing: "attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true or appropriate."
Could you elaborate on what you mean about the role of anxiety in a decision process? I normally think of anxiety as causing worry and perfectionism.
Posted by Phillipa on May 6, 2016, at 22:19:23
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself?, posted by Tabitha on May 6, 2016, at 14:02:04
Maybe you are done with them and are ready to try something new. For instance don't like posting ebay anymore. I need a new interest. Like people now change careers. Go different places, and move to new places. Replace old furniture with new and different types and colors. That is what this means to me . I am now ready and have bought a brand new home as lived here for l0 years. We need a different type of home as our tastes and needs have changed. And riding my bike the same way for over 10 years gets plain boring. This isn't depression for me. Phillipa
Posted by Tabitha on May 7, 2016, at 13:21:30
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » Tabitha, posted by Phillipa on May 6, 2016, at 22:19:23
> Maybe you are done with them and are ready to try something new.
Yeah, I do tend to stick with situations too long. Change is stressful so I avoid it. Sometimes I take a hiatus and pick things up again later. It's hard to tell depression vs really losing interest.
Posted by phidippus on May 7, 2016, at 16:48:19
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » phidippus, posted by Tabitha on May 6, 2016, at 20:13:47
But thinking of whether you are depressed or not depressed is anxiety.
Eric
Posted by Tabitha on May 7, 2016, at 17:04:10
In reply to Re: How do you monitor depression for yourself? » Tabitha, posted by phidippus on May 7, 2016, at 16:48:19
> But thinking of whether you are depressed or not depressed is anxiety.
>
ha ha, never thought of that. You could say posting on a message board about it is anxiety, too.
This is the end of the thread.
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