![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jeffb on June 26, 2001, at 22:59:34
I started taking effexor 75 for social anxiety and I thought it was helping. I had it pretty bad for about 6 months to a year, but only saught help after it got really bad. I also learned that had episodes of depression, which I would have been able to identify but didn't know much about them.
At around the same time in my life (3 months ago), I started having a person come very close to me in my heart and this person has grown only closer. I still felt the anxiety on and off, but definitely less, and started feeling on-and-off depression. Now we are away from eachother for the summer but a recent visit only made us closer. When I feel fine or when I feel depressed, this person means the world to me, so I know I'm not just falling for someone great because they comfort me- in fact, she's pretty independent and doesn't know really know anything about depression, so I generally leave that out of our relationship.
To make a long story short, I'm having horrible depression jumping in and out.. sometimes great happiness. Sometimes I don't want to talk to anyone. I feel sometimes as if I'm a different person every few days, but my friends say I don't seem that way. (of course not) It's almost as if I can control the depression, but it takes a lot of effort, and most of the time I have to just give up and weep on my bed. So many of us have been there, my heart goes out to you all. Is this the Effexor causing depression.. am I just in love? Am I just insanely emotional? I never used to be like this.
I'm wondering if the Effexor has caused my depression, or if it could be this person I have grown to love. I haven't told my doctor about this new person in my life, but have told him about the depression and reduction (although not elimination) of social anxiety. He switched me about 4 weeks ago from the 75 mg to the 150 mg, and I have noticed no difference really. I've never felt this depressed, but when I do, I tend to only focus on this person I care about so much.. is that just my instinct to reach out to someone who cares about me or could this person really be causing the depression because they hold such a strong place in my heart?
Thanks for reading.
Posted by Emmah on June 27, 2001, at 6:59:30
In reply to Taking Effexor 150 .. depression or love?, posted by jeffb on June 26, 2001, at 22:59:34
Hi Jeff,
I remember reading something somewhere (sorry, really have no idea anymore where I saw it) about how being in love apparently influences the serotonine levels in your brain. They said that that may be an explanation why people in love can feel so extremely down sometimes. So maybe your feelings for this special person actually do influence your depression. I don't know if that theory is correct, I just wanted to share this knowledge with you. I am on Effexor too, 150 mg XR and I am much more stable on that dose. I can actually feel something for other people again, and not just on a few good days, but on a more permanent basis. I hope things will work out for you.
Take care,
Emmah
Posted by Poppy on June 27, 2001, at 7:01:52
In reply to Taking Effexor 150 .. depression or love?, posted by jeffb on June 26, 2001, at 22:59:34
I dont think that this person is causing the depression. My counsellor said that a major side effect of antdepressents is depression!!! I believe this. However, i think that this is true only when the depression is not inherent biologically.
HAve you tried a psychologist, or counsellor, even talking to this person you feel close to mihgt help, WHy are you feeling this way, I know that alot of times this just cannot be answered, but can you answer it.
How do you feel about keeping this anxiety and depression out of your growing relationship?
Do you think it will have a negative effect on the relatoinship if you were to tell this person?
These feelings are are huge part of your life, by not sharing them are you isolating yourself from others? I dont think everyone should know, ofcourse its purely selective at your own discretion. But maybe not talking about it with this person you love is facilitating the way you feel.
If you are worried or concerned about the response, its purely natural, i still think there is alot of stigma attatched to depression which can blur peoples understanding.
MAybe talk to a counsellor or a trusted friend, find out what is bothering you, look at what you feel, and try to understand it, let me know how things go if you can
Poppy.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.