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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 46 to 70 of 70. Go back in thread:
Posted by Dinah on May 1, 2004, at 20:33:42
In reply to Re: Who are we?, posted by noa on May 1, 2004, at 20:26:01
Thank you Noa. I learned a lot I didn't know about you and was very glad to do it. :)
Posted by mair on May 2, 2004, at 0:08:53
In reply to Re: Who are we? » Scott in Vermont, posted by tabitha on April 30, 2004, at 11:26:27
I'm from Vermont too. I'm 51 (ouch), female, with a husband and dog and daughter (16) and a son (almost 19) who is a freshman in college. I guess my dx is chronic major depression which seems to come with lots of anxiety. I've had it for an age.
I like to read when i can - like noa, I sometimes can't seem to concentrate enough to read much of anything and then i go on a binge where I can't stop reading. I like listening to music, mostly classical but actually lots of other things too. I spend so much time in the car with my daughter and her awful radio stations that I've actually become reasonably adept at recognizing pop singers.
I like gardening too. I generally have always had a vegetable garden, but I decided recently that I'm not going to bother this year because I only seem to be feeding the deer and woodchucks. In the last couple of years I've gotten more into planting annuals and some perennials - I think some of this comes from the fact that my therapist does alot of gardening and always has fresh flowers in her office. I'm not emulating her; I just realized I really like fresh flowers.
Like some others, I love the New Yorker also - both for the cartoons and the articles. My mother gives me a subscription every year. Unfortunately I'm months behind on the articles. I like word puzzles, although mostly for time constraints, I only ever try to tackle the Sunday NY Times crossword.
I'm definitely a Democrat, although since I come from a State where many of the Republicans are very moderate, I honestly can say I vote for the candidate and not the party. Jim Jeffords was getting my vote long before he got angry with George Bush and bolted the republican party.
The only TV show i try not to miss is West Wing although my husband and I sometimes get sucked into American Idol. My husband watches alot of sports, and I enjoy them too although no where near to the degree that he does.
I'm an attorney; it's a real mixed bag. I can't really see myself not working, but work supplies most of my worst depression triggers. I've never figured out how to manage the stress, and financially, not working is not an option anyway.
My depression is much more under control than it used to be, although I still have my moments. On the surface anyway, I'm pretty high functioning - very few people (and family members for that matter) know I have depression. I've been visiting the babbles for a long time - not as long as noa and shar and phil etc, but a lot longer than most. I don't get here anyway near as often as I used to which may be a function of a better mental state, or lack of computer access. My daughter is pretty much glued to the PC at home; my husband and I have to divide the few morsels of time she leaves us late at night.
This is far more than I intended to write. Excuse the length.
Mair
Posted by All Done on May 2, 2004, at 3:01:18
In reply to Re: Who are we? » All Done, posted by gardenergirl on May 1, 2004, at 9:09:02
> I visited Japan when my bro-in-law was living there. Fascinating country. Lost about 15 pounds from all of the walking we did and because of the food. I'm a really picky eater and get grossed out really easy. No raw meat for me!
>
> ggI lost weight when I was there, too. I'm the same about the raw meat, but I ate pretty much everything else. Just healthier eating there, I guess.
I can't wait to go back and bring my husband and son. We're waiting until he's a little older to be able to handle the flight (my husband, of course ;)).
Posted by tabitha on May 2, 2004, at 11:40:25
In reply to Re: Who are we?, posted by noa on May 1, 2004, at 20:26:01
Noa, I think you are my soul sister. I said 'me, too' to nearly everything in your list, right down to the bout with freecell/minesweeper/solitaire addiction. Except for Click and Clack-- I cannot tolerate that program for a minute. It's their accents, and the way the one guy sort of yells instead of talking. Blech! But I love This American Life. I've also been pretty mesmerized by Antiques Roadshow lately.
I'm asking myself why you'd question buying lots of paint samples. That's not abnormal at all-- it's just smart. It's a terrible thing to paint a room and then realize the shade is just a little off. You can try and try and try to get used to it, but deep down you'll know it isn't quite right.
Too bad we can't get together every few weeks and tackle one unfinished project. I could tackle yours and you could tackle mine. Surely it would be easier that way-- wouldn't have the same emotional block.
Posted by karen_kay on May 2, 2004, at 13:15:05
In reply to Re: Who are we?, posted by mair on May 2, 2004, at 0:08:53
you said excuse the length. mair, i loved it! i'm almost inspired to write more about myself. i love gardening as well and even have a special apron for it. when i go my my old man's folk's house (when they were first setting it up) they have all sorts of pictures of me in bibs planting flowers. i just don't do it enough at my own house.
and noa, i really did enjoy learning about you as well. i too adore the water. when i was young i used to pretend i was a mermaid. maybe i really was in a different life? maybe that's why i have no boobs in this one? :( and when my mom lived on a lake, i used to take the boat and dock it near the middle, so i could sleep on the lake. perhaps i am a mermaid, only with big feet instead?
Posted by noa on May 2, 2004, at 20:40:31
In reply to Re: Who are we? » noa, posted by tabitha on May 2, 2004, at 11:40:25
LOL.
BTW, Tom doesn't yell--he RANTS. That is the technical term they use.
OK. Re: the paints. You have to understand that I didn't just get a lot of quarts of paint to test. I became totally OBSESSED with it. It was just like playing freecell, really.
Oh, and THANK YOU for mentioning Antiques Road Show. I find it a very relaxing hour.
Posted by Scott in Vermont on May 3, 2004, at 8:55:26
In reply to Re: Who are we? » Scott in Vermont, posted by gardenergirl on May 1, 2004, at 9:10:14
If I opened it, the mystery of what is inside would be gone.
Posted by Scott in Vermont on May 3, 2004, at 9:03:47
In reply to Re: Who are we?, posted by mair on May 2, 2004, at 0:08:53
Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine... it's those long, dark winters, I'm telling you. :)
Posted by fallsfall on May 4, 2004, at 6:37:10
In reply to Re: Who are we? » mair, posted by Scott in Vermont on May 3, 2004, at 9:03:47
But the rain stopped for today, and it stays light so much later now. Time to come out from our caves into the world.
Posted by Scott in Vermont on May 4, 2004, at 7:29:53
In reply to Re: Who are we? » Scott in Vermont, posted by fallsfall on May 4, 2004, at 6:37:10
> But the rain stopped for today, and it stays light so much later now. Time to come out from our caves into the world.
Uh huh. And this morning I awoke to the warm welcome of an inch of snow.
Vermont. Love it or live somewhere warm, eh? Hhahhaahahhaa
Posted by fallsfall on May 4, 2004, at 9:27:15
In reply to Re: Who are we? » fallsfall, posted by Scott in Vermont on May 4, 2004, at 7:29:53
You must be WAY north!!!!
Posted by Scott in Vermont on May 4, 2004, at 9:56:22
In reply to Re: Who are we? » Scott in Vermont, posted by fallsfall on May 4, 2004, at 9:27:15
> You must be WAY north!!!!
05660. You figure it out.
Posted by tabitha on May 4, 2004, at 11:02:09
In reply to Re: Who are we? » fallsfall, posted by Scott in Vermont on May 4, 2004, at 7:29:53
wow, that seems so odd. Here my grass is crunchy brown already, and it's been like 90 degrees in the house when I get home at night. I will trade you some scorching hot sun for a little chilly weather. One icicle, please?
Posted by Scott in Vermont on May 4, 2004, at 13:22:12
In reply to Re: Who are we? » Scott in Vermont, posted by tabitha on May 4, 2004, at 11:02:09
I'll send you a box of them. Chances are, they will melt by the time they get there.
Posted by mair on May 4, 2004, at 22:00:56
In reply to Re: Who are we? » tabitha, posted by Scott in Vermont on May 4, 2004, at 13:22:12
You're not far north at all. I was expecting maybe the Northeast Kingdom.
I don't mind snow in May because you know for certain it isn't going to last even a day. Plus, you get enough hints of spring to counterbalance bad weather. It's those March and early April storms that get to me.
Posted by Scott in Vermont on May 5, 2004, at 6:56:02
In reply to Re: Who are we? » Scott in Vermont, posted by mair on May 4, 2004, at 22:00:56
I can't complain much, because while it did snow, it didn't frost, so it didn't kill off anything in my (evidently premature) garden.
I don't live as far north as the Northeast Kingdom, but what I lack in latitude, I make up for in elevation. :)
I have to say I have never been to a forum where so many people from Vermont were there, let alone New England. I still maintain it's those long dark days.
Posted by fallsfall on May 5, 2004, at 7:46:20
In reply to Re: Who are we? » Scott in Vermont, posted by mair on May 4, 2004, at 22:00:56
There was a snow storm on May 7, 1977 (I think that's the date) that dropped a foot of heavy, wet snow in Massachusetts. Because the leaves were out on the trees already, the snow had lots of places to land and an incredible number of branches came down. We were without power for a WEEK. I had a waterbed at the time (still do...), and I couldn't sleep in my bed because it had no heater and was cold.
So don't wish TOO strongly for snow in May...
Posted by mair on May 5, 2004, at 21:39:06
In reply to Re: Who are we? » mair, posted by fallsfall on May 5, 2004, at 7:46:20
When I was a kid, it snowed in June. I don't remember the date, but I think it was in the second half not the first. We took pictures of it, of course. It wasn't so bad because it was a novelty, and fortunately melted before the day was done.
Scott is right - the long dark winters are good depression incubators.
Posted by Beta on May 6, 2004, at 17:33:54
In reply to Late Snowfalls, posted by mair on May 5, 2004, at 21:39:06
I can certainly agree with the long winters being not so great on my mental health. To make matters worse, I lived in FL for the past 10 years, to return here to CT to deal with the upcoming death of a family member.
Thanks for spring!!!! Hopefully it will be a long, hot summer in New England this year.
Posted by fraulein1456 on May 6, 2004, at 21:06:25
In reply to Re: Who are we?, posted by Scott in Vermont on April 30, 2004, at 7:35:21
I'm new here.
You can call me "frau". I live in Arizona.I'm 38 and the mother of two cats whom I adore.
I am unemployed at the moment. I lost my job last year because of depression. I couldn't get out of bed to get to work on time and was fired. The most shameful moment of my life. I had a great job making great money and it all went down the tubes because I was depressed and didn't get help. I still am not over the experience.
Currently taking Lexapro and Abilify and doing pretty well lately.
Posted by mair on May 6, 2004, at 21:40:11
In reply to Re: Late Snowfalls, posted by Beta on May 6, 2004, at 17:33:54
Hey, we New Englanders can complain about the excess heat almost as much as we complain about the interminable winters. And then there's ...
Mosquitos
black flies
drought
too much rain
garden-destroying woodchucks and/or deer
humidity
etc
etc
etc
Posted by mair on May 6, 2004, at 21:44:50
In reply to Re: Who are we?, posted by fraulein1456 on May 6, 2004, at 21:06:25
Hi frau
Why do you think things are better now? Also you say that you lost your job because you didn't get help quickly enough. Did you know you were depressed?
I've dealt with depression for years and you'd think I could recognize when I've cycled downwards, but shockingly (to me anyway) my therapist has spotted the onset of another episode before I have.
I hope you hang around for awhile. I've only been to Arizona once, and I thought it hauntingly beautiful, maybe because the landscape is so foreign to me.
Mair
Posted by fraulein1456 on May 6, 2004, at 22:15:57
In reply to Welcome » fraulein1456, posted by mair on May 6, 2004, at 21:44:50
Hi Mair,
I'm glad I found this place.
I guess I say that things are better because I'm functioning again. I'm able to get up in the morning and take a shower and look for work. And I have self-confidence again. I do have an interview next week. Yeah! Think good thoughts for me please. My big worry right now is that they will call my last employer and find out I was fired. If only I could get another job and put this shame behind me.
Did I know I was depressed? No. I've dealt with depression for years too and have always been highly functioning in my public life and able to hide it from others. I was taking Prozac at the time and thought I was doing OK. Not great, but functioning. Depression for me is like a deep well with very slippery sloped opening. I slide into the well very slowly and don't realize where I am until it's too late. Then, once I'm down in the pit it becomes impossible to get help. It's too much effort to make that phone call to the Dr. And when I do finally make the phone call and am told I can't get in for a month I hang up in frustration.
So, when I was fired I was on the slide down but didn't know it. I feel the same way you do - that by now I should be able to recognize the slide, but I don't either. It's very tricky that depression!!
Take care,
frau
Posted by Beta on May 7, 2004, at 8:27:44
In reply to Re: Late Snowfalls » Beta, posted by mair on May 6, 2004, at 21:40:11
Hahaha I needed the laugh thank you. Today is by all means a beautiful New England day.
Your post made me think more of different aspects of FL. In addition to everything you listed in regards to New England, along with the unending sunshine, I also contended with rattlesnakes. (One long unbelievable experience that I can share with anyone that wants to hear it. Actually made me closer to completely believing in a guardian angel, and realizing that maybe I need to be less of a thrill seeker.)
But also: sharks, portuguese manawar, friendly mantarays and dolphins, boars, cockroaches, sunburn, etc. But, marijuana didn't cost so much...
I guess it's all what we make out of where we are. Some days are easier than others, as we all know. I find the sun definately helps as I am a recovering beachbum. Cape Cod is readily available, for that I am thankful. (I just need a wetsuit to go in the 60ish degree water or about 30 more lbs. of body fat.
Today I am planting my vegetable garden. I am anxious to see what type of creatures I will attract, other than the recent earthworms, and town workers...
I am babbling. Time to enjoy this day.
~Beta
Posted by mair on May 7, 2004, at 16:28:32
In reply to Re: Late Snowfalls mair, posted by Beta on May 7, 2004, at 8:27:44
So if Cape Cod is readily available, all you have to worry about is Lyme disease, unbearable traffic, and the inevitable Red Sox slide.
Have fun gardening. (:
Mair
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