Bipolar depression

[Sassie22]

Hi I’m new on here. On looking at everyone’s posts I wonder if anybody has such severe depression as I have. I have no emotions, haven’t laughed for a year. I’ve had ECT which gave me relief for a few weeks. I spend most of the day in bed and I’m barely functioning. Thinking of asking my p.doc for an MAOI. Does anyone have experience of these drugs?

[Lefty_Epee]

No experience on the drug portion, however I too was down in a pit like that. It's rough, I get it. It's going to take time but I promise you'll laugh again. Whether it be through medicine, therapy, physical activity, distractions, coping mechanisms, or maybe even religion; there is something out there that WILL work. When I was in therapy the first time I was very, very combative. I said I tried using the skills and insisting they didn't work. It's been about 7-8 months and the skills I insisted didn't work do wonders for me. You have to be open to pretty much everything. It might seem stupid, but who knows, it might work. Just hold on. Best of luck with your mental health journey. Praying for your healing.

[Gordo6500]

Hi Sassie, I was on antidepressants for a couple of years got off of them because they made me have no emotions. So I don’t know what they would do to you as we are all different . I’ve been pretty good on supplements , omega 3 fish oil, L theanine, Gaba, Cbd, Tart cherrie powder , the tart cherry really helped with the depression. You may want to research these supplements and a high protein low carbohydrate diet also. Hope this helps. 😊

[Sassie22 in reply to Gordo6500]

Thanks Gordo for your suggestions, I will look into the supplements. I would love to come off the antidepressants, but missed one dose of Venlafaxine and was so ill. I know one day I’m going to have to do it and was considering doing it before starting an MAOI, but feeling so dreadful is putting me off.

[Gordo6500 in reply to Sassie22]

Hi Sassie, if you decide to get off the drugs, what i did was to look up the drug and see how it works in your brain. Like ssri's work by keeping serotonin in your brain ,maoi's work by reducing the activity of an enzyme called MOA this keeps more brain chemicals in your brain that control depression, anxiety ect. I then started looking for natural supplements that do the same thing then started cutting back on the drugs, I started with St. Johns Wort, but found that L theanine worked better. So it's trial and error i'm afraid unless you can find a natural Dr. that's affordable ,here in California they charge about $300 an hour! So i had to do it myself. Hope you feel better soon.

[Daveacr1959]

Hi! You will get good advice and support on here . For me 6-8 hours of sleep each night. 45 minutes of daily cardio exercise to produce endorphins that battle your anxiety. And a 5 minute pure cold shower daily. Google cold shower therapy for mental health. I know the excercise and cold shower are not easy to do . But sometimes our own bodies hold the key to help us . I live in the desert and can’t get cold water 4 months a year. And I really miss it . So much I might have to figure out how to get it June to September. That’s how powerful it is for me. Proper sleep, diet , without being a diet fanatic and cold water pools or shower. Positive thoughts are good too. I am in therapy but it’s just like talking to someone paid to listen. They have not helped me much the 20 sessions I’ve had . But that could be just me . I take my anxiety medicine too.

[Sassie22 in reply to Daveacr1959]

Thanks for your good advice. Unfortunately I’m non-functioning, barely getting out of bed. Hopefully when I’m in a better place I can take on board your suggestions.