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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sunnydays on March 26, 2006, at 18:43:25
Hi,
I'm new here, but I've reading for quite a while. Everyone here seems so intelligent and insightful. I have been struggling with depression for a while and have been in therapy for a year and half. Recently my depression has become much worse, although I find that it's much better at some times of day than others. In the morning I can actually be productive and do things, for example, but in the late afternoon and at night, it seems to be much worse and I have a hard time focusing on anything else. It feels like this cloud settles over my brain almost and it doesn't lift until morning.
So my question, I guess, is, do other people find that your mood is different at different times of the day? Or that even when you are depressed, there are periods of time when you don't think about it or can be more productive?
Thanks!
Posted by madeline on March 26, 2006, at 19:26:47
In reply to mood different at different times of day?, posted by sunnydays on March 26, 2006, at 18:43:25
Are you on medication for depression, some drugs are notorious for the ups followed by the downs.
Does it start to get worse about 20-30 minutes after you eat? Might want to check your diet for blood sugar swings.
Also, the body has natural rhythms. I'm like you, I absolutely work best in the AM (from like 4:00 am to noon), then I'm pretty much done until the next day.
I ask these questions because, frankly, my experience with depression is that it is an unrelenting hopelessness that is always there. For me, it never waxed and waned, I constantly felt bad, regardless of the day, hour or month.
Anyway, hope this helps.
Maddie
Posted by wishingstar on March 26, 2006, at 20:57:01
In reply to mood different at different times of day?, posted by sunnydays on March 26, 2006, at 18:43:25
Yes, I definitely experience this, in the same way you do. Okay in the mornings (usually) but it crashes by evening. I used to see my therapist at 10am, but had to change it.. I hated going to therapy when I was feeling fine! It's much easier for me to talk when I'm actually feeling the feelings at the moment. I'm not sure I have any brilliant insights, just wanted to say I know what you're talking about.
Posted by sunnydays on March 26, 2006, at 21:10:43
In reply to Re: mood different at different times of day?, posted by madeline on March 26, 2006, at 19:26:47
Hi -
Thanks for responding. Yes, I am taking Lexapro right now for the depression and it has actually helped quite a bit. I'm pretty sure it's not my diet. I might just not be describing it very well. Part of what's contributing to it at the moment is that there's a lot of big life decisions I have to make right now. I think it might be partly that during the morning and afternoon I'm busy with classes and such, but by night when I'm just preparing for lecture and doing work and stuff like that it's harder to forget about everything that's weighing me down. Thanks again, definitely good ideas of things to think about.
sunnydays
Posted by sunnydays on March 26, 2006, at 21:16:37
In reply to Re: mood different at different times of day?, posted by wishingstar on March 26, 2006, at 20:57:01
Hi-
Thanks for responding. I wasn't sure if it was something that anyone else experienced or not. I totally understand what you're saying, too, about having a hard time talking when I'm feeling fine - it's kind of like I forget how bad the bad things are, and it's hard for me to access the feelings. Luckily my therapist is very patient with me when I feel like I can't talk. Unfortunately, I think it happens altogether too much (although not always because I'm feeling good, I also tend to dissociate when we start talking about hard stuff). Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one.
sunnydays
Posted by madeline on March 27, 2006, at 4:56:21
In reply to Re: mood different at different times of day? » madeline, posted by sunnydays on March 26, 2006, at 21:10:43
Well, I'm certainly with you on the busy part. The more I do, the "happier" I seem to be.
Have you talked to your therapist about these dips?
M
Posted by B2chica on March 27, 2006, at 9:46:51
In reply to mood different at different times of day?, posted by sunnydays on March 26, 2006, at 18:43:25
the others mention good advice but i just wanted to mention that i'm reading this book right now called "the 20-minute break". it's about ultradian rythms. the body's natural rhythm of ups and downs. its' really interesting. it talks about 90-120 of function then 15-20min relaxation period. learning to recognize when you're body needs a break and allowing it one.
just thought i'd add this.
Posted by B2chica on March 27, 2006, at 9:48:55
In reply to Re: mood different at different times of day?, posted by B2chica on March 27, 2006, at 9:46:51
Posted by pegasus on March 27, 2006, at 10:50:07
In reply to mood different at different times of day?, posted by sunnydays on March 26, 2006, at 18:43:25
When I'm really depressed, I find that it's a whole day affair. Although, as I get more tired through the day, I become less and less functional. It's such a herculean effort to do the smallest thing, that by the end of a day during depression, I'm totally exhausted, no matter what I managed to do.
Have you read William Styron's book about his depression . . . the name is escaping me at the moment? He describes a very distinct change from morning to evening. For him, evenings were incapacitating, but he could do a fair bit in the mornings.
peg
Posted by 10derHeart on March 28, 2006, at 0:00:00
In reply to Re: mood different at different times of day?, posted by B2chica on March 27, 2006, at 9:46:51
Here you go, dear b2:
and for the lovely pegasus...I think it's:
I've been meaning to read the Styron book...I've been a fan since "The Confessions of Nat Turner" in my high school days. Guess I'm a little afraid to, though. These sorts of books are wonderful and terrible all at once, ya' know.
Posted by sunnydays on March 28, 2006, at 9:15:12
In reply to book links-at your service, posted by 10derHeart on March 28, 2006, at 0:00:00
Thank you everyone for your perspectives. I will have to look at those books. Maybe I can find them at my library, as I'm a little short on money right now (but aren't all college students?).
Posted by pegasus on March 28, 2006, at 9:21:19
In reply to book links-at your service, posted by 10derHeart on March 28, 2006, at 0:00:00
. . . and it's always delightful to be called "lovely" . . .
Posted by 10derHeart on March 28, 2006, at 10:38:27
In reply to Thanks 10der! That's it. » 10derHeart, posted by pegasus on March 28, 2006, at 9:21:19
This is the end of the thread.
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