Question:
Kathryn Progress Report: (1) I was able to take my son to the pool today. Not even a flush of panic. (2) I gave the car a good and needed wash. I cut my finger pretty bad on the chrome. That was the worst part no anxiety. (3) I made a barbecue of chicken. (4) Then since I was feeling good I made some squash soup. (5) Did some light house cleaning (6) Had a short nap. Dear Kathy, You really are making alot of progress lately and that is great. I can feel your excitement in your posts. Take care and continued success to you 
Jackie "The single desire that dominated my search for delight was simply to love and to be loved." Jackie: Yes its working I found something that works. 2mg Klonopin & 60mg Paxil a day. Thanks for the postive support that is always needed in here……-Kathy 
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Report
Klonopin has been working well. I also take Paxil. I was skeptical about the switch to Klonopin. Telling my Dr I needed Xanax. Now that I feel good and dont have the Xanax there to take. I dont want it any more. It was this choice I went with. But as for others this is what works for me. I am not anti Xanax and never will be. The pain of panic disorder I know too well to ever be a hypocrite and say xanax is Bad. It is one of the best drugs for panic. Kathryn Progress Report: (1) I was able to take my son to the pool today. Not even a flush of panic. (2) I gave the car a good and needed wash. I cut my finger pretty bad on the chrome. That was the worst part no anxiety. (3) I made a barbecue of chicken. (4) Then since I was feeling good I made some squash soup. (5) Did some light house cleaning (6) Had a short nap. Sounds like a great day! I am happy that your meds work so well now. One piece of advice: if you’re thinking of making soup again ask *Graffnoir* for the recipe for *squish* soup 
) Philip Thanks Progress Aways Makes Me Happy WHen Others Are Happy For Me ) Kath
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(6) Had a short nap. Does that count as progress? ) Otherwise, it sounds great!! Chip I was tired the depresion is getting worse. As far as my napp addicion. But to be able to have fun and let my two year old be a two year ld outside. Was worth the nap:o)
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Klonopin has been working well. I also take Paxil. I was skeptical about the switch to Klonopin. Telling my Dr I needed Xanax. Now that I feel good and dont have the Xanax there to take. I dont want it any more. It was this choice I went with. But as for others this is what works for me. I am not anti Xanax and never will be. The pain of panic disorder I know too well to ever be a hypocrite and say xanax is Bad. It is one of the best drugs for panic. Kathryn Progress Report: (1) I was able to take my son to the pool today. Not even a flush of panic. (2) I gave the car a good and needed wash. I cut my finger pretty bad on the chrome. That was the worst part no anxiety. (3) I made a barbecue of chicken. (4) Then since I was feeling good I made some squash soup. (5) Did some light house cleaning (6) Had a short nap.
Kathy! That’s great! I’m on K also. I’m starting to like it too. Keep up the great work!! Di
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…melancholia where one lies in bed, hopeless and without appetite, and nothing at all seems to be of any pleasure. I had that for months on two different occasions – don’t want to ever have it again. Any ideas on what causes depression? No one knows for sure. Although there seems to be a genetic predisposition. Certain meds can cause depression in predisposed people, such as prednisone, progesterone, reserpine, etc. Is it just what is going on or not going on in our lives? That may be part of it, but many people get depressed for no apparant reason, and this is what used to be called "endogenous" depression, meaning "coming from within". As opposed to "exogenous" depression, meaning brought on by external factors (e.g. trouble at work or with husband/wife/neighbor, etc ) Is it nutritional? If it was, the cure would be easy: eat a healthy and nutritious diet. My pdoc thinks (and I have read this too) that depression, chronic fatigue symdrome, and fibromyalgia are all related, or may be the same disease. She says she has a lot of patients with fibromyalgia, and they are all depressed and sedentary. I tend to agree with your doc, but no one knows for sure as far as I can tell. They are still regarded as separate entities although it is believed there is considerable overlap. No one knows the cause of all three conditions. Depression can have the symptoms of fatigue and increased sensitivity to pain and body sensations. Thus a depressed person with extreme fatigue could get labeled "chronic fatigue syndome". A depressed person with muscle aches and tenderness could end up with the label "fibromyalgia syndrome". Personally, I think one diagnosis that accounts for several or all symptoms (as with a diagnosis of depression) is preferable to several diagnoses, each of which puts an emphasis on one of the symptoms of depression. I also just read that we need four things to be healthy: 1. Proper nutrition (caveman-type diet) 2. Sunlight, fresh air, and exercise 3. Proper amount of sleep – at the right hours. Muscle tissure repairs itself between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am while you are asleep. 4. Enough water and a little salt. Even slight dehydration brings on fatigue and depression. The first three things would make anyone healthier. But they won’t cure a disease, such as depression, peptic ulcer, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, etc. When people are dehydrated they get thirsty and drink water. So dehydration would be a self-correcting condition. There is lots of salt in food already, without even adding extra table salt. However if you want to test your 4th suggestion, increase fluids and table salt intake and see what happens. I doubt depression will go away. Most people don’t know about this (Is this why women with chronic fatigue syndrome have low blood pressure?) I’ll bet the so-called "low BP" is really a normal blood pressure at the lower end of the normal range (e.g. 90/60 or 90/50). Leave out any of these and you get depression, anxiety, and many other diseases and conditions, depending on what you are predisposed to. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Any comments? Dot Do all four suggestions and see if you get better. I have and it didn’t cure recurrant depression and PD, but it did improve my overall sense of well being. And I was in fact healthier. Chip
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The symptoms of *atypical* depression are…. abiliy to temporarily lose the depressed feeling and respond to pleasurable stimuli (good news, good movie or book, etc)…..
Well, Saturday night I actually went to a mall just to mess around for the first time in years. (Usually I just go to one store and run in and out just to get what I came after.) I bought some earrings and spent a couple of hours in Barnes & Noble and bought two small books. I used to practically live at Barnes & Noble a few years ago, and it was fun. Then on Easter I went to my daughter’s house for brunch and all my kids and their families were there. I almost OD’d on all the food, cute babies, and laughter. I had a very good time, and I am still feeling "up" on Monday afternoon. My question is: Do you think that if we were able to include "pleasurable stimuli" in our lives every day that we would be able to keep atypical depression at bay forever? Does that mean that LACK of pleasurable stimuli is the cause of atypical depression? If it is so easy to cure, why do so many people have it? It seems that I have to force myself to do the fun things, but when I do, it’s worth it. Then when I have an opportunity to have fun again, I think up reasons why I shouldn’t. Am I just lazy? When I was so depressed this winter I didn’t seem to even have any desire to do any fun things, but I think I had SAD then. Maybe I had a combination. I just don’t know. It seems like sort of a chicken and egg thing. Anyway, I feel better right now – and I haven’t gotten to the books yet! Dot
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My question is: Do you think that if we were able to include "pleasurable stimuli" in our lives every day that we would be able to keep atypical depression at bay forever? Don’t know, but I doubt it. You would experience brief periods of better mood, almost to normal, but then return to feeling depressed. Does that mean that LACK of pleasurable stimuli is the cause of atypical depression? No. It means your mood can improve in response to pleasurable stimuli. If it is so easy to cure, why do so many people have it? Brightening of mood for a period of time does not mean you are cured. It seems that I have to force myself to do the fun things, but when I do, it’s worth it. Then when I have an opportunity to have fun again, I think up reasons why I shouldn’t. Am I just lazy? You’re not lazy. Depression can have the symptom of extreme fatigue, so that it takes a great effort to do anything. When I was so depressed this winter I didn’t seem to even have any desire to do any fun things, but I think I had SAD then. Maybe I had a combination. I just don’t know. It seems like sort of a chicken and egg thing.
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