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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by James Hastie on February 11, 2004, at 10:42:24
... it's my first time posting here.
I've been reading these posts for a while now, and I've finally got round to registering so I can post myself. So I thought I'd say hi to you all and introduce myself a bit.
I'm 30, British (I live in SW England) and work as a computer programmer. I'm married and my wife is expecting our first child in July. I also suffer from recurrent depression with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - basically I get periods of my life when I get miserable for no good reason (that I can see) and start brooding constantly on negative thoughts, usually about death and dying. This will go on for days, weeks, one time it went on for three months, and then it will just lift almost as quickly as it came on, and I'll be back to normal for months, before it starts all over again. This has been happening to me since I was 15, and I must have had dozens of episodes since then. I have kind of learned to live with it, except when the episode lasts for a while (I'm currently in my sixth week), and then I get really frustrated and hopeless.
I would love to hear from anyone who goes through the same sort of thing, especially if you're a fellow OCD sufferer (with or without depression). Sometimes I feel I'm going through this alone in all the world, and I would dearly love to be proven wrong on that.
Anyway, nice to make contact with you all,
TTFN,
Posted by Penny on February 11, 2004, at 10:56:50
In reply to Be gentle with me..., posted by James Hastie on February 11, 2004, at 10:42:24
I do have depression, don't have OCD, but there are many folks here who do, so you are definitely not alone. Congrats on the baby!!! That's exciting.
Again, welcome!
P
Posted by fallsfall on February 11, 2004, at 13:06:56
In reply to Be gentle with me..., posted by James Hastie on February 11, 2004, at 10:42:24
Welcome! I don't have OCD, either ("just" depression). But I'm a computer programmer - I like fixing bugs the best. I'm also a mom - I think you'll like parenting, too!
Posted by antigua on February 11, 2004, at 13:15:25
In reply to Re: Be gentle with me... » James Hastie, posted by fallsfall on February 11, 2004, at 13:06:56
I don't have OCD either, but welcome to Babble. You'll find lots of support.
Good luck w/the baby. It's an amazing time of your life with the first one...
antigua
Posted by gardenergirl on February 11, 2004, at 15:03:29
In reply to Ditto, posted by antigua on February 11, 2004, at 13:15:25
Nice to have you here. I have atypical depression. No OCD. You'll probably find lots of support here. It's a great place.
gg
Posted by James Hastie on February 11, 2004, at 15:21:59
In reply to Welcome to Babble, posted by gardenergirl on February 11, 2004, at 15:03:29
You'll have to pardon my ignorance... what's atypical depression?
Big hello to everyone who's been kind enough to welcome me so far.
See ya,
J.
Posted by gardenergirl on February 11, 2004, at 17:05:19
In reply to Re: Welcome to Babble, posted by James Hastie on February 11, 2004, at 15:21:59
Atypical depression involves emotional reactivity, meaning you can have mood changes based on others or situation more so than in regular depression. It also invovles excessive eating versus loss of appetite, excessive sleeping versus insomnia, and hypersensitivity to rejection. These characteristics distinguish it from typical depression.
gg
Posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 11, 2004, at 17:41:22
In reply to Re: Welcome to Babble, posted by gardenergirl on February 11, 2004, at 17:05:19
Welcome aboard. My current (always in flux) Dx is psychotic depression, (Mine is a lot like atypical but I also get hallucenations and paranoid delusions.) Generalized Anxiety Disorder and OCD.
For me so far meds make things worse. I'd like to know some of your coping skills if you give me the chance to pick your brain. Congrats on your kid! I have a 5 yaer old daughter. Kids can make such a huge positive difference.
Posted by holymama on February 11, 2004, at 19:45:32
In reply to Be gentle with me..., posted by James Hastie on February 11, 2004, at 10:42:24
Welcome!
I've started posting over the last couple of months and it's been a great comfort to me. I am bipolar, which means I have long periods of depression and short periods of 'euphoria and obsessivesness'. Antidepressants don't work for me, (they make me more obsessively manic), so I am trying out mood stabilizers. Depression is the WORST though, and I am VERY glad to be past that phase of my life...I like medication even if I don't like the idea of being medicated.
I have three young children (5, 3 and 2!), and my connection with England is that I lived in Wales for a year with my husband. We have great friends that we visited in London last November (and left the three kids with their grandparents for 5 nights!! Yahoo!) Welcome and congrats on the baby!!!
Posted by Karen_kay on February 11, 2004, at 20:06:13
In reply to Be gentle with me..., posted by James Hastie on February 11, 2004, at 10:42:24
Hi James! I'm Karen. Nice to meet you. Are you having a better day today? Is the sun shining in your window? Or if it's nightime, are the stars shining through your curtains? They should be...
I'm dx with Bipolar Disorder. Someone else explained what that was, so I don't have to. Yah! I hate trying to be clinical when I'm not.
I really hope your days seem brighter. It does seem as though the days are getting longer, doesn't it? That's a good thing... Hang in there, we'll help you through it.
Posted by Jai Narayan on February 11, 2004, at 20:16:02
In reply to Re: Be gentle with me..., posted by Karen_kay on February 11, 2004, at 20:06:13
Hi, James. I have no diagnosis but am surrounded by bipolars in my family. I hope you enjoy this site as much as I do. The people are great and very loving. They will help you with what ever they can. I am hooked on these people and this site.
How did you find this site?
Posted by pegasus on February 11, 2004, at 23:29:46
In reply to Be gentle with me..., posted by James Hastie on February 11, 2004, at 10:42:24
Welcome, welcome! And thanks for inspiring everyone to list their dx!
I'm dx depression, too. Although, apparently that's up for debate currently (new therapist is mistaking response to meds for natural state). Personally, I would dx myself GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) as well. Whatever! I like to think of myself as a person who is a little this and a little that, and generally mentally confused but getting better!
I wish you much luck with the OCD, and the impending addition to your family. Lucky you! Will you post baby pics somewhere when the little one is born?
- p
Posted by All Done on February 12, 2004, at 0:23:04
In reply to Be gentle with me..., posted by James Hastie on February 11, 2004, at 10:42:24
Welcome! Nice to have you here!
I'm not sure what my dx is, but I do suffer from depression. It sort of comes and goes (never quite completely) for me, but it is usually exasperated by life changing events.
Amazingly, though, I did not suffer much from post-partum depression. I'm not sure how I got through it so easily as I was getting absolutely no sleep, but I can tell you I think it had plenty to do with my beautiful little boy. He changed everything for me and my husband and he is the light of our lives. You are very lucky to have a little one on the way. Congratulations! (But a word of warning - try to sneek in naps whenever the baby is sleeping and make your wife do the same : ).)
Take care,
All Done
Posted by James Hastie on February 12, 2004, at 5:14:21
In reply to Re: Welcome to Babble, posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 11, 2004, at 17:41:22
Most of my coping strategy I learned from my Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and the rest I get from (or got from) a high dose of Prozac - although I am starting to wonder if I have developed a tolerance to that drug.
I'm not going to bore you all with a history of my therapy (I want you guys to like me!) but I'm happy to answer any specific questions you may have,
All the best
James
Posted by James Hastie on February 12, 2004, at 5:17:22
In reply to Re: Be gentle with me..., posted by Karen_kay on February 11, 2004, at 20:06:13
> Hi James! I'm Karen. Nice to meet you. Are you having a better day today? Is the sun shining in your window? Or if it's nightime, are the stars shining through your curtains? They should be...
>
> I'm dx with Bipolar Disorder. Someone else explained what that was, so I don't have to. Yah! I hate trying to be clinical when I'm not.
>
> I really hope your days seem brighter. It does seem as though the days are getting longer, doesn't it? That's a good thing... Hang in there, we'll help you through it.
>Hi Karen, thanks for your kind words. The sun is shining today, but I'm still feeling pretty blue. I hate these long episodes, they feel as if they are never going to go away.... still it's been great to hear from so many other people out there who know what I'm going through
Posted by James Hastie on February 12, 2004, at 5:18:44
In reply to Re: Be gentle with me..., posted by Jai Narayan on February 11, 2004, at 20:16:02
> How did you find this site?I wanted some info on Effexor vs Prozac, and googled the two names. A posting on this site came out top and the rest is history.
Glad to make your acquaintance,
J.
Posted by EscherDementian on February 12, 2004, at 7:44:38
In reply to Re: Welcome! » James Hastie, posted by Penny on February 11, 2004, at 10:56:50
Posted by justyourlaugh on February 12, 2004, at 14:48:27
In reply to Re: Be gentle with me..., posted by James Hastie on February 12, 2004, at 5:18:44
it is so nice to see a new face..
i hope you will feel at home here and get the support you deserve...
you are not alone,you are now among friends.
jyl
Posted by octopusprime on February 12, 2004, at 22:04:48
In reply to Re: Be gentle with me..., posted by James Hastie on February 12, 2004, at 5:17:22
Hi James.
The sunny days are the worst. When I am depressed (that's my diagnosis) I feel guiltiest for wasting them. I live on the Wet Coast of Canada (much like merry ole England when it comes to rain, I gather), so it's rare I have to guilt myself for wasting them.
Hope you find a way up soon.
This is the end of the thread.
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