Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1000485

Shown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

I'm bored.

Posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

This is a good thing.

I experience boredom only when my depressive state improves. Otherwise, I am far too vegetative to be bored. At my baseline depressive state, I usually spend most of my time staring blankly into space. If I have the TV on, I might look in its direction, but I am not really focusing on the screen.

Right now, I am improved enough to feel bored, but still too depressed to have the energy and motivation to do anything about it. I might push myself to go for a ride to a local park. At least I have an excuse to take a shower and get out of the house for awhile.

Does anyone else experience this?


- Scott

 

Re: I'm bored. » SLS

Posted by Phillipa on October 22, 2011, at 12:30:46

In reply to I'm bored., posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

Scott I'm always bored and got to be on the go and then get tired. Do you have a bike? If so that is the best for me. Right now getting ready to drive to do ebay shopping with husband. Will be angry when get home as will be too dark to ride bike. Also found that psych RN's are earning $70,000 a year here and my license is inactive and so mad as bored that want to find out if 65 is too old to take the classes and try and work again as I miss psych nursing. So I'm not that depressed and thankfully you are not either. Shower and get out now!!!! Phillipa

 

Re: I'm bored.

Posted by sigismund on October 22, 2011, at 13:35:24

In reply to I'm bored., posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

For quite a while there I would stare into space vaguely admiring the colours.

After a couple of hours I would get a thought like 'You could be listening to Late Night Live. It's on now', and if I was organised enough or if I cared enough, I would switch it on and enjoy the fruits of my labour. Not often though.

Something like that?

 

Re: I'm bored.

Posted by Christ_empowered on October 22, 2011, at 14:01:04

In reply to Re: I'm bored., posted by sigismund on October 22, 2011, at 13:35:24

I have similar issues, although my madness is different from yours. For years, I was too moronic and semi-psychotic and agitated to enjoy TV, movies, or anything; I couldn't even become bored because all I was capable of was eating, sleeping, and occasionally bathing and making conversation.

I'm miraculously healed of being a moron, and I'm more interested in life, so now I am becoming bored. And it sucks. I'm bored and acutely aware of just how far I have to go (at age 27) to crawl back into normal life. Honestly, sometimes when I'm in public, especially around people my own age, I feel like I don't belong. Its not just the "mental illness;" its a sense that I haven't been socialized properly or something--like I'm feral.

Anyway, I see my boredom as a positive thing, and I think its a good sign for you, too. When your faculties have been restored to the extent that you can actually touch your boredom and misery and articulate it, then make plans to work through it or at least find a way to engage in life to keep the boredom at bay, then I think you've made significant progress.

 

Re: I'm bored.

Posted by morgan miller on October 22, 2011, at 17:04:40

In reply to I'm bored., posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

Yes! Boredom is a great sign! I always tell people, if you find yourself fairly easily getting bored, it may be a good thing.

Hopefully you got out on that bike ride. I'm interested to see how you felt afterward, if there was any sense of reward.

 

Re: I'm bored.

Posted by emmanuel98 on October 22, 2011, at 19:18:03

In reply to Re: I'm bored., posted by morgan miller on October 22, 2011, at 17:04:40

I'm glad that's a good sign for you. For me, I am the master of distraction and tend to workaholism, so when I get bored that is generally the first sign that I am losing control of the depression.

 

Re: I'm bored. » SLS

Posted by floatingbridge on October 22, 2011, at 19:33:53

In reply to I'm bored., posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

How funny it is to reply, good news! to such a declaration.

Wonder if you made it to the park today.

I thought of Iggy Pop when I saw the thread title. Remember that song?

 

Re: I'm bored.

Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 22, 2011, at 21:05:46

In reply to I'm bored., posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

I'm an avid reader, cant remember the last time I was bored, if I ever feel it comming, I just grab a book.

When I went through my deep melancholic depression, I couldnt be bothered reading, just used to watch television or surf the net aimlessly for hours....... what finaly made me get help was that I was sitting at my computer desk in my underwars, surounded by dirty dishes and not having showered or left the house for 4 days..... and I thought "what the f*ck have I sunk to".....saw a doctor the next day, my forst step on the road back.

I'm lucky, it took a while, but once we hit on the cocktail of SSRI + NARI I havent had any of that deep depression...... thought I still get significant anxiety and milder "neurotic" depressive feelings.

Ugh - what I'd give to be "normal"

 

Re: I'm bored. » jono_in_adelaide

Posted by Phillipa on October 22, 2011, at 21:10:27

In reply to Re: I'm bored., posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 22, 2011, at 21:05:46

Jono the famous word what is normal or is there such a state. I used to read tons of books as working didn't feel guilty on days off sitting and reading. Now feel I don't deserve this. Phillipa

 

Re: I'm bored.

Posted by Laney on October 22, 2011, at 22:31:59

In reply to Re: I'm bored. » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phillipa on October 22, 2011, at 21:10:27

Scott,

I'm very happy that your finally getting some relief and things are progressing. You have been such a help to me. I wish you all the best!!!!
Laney

 

Re: I'm bored.

Posted by Christ_empowered on October 22, 2011, at 22:35:58

In reply to Re: I'm bored. » jono_in_adelaide, posted by Phillipa on October 22, 2011, at 21:10:27

I'm trying to figure out what normal is, too. What's strange is that I'm more "with it" than I have been in years, but on paper my psychiatric condition is severe. I used to kind of buy into that "reality is subjective" thing, and then I'd pop all kinds of pills get "better," whatever that means. I guess, cliche as it sounds, the truth is somewhere between those extremes.

I think we have to make a baseline for ourselves, based on our own personalities and previous issues. For me, normal means being able to leave the apartment and do my daily tasks without agitation and anxiety and excessive voices on the one hand and also without medication-induced cognitive dulling and sedation on the other.

Honestly, I've decided that normal for me may involve low-grade auditory hallucinations. The neuroleptics aren't fully controlling the voices anymore, but my ability to stay grounded in reality is better than in years past, so I'm giving Lamictal monotherapy a whirl.

 

Re: I'm bored. » SLS

Posted by Solstice on October 22, 2011, at 22:36:02

In reply to I'm bored., posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

Scott -

You are too funny! I think you're right. Now that you framed it, I guess that's what started happening to me when my depression started going through spurts of easing. Boredom is kind of double-edged for me.. in that it can be a factor of motivation - which can feed a cycle of progressively healthy behavior that keeps my head above the water of depression .. but if I don't let it motivate me, it can also prompt a downturn. I've been on the upside consistently for almost six months now.

Solstice

 

SLS

Posted by FrustratedMama on October 22, 2011, at 22:43:02

In reply to Re: I'm bored. » SLS, posted by Solstice on October 22, 2011, at 22:36:02

Glad to hear you are bored and I know EXACTLY what you mean.....haven't been bored in a long time...have days where I wish I was able to be hospitalized so maybe I could feel bored. Now lets hope the motivation follows :)

 

Re: I'm bored.

Posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 23, 2011, at 0:31:18

In reply to I'm bored., posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

Glad to hear things are improvijg Scott - what meds have gotten you over the line?

 

Re: I'm bored.

Posted by bleauberry on October 23, 2011, at 4:25:55

In reply to I'm bored., posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

That bored feeling is the same thing I feel when I am somewhere inbetween being really depressed and being somewhat improved. At that point I am not undepressed enough to want to do something, yet undepressed enough to feel bored. "Bored but don't want to do anything".

I think even if we are in the deepest darkness it is vital to force oneself to do the kinds of things you mentioned....go for a ride, take a shower, get out of the house, anything and everything. Doesn't matter what. Just anything outside of the environment we spend most of our time depressed in, and doing something we normally don't do even though it doesn't feel good doing it. The habitual accumulative effect of doing those kinds of things I believe helps to kickstart brain chemistry....sort of like showing it what you want it to do, reminding it what it used to do, giving it some hints on where you want to be, etc. Even though it takes months of doing this to start to change brain function, the important thing I believe is to do stuff to force those neurons to fire whether they want to or not. It's kind of like trying to start a fire with wet wood. It won't happen easy or on the first few tries, but it will happen if we light enough matches.

I hope your improvement continues! That would be awesome.

> This is a good thing.
>
> I experience boredom only when my depressive state improves. Otherwise, I am far too vegetative to be bored. At my baseline depressive state, I usually spend most of my time staring blankly into space. If I have the TV on, I might look in its direction, but I am not really focusing on the screen.
>
> Right now, I am improved enough to feel bored, but still too depressed to have the energy and motivation to do anything about it. I might push myself to go for a ride to a local park. At least I have an excuse to take a shower and get out of the house for awhile.
>
> Does anyone else experience this?
>
>
> - Scott

 

Re: I'm bored. » jono_in_adelaide

Posted by SLS on October 23, 2011, at 5:31:54

In reply to Re: I'm bored., posted by jono_in_adelaide on October 23, 2011, at 0:31:18

> Glad to hear things are improvijg Scott - what meds have gotten you over the line?

Before I declare victory, I would like to wait a few more weeks. I have been having some issues with sleep, so I can't exclude the possibility that sleep deprivation gave me a little boost on top of what my treatment is doing for me.

Substituting Viibryd for Nardil has been a good move. Viibryd is helping me at least as much as Nardil was. I am hesitant to say that it is helping more, as my mood has been variable over the last few days. Still, the boredom I experience is a reliable indicator that something significant is happening. I prefer the way Viibryd is affecting me. I feel somehow steadier. It is hard to describe, but I felt a bit labile emotionally with Nardil.

At this juncture, I think that Viibryd should be a good drug for some people. I can tell that it is an SRI, but I am not experiencing the apathy or brain-fog that the SSRIs have produced in the past. Libido and sexual functions remain unaffected, and are actually somewhat enhanced. My appetite has been mildly suppressed, and I have been losing weight. I am restricting my caloric intake, but it is no lower than 1500 calories per day. This is significant, as I could not lose an ounce on Nardil. I am also taking Abilify, which put a lot of weight on me even before the addition of Nardil.

The biggest problem with Viibryd is that it can produce anxiety early in treatment. It follows a pattern similar to Lexapro, but is of greater magnitude. With both drugs, anxiety appeared at about day 14 and continued up until day 21.


Currently:

Viibryd 40mg
nortriptyline 150mg
Lamictal 200mg
Abilify 10mg
lithium 300mg


- Scott

 

Re: I'm bored. » bleauberry

Posted by SLS on October 23, 2011, at 5:35:15

In reply to Re: I'm bored., posted by bleauberry on October 23, 2011, at 4:25:55

> That bored feeling is the same thing I feel when I am somewhere inbetween being really depressed and being somewhat improved. At that point I am not undepressed enough to want to do something, yet undepressed enough to feel bored. "Bored but don't want to do anything"

Exactly. You said it better than I did.

> I hope your improvement continues! That would be awesome.

Thanks, Bleauberry. For me, it would be surreal.


- Scott

 

Re: I'm bored. » bleauberry

Posted by 10derheart on October 23, 2011, at 16:24:43

In reply to Re: I'm bored., posted by bleauberry on October 23, 2011, at 4:25:55

Great post. Makes excellent sense. I am a huge fan of analogies and rarely can communicate anything worthwhile without using one or more.

I may have to steal this one, it's so on point. Don't have me arrested for "analogy larceny," okay?

--10der

 

Re: I'm bored. » SLS

Posted by Phidippus on October 23, 2011, at 17:35:26

In reply to I'm bored., posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

As I am medicated right now, I have this ongoing restlesness and more often than not I am bored enough to cause me anxiety. I don't know if I'm depressed at this point however...I feel 'dry' inside.

Eric

 

Re: I'm bored. » SLS

Posted by Tepi on October 24, 2011, at 18:30:55

In reply to I'm bored., posted by SLS on October 22, 2011, at 11:52:58

> This is a good thing.
>
> I experience boredom only when my depressive state improves. Otherwise, I am far too vegetative to be bored. At my baseline depressive state, I usually spend most of my time staring blankly into space. If I have the TV on, I might look in its direction, but I am not really focusing on the screen.
>
> Right now, I am improved enough to feel bored, but still too depressed to have the energy and motivation to do anything about it. I might push myself to go for a ride to a local park. At least I have an excuse to take a shower and get out of the house for awhile.
>
> Does anyone else experience this?
>
>
> - Scott

That happen to me all the time Scott. I have the tv on but Im not interested in watching anything . In the past , before I got sick I have favorite program , now its different I dont care..

 

Re: I'm bored.

Posted by alchemy on October 31, 2011, at 19:41:40

In reply to Re: I'm bored., posted by bleauberry on October 23, 2011, at 4:25:55

I completely relate. For me I describe it as I don't want to do anything but am going crazy not doing anything. I hate it. That has been most of my life.

 

Re: I'm bored. » alchemy

Posted by Phillipa on October 31, 2011, at 21:07:02

In reply to Re: I'm bored., posted by alchemy on October 31, 2011, at 19:41:40

Well put!!!! Phillipa


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