Mental Struggle

[beeblessed]

Anyone else out there having mental struggles out of the norm for you??  I haven't been depressed but very unmotivated, depending on the day.  I am keeping a journal of side effects, and also of any noticeable mental changes, to share with my doctor (and to help others who may be wondering about sides).  Considering asking for an increase in the AD, but not really keen on that idea, as I don't want to be sleepy.  Any opinions on increasing??

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/318167/Mental-Struggle

[Anne1717]

Yes, at different times.  I am not prone to depression or outbursts nor was I on any sort of AD's during treatment.  However,  I think the treatments owre me down physically and therefore mentally because I couldn't be in my active routine of socializing and physical activity.  It may have had something to do with endorphins - who the heck knows.  Anyway, this upbeat girl did try to put a good face on it usually but my kids did know I was struggling and twice I had had uncontrollable crying jags and unreasonable thoughts.  They didn't last long - an hour maybe and then I seem to "snap" out of it.  It was clearly drug related.

If it is any consolation,  any tendency toward mood alterations went away first after the meds stopped.  And, the big thing is, my kids are great and at first they balked and then realized this was an out of body thing happening to me and were quick to be supportive.

What helped me most was to stop keeping journals and focusing on myself which I did within the first few weeks of treatment.  I didn't want it to be what I was all about and made it my mission to find out how others were doing.  I didn't want people to ask me about it it or how I was feeling - they knew, they could see it in my face, in my skin color, in my weight, in my energy level.  I treated it as almost a side kick instead of the predominant thing I did like not thinking about "the shot" all day.  It became an after thought, a routine, but not my life.

[working dog]

i'm glad i started an ad before tx...i think i went too far with it....zoloft.150....just cut it back 25 mil...i thought i might cut 25 per month or so...i'm on 125 now...i'm not depressed..just want to do what it takes to get through tx....i think its a good idea but maybe not too big of a dose....we will see how it goes....good luck....billy

[orphanedhawk]

I am personally very wary of anti-depressants. Although they work wonders for some, for others they can increase feelings of depression. In my experience these sides from tx ebb and flow. I can't see being on an AD full time for periodic emotional tidal waves. This is only my view which explains my decisions.

Like you I was quite anxious until I did the first shot. Then, WOW, it wasn't horrible like last time, it was so much easier that the anxiety slipped away.

It's good you have your faith to help you along.

One last thought.
Today, I felt pooped. After lunch once the sun broke through the fog, I drug myself out and landed up walking over a mile. Sometimes making ourselves just move, get the oxygen flowing, can help us over the hurdle of fatigue. (Of course, the tiredness returned.)
Time to drink water, make sure you are drinking lots of water!
OH

[aj7538]

My feeling is less is more. Unless you absolutely have to, don,t take anything else or increase . It throws. Something else into the mix,. I think the part about no.motivation applies to just about everyone on tx, we r introducing our bodies to some heavy drugs, we are anxious about clearing, and staying well and able to function while on tx. I have no real desire to do anything except work, because I need to. I am not depressed just tired and not feeling like myself, so I.think this is why we r so unmotivated. I am not on any ads, but this works for me and am only giving an opinion. Ads can create oroblens when u need to wean yourself off them  good luck with your decision and do what us right for u.

[beeblessed]

Hey Screaming.  The Vertigo interferes with my sleep as, when I turn my head, it sets it off.  It does kind of knock the wind out of me too  and I wonder if that is in the back of my mind, adding to this feeling.  So I will probably have to sleep half sitting up, without hurting my neck back or shoulders, for the rest of treatment.  Hoping your sleeping improves.  Totally agree with you about the folks that came through tx before us.  There are some unbelievably strong people passing through the pages of this forum.

[screaming48]

I have no motivation at all, and I cut back on my ad as I just couldn't swallow any more pills, I seem to be doing ok I have my moments like everyone else does. I also am not sleeping well and doc offered ambian I turned it down another pill ick. We are all in this together and I have to just say that I admire all the people who went before us in study groups for what they went through and all those now going through tx, ya'll are a strong bunch of people and I am glad to know you all.