Posted by Journeyman on January 9, 2004, at 20:35:45
In reply to from the frozen north » Journeyman, posted by reluctant on January 9, 2004, at 17:49:06
Hi -r,
Ugh, sorry to hear it's so cold there. I checked in with the nearest weather station to Sangerville last night, and it was supposed to be -39 last night and -40 tonight. As my grandfather once said, "The place is only fit for eskimos and polar bears." (and they both have the sense not to be there in the winter) Climb in bed and stay there? Sounds pretty smart to me.
You ought to check into getting 'Fluffy' somehow, I don't think your dog would be named that) trained to use the toilet. Better yet, get him/her hooked up to some sort of heat-generating mechanism so that while the pooch is getting some exercise, you can give the mercury in your apt. a bit of a boost.Okay, so after spending a VT winter in a cabin w/an outhouse, I can see how you'd be drawn to the leisure and comforts of the monastic life.
Stone Soup is in Burlington. I'm a lacto-ovo vegetarian and they usually have a good variety of things to choose from. Of course, I'm equally drawn to the Ben & Jerry's and Lake Champlain Chocolate shops on Church Street.
I actually live on Capitol Hill. We moved here when my partner was working on her PhD in American Studies. We've liked it, so we've stayed on. Have been here since 89. Suburban life doesn't appeal to me much. I'd rather be either downtown or in the country.
I started on Lexapro Nov. 21. I think it's working fairly well. In many ways, there are similarities to what other people have mentioned. I started feeling better right away, though I think that part of that may have just been psychological because I had finally taken the step of treating my depression organically - something I have considered for years, but always thought I 'should' just try to deal with through diet, exercise, reading, psychotherapy, etc. I'd felt that medication was kind of cheating or that any healing wouldn't really be authentic. However, after talking to my therapist, who was convinced it was biological, - and unsuccessfully taming the 'blue meanies,' I decided to give it a try. Part of my problem has been that when I've been depressed, I haven't felt like exercising, eating well, etc.
As far as slumps, I had the around week 5 thing too. It seems better now. So far, side effects have been fairly minimal:
- slight bowel discomfort first two or three days;
- often really want to take a nap in the afternoon;
- feel wired from about 4 PM to around midnight;
- sometimes I feel a little lightheaded. Today, for the first time, I decided not to take it because the lightheadedness was bordering on dizzyness. I don't know whether it's just because there's a buildup of it in my system now or what. I'll be making another appt. with the p/doc soon so will discuss it with him.I'm taking 5 mg/day. Just Lexapro.
Most people find that around 8-9 weeks, the side effects are pretty much gone. That's also the time that many mention it's working to its full effect, as long as the dose is appropriate.
I'm sorry to hear you're feeling slumpy - something we're all intimately familiar with. Do you have something light/funny to read at hand? Or a Video/DVD comedy? (rent Stuart Saves His Family if you haven't already seen it.)
Incidentally, what you wrote on the board for that guy yesterday who was feeling down - that was very nice and extremely well written. You have an unusually sensitive heart and capacity for empathy.
I know you're flickering right now, but that's just proof that you're a light.
Peace, joy, and warmth to you.
Richard
poster:Journeyman
thread:297419
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040109/msgs/298835.html