My Personal Struggle With Depression and Anxiety

[M.D. Holloway]

I didn’t even think I was depressed but I knew I was having anxiety attacks and my personality took on a new energy. It wasn’t until I had may annual physical that my Doctor asked the right questions. The work-up took abput an hour and she was great. She talked to me like a friend and really got to the heart of it all. I have tons on my plate and I really don’t want to take any of it off. I guess I was overwhelmed. When I have my down times I do not get weepy like some people do I get belligerent, arrogant, and very cocky. I tend to snap at folks as well. It’s a defensive mechanism. I wasn’t able to realize it till after my conversation with my Doctor and a great conversation I had with my Wife.

So my Doctor prescribed Lexipro, 10mg. The stuff is freak’n magic. Been on it for over a week now. It has balanced me out and for the first time in many many years I get to bed early and sleep 8+ straight! My back isn’t hurting and people have actually commented that I just seem more relaxed and less edgy. I feel better. I’m going to use a strange description, I feel “easier” as if nothing seems to be that big a deal. I still can think and concentrate. Things are in perspective and my massive ego is in complete check. I like it. I wish I was on it before I was put on the HOA board and wrote that letter! No more anxiety. No more being arrogant or cocky like I was. Also, I don’t snap at the Kids or Wife anymore either. I want this to go on forever. I’m sold.

Big public apology to anyone I have offended – FASTPAT and SNOWMAN included.

[Superman]

Well that explains why you are always so beligerant, argumentative and just plain nasty.



(kidding)

[livi]

Mike,

That´s good to hear ! But I am not surprised the doctor homed in on it. It is very common in Western society. The compact wall of frenetic, stressful input most of us suffer every day. Our brain and body desperately trying to adjust to the abnormal pressure - disguising it (or revealing it) with a less pleasant atmosphere.

It is always the most aggressive person that hurts the most. Whether he is aware of it or not.

What is the name of the generic substance in that medicine ?

Darn, your post even made me feel better!

[Seahawk]

Mike,

You're an f'ing prince who is always a source of both pertinent info and mirth.

Having an edge is not a bad thing, unless you cut yourself.

All the best.

[red-beard]

Don't bogart that stuff! Pass it around, Bro!

[M.D. Holloway]

Markus - not sure there is a generic of it. Wellbutrin (sp) is in the same league but has some side effects that some people suffer (low sex drive is one, weight gain is the other - that would depress me further!)

[Rikao4]

Good for you,
I figure half of the world is on some sort of meds, and the other half should be.
Group buy ?
Rika

[livi]

Mike,

Is 'Lexipro' the only name spelled out on the bottle ?

[artplumber]

Escitalopram.

Mike,
That letter did not sound like you. So glad you feel better.

[HardDrive]

Geez, you seemed so nice and friendly when you were up here in Seattle. I guess I did not see your darkside.

Glad the meds help. My step mother has anxiety issues, and here meds have helped tremendously. Like you said, it just brings her to a even keel.

[pwd72s]

Here I sit getting depressed because of a bum back, literally drives me to my knees with sharp pain. Usually this goes away after a day or two. Has been with me for a few weeks now. Might be momma nature saying: "at your age"...I'm depressed at the thought of another lifestyle change I won't enjoy.

Mike, I'm happy for you...that alone is a lift.

[sammyg2]

I tend to snap at folks as well. It’s a defensive mechanism.

You say that like it's a bad thing.
Seriously, the answer is not a in pill. sorry, it just aint. You could stay drunk 24 hours a day, that would work for a little while.

If you have issues in your life, deal with them. Get less on your plate. Find something to do that doesn't stress you out. Whatever you have to do, deal with the real issues.
taking a pill to hide from your problems is a short term solution IMO.

[motion]

Originally posted by sammyg2
You say that like it's a bad thing.
Seriously, the answer is not a in pill. sorry, it just aint. You could stay drunk 24 hours a day, that would work for a little while.

If you have issues in your life, deal with them. Get less on your plate. Find something to do that doesn't stress you out. Whatever you have to do, deal with the real issues.
taking a pill to hide from your problems is a short term solution IMO.

+1

A pill is just a band-aid over a wound. Its not gonna fix anything. Sure, it might mask the symptons, but you still have an inherent problem.

Mike, after reading the letter you wrote to someone in your HOA, I suspect that you have a little difficulty separating things that are important and those that aren't. I'm no shrink, but I do know that 1/2, maybe 3/4, hell maybe 90% of the struggle in life is "letting go". Most things just aren't important enough to get worked up over. Go out and smell the roses.

[scottmandue]

Mike,
Glad to hear your feeling better... I agree with the other people here that from your posts you seemed like a pretty level headed funny guy.

I suppose we all should have been a little concerned when we saw you Halloween costume.

[tabs]

Being an as$hole is natural for U with all the stress on your plate. I have come to the place where I can figure out what and why something is bothering me, and once I see it then it tends to resolve itself, and we go on to the next adventure.

Only problem with the drugs is that you never really resolve the issue that causes the behavior in the first place. You go straight to the resolved state of "nothing bothers you" without going through the learning or resolution process. You then become dependent on the drug to keep your equilibrium..

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by motion
I'm no shrink, but I do know that 1/2, maybe 3/4, hell maybe 90% of the struggle in life is "letting go". Most things just aren't important enough to get worked up over. Go out and smell the roses.

Smell the roses?

When I was depressed you told me to snort some lines off a hookers a$$! (it was quite relaxing thought... although she got a little miffed when the straw got stuck in... well, that's another thread)

[livi]

Thanks Peter, that make sense.

Mike, it is more common to gain weight with that substance - but some people actually LOSE weight as a side effect.

Sammy, yes it is a short term solution, but sometimes necessary for a suffering person to cope while struggling to make way for a more permanent solution.

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
.

Big public apology to anyone I have offended – FASTPAT and SNOWMAN included.

NOW THAT'S JUST CRAZY TALK!!!

[the]

I know it's not PC to say, and I say this truly with all due respect, but I think Sammy has a point.

It does seem odd that you go to the doctor for a routine physical, talk to her for an hour, and now you are suddenly on some mind-altering prescription drug.

You yourself said "I have tons on my plate and I really don’t want to take any of it off. I guess I was overwhelmed." It kinda seems a better solution is to not be so overwhelmend, take some off your plate. In other words, fix the underlying problems, not just mask them with hastily prescribed drugs.

EDIT: Wow, I need to type faster, SIX posts in front of me from the time I started to the time I hit submit!

[Drdogface]

Originally posted by motion
+1

A pill is just a band-aid over a wound. Its not gonna fix anything. Sure, it might mask the symptons, but you still have an inherent problem.

True to a point. However, there are three neuro-transmitters in the brain that come into play in this. They are, Seratonin, Dopamine and Norepinephrin. Some of the modern drugs used in depression/anxiety conditions affect the uptake of these chemicals....some affect two of the three. If a person is, for whatever reason, out of balance in one or more of these chemicals then these meds is quite appropriate. It all started with Prozac and has gone on from there.

So, Mike, don't at all feel like you are somehow just masking symptoms. If this med works for you then go for it and enjoy the 'new you'. We all have issues/baggage and dealing with it is impt. but it's not the only thing involved.

No...I'm NOT a shrink, but I do have experience in this.