The mental health thread -previously The Highs and the Lows

[HuckFinn1]

Bright--I don't actually take a sleep aid. I take Celexa for depression/anxiety and that's what makes me tired.

[brightasyellow]

Ah, got it. Does it help with the depression and anxiety? Do you take it at night? SSRIs (the class of antidepressants that Celexa falls in) can definitely make you sleepy.

[HuckFinn1]

Yeah, it helps a lot! I'm really quite pleased with it besides the sleepiness, but it's a side-effect I'm more than willing to deal with. I do take it right before I go to sleep, so I'm sure that doesn't help.

[summermoon]

Are you tired when you wake up. As in it's daytime sleepiness? I never had the problem with Celexa, it really never did much for me. Could you, possibly, speak with your doctor about splitting the dose in half - as in you take half at night and half during the day? This sometimes did help with the few that made me sleepy.

On an aside: An update on myself. Things are...moving along. I didn't sleep last night, but I had a bit of an "episode" of crying and getting hysterical over...nothing. I have spoken with my doctor's office and they are working with me to get the medicine that I need. I made a therapy appointment for Monday (after Thanksgiving). I've somewhat calmed down. I did have a little episode when I got to work, but I'm better now. I'm trying to rein it all in without trying to sweep it under the rug. I have identified the major points of contention within myself and am ready to get moving. This is a problem I have as well, I tend to want to just JUMP and be over it and I sort of try to pretend like it is all over and I'm hunky dorey again and that doesn't fly.

Thank you all so much for your support. It doesn't matter how long I've been a "Internet-er" I"ve never had support like this because I've never allowed myself to. I tend to disappear after I feel like I've exposed too much.

[HuckFinn1]

No, it's not an all consuming tiredness. I have no problem making it through the day. I just never used to be able to fall asleep at the drop of a hat like I can now. It's not too bad a problem to have. Maybe I will check into splitting the dose though.

It takes courage to expose yourself, even if we are anonymous on the internet. I don't think I've personally been all that helpful to you, but please continue to seek all the support here you need. I think talking about it goes a long way.

[brightasyellow]

Summer - one of the best support groups I found was on an website. I'm glad you're sticking around.

I get the just wanting it to be over and done with. I'm not a patient person, which is why I'm so impatient with this recovery process but I'm determined to do it right this time, so it'll stick.

You need to sleep. I mean, not sleeping for someone with bipolar disorder is like giving crack to an addict. Please take the sleep aid at night. I'm really glad you have a therapy appointment set up and that you're going to get the meds you need. Are you taking any meds right now?

[summermoon]

Yeah, right now I'm taking Lamictal and Prozac. They are clearly not working. I have been taking a sleeping aid of some sort since last Friday. Today is the first day I feel back to me! It's great. I'm going to continue to take the sleeping medication through the weekend.

[brightasyellow]

Yay with the sleep! Lamictal has been my wonder drug, but everyone's different. I have been weaning off of Paxil because my doctor said that typical antidepressants can actually destabilize people who have bipolar disorder. I have actually felt calmer since I started going off the Paxil...

[onsilver_stars]

I was wondering, for those of you posting here who are bipolar, what your onset was like? I have been diagnosed with GAD, OCD and depression, and when I was put on Prozac my psychiatrist told me that I needed to be very careful because I was showing signs of possible bipolar symptoms and family history showed that I should be conscious of my moods. I stopped taking medication because I didn't like how I felt on it, but her words have been haunting and I'm constantly nervous that every episode I have is more than a mood swing. If this is too personal/an inappropriate question, I apologize, it's just something I wonder about a lot.

[brightasyellow]

I was wondering, for those of you posting here who are bipolar, what your onset was like? I have been diagnosed with GAD, OCD and depression, and when I was put on Prozac my psychiatrist told me that I needed to be very careful because I was showing signs of possible bipolar symptoms and family history showed that I should be conscious of my moods. I stopped taking medication because I didn't like how I felt on it, but her words have been haunting and I'm constantly nervous that every episode I have is more than a mood swing. If this is too personal/an inappropriate question, I apologize, it's just something I wonder about a lot.

I, too, have a family history of bipolar disorder so when I first saw a psychiatrist when I was 17 due to depression, she warned me that what seemed like unipolar depression may actually be a depressive episode of bipolar disorder. Despite taking Paxil throughout college, I still had depression and, in retrospect, very minor hypomanias. The hypomanic episode that got me a true diagnosis and got me put on a mood stabilizer was pretty insane. My thoughts were racing so quickly that the only time I could keep up with them was when I was exercising - which I did for about 4 hours a day. I couldn't sleep, but I didn't feel tired. I was agitated and had an increase in sexual activities (I did things that I NEVER would have done if I'd been stable). I was pretty out of control. I was 21 when this happened.

I understand that you may not have liked the way you felt on meds, but it's really, REALLY important that you talk with your psychiatrist before discontinuing any. If you are concerned, I would get an appointment with your psychiatrist or with a therapist. There is a huge difference in the treatment of unipolar depression and bipolar disorder as the medications for depression can worsen bipolar disorder.

Hope that helps...