how do you deal with depression and anxiety?

[Kiyoka]

Hello everyone, how are you all doing? I just had a quick but not easy quetion. What can you do to win the battle over depression and anxiety pain? I keep going to search for help, and nothing really helps. I"m on a antidepressant, but I still feel depressed. I did go to the er because of it and talked to a counslor for mentral health, but still I feel like i'm alone a lot of the time. I heard that you should turn saddness into happyness, what is a good way to do that? The pain keeps getting worse, for the first time in my life i need to take pain meds it's kinda scary. I don't want to take them, but it hurt way too much.

[ICNDonna]

Sometimes it takes a while to find which antidepressant works best for any individual; if you're not having good results from the one you're taking, my suggestion would be to see the ordering physician and ask about trying something else.

I'm very glad you're working with a physician.

Donna

[dyno]

It may also take going to a counsler for awhile to work through this and as Donna suggested talk to your Dr. about trying different antidepressants until you find something that works for you.

Every person reacts differently to medications and all of us handle pain and our emotions different.

Keep working with the professionals that can help you.

[caitlinsmom]

I think Donna had an excellent idea, maybe try another med. I have tried almost all of them. I am sorry about your pain, my painlvel is realy low, so i am unable to comment. I have read that some off the depression meds like elavil and cymbalta help with pain. I have been in a very dark place at 2 points in my life, I have come though the other side a better person for it, but the road is tough, and not too many people really understand depression all that well. Turning sadnees into happy is not like flipping a switch, for me it was learning about my depression and working with it, to come to terms with it. It never goes away for me, but through a lot of help, I have made progress. Keep in mind some of those meds take a while to work also.

[babygirl694]

Talking to a counselor helped me alot.. i wish i still had the money to do it. He opened me up alot. :). Also, writing in a journal seems to help too. Hope things get better. :o)

[kadi]

Simple as this sounds, I try really hard to have something small to look forward to every day. Some days it's a magazine I've been saving, a TV show I've taped to watch later, a special library book, listening to my favorite music just lying on the sofa with a cold cloth over my eyes, a trip to the local bakery to get a snickerdoodle cookie, sending a funny card to a dear friend, giving myself a face mask or at home manicure.

Hang in there, it's hard to be happy when you're in pain & your life is dominated by your bladder. How is your IC treatment going? You're still in college? Are there resources for counseling there? Maybe when you feel better, you'll feel better... (physically, then emotionally) I admire that you have a strong desire for happiness, that's I believe, one of the most important things in helping us get well.
Don't give up--this is NOT forever, even if it feels like it.

Wishing you better days SOON!

[Ginny]

It will take about a month for antidepressents to work. If it has been over a month talk to the doctor that prescribed it. It might have to be increased.

None of us want to take pain medication but for a lot of us it is necessary.
Be careful with some pain medication. Percocet and Oxycontin can make you depressed.

Ginny

[coopsmom]

I was wondering if anyone stayed depressed. I don't know if I am or what. I get up of the morning and just wanna go back to sleep, I don't want to do anything. Like one week I will eat, eat, eat and now this week I don't want to eat. I don't know. It might be my "girl thing" but about weeks out of the month I don't feel like doing crap. I have a 32 month old little boy who is active and I don't even feel like playing w/ him and I feel so bad about it. Summer is coming up and I need some relief of this so we can go outside and play instead of setting in all the time. I don't even care if we get out and go. I mean I like to go places but, I really don't care at all anymore if I go anywhere. ANYONE ELSE FEEL LIKE ME? HELP ME I do have IC

[poetgirl]

Kiyoka,

I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time with depression and anxiety. You know, it isn't always so easy to turn sadness into happiness -- it's not a switch you can turn on and off. Anyone who says you can is feeding you a line and then some.

I suffer from depression and anxiety. The depression tends to come and go, but the anxiety can be easily triggered by stressful situations. I don't do so well with SSRIs, so I don't take them, but I do see a therapist. I started seeing him a year and a half ago after my husband and I separated. Initially, I went every week, but now I go twice a month. It has helped a lot to have someone who can objectively help me work through the sources of my anxiety and learn some coping behaviors. I still have some bad days, of course, but at least I feel like I'm making some progress. I know that my depression and anxiety were much higher when I was experiencing a lot of discomfort and pain from IC/VV. That kind of pain and discomfort wears you out physically and because of that, drains you emotionally too. Someone else on these boards, Sharon perhaps (?) said that she has created a new life for herself with IC and tries not to let it stop her. I don't know what that means for her in terms of her approach, but Kadi's point about making the most of a good day or appreciating even the small good things that happen is very important. Sometimes we have to teach ourselves to focus on and emphasize these things.

Life is really hard sometimes and there seems to be no way around that fact. I don't mean that in a way to make you feel worse, but know that life is also cyclic and that these states we're in (depression, anxiety, sadness) are not permanent ones. I've been through some horrible depressive episodes or had anxiety so bad I couldn't get out of bed in the morning, but you know what? They don't last forever. Each day after the worst day it gets a little bit better until one day you wake up and you no longer think about how you feel because the depression and anxiety have lifted.

Are there any creative activities you can do? Do you have friends you can sit and watch a rental movie with? Anything to keep you busy and feel like you're involved with the world is really important when you're feeling down.

I hope you feel better soon. Know that we're here and care about you! You are not alone!

[Kiyoka]

Thanks you guys. I been on effexor about two months now. but two weeks ago, I asked if I could have the smaller pills, I have a hard time swallowing the bigger ones. But instead of letting me take two Effexor XR 35.7 she gave me Effexor 35.7 twice a day, I have never been able to take anything twice aday, my days are tooo crazy. With the XR I would only have to take two of them at the same time and be done for that day. During the past two weeks, My mouth has been majorly dry, I haven't been sleeping, and very emotional with life, and some bad thoughts about my life. I did call my dr last week, and she didn't even know she switched them, and she said the insurance wouldn't pay for me to switch back,so I have to wait two weeks until I get to switch it back.
I been talking to people, I think I might have bio polar or something. but everytime I talk to anyone about it, they think i'm normal. I don't know?? Life is really hard a lot of the time

[mamamccoy]

Hi coopsmom,

I have the same feeling.. so you are not alone. I have a daughter that is 3 and a half, and there are days, when the pain is bad, that i could really care less about going anywhere. I am tired of dealing with the pain, and I talked to my dr's nurse who told me to take Advil. I told her that since I was on Elmiron I had read that it wasn't such a good idea to take another blood thinning med. She said she didn't understand if I wasn't going to do what the dr suggested what more they could do for me? Sounds crazy huh? So now I face trying to find another uro that understands the pain, depression, and hopelessness that you feel with IC. I think I might be going to find some sort of antidepressant myself. I just wanted to let you know that you where not alone, and sometimes that is all we can do.

[kiffy313]

I, too have IC, depression, and anxiety, among other things...I am on Paxil for the depression/anxiety, I have tried several, and this is the only one that half way seems to work. (I am supposed to take 20 mg, but most days I only take half, med phobic that I am...and, no it is NOT working for me...) I do also see a Therapist, but haven't been in a while. I am the main caretaker for my Mom, she lives with us, and is battling lung cancer ( in remission for now, Thank God!! but it has been a loooong last year....) So, I have kinda let myself "go by the wayside" whilst caring for my Mom. Anyways, I also have pain every day, not excrutiating every day, but some pain, worse around my period, when I ovulate, if I have a kidney stone, and if I "flare", lets don't even mention the stress factor...So, I have a PM Dr. in addition to my Uro and Gyno. I am on the Duragesic patch. It is 50 mcg, but I only uncover part of it ( long story, med anxiety, etc.). It has helped my pain, but my depression is getting worse. I made myself take 15 mg of Paxil today, and am scheduled to see my Therapist the end of April, as in my case I know I am able to get help, it is just making myself take it...I hate this anxiety and depression!!! (sorry for the "mini" vent...)So, I don't know if my post will help you much, but just know you are not alone, and I agree that sometimes it takes a different med, or combo, and I really think the therapy is helpful...My hubby is so supportive, but my "thinkin is so stinkin" lately that I am even feeling like he is tired of having a wife who is always sick, whining, etc. ...I hope we all get to feeling better soon, maybe now that spring is here, more sunlight will help!!!
Take Care all,
Kif

[Katrina]

Wow Kiyoka, I can't believe you survived so long without pain meds...:grouphug: to me that is a sure sign you are a lot stronger than you think!!! I don't have any great advise I just wanted you know I am praying for you friend! God Bless!!!!
:kiss::grouphug::kiss::grouphug::love:

[mamamccoy]

Hi Kif,
I enjoyed hearing alll of your vents! It makes me not feel so crazy. I am glad to hear that your mom is doing better. My mom and dad and grandmother live 2 doors down! WOOOOW! It can be a great stress sometimes. My mom had a stroke 2 years ago, the same year my dad a a motorcycle wreck, and broke his hip, and my grandmother moved in with them! That is enough stress to drive everyone nuts! That is just enough to make the IC show its ugly,painful head! I talked to my uro yesterday, and got nowhere! So I am off today to help find a new one. Sounds promising. I am not taking any pain meds or antidepressants. I really would rather not. I too have the same worry about the "supportive" husband! It is just great to know that this is available for people to just vent! Thanks!

[kiffy313]

mamamccoy,
You are so welcome!! ;) I am glad I have made someone feel not so :loco: ... :biglaugh:
Take Care all,
Kif