WE PROCEEDED ON

[labug]

gunny, I ignored my depression for a long time, too. I felt like I lived in a gray world, devoid of color. Now it has colors and I wish I could share this new person with H.

Only time will tell but no matter what I get to enjoy the new me.

[In_Shock]

Gunny--- ((Hugs))) I am going to update my sitch in a bit, but wanted to say i love the title of the thread and the whole historical reference

I've been thinking of you a lot -- this time of year is doing a number on me -- one reason I haven't posted much lately. Rough times....but 2012 is going to be a great year for us. There's nowhere to go now --- but ==== UP!!!!!!

I'm going to read all your latest thread but i thought i'd do a quick drive by hello to let you know you are in my mind.

[25yearsmlc]

Good morning all,
Thanks for all the great posts! Have slept better the last two nights, during the day I am taking some passion flower, valerian, and kava kava for anxiety, then at night I take one 50 mg of xanax. I will only be taking the xanax for about another week, so that I can get back into a good sleep pattern, then i will go back to valerian and melitonin.

I assume you mean .05 of xanax? Otherwise Gunny, you are a goner! They come in .25, .50 and 1mg...

not that I'd know or anything...

ps I hear a LOT of folks double up on the melatonin to 6mg. And some get relief with Ambien. I found it super helpful but for about 15 minutes I'd eat like I had the munchies, which I guess I did.

THEN I'd sleep...so there are upsides and downsides to all of them. A glass of wine is nice but if I have more than 2, I get a hang over PLUS I worry about drinking itself.

Geez...and this is me NOW.

You should have asked me 5 years ago-I was THE night owl. I painted a lot. As in 12 rooms...seriously. I think more than half of that was the prep work which I did after midnight. Somehow felt therapeutic.

I'll try Valerian root again. It's been around for centuries as a sleep aid. Also found an over the counter "Unisom" which is a shorter acting anti=histamine like benadryl, but less groggy in the morning. The key ingredient starts with Doccycline (Sp??) and isn't diphenhydramine, which is benadryl/sominex...

well, guess my pharmacology tips are done.

[labug]

Doxylamin

I used Ambien intermittently for awhile and had good results, nice sleep, no hangover but that ended. After awhile, I would take it and still wake up in 3-4 hours. bummer, dude.

I've decreased coffee and wine (2 glasses give me a hangover, too), do yoga and meditation before bed, try to get exercise outdoors everyday (not this week),and have been taking melatonin. Last night I slept 7 hours, with one bathroom break! That's a near record for me in the last year or so.

[gunny]

Hello in shock, good to hear from you! Glad you like the title, I am a huge Lewis and Clark Fan.

Looking forward to your update. Sorry this is such a tough time for all of us, it does not help me that the people in my office are playing non-stop christmas carols on the radio! lol. Oh well, hopefully by this time next year, all of this will be a much less painful distant memory, lets hope!

Any good plans for your break?

[gunny]

hello 25,
Thanks for pointing that out, yes, .05 is the dosage, was taking .25, with little effect.

Tried the ambien, got maybe 4 solid hours of sleep, then popped up.

The last few nights I started sleeping on the couch. Seem to sleep better there, my IC thinks its because my bed has too much association with my w, didnt think about that, but makes sense.

Thanks for posting 25, have a Merry Christmas!

[gunny]

hello lady,
Does your husband know about your depression? If you are being treated, did you tell him, and what was his response?

[Rick1963]

"The last few nights I started sleeping on the couch. Seem to sleep better there, my IC thinks its because my bed has too much association with my w, didnt think about that, but makes sense."

Good observation^^^^^Gunny. How about getting one of those air mattresses at Kmart. Saw them at a good price and they are really comfortable probably better than a couch. You can make believe you are camping in your own living room and it might be relaxing. just my 2cs. Have a great day buddy

[jbnati]

gunny, I think Rick's suggestion is more cost-effective than what I did. I bought a whole new mattress set. But I did get free iPod out the deal.

Seriously, I am so glad you are taking steps to deal with your depression. I think it's going to be a very good thing in the long run. It's a very important step in working on yourself.

[labug]

hello lady,
Does your husband know about your depression? If you are being treated, did you tell him, and what was his response?

Yes, he knows. His first bomb drop was the impetus for me getting into counseling. We talked about what the problem was like for me, I gave him an article to read and asked him to let me know when I was getting irritable, bitchy, more depressed. The depression improved and then I had a rough couple of months with some health issues and coming up on the anniversary of my mom's death and her birthday all in close proximity. He decided he was done.

I hurt him a lot with my irritability and resentment but I told him once, "I'm not doing this TO you, I'm just doing it."

It's so difficult to explain to people who haven't been there, done that.