Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 9877

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Hey, Cass, are you feeling any better?

Posted by Racer on August 10, 1999, at 20:59:42

You haven't had much to say lately, and I wondered if you were still in the depths of despair or feeling better and out and about more. I hope that it's because you've been out playing, but worry that it's the depression demon gripping you too tightly.

So, howzabout an update?

Sending good thoughts your way...

-Racer

 

Re: Hey, Cass, are you feeling any better?

Posted by Cass on August 11, 1999, at 14:24:07

In reply to Hey, Cass, are you feeling any better?, posted by Racer on August 10, 1999, at 20:59:42

> So, howzabout an update?

Thanks for checking up on me, Racer. I appreciate it. Things are about the same. My doctors appointment is on the 19th, so I guess I'll get a new med then. In the meantime, I've been tempted to start some kind of natural AD, like SAMe or MSM. But then, when I start a prescription, the two might be counterindicative. Not sure what to do there.
Basically, I still feel horrible. I feel oppressed by negative thoughts. I want to be free of all this. But I don't know how to do it.
I don't know which avenues to pursue.

 

Re: Hey, Cass, are you feeling any better?

Posted by Racer on August 11, 1999, at 17:32:15

In reply to Re: Hey, Cass, are you feeling any better?, posted by Cass on August 11, 1999, at 14:24:07

That's always the worst for me. After my recent crisis, I felt better almost the minute I left the doctor's office with a new combo, just because something was moving forward. Does that make sense?

One thing that I've noticed is that as soon as the depression gives me a little window, I get a lot of ideas for new projects. Maybe while you wait you could work on a new project of some sort? Something that you could finish in a day or so, and get some satisfaction from and put some creativity into? Like tie-dying a t-shirt, or working on a poster for your wall, or cooking a new soup recipe. It doesn't have to be ambitious, just fun and self-contained so that you can finish quickly. If you think this sounds good, let me know, and we can brainstorm some ideas for you!

I really hope that you feel as much better as I do soon. Please keep me/us informed of how you are and anything that would help you.

 

Brainstorms welcome here

Posted by Cass on August 13, 1999, at 0:03:36

In reply to Re: Hey, Cass, are you feeling any better?, posted by Racer on August 11, 1999, at 17:32:15

Maybe while you wait you could work on a new project of some sort? Something that you could finish in a day or so, and get some satisfaction from and put some creativity into? Like tie-dying a t-shirt, or working on a poster for your wall, or cooking a new soup recipe. It doesn't have to be ambitious, just fun and self-contained so that you can finish quickly. If you think this sounds good, let me know, and we can brainstorm some ideas for you!

Dear Racer,
I really do appreciate your concern. You are very kind. Today, I took your project advice and planted some flowers. Some are small delicate flowers that I can't remember the name of and the others are roses. I also went to the health food store and started taking MSM. I just want to put a pill in my mouth with the even vaguest hope that it will help. I hope you are doing well. Yes...brainstorms welcome here.
Cass

 

Here's my latest...

Posted by Racer on August 13, 1999, at 1:11:00

In reply to Brainstorms welcome here, posted by Cass on August 13, 1999, at 0:03:36

OK, so I tend to go a little overboard, sometimes, but as long as I entertain myself, right?

About ten years ago, I came up with an idea for a dress, but wasn't sure it would look good on me. So, a few weeks ago, I had a brainstorm: make it as a nightgown, then if it was wretched, no one but the cats would see it. The only problem was, what to use as trim? I found some cheap, sheer, white cotton, for the nightgown, but couldn't find a print the same weight for trim. So, batik came to mind. I bought an extra yard of fabric for use as trim, after dying it. Since I wanted about a dozen colors, and that seemed like overkill for one yard of fabric, I then purchased a dozen pairs of white cotton panties, six pairs of white cotton socks, and four yards of white challis... That, Your Honor, is why there is now a large pile of white fabric of various sorts sitting in my kitchen with wax all over them, and several pairs of underwear and socks with both wax and dye on them sitting in plastic baggies in the sink, waiting to finish developing, so that they can be washed out and more wax can be applied, and more dye put on, and more wax, and more dye, and more wax and then overdyed in black. At that point, the items get boiled to melt the wax, cooled, the wax removed from the top of the water, the dyed items washed to remove the last traces of excess dye, and voila! A creative project, fairly cheap, and about a week's worth of entertainment for me after work. Not only that, but I'll have a new nightgown in a week or so, and lots of very colorful underwear!

Sewing is therapeutic for me. There's something so satisfying in a really nice seam. Cross stitch, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, all that sort of thing makes me feel calmer, maybe because it takes me back to the days of sitting with my grandmother and her sister, all of us working on some sort of needlework. Something like that, or papermache, or candlemaking, or anything of that sort might work for you. Candlemaking is the simplest and cheapest, and the best double boiler I've found for melting the wax is a soda can with the top cut off. Also, the best candle dye is a crayon! Talk about cheap thrills! Try the Crayola Silver Swirls crayons, wow!

Then there are things like braided rugs, hand painting floor coverings of heavy cotton duck canvas, card weaving is coming back into style, beadwork (I recently saw a wonderful beaded lamp shade that would be a piece of cake to do), mosaic, fake mosaic candles, one of those half-macrame/half sculpture things with found objects woven in, pin-weaving, doll houses, pottery, gardening, scrapbooks (though I think that would depress me in the wrong times), volunteering to read to seniors in a rest home, volunteering to socialize kittens or puppies at the local animal shelter, volunteer to drive for an animal rescue organization in your area, and all sorts of other things.

If any of those sound interesting to you, let me know, and I'll see what sort of information I can send you on the subject. I have a ton of material around here on most of those, and my mother has yet more. My mother, in fact, probably has the largest privately held collection of crafty information from the seventies in this country, just because she has the same sort of monkey brain I do. We do anything until we get good, then we get bored with it and move on... But it does leave us with great resources!

Gee, how could I forget lacemaking! There are tons of lace techniques, and some are easy and some are fun, and most are pretty satisfying!

I do hope that helps some! And good thoughts from my garden to yours! (If you're in a drought area, try Portaluca, which is both beautiful and drought resistant! It's also called Moss Rose. My garden is overflowing with it right now, and is so restful and cheerful!)

 

Re: Hey, Cass, are you feeling any better?

Posted by JohnL on August 13, 1999, at 17:59:01

In reply to Re: Hey, Cass, are you feeling any better?, posted by Cass on August 11, 1999, at 14:24:07

Hi Cass. I don't know anything of your situation or drugs. But it sounds like things are kind of rough, yeah? You mentioned SAMe. I'm just here to put in my two cents that I think that is a reasonable and safe consideration. You'll know in 3 days to a week, 2 weeks at the longest, if it is of help. It can be taken for three purposes: 1)To get quick relief while waiting for an AD to work, 2)To allow a lower dose of the AD, 3)To replace the AD. I have tried SAMe in that order. I find 1) and 2) to make a noticeable difference. I don't think it will ever replace the AD. Sometimes I think it's just my imagination, but when I stop taking it I definitely don't feel as good as when I do. It kickstarted my Prozac quickly, and I think I'm able to keep a lower dose because of it. I'm only into week 6, so I really can't be an informed source. I still have a long way to go. But I do think it is a safe and easy thing to try. It just might be the bridge you need to get over the hump.

I noticed today Wal*Mart has it. Nature Made brand. $19.96. Take on an empty stomach. Start two pills first day. Three the next. Hold steady at four and see how it goes. You can go as high as 8 a day. But it is pricey, $1 per pill. But like I said, it could be the bridge to provide quick relief. It's so short-acting, that whether it works or not, you can turn it on or off like a switch. If you're feeling really bad, I personally think based just on my own experience it can give you the strength to get over the hump. I notice no side effects, except I feel more energy. I think it's worth a look-see. I would be cautious if taken with an MAOI. But other than that it is a very benign compound our own bodies manufacture. And unless it's my imagination, it really helps. Even if it is my imagination, if it helps, who cares! Worth a try. Just my opinion. Wishing you felt better. JohnL.

 

LMAO and Looking for Silver Swirls

Posted by Cass on August 13, 1999, at 19:52:39

In reply to Here's my latest..., posted by Racer on August 13, 1999, at 1:11:00

Dear Racer,
You tell a hilarious story! The dress/nightgown tale had me laughing so hard that I cried. That, in itself, was a nice pick me up. Right now, however,I think that my depressed little mind wouldn't allow me to make anything more than a simple candle. I hate the way depression makes me stupid. I'm afraid it will never pass. I feel dull and numb. I'm thinking of making a candle and putting a little lavender essential oil in it. Aromatherapists say that it's good for depression.
JohnL, thanks for that info on SAMe. I found it very interesting :)

 

Re: LMAO and Looking for Silver Swirls

Posted by Racer on August 13, 1999, at 23:44:50

In reply to LMAO and Looking for Silver Swirls, posted by Cass on August 13, 1999, at 19:52:39

Oh, Cass, I'm glad that story helped. The aromatherapy candle sounds like a super idea, and here's a little more:

what I've wanted to do but haven't yet, is take a little wax and color it with one Silver Swirl crayon, swirl it around the mold a little, then do the same with a bunch of the others, so that the whole candle is a mix of different colors on the outside. Nothing artistic, just a buncha different colors...

Also, colors always help me feel better. I joke that wearing red socks makes my feet warmer in winter, but psychologically, I think that it helps. So, here's a hug, some Crayola Karma, and sending you virtual colors!

xoxo


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