Posted by Alara on November 7, 2002, at 20:58:06
In reply to Has anyone gotten to Real Life after depression?, posted by Racer on November 7, 2002, at 18:33:59
> Dunno if that makes sense, but what I mean is this:
>
> After going through a major depression, with all the additional things that happens to your life during it, has anyone managed to get off the drugs, get back to work, and not fallen constantly back into the depressive habits like curling up under a quilt instead of dealing with a problem?
>
> I'm tapering off Effexor XR, and almost feeling as if things will work out for me. But then, something happens, and what I need to do to fix it seems too hard for me, so I hide instead of trying to deal with it! It's terrible, and I know I need to give myself a kick in the @$$ and do what needs to be done, but little by little the monster grows into something that will certainly eat me if I confront it!
>
> Anyone here have any words of wisdom for me?
>
> Thanks!
Hi Racer,You sound so much like me that it's not funny! So far I have found a partial solution and am not entirely sure that I can sustain it. However, the future looks more promising now so here goes:
1. Try to get some daily exercise, preferably in the morning sun. This is particularly vital if you are prone to SAD and find it harder to cope with life during winter. It is summer here in Australia and I'm putting this routine in place for myself now in the hope that I can get through next winter drug free.
2. Try St Johns Wort as a mild antidepressant. (Allow for a month or so after coming off Effexor before you try it. See how you are feeing without any medications at all.) I have been taking SJW for a few weeks only and have already seen a significant brightening of mood. Vitamin B complex is also lifting my energy levels. Drink plenty of water and eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
2. Avoid drinking alcohol in excess. If you can't consistently drink in moderation, quit it altogether. I have had to do this.
3. I relate to the `curling up under the quilt', avoiding problems dilemma big time. :-) While not working, set your alarm so that you get up at a reasonable time each day and start the day with a walk.
3. If you get the urge to go to bed because a problem seems overwhelming, force yourself to stay up and deal with it. Chances are that you are blowing the problem out of proportion with one or more cognitive distortions. Grab a cup of herbal tea and sit down with a book like David Burns' "Feeling Good" . Next write down the problem and list all the thoughts that you associate it. Using Dr Burns' method of challenging your cognitive distortions, begin to challenge yourself. It's amazing how much smaller the original problem will seem. Hopefully it won't continue to weigh so heavily upon your shoulders that you want to hide in bed.
4. Coping with Work: This is the part I'm still working on. I asked a similar question about this on the forum the other day and Geek pointed out the importance of good self-talk as a means by which we can reduce stress. I suspect that a lot of the measures outlined above will help with this. In the past, it has also helped to take a walk for as long as possible at lunch time.
5. If you are determined to conquer your depression the natural way, I strongly recommend another book called "Natural Prozac" by Dr Joel Robertson and Time Monte. (Am currently reading this myself.)
Hope this helps a little. Good luck, Racer!
Alara
poster:Alara
thread:32031
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20021106/msgs/32033.html