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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ksvt on January 26, 2001, at 12:32:34
I stayed home from work today because I'm sick - I have a pretty bad cold, but it occurred to me that 4 or 5 years ago when I was supposedly REALLY depressed, I'd have never missed a day of work for this. Even if I went in an closed my office door and spent most of the day staring out the window or doing busywork I still did it because I was afraid that otherwise I would be capitulating to my illness. As depressed as I was, I also just assumed that I'd get better in a permanent way. 5 years later, I'm so jaded. Being home sick feels like I am sort of giving up. It's harder for me to delude myself that I will get better for any appreciable time, anyway, and its hard to hope for something better. I've cut down on my work load and work hours to reduce my stress and instead of this being an improvement, it just feels like it takes even less to trigger really depressive thoughts. It's like the less I work, the less I feel that i can work. My family needs my income and I'm in a profession that sort of requires that you be around to keep people happy. I don't know where this is headed, I just had to vent. ksvt
Posted by Noa on January 26, 2001, at 13:40:16
In reply to Ruminations while home sick, posted by ksvt on January 26, 2001, at 12:32:34
K-
I know that when I am sick with a cold or whatever, my mood goes into the gutter, too.
Maybe it would be best to try not to analyze or draw conclusions about your life right now. Just focus on the tlc you need at the moment, and take one day at a time. I find that the temptation to analyze and evaluate is high when I am depressed, but it is the absolute worst time to do it!
Posted by allisonm on January 26, 2001, at 16:22:01
In reply to Ruminations while home sick, posted by ksvt on January 26, 2001, at 12:32:34
Noa makes an excellent point.
When your cold is gone, maybe also consider reevaluating your meds, too, to see if they are doing what you need.
All of this is easy for me to say, though. I think I have spent more than half the day today staring out the window at work, not getting much done at all. I'm trying to deal with side effects from a new drug, and probably would be better off just going home, but like you, I don't seem to ever consider that.
Take care,
Allison
Posted by ksvt on January 26, 2001, at 21:17:14
In reply to Re: Ruminations while home sick, posted by allisonm on January 26, 2001, at 16:22:01
>You guys are both right and I been trying to tell myself to not think about that stuff today. I think it's harder because I'm not otherwise feeling very effective or engaged at work. Alison - I've known for awhile (and have been graciously told here) that I need to take another look at my meds. I have a huge approach avoidance - it seems to take an enormous commitment from me to stick with the process of trying new stuff. I didn't want to go through this with my current pdoc who is about to retire. However, I do have an appointment set up with a new pdoc in about 2 1/2 weeks so we shall see. Thanks for the responses. K
Noa makes an excellent point.
>
> When your cold is gone, maybe also consider reevaluating your meds, too, to see if they are doing what you need.
>
> All of this is easy for me to say, though. I think I have spent more than half the day today staring out the window at work, not getting much done at all. I'm trying to deal with side effects from a new drug, and probably would be better off just going home, but like you, I don't seem to ever consider that.
>
> Take care,
> Allison
Posted by allisonm on January 26, 2001, at 22:05:01
In reply to Re: Ruminations while home sick, posted by ksvt on January 26, 2001, at 21:17:14
I think I remember now your writing about your pdoc retiring. Sorry. I didn't mean to be pushy.
Best wishes.
Allison
Posted by ksvt on January 27, 2001, at 10:48:27
In reply to Re: Ruminations while home sick » ksvt, posted by allisonm on January 26, 2001, at 22:05:01
> Allison - there's no need for an apology. I think sometimes that we live so long with a certain level of pain, that it doesn't even occur to us (or me anyway) that we don't have to feel this way. To be perfectly honest, I sort of assumed that I was doing as well with meds as I could do (although under no measure doing well), until people on this site started suggesting that I revisit my meds regimen. My therapist had been making similar noises, but I don't think I was really paying attention. I don't have an enormous degree of optimism that I'm going to find a combo or new medicine that will do any better (and that I'll be able to tolerate), but I'm willing to give it a try and I'm extremely grateful for the suggestions from PBers that I do this. K
Posted by Ted on January 27, 2001, at 14:27:36
In reply to Re: Ruminations while home sick, posted by Noa on January 26, 2001, at 13:40:16
Likewise. (like now)
Ted
> K-
>
> I know that when I am sick with a cold or whatever, my mood goes into the gutter, too.
Posted by ksvt on January 27, 2001, at 21:32:00
In reply to Re: Ruminations while home sick, posted by Ted on January 27, 2001, at 14:27:36
> Ted - sorry to hear that you're sick. There's alot of stuff going around where I come from. Illness, unfortunately gives me far too much time to lie around and think about the sorry state of my mental health. Does that happen to you also? K
Likewise. (like now)
>
> Ted
>
>
> > K-
> >
> > I know that when I am sick with a cold or whatever, my mood goes into the gutter, too.
Posted by Noa on January 28, 2001, at 15:19:12
In reply to Re: Ruminations while home sick » Ted, posted by ksvt on January 27, 2001, at 21:32:00
K-
I am glad you are pursuing the med thing.
I, too, had NO optimism about being able to find any combo that worked.
But guess what........I did! I am glad I kept looking. I hope you will, too.
Posted by Ted on January 29, 2001, at 18:02:02
In reply to Re: Ruminations while home sick » Ted, posted by ksvt on January 27, 2001, at 21:32:00
Hi K,
Yeah, that is part of it. Mostly I just had some things (emotions, memories, etc.) that were bothering me at the time, so the combination of a cold, laying around with little to do but think and having unproductive things to think about, all contributed to the mix. I am much better now, though, in every way. SSRIs seem to help me get over colds faster....
My real problem is the 5-year-old virus factory I live with, AKA my son. He brings home the awfulest stuff from school! YUCK!
Anyway, thanks for your concern. Get lots of rest, and think happy thoughts. :-)
Ted
> > Ted - sorry to hear that you're sick. There's alot of stuff going around where I come from. Illness, unfortunately gives me far too much time to lie around and think about the sorry state of my mental health. Does that happen to you also? K
>
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