Stress Center Peer Support

Over the last few weeks, I have been put back on Lexapro - now at 10 mg per day. I was off of it for 3 months. I've noticed that I am always tired. I can lay down and fall asleep for an hour or two in the middle of the day.

i am dealing with a lot of emotions now in therapy and wonder if much of my tiredness is from depression or from the medication. Any help would be great.

Bob

Hey Bob, my "guess" it is from the depression, sleep was always my "escape" don'y have to think, deal with anything, etc. my suggestion is this, and it's tough, no matter how you feel get out in the am and take at least a 2 mile walk...intially this is a BEAR but after a couple weeks you will not want to miss doing it, it's weird...i am in Norhtern Wisconsin with snow on the roads and regardless of temp snow, i don't care i tie up my hiking boots and walk and believe me I am not the exercise type...but it works!! The dpression has really started lifting and you just think alot better about yourself...the big side benefit is that it is great prayer time...relax, go with the flow, YOU CAN DO IT!! If I can you can!! Take care!

Hi Bob, Mard has it right on with the am walk. I was feeling like you and that was one of my life changes. I would get to a beautiful park and there are alot here, and watch sun rises as I walked and talked to GOD. I even memorized half of Romans and met a great lady, who I married, that is another story. Anyways Bob hit the trails and go to different ones as long as its in a safe enviroment and best of luck to you, Bruce

The "tired feeling" can be both a symptom of the medication & the depression itself. W/ that said, try & not feed the tiredness. W/ that I mean, try to not allow it to envelop you on a daily basis - so that its lies become your truths - depress is BS. Motivation comes fr doing, esp when it comes to depression. You will feel tired & maybe even deplete of any desire to do anything - I am recommending YOU DO IT ANYWAY = follow your gut - you have it, I hear it in the very words you type. You know you feel tired & want to sleep often. So, instead of taking that nap every day, why not try & do something else. Why not go for a walk outside - get your IPOD on filled w/ your fave music tunes - wave hello to a neighbor while walking - smile to that elderly person raking the leaves on their lawn - feel the breeze on your face - see the squirrel climbing that tree - hear them birds singing (lol, it is beautiful even if they do wake you up early in he morning, lollol ). How about, as another example, you take a shower + put on some cologne & treat yourself to a lunch outside of your house??? OR call a buddy up & go to a sportsbar to eat & watch a game (you don't have to drink to have fun). OR invite some friends over to eat popcorn & watch a funny movie ( my husbands quiteria for a GREAT FUNNY MOVIE is it containing ANYONE passing gas, lol - I'm just trying to make you laugh ). There are a variety of things - I don't know you so I'm just giving you some ideas.

I was there w/ depression - lord have mercy I was there. I am a very blunt & honest person - particularly when describing my own experiences w/ anxiety disorder & depression. I am 40 yrs old & am recovered fr depression & GRADUATED FR THERAPY - after having gone for 4 YEARS when anxiety disorder triggered in APR 2005. I never had major depression in my life. I was officially diagnosed in MARCH 2007 - I knew something was up - the day my husband came home fr work & I was very AFFECT - if I'm saying that right. I luv my hubby & yes, sounding corney - I still get butterflies in my belly when I see him(after 11 yrs marrie & almost 16 yrs together). That day, NO EFFECT @ ALL. What & all depress was making me feel was quite over powering & overwhelming. I contacted my psychiatrist immediately.

I told my therapist I thought I needed a medication. He grilled me for almost 2 hrs like the CIA & FBI, lol. He agree. I did have 1 very strict stipulation - that we get behind WHY I WAS DEPRESSED. Pardon my language if you will, as I told him. "I'll be damned that I worked real hard to recover fr anxiety disorder & get myself comfortable w/ what I was thinking & feelng - then to feel my emotions" for depress to try to take that away fr me - hell no". I am being honest w/ that statement (lol, I hope they don't erase it, lol - I say it to prove a point show example).

I was home, not working yet - everyone I knew worked + married w/ kids - so they were busy. I was lonely so much so, it hurt my heart. So, I had to fight depression for me, by me. I was beyond tired every single day. Yet still, I got up everyday & participated in life & my recovery. I'd bath - even when I didn't feel like it + I'd put perfume on even when no one was home - just for me + I'd listen to positive music - to feed my soul & spirit w/ the good stuff (YOU SHOULD SEE ME EARLY IN THE MORNING, WHEN HUBBY WENT TO WORK DANCING - morning hair & morning breath & all, hahahah - what a sight) + deliberately calling a friend to chat -not about my ailments - but life + going outside by myself & GETTING OUT THERE + particularly helpful was EXERCISING - I had no energy was yet STILL I walked outside or on the treadmil & did it still - FOR ME. I would cry on that treadmil cause of the physical & emotional pain I was feeling - yet, STILL I did it. I swore that everytime I sweat a sweat drop that I was sweating out the poison that was depression in my body. I can honestly count on 1 hand how many times in the 1 1/2 yrs I was depessed - that I allowed myself to sleep during the day - cause I didn't. I fought it - I didn't want to sleep my life away -OR watch Jerry Springer all day. I wanted more & I fought for it - insite of depression.

As I mentioned, I am no longer on depress med for the past 1 1/2 mths. In addition, after almost 4 yrs - I graduated fr therapy. Take care of you - should you have questions - feel free to contact me.

Your friend,

LENORE

Thanks for all of your support and care. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. It's hard fighting depression especially when I thought it was gone. I now know that I'm only beginning to bring to the front many hidden memories and feelings. Working with these old emotions is so important, but soooo hard. Thanks again.

Bob