29 December 2007
vegus nerve stimulation
If you have chronic or recurring depression that's been resistant to traditional treatment options, there's a fairly new treatment you ought to know about. It's called Vegus Nerve Stimulation (VNS). It's mostly in testing stages at this point, so don't expect your psychiatrist to be well-versed in it.
Here's a book that I recommend you get and read if you want to know more about VNS:
Keep the faith.
--Mary
Here's a book that I recommend you get and read if you want to know more about VNS:
Keep the faith.
--Mary
27 December 2007
post-christmas let-down
The build-up to Christmas is more than over-hyped; there's no way anyone can wake up on December 26th and not feel some sense of disappointment. Maybe you didn't get exactly the gift you wanted or the recipient of one of your gifts wasn't as pleased as you'd hoped. Maybe you burned the cookies or the turkey wasn't as good as you remembered. Maybe you felt slighted. Maybe ... a million little things that can take the sparkle out of the holiday.
It's not enough that you expected to be let down in some way, but the let-down has far exceeded your expectations of disappointment.
What do you do now? How do you start to claw your way out of the post-holiday pit?
One step at a time. One moment at a time. For me, there's always some struggle. I try to be happy with what the holiday was. I consciously look for the high points, no matter how small they may have been. The look of surprise on a child's face. A belly laugh. A taste that warmed my soul, even if only for a few seconds.
In other word: focus on the positive. This isn't easy. When you're depressed or dysthymic you tend to see the negative in stark relief against the backdrop of every day. So you need to work at pushing those negatives away and replacing them with something positive.
Then do something nice for yourself. If you don't feel like anyone else treated you well on Christmas, treat yourself well. Make the flavored coffee you like or have a cup of hot cocoa. Take a bath or a long warm shower. Read some poems you like. Watch a movie you enjoy. Listen to music that makes you feel good.
Don't deny your disappointment. Face it, accept it and let yourself be sad for a little while. Get it out of your system. Holding onto sadness and trying to stuff it back down inside you will only make it worse. I find that writing about my difficult feelings helps me to process them and put them outside myself, where they can't harm me. Have a good cry. Have a nap. Then start rebuilding.
Talk to someone. Seek out a friend. It's likely that everyone you know is feeling a little let down after the holidays, so reach out. If you can't get out and have lunch or coffee or something, try talking on the phone. Whatever effort it takes to do this will be worth it. Have faith.
Eat well. If you ate poorly over the last few days, try eating something that's healthful. Caring for your body helps improve your mind and mood.
I hope these suggestions help even a little bit. This morning I got onto the treadmill and listened to some good music. I imagined that all the disappointment was sweating out through my pores. Now I feel better.
Feel better, too.
--Mary
It's not enough that you expected to be let down in some way, but the let-down has far exceeded your expectations of disappointment.
What do you do now? How do you start to claw your way out of the post-holiday pit?
One step at a time. One moment at a time. For me, there's always some struggle. I try to be happy with what the holiday was. I consciously look for the high points, no matter how small they may have been. The look of surprise on a child's face. A belly laugh. A taste that warmed my soul, even if only for a few seconds.
In other word: focus on the positive. This isn't easy. When you're depressed or dysthymic you tend to see the negative in stark relief against the backdrop of every day. So you need to work at pushing those negatives away and replacing them with something positive.
Then do something nice for yourself. If you don't feel like anyone else treated you well on Christmas, treat yourself well. Make the flavored coffee you like or have a cup of hot cocoa. Take a bath or a long warm shower. Read some poems you like. Watch a movie you enjoy. Listen to music that makes you feel good.
Don't deny your disappointment. Face it, accept it and let yourself be sad for a little while. Get it out of your system. Holding onto sadness and trying to stuff it back down inside you will only make it worse. I find that writing about my difficult feelings helps me to process them and put them outside myself, where they can't harm me. Have a good cry. Have a nap. Then start rebuilding.
Talk to someone. Seek out a friend. It's likely that everyone you know is feeling a little let down after the holidays, so reach out. If you can't get out and have lunch or coffee or something, try talking on the phone. Whatever effort it takes to do this will be worth it. Have faith.
Eat well. If you ate poorly over the last few days, try eating something that's healthful. Caring for your body helps improve your mind and mood.
I hope these suggestions help even a little bit. This morning I got onto the treadmill and listened to some good music. I imagined that all the disappointment was sweating out through my pores. Now I feel better.
Feel better, too.
--Mary
Labels: depression, disappointment, dysthymia, post-holiday let-letdown, sadness
23 December 2007
missing people at the holidays
The holidays can be very challenging for people with depression or dysthymia. Even if we're under successful treatment for our illness, the holidays can bring up sad feelings and memories. Sometimes it's the good memories that make us sad.
If you've read much of my writing on this site, you'll know that I lost my mom to lung cancer when I was 10 years old. My life has been a journey of living with that fact. It's not in my consciousness at every moment; but it's a part of who I am.
At Christmastime I often have little flashbacks. They're very happy memories. My mom was very creative and had made a papier-mâché Nativity scene that she set up on the mantle piece above the fireplace every year. I can picture it perfectly. The mantle ran the length of the wall and there was a huge mirror over it. My mom would cover the mirror in red and green cellophane and set the Nativity scene in front of it. Perhaps the living room seemed extra Christmas-y because it had red carpeting; with the Nativity set and the tree surrounded by bright packages, it was a big box of Christmas.
It's a happy memory. I remember helping my mom make marzipan fruit and vegetables. I can remember the smell of the artificial hair on the new dolls I'd get as gifts. I remember the excitement. The intense heat from the lights my dad used when he'd take home movies. The music. The family. It's a part of my life that I can hold onto only in memories. Sometimes the vividness of those memories is so intense that I can nearly touch them and taste them.
It makes me sad. The sadness is not so much for me, but for my mom. She was only 38 years old when she died, six years younger than I am now. She never got to see her children grow up and have children of their own. I'm sad for my nieces and nephews, too, who never got to meet their grandmother.
What does one do with this sadness? I let myself feel it. If I try to stifle it, it only seeps up again when I'm trying to enjoy today. I set aside some time for memories and tears. I honor my mom and all the other family members who are gone because they will always be with me. I can't deny them or ignore them.
Somehow, this helps. Giving the dead their due, their time, my attention, lets me then concentrate on the living. A cleansing cry releases the sadness. Not that it doesn't resurface here and there over the course of the holidays, but it's usually less powerful after I've let it go.
I hope you all find a way to release some sadness for your losses and that doing so helps to make your day a little bit brighter.
Be good to yourself.
--Mary
If you've read much of my writing on this site, you'll know that I lost my mom to lung cancer when I was 10 years old. My life has been a journey of living with that fact. It's not in my consciousness at every moment; but it's a part of who I am.
At Christmastime I often have little flashbacks. They're very happy memories. My mom was very creative and had made a papier-mâché Nativity scene that she set up on the mantle piece above the fireplace every year. I can picture it perfectly. The mantle ran the length of the wall and there was a huge mirror over it. My mom would cover the mirror in red and green cellophane and set the Nativity scene in front of it. Perhaps the living room seemed extra Christmas-y because it had red carpeting; with the Nativity set and the tree surrounded by bright packages, it was a big box of Christmas.
It's a happy memory. I remember helping my mom make marzipan fruit and vegetables. I can remember the smell of the artificial hair on the new dolls I'd get as gifts. I remember the excitement. The intense heat from the lights my dad used when he'd take home movies. The music. The family. It's a part of my life that I can hold onto only in memories. Sometimes the vividness of those memories is so intense that I can nearly touch them and taste them.
It makes me sad. The sadness is not so much for me, but for my mom. She was only 38 years old when she died, six years younger than I am now. She never got to see her children grow up and have children of their own. I'm sad for my nieces and nephews, too, who never got to meet their grandmother.
What does one do with this sadness? I let myself feel it. If I try to stifle it, it only seeps up again when I'm trying to enjoy today. I set aside some time for memories and tears. I honor my mom and all the other family members who are gone because they will always be with me. I can't deny them or ignore them.
Somehow, this helps. Giving the dead their due, their time, my attention, lets me then concentrate on the living. A cleansing cry releases the sadness. Not that it doesn't resurface here and there over the course of the holidays, but it's usually less powerful after I've let it go.
I hope you all find a way to release some sadness for your losses and that doing so helps to make your day a little bit brighter.
Be good to yourself.
--Mary
Labels: death of a loved one, grief, holiday blues, sadness
12 December 2007
watch drug interactions
Many people think that taking an herb or an over-the-counter (OTC) medication is 100% safe. But it's simply not true. Aside from the potential for allergic reactions (which can happen with anything that you put into your body, though some people are more prone than others to such things), there is a risk of the herb, supplement or OTC medication interacting badly with a medication you are already taking. For example, St. John's Wort, which is a very popular supplement among people with mild depression, can have an unwanted effect if it's combined with certain medications.
If you are on any type of medication, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take an OTC medication, herbal remedy or supplement.
Being aware of the potential for serious drug interactions helped me to avoid taking a supplement that might have caused a serious complication when combined with a medication I was already taking. 5-HTP is commonly used to help alleviate depression and some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. I have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and someone had recommended a product that would help me feel better. No problem, until I read the label and discovered that the supplement contains 5-HTP. Since I'm already on an antidepressant medication, the addition of the supplement with 5-HTP might cause too much of an increase in serotonin levels. Fortunately, I knew this and I knew to read the label before I even bought the supplement.
Don't assume that someone who works at a vitamin or health food store knows everything about the medications your doctor has prescribed for you. Herbalists may know a lot about herbs, vitamins and supplements and how they affect the human body, but they may not know about the various medications that you are already taking. It's your responsibility to check out everything before you put it in your mouth. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about potential interactions before you start taking any supplements or OTC medications (such as antihistamines, sleep preparations, pain relievers etc.).
Life can be stressful enough without having to deal with side effects and bad drug interactions.
Take care of yourself.
--Mary
If you are on any type of medication, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take an OTC medication, herbal remedy or supplement.
Being aware of the potential for serious drug interactions helped me to avoid taking a supplement that might have caused a serious complication when combined with a medication I was already taking. 5-HTP is commonly used to help alleviate depression and some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. I have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and someone had recommended a product that would help me feel better. No problem, until I read the label and discovered that the supplement contains 5-HTP. Since I'm already on an antidepressant medication, the addition of the supplement with 5-HTP might cause too much of an increase in serotonin levels. Fortunately, I knew this and I knew to read the label before I even bought the supplement.
Don't assume that someone who works at a vitamin or health food store knows everything about the medications your doctor has prescribed for you. Herbalists may know a lot about herbs, vitamins and supplements and how they affect the human body, but they may not know about the various medications that you are already taking. It's your responsibility to check out everything before you put it in your mouth. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about potential interactions before you start taking any supplements or OTC medications (such as antihistamines, sleep preparations, pain relievers etc.).
Life can be stressful enough without having to deal with side effects and bad drug interactions.
Take care of yourself.
--Mary
Labels: drug interactions, medication side effects, OTC medications, supplements
09 December 2007
keep moving
We all know that exercise is an excellent adjunct to any treatment for depression. But we don't do it because, well ... it's hard! I find that if I put all my effort into getting moving first thing in the morning, then it helps me to keep moving all day.
Today is no different. Yesterday I realized that I might have much more major problems with my car than I thought. Mind you, I don't have any savings at the moment and I don't make a lot of money. So a major problem with my car is financially devastating. That makes it emotionally devastating, too.
This morning I'm preparing myself for the worst by doing what I know is best for me: I'm getting on my exercise clothes and sneakers and getting downstairs onto the treadmill for a little while. Some good music and getting the blood flowing should help me to deal with whatever bad news my car decides to deliver to me today.
You may not have car trouble. It could just be the general holiday downer. But getting up and moving can improve your mood just enough to take the edge off. I highly recommend it.
Listening to some upbeat music never hurt either. Today I'm listening to The Clash.
The Clash
Stay well!
--Mary
Today is no different. Yesterday I realized that I might have much more major problems with my car than I thought. Mind you, I don't have any savings at the moment and I don't make a lot of money. So a major problem with my car is financially devastating. That makes it emotionally devastating, too.
This morning I'm preparing myself for the worst by doing what I know is best for me: I'm getting on my exercise clothes and sneakers and getting downstairs onto the treadmill for a little while. Some good music and getting the blood flowing should help me to deal with whatever bad news my car decides to deliver to me today.
You may not have car trouble. It could just be the general holiday downer. But getting up and moving can improve your mood just enough to take the edge off. I highly recommend it.
Listening to some upbeat music never hurt either. Today I'm listening to The Clash.
The Clash
Stay well!
--Mary
05 December 2007
holidays and depression / dysthymia
Why do the holidays have to come in the winter, when the shortened daylight hours are already starting to cause problems? It's almost as if it's a conspiracy.
I don't know how many Christmases I spent fighting back tears, despite being surrounded by my family. I'm a lot better now because of the meds, but emotions still run high for me at this time of year. There's still that roller-coaster effect, where you can be fine one moment and a little thing will send you off down the hill at lightning speed the next moment.
How do you deal? How do I deal? Here are a few things that I do to try to keep my mood more even and above the depths during the holidays:
1. Sunlight. If the sun's out, I try to make sure I get some amount of exposure. I open the curtains. I sit by the window. If it's warm enough, I get outside, even if it's only to walk around the outside of the house a few times.
2. Music. Even if I don't really feel like it, I put on music. Preferably something that I really like. A good jolt of rock-n-roll helps me. Classical music -- the more upbeat pieces -- can be soothing and mood enhancing at the same time. The only problem I find with music is that some CDs remind me of happier or sadder times and that can have the opposite effect. I'm fearless about changing the music if I find it's not doing what I intend.
3. Contact. I try to stay in touch with positive people. If someone brings me down or annoys me, I try to avoid them as much as I can. Conversely, if someone tends to bring out my happy side, I seek them. Sometimes cheering up someone else can improve your mood. Good deeds aren't good only for the recipient; the one who does the good deed gets a good feeling, too.
4. Writing. Getting my feelings out on paper (or onto my computer) helps me wash them out of my mind where they may be causing conflict. Talking to a therapist is also a good choice. Crying in a supportive environment can do wonders for cleansing the negative. I often feel drained but a bit better after letting myself feel the negative and expressing it. [Funny word "express" -- it means literally: "force out."] It's something of an exorcism for me.
5. Exercise. Most people don't like to exercise. It's work. It's hard to motivate. But even a little bit of exercise can make a big difference. For me, lifting weights -- or resistance training -- makes a bigger difference than aerobic exercise. Honestly, I find it easier to lift weights than to do the aerobic stuff. Studies have shown conclusively that exercise is an excellent tool in combating depression. For people like me who are on meds and still need a boost sometimes, exercise is like the cherry on top. The added benefits are a better self-image, better physical health (weight-wise, bone strength, stamina...), and a feeling of accomplishment.
These are only five suggestions. I'll keep thinking and trying to stay aware of what I'm doing to help myself get through this difficult time of year so I can share it with you.
Stay safe.
Mary
I don't know how many Christmases I spent fighting back tears, despite being surrounded by my family. I'm a lot better now because of the meds, but emotions still run high for me at this time of year. There's still that roller-coaster effect, where you can be fine one moment and a little thing will send you off down the hill at lightning speed the next moment.
How do you deal? How do I deal? Here are a few things that I do to try to keep my mood more even and above the depths during the holidays:
1. Sunlight. If the sun's out, I try to make sure I get some amount of exposure. I open the curtains. I sit by the window. If it's warm enough, I get outside, even if it's only to walk around the outside of the house a few times.
2. Music. Even if I don't really feel like it, I put on music. Preferably something that I really like. A good jolt of rock-n-roll helps me. Classical music -- the more upbeat pieces -- can be soothing and mood enhancing at the same time. The only problem I find with music is that some CDs remind me of happier or sadder times and that can have the opposite effect. I'm fearless about changing the music if I find it's not doing what I intend.
3. Contact. I try to stay in touch with positive people. If someone brings me down or annoys me, I try to avoid them as much as I can. Conversely, if someone tends to bring out my happy side, I seek them. Sometimes cheering up someone else can improve your mood. Good deeds aren't good only for the recipient; the one who does the good deed gets a good feeling, too.
4. Writing. Getting my feelings out on paper (or onto my computer) helps me wash them out of my mind where they may be causing conflict. Talking to a therapist is also a good choice. Crying in a supportive environment can do wonders for cleansing the negative. I often feel drained but a bit better after letting myself feel the negative and expressing it. [Funny word "express" -- it means literally: "force out."] It's something of an exorcism for me.
5. Exercise. Most people don't like to exercise. It's work. It's hard to motivate. But even a little bit of exercise can make a big difference. For me, lifting weights -- or resistance training -- makes a bigger difference than aerobic exercise. Honestly, I find it easier to lift weights than to do the aerobic stuff. Studies have shown conclusively that exercise is an excellent tool in combating depression. For people like me who are on meds and still need a boost sometimes, exercise is like the cherry on top. The added benefits are a better self-image, better physical health (weight-wise, bone strength, stamina...), and a feeling of accomplishment.
These are only five suggestions. I'll keep thinking and trying to stay aware of what I'm doing to help myself get through this difficult time of year so I can share it with you.
Stay safe.
Mary
Labels: depression, dysthymia, holiday blues
