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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jumpy on January 9, 2003, at 12:02:08
Hey Mitch or Anyone,
What is the best way to slow the progression of this illness? You know keep from the depression, anxiety from getting worse? Is it good sleep, low stress, exercise, medication? Thanks
Jumpy
PS My depression and anxiety seem to be getting worse each year
Posted by justyourlaugh on January 9, 2003, at 12:20:04
In reply to Mitch, Everyone is this progressive?, posted by Jumpy on January 9, 2003, at 12:02:08
hi
i found large amounts of alcohol helps!jk
i am interested in the responses too..
jyl
Posted by Ritch on January 9, 2003, at 13:29:21
In reply to Mitch, Everyone is this progressive?, posted by Jumpy on January 9, 2003, at 12:02:08
> Hey Mitch or Anyone,
>
> What is the best way to slow the progression of this illness? You know keep from the depression, anxiety from getting worse? Is it good sleep, low stress, exercise, medication? Thanks
>
> Jumpy
>
> PS My depression and anxiety seem to be getting worse each yearJumpy, what meds/dosages are you on and what is your dx? If the depression and anxiety are worsening it sounds like a misdiagnosis or the wrong meds, IMO. I've had bipolar for so long it really is just like a bad headache that I take aspirin for all the time. If I stop the aspirin the headaches come back just about as bad as they always have had. I personally don't notice any worsening. I feel more stable now than ever, but I think that is due to better meds.---Mitch
Posted by Jumpy on January 9, 2003, at 15:31:54
In reply to Re: Mitch, Everyone is this progressive? » Jumpy, posted by Ritch on January 9, 2003, at 13:29:21
Mitch,
Very interesting and hopeful. So you don't subscribe to the whole "kindling" theory or that bipolar cycling gets worse over a lifetime?
Jumpy
I just finish ECT and have relapsed. I have severe depression and panic disorder and obsessive anxiety. The best meds for me are nardil and klonopin .... but you know about the side effects. I have covered all bases with medications (tried every class of AD, mood stablizers, antipsychotics, benzo, etc) and all therapy/exercise/diet/no alcohol/sleep approaches.
Posted by gabbix2 on January 9, 2003, at 18:47:50
In reply to Re: Mitch, Everyone is this progressive? » Ritch, posted by Jumpy on January 9, 2003, at 15:31:54
Hey Jumpy. I've been diagnosed as progressive refractory, I didn't want to believe it, but I'm afraid its true. My anxiety and depression are getting worse too. I wonder sometimes if my whole life is going to be spent trying to take my mind off it. Or having to be so zonked I can sleep through it. I'm hopeless at meditation, I've tried, exercise though I hate to say it, cause its so damn hard to do (putting it mildly) really helps with the medication side effects.
I also have a friend who is inspiration, she has schizophrenia, and has been in the hospital countless times in her life. Her doctor told her exercise actually can create new neural pathways.
All I know Is that she's on an extremely rigid exercise program and not only has she not been sick in the past two years, you would never ever guess she had such a severe illness the only med she takes now is the occasional ativan.
Its true, so there is hope.Best of luck, anxiety is hell.
Posted by Phil on January 9, 2003, at 19:25:53
In reply to Mitch, Everyone is this progressive?, posted by Jumpy on January 9, 2003, at 12:02:08
> Hey Mitch or Anyone,
>
> What is the best way to slow the progression of this illness? You know keep from the depression, anxiety from getting worse? Is it good sleep, low stress, exercise, medication?Staying on meds is probably the best thing overall. Sleep is obviously important. Every shrink I've had opens with the same line...how have you been sleeping? Have you ever had a sleep test done?
Exercise can take you up or down. I think 30 minutes a day of walking is good, very cheap and keeps your heart pumping. As I age, I lean more towards walking and yoga. Just stetching some before bed can help mellow you out.
I was in retail mgmt forever-routinely worked 54 to over 80 hours a week at a pressure cooker of a company. For the last two years, I've worked for the State(Texas). It's 40 hours a week, you get tons of holidays and luckily, I work with people I like. I'm off on weekends and I'm still not used to it.
My income dropped about 30% when I switched jobs and it's tough to make ends meet but it's worth it. If I let myself get too stressed at a job, it screws me up. Reducing job stress is good.Anyone
Posted by Ritch on January 9, 2003, at 23:42:34
In reply to Re: Mitch, Everyone is this progressive? » Ritch, posted by Jumpy on January 9, 2003, at 15:31:54
> Mitch,
>
> Very interesting and hopeful. So you don't subscribe to the whole "kindling" theory or that bipolar cycling gets worse over a lifetime?
>
> Jumpy
>
> I just finish ECT and have relapsed. I have severe depression and panic disorder and obsessive anxiety. The best meds for me are nardil and klonopin .... but you know about the side effects. I have covered all bases with medications (tried every class of AD, mood stablizers, antipsychotics, benzo, etc) and all therapy/exercise/diet/no alcohol/sleep approaches.Jumpy, the "kindling theory" could be "correct" because I have generally taken meds over the years and that might explain why I haven't worsened. Maybe they should rename it from the kindling theory to the "neuroprotective theory"?? There was only one time where I was completely off meds back in 1988-1990. Things certainly did worsen-I dropped out of college (for the 2nd time), quit my job and then later got fired from another job because I was too depressed to handle the demands of it. Then, I had a very bad car wreck and was temporarily disabled for several months. If it wasn't for my parents being alive I might easily have been homeless at that point. I went back and scheduled appt's with my old therapist/pdoc and got back on lithium and within two or three weeks I was a totally different person. Have you been on Lithium before?
This is the end of the thread.
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