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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dave1 on April 8, 2003, at 10:47:32
I do some work from home on the computer. Sometimes I do too much and get really worn out. Then I have to rest for a couple of days before I can do anything again. Thats how I am now. I try to pace myself and not do too much but sometimes I get carried away. Before my depression I didn't have this problem. Anyone else have this kind of problem with depression making stress/work to hard to handle?
Dave
Posted by leeran on April 8, 2003, at 16:04:29
In reply to stressed out, posted by Dave1 on April 8, 2003, at 10:47:32
Dave,
I work at home as well and I've found the same to be true.
I had to go to Las Vegas Friday for a last minute trade show and I was completely exhausted Saturday and even Sunday. In fact, I still don't feel like I've recovered (of course, walking aisle after aisle in high heels doesn't exactly help).
I wonder if working at home shelters us to the point of being less able to handle the regular stress of "outside" life?
This is something I've pondered more than once.
I find that being on Adderall helps - plus, just getting out in the morning and actually GOING somewhere helps as well.
I've even thought that working at home has made me a bit agoraphobic (something I never thought I was when I was younger).
Lee
p.s. I also wonder if depression makes us more desperate to take advantage of our few energy spurts, to the point of exhaustion. I'm definitely a "go in spurts" kind of person.
Posted by Dave1 on April 8, 2003, at 17:02:36
In reply to Re: stressed out, posted by leeran on April 8, 2003, at 16:04:29
HI,
It seems like I get more stressed out working on the computer. For some reason the screen or light emissions really fatigue me. When I work on paper or do non thinking work like helping my car friend sell his cars makes me alot less tired. I too get agorophobic, but it seems to come in spurts. I try to make myself go out sometimes even when I'm afraid.
Dave
Posted by leeran on April 8, 2003, at 17:11:08
In reply to Re: stressed out, posted by Dave1 on April 8, 2003, at 17:02:36
Computer work can overstimulate me. My son is always telling me I have too many windows open!
Posted by noa on April 8, 2003, at 19:38:14
In reply to stressed out, posted by Dave1 on April 8, 2003, at 10:47:32
Yes, Dave. My stamina for work and challenges is greatly affected by depression. It ebbs and flows, and has a mind of its own.
Posted by Dave1 on April 8, 2003, at 20:06:08
In reply to Re: stressed out, posted by noa on April 8, 2003, at 19:38:14
I thinks it hard to pace yourself because you try and want to be able to do as much as you did before and when your not depressed.
Dave
Posted by noa on April 8, 2003, at 22:02:32
In reply to Re: stressed out, posted by Dave1 on April 8, 2003, at 20:06:08
Yes, and then we get mad at ourselves and this becomes one more self-critical thing to add to the list of things burdening us.
Posted by Krissy P on April 9, 2003, at 2:09:19
In reply to stressed out, posted by Dave1 on April 8, 2003, at 10:47:32
Yeppers Dave, like tonight. There's so much crap going on with my ife and my family right now, after tonight's episode, and I am thinking about droppping out of school-I can't do it in the midst of all the chaos, so yep I have this kind of problem with depression making stress/work too hard to handle. I'm there now and seriously thinking about some stuff
When will it get better???
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> I do some work from home on the computer. Sometimes I do too much and get really worn out. Then I have to rest for a couple of days before I can do anything again. Thats how I am now. I try to pace myself and not do too much but sometimes I get carried away. Before my depression I didn't have this problem. Anyone else have this kind of problem with depression making stress/work to hard to handle?
>
> Dave
Posted by bleeding rose on April 9, 2003, at 14:19:02
In reply to Re: stressed out » Dave1, posted by Krissy P on April 9, 2003, at 2:09:19
heya, yeah, i'm supposed to be working for exams at the moment, and i just can't find the energy or motivation to do any work...i find that i usually have about one or two days a week that i'm actually able to concentrate, if that! it's really worrying and scary, i dont know how i'm going to get anywhere like this. i can imagine working at home is even worse, at least at school you're kind of made to work.
Posted by noa on April 9, 2003, at 16:19:11
In reply to Re: stressed out, posted by bleeding rose on April 9, 2003, at 14:19:02
Kristen and Rose,
I think being a student is the hardest when we are depressed. Jobs, not all, but some, can be structured and bounded by work hours vs. non-work hours. Being a student is round the clock. Plus, you are always being evaluated and don't have a lot of power. Finally, getting responsibilities done as a student requires a lot of initiative and self-structuring.
All a recipe for stress!
Posted by Dave1 on April 9, 2003, at 19:42:13
In reply to Re: stressed out, posted by noa on April 9, 2003, at 16:19:11
They main problem with being in the real world with job is you have to worry about making money and supporting yourself. That's what scares me the most that I won't be able to do that. When I was in college, I just took out loans, and used the credit cards they give to students and didn't worry too much about money. Now, I have the pressure to pay everything back.
Dave
Posted by noa on April 9, 2003, at 21:46:35
In reply to Re: stressed out, posted by Dave1 on April 9, 2003, at 19:42:13
Yes, I had that problem, too. I was so buried under debt, I thought I'd never get out. I did not start accumulating a lot of debt in college, though. I did not have a credit card until about age 25. Before that, keeping to my budget was easy! I simply had no money to spend on anything besides the basics. And I mean BASICS. I remember how frugal I had to be. For example, I used to buy palates of ramen noodles when they went on sale--for like 25 cents a piece--that was dinner. Don't worry, I didn't starve! But I rarely bought new clothes, went out to dinner, etc. I was lucky to live near an old movie theater that sold coupon books with about 15 admissions for $20. That was the extent of my entertainment budget. And I had no car. I walked every where and took the bus when it was out of walking distance. That was in the days of my first job out of college. I earned $9000 a year.
But eventually, I caught the credit bug. That is because credit started flowing really easy (Thank you Ronald Reagan maybe?). On top of that, ATMs began to proliferate, so money cash was just available all the time, especially if you could draw on a line of credit. What a disaster! I started to live more "normally" but that was beyond my budget. Then I went back to school and the debt grew exponentially! Plus new student loans on top of the old ones. It was a major stressor for me.
I finally went to a non-profit community based consumer credit counseling service. Best move I ever made. Through them, I paid off all my debts! It took a while, but they really helped. They negotiated lower interest for me, and then took an automatic payment from my account every month to pay off all the creditors. they also give budgeting advice, etc. Part of my plan included me finding less expensive housing, which meant giving up some amenities. But as it turns out, that move eventually led to me really liking the new community I moved to, and eventually being able to buy a condo here. If I had stayed in the pricier apartment, I might never have found my home.
Now, the only debt I have is my mortgage. I even decided to pay off my car loan early just to be free of debt. It feels SO good!
If you do decide to find a credit counseling service, be careful. Nowadays there are a LOT of such services--some are not-for-profit, and some are for profit. Some have great, long standing reputations, and some are fly-by-night operations that have cheated people.
I used the Consumer Credit Counseling Service. It was one of the first. It is funded by the credit industry, actually. Their motive? They would rather people pay back, even if they don't get as much because of lower interests, than having people totally default on the credit balances.
SOmething to think about.
Posted by Ellie's Mom on May 19, 2003, at 10:48:23
In reply to stressed out, posted by Dave1 on April 8, 2003, at 10:47:32
I can definitely relate. In fact, I knew I was dealing with a serious problem and first started getting help for my mental illness when my endurance suddenly just dropped off.
Simple daily responsiblities can add up and land me in bed by the afternoon. It makes it really hard to keep my job, but I have a really supportive network of clients, and I make my own hours.
Good luck to you.
Posted by noa on May 21, 2003, at 17:45:17
In reply to Re: stressed out, posted by Dave1 on April 9, 2003, at 19:42:13
Dave,
How is it going?
This is the end of the thread.
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