How does a 61 y.o. Male learn to apply coping STRATEGIES?

[WallPop]

i hope I've started off correctly here? Still a little uncertain navigating correctly here in the programme. Anyway as some of you might have seen in a couple of Posts I've been dealing with depression for 18 years or so. Have had some success with certain Meds but had a relapse back in February which I am finding very difficult to get over. This last week I was prescribed a Med which caused me anxiety problems three years ago as well as generally making me feel ill. Also been seeing a Mental Health Counsellor of recent weeks. I don't want to do anything and just stay in bed (I answered a Post to Lazybones a little while ago which might outline my problem better). The Counsellor is hoping to set up stratergies to deal with depression and I'm not managing with it. Today my wife spoke with our G.P. who indicated I have to put some strategies in place too. I feel ill with the medication don't know how to PRACTICE any strategies!!! I am now concerned that if I don't learn to apply whatever strategies that might be my doctor might take a dim view towards believing me and helping me to get onto a more suitable medication. How does a 61 y.o. Male learn to apply STRATEGIES, I honestly don't know how to apply such mechanism and am feeling quite apprehensive about my position, that apprehension being to fail at what might be expected of me by way of self help!!!

[HA1]

Hi WallPop

Yes you did right!  I just familiarised myself with your previous posts to try and get a sense of your circumstances and illness.  

I think the first thing that grabbed me was that you have been on and off meds quite a bit.  In my (unprofessional) opinion, I would suggest trying to stick to the right med at the right dose.  Sometimes it will take 3 months or more to settle in.  The dose is the key in my view.  Just that little too much will make me feel like a zombie (really spaced out), but reducing it a little will help.  

If you still have difficulty getting out of bed (and I do know that feeling), then don't fight it too much.  The more you fight it the worse you will feel.  Listen to your body.  (hmm, I know every health practitioner will disagree with me).  Perhaps it is also an indication that your medication is not working (talk to your GP).  As you know, lack of motivation and wanting to stay in bed is a typical sign of depression.

Are you able to share a little more about your circumstances, background, etc?  I think that strategy is very personal, and depends on the individual and the issues that have caused their depression (if there is a particular cause).  In a separate post, I suggested an approach to practising mindfulness, but that should only be part of the strategy.  Life style changes, right medication (at the right dose) and a good psychologist (with the correct therapy) will work wonders.  

Look forward to chatting more.

Take care

K

[Jacko777]

Hi Wallpop,

I would hope that an appropriate strategy would be made up of small clear steps that are achievable. I hope your counselor will develop the strategy to take into consideration...YOU! This will be your strategy, for your self, that will bring you greater peace and happiness.

Jack

[WallPop]

Hello Hideaway, thanks for your reply. Just on a bit of background, I had several 'breakdowns' in office work after about 27 years, 'work related stress'! When I say I'd been on and off Meds the successful medications I was taking for years until one or other stopped working??? Last year I was weaned off what was a long term n relatively successful Med. I actually went quite well for about 8 months until we had a bit of financial upset which really tossed me off my horse and generated quite a lot of anxiety, which I had not really experienced since my work related probs 18 years back. In consultation with my G.P. we reintroduced what had been a reasonably successful Med (SNRI) only this time it seemed to generate more anxiety. So on consultation with a Specialist (Psychiatrist) he prescribed a different (SSRI) Med which really increased the anxiety levels plus made me feel grossly ill plus smothered me both physically n mentally in a very depressed place. (Over the years it has been mentioned that I am quite sensitive to some of these Meds and I misunderstood the Specialist when he mentioned the script by a Brand name!) We hoped with passing of time the Med might be compatible, but it was not. Shocking!! So G.P. has got me working with Psychologist and I have an early appointment now, this Fri fir Specialist to reappraise my Meds. I'm not taking that other recent script and already have found improvement. I don't chop n change so to speak on a regular basis, successful Meds have been taken for YEARS at a time, but I will admit I don't like having to take them and after 8 months off them I was hoping to be free of them. Looks like I won't be plus I need to be able to discipline n practice with the relevant strategies. Further, in hindsight, I feel maybe that when I was off the Meds for those 8 months that my motivation did really drop off n now it has got worse, hence the staying in bed problem. Hopefully the specialist will get me on the right track with Meds this Fri. But I am feeling somewhat better having stopped that last recent script.

Thanks again for your response, Wallpop.

[HA1]

Hi WallPop

Good to hear back from you!

I just wanted to wish you good luck with your meds reappraisal tomorrow.  I know how much we can hang our hopes on finding something that works.  One of our fantastic members, White Knight, has often spoken about his battles with finding the right medication - his posts on this issue are well worth a read.  It is not easy!

Let us know how you get along.

K