Posted by oldhand on August 20, 2003, at 13:06:02
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl Doug » galkeepinon, posted by Doug in PA on August 18, 2003, at 19:26:55
Hi Doug,
I read this board all the time but post rarely. Something in your posts has prompted me to respond with my experience with depression.
Get your reading glasses cause this may take awhile, lol.
I have been taking some kind of AD for around 7 years now. From therapy and Psychiatrist evaluations I have come to believe I have suffered on and off since I was eighteen years old. I turned 54 yesterday.. I have been self-medicating with alcohol (and other drugs, legal and not in my younger years), since I could get a fake ID.
I also had a very responsible, stressful job. I hava a Master's in Social Work and one in Public Administration, was assistant director at a county Human Services Department. I took a disability retirement on Jan. 8, 2000 after fighting for around three years to stay.
I have posted before that I believe that alcohol contributed significantly to AD poop-out for me. I have, since December, all but quit using alcohol for fear that the Lex will also poop out. My current pshchiatrist believes that I have suffered the effects of alcohol abuse. I tend to agree but it is hard to tell wheter the symptoms are from alcohol or depression. What struck me in your posts was your work situation. Depression does cause inability to focus and concentrate (am I preaching to the choir here?) It made my work impossible for me, but it can improve. And besides, we ALL have bad and good days, those where nothing goes right, those where all is well and we say a Thank-You prayer.
I guess my point is to offer you some more words of encouragement as you sound so very discouraged at times. I say, keep up the good fight. If you use alcohol, reduce or stop. Get exercize, my pdoc said new studies show regeneration of those all-important brain cells when we exercize.
There are good counsellors and therapists out there! Keep looking til you find one. You will know which one is right. Do not settle for the nodding, non-committal, "AHH, and how do you feel about that?". There are different therapeutic modalities as well. Read up on them, see which one you are attracted to, and ask potential employees which they practise.
Guess I have rambled enough. Hope I was alittle helpful or encouraging.
poster:oldhand
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030818/msgs/252476.html