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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
insomnia,depression,severe mood changes
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
insomnia,depression,severe mood changes
by Purrfctkty, Jan 20, 2001 12:00AM
In December,I had to have emergency surgery to have my appendix and gall bladder removed, they were on the verge of rupturing. Ever since my surgery,I have been very moody,had severe insomnia and been slightly depressed.
With my moodiness,I seem on edge constantly and even the smallest things make me angry.
With my insomnia, I am unable to sleep when I lay down in bed,all I do is lay there and worry about my children,about upcoming trips that we have planned and i normally fall asleep at 3:00am get up at 7:00 to put my kids on the bus and then go back to sleep until 1:00pm. When I wake up, I am so exhausted I feel like I could sleep at least another 5 hours.
With the depression,I just feel sad and blue. I just can't seem to be happy for even a minute.
Needless to say I haven't had any of these symptoms before. Is this common to have after having surgery? I just have no explanation of why I am feeling this way. any help would be truely appreciated. Also, before my surgery I was under a lot of stress.
With my moodiness,I seem on edge constantly and even the smallest things make me angry.
With my insomnia, I am unable to sleep when I lay down in bed,all I do is lay there and worry about my children,about upcoming trips that we have planned and i normally fall asleep at 3:00am get up at 7:00 to put my kids on the bus and then go back to sleep until 1:00pm. When I wake up, I am so exhausted I feel like I could sleep at least another 5 hours.
With the depression,I just feel sad and blue. I just can't seem to be happy for even a minute.
Needless to say I haven't had any of these symptoms before. Is this common to have after having surgery? I just have no explanation of why I am feeling this way. any help would be truely appreciated. Also, before my surgery I was under a lot of stress.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jan 21, 2001 12:00AM
, Jan 21, 2001 12:00AM
Sometimes an emergency surgery like that does more to the mind than it does to the body. There is a sudden rupture of your sense of safety. You have been violently exposed to the basic fragility of being human, something that is always below the surface but quite deeply buried when you are the busy parent of young children. That, plus the stress you had before, is the most likely explanation.
What you need now is some healing in order to get your perspective back. A little nurturing from your support network might help; a little time off; maybe talking to a professional, and if you like, you could try my masteringstress program (link above).
If the symptoms of depression persist much longer or get worse, you should definitely see a psychiatrist.
Hope this helps.
What you need now is some healing in order to get your perspective back. A little nurturing from your support network might help; a little time off; maybe talking to a professional, and if you like, you could try my masteringstress program (link above).
If the symptoms of depression persist much longer or get worse, you should definitely see a psychiatrist.
Hope this helps.
Member Comments (1)
by Cathy, Jan 26, 2001 12:00AM
The symptoms you're describing are all common to something called Wilson's Syndrome (www.wilsonssyndrome.com). Rather than see a Psychiatrist, who will most likely prescribe an anti-depressant, see an Alternative Medicine doctor first, and describe your health history for him/her. I was just diagnosed, after a long depressing road over past 5 years. Best of luck.
