TMS, Microdosing🍄 & Perimenopause Update

[LifeIsThePitts]

So I had my 4 WK TMS maintenance session yesterday. I've been really struggling the last month. I've pinpointed this slump to my increased perimenopause symptoms and I stopped taking a natural mood stabilizer, Sam-E, at the beginning of May when I started microdosing Psilocybin 🍄 mushrooms and participating in the Microdose.me global research project. For the first time in my history I've consciously turned around a depression episode instead of succumbing to it's spiral into complete debilitation.

I spoke to my TMS clinician about my symptoms openly and discussed the Psilocybin microdosing study for the second time. I believe it's played a big part in turning around this slide faster than if I was trying to get out of it by myself. She upped my depression treatment from 6 to 9 minutes and kept my anxiety and motivation applications the same.

28 hours later I cannot believe how much calmer I feel. No workplace anxiety. I didn't wake up in dread about coming to work like I normally do and I'm in the sit down section that aggrevates my hip problem. So I should be on emotional tilt, but TMS treatment is definitely my saving grace from TRD and anxiety symptoms.

I've been following another users recent thread of posts about recurring depression cycles and how to deal with them. His content has been helpful in putting my "episode" into perspective and reinforcing my new coping mechanisms and strategies that I've been accumulating from the last year and a half. Being constructively curious about my symptoms and building off of the education and Intel I've been gathering on myself, ABOUT myself, has turned this current slide into a new experiment and experience in a positive outcome.

I've been able to exercise for 10 of the last 11 days. So things are definitely improving. I'm so grateful for this new turn of events.

[Beater]

Yay! Finally some good news. I'm so happy for you.

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to Beater]

I can't believe how rough April and May were. The whole year has been a crazy adventure so far. But summer is here and I am going to enjoy it 💓😄 thanks for checking on me

[Hidden]

I'm new here but, wow! Good for you! 😊🫂🤗

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to Hidden]

Welcome to the world of HU. It's a great place to find support and encouragement for our shared conditions. Share whatever you are comfortable with and those here will help in any way we can.

I'm an open book. Ask me ANYTHING! I share shamelessly...so be ready!!☺️😁💐 good to meet you!

[Hidden in reply to LifeIsThePitts]

Thank you so much! 😀 hug 🫂

[Hidden]

This is great news!! So glad you’ve been able to get the exercising in. It really makes a huge difference for me with anxiety. So do you think the SamE was part of the problem? I’ve wondered about it but never inquired about it to my doctor.

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to Hidden]

Yes I think it definitely contributed to my slump. I've been taking 400mg daily for about 4-5 yrs now. It does increase the serotonin and other neurotransmitter levels in the brain, so I think I was going through the withdrawal dip from those levels, on top of the perimenopause hormone fluctuations and 💥 boom, perfect recipe for a depression episode. But I feel things have stabilized and I'm out of the woods for now. Feeling SO MUCH BETTER 💗☺️

The Psilocybin 🍄 microdosing has shown great results so far. I'm positive it has helped me navigate this mini slump and helped me pull out of the spiral before I got totally sucked into the darkness against my will. That's normally how it unfolds & then I'm in the depression dumps for weeks, and potentially months, before finding my way out of the 🕳️ hole again. It's the first time EVER that I've stopped a slide before it got away from me...so THAT'S an amazing new accomplishment!

TMS is the #1 main treatment that works wonders for me in regulating and keeping my treatment resistant depression in remission. But I couldn't do it without my my psychologist, medical marijuana and Psilocybin..for me, this is the total treatment package 📦 and my lifeline to living well.

Designguy and I regularly compare TMS notes as we've both found tremendous success with this. He's such an awesome support person here. I absolutely adore his insight and advice, too. Like you, Mandy, dolphin, Focusedmind, Elizabeth830, he's one of my favorite folks on HU.

[Hidden in reply to LifeIsThePitts]

This is wonderful to hear and yes, catching the slump before it happens is half the battle.. I’ve had trouble with my running lately due to a possible copd diagnosis (X-rays and testing later this month) but got an inhaler prescription that seems to be helping. My 5 miles is now only 2.5. If I skip a day, my anxiety is higher. Designguy is an encyclopedia of knowledge and has had success with TMS. He’s a gem; so glad you two have been able to compare notes. I’m so happy you’re in a good place and fingers crossed that you’ve finally found that right combo of treatments, docs, tools etc that is such a personalized thing but so critical to our ongoing success. You’ve got the fighting spirit to keep the progress going and ride the good waves of life. You deserve it! Give the dogs a hug for me.🫂

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to Hidden]

THANK You SO MUCH!! I'm super happy you're staying now. We need more sympathetic people like you. I appreciate your compassion more than you know 🙏 I will give the puppers poochie smooches from you when I get home 💖 they'd luv u🥰

Smokey and Grace

[Hidden in reply to LifeIsThePitts]

Awe…they way too cute, love the butt warming they provide each other.😀

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to Hidden]

This is Grace invading Smokey's space and Smokey looking at me going..."wtf, mom?? Make her MOVE!"

Grace invading Smokey's space

[Hidden in reply to LifeIsThePitts]

haha that face is a classic wtf?? face😁

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to Hidden]

Moments prior to that his head was on the armrest where her head is in the picture and he was sound asleep 🤣she just stomped on top of him and laid down...hurrrumph😤

[LifeIsThePitts]

bespoketreatment.com/tms-th...

This is the clinic I go to for my TMS treatment. Read about the process on the link above. I've posted extensively about Psilocybin 🍄 mushrooms. Go to my profile page and read my previous posts about the microdose.me global study and various other psychedelic research in mental health as it applies to depression and anxiety. Staunch advocate for this field of study in patients that respond well. It's what I'm wired for as far as treatment options. It's definitely not for everyone but it's certainly good alternative information to educate yourself about.

[Dell12345]

Great to hear, and really interesting to here from someone trying psilocybin and TMS, thanks! 🙂

[Teaching]

Congratulations, good to hear you are doing well.

[Focusedmind]

I am so glad you are progressing and have found things that work for you! I have found that chronic pain is one of the most challenging things to deal with, so you should be very proud of what you have recently achieved. Chronic pain and depression often seem to go hand-in-hand. I know you only have to wait until July to get some relief for your hip, so you are almost there. You have really taken the bull by the horns and plowed through this tough time! Good for you!

[LifeIsThePitts]

Yeah... perimenopause is kicking my butt. I know it's temporary but it's just so disruptive and exhausting. Gonna talk to my Dr in July when I get my annual exam.

[LifeIsThePitts]

Yummy 😋 wish I had a mam to bake me something 🤤tasty. Have a great day. Off to walk the pups

[faucet]

Thats great, i am very happy for you.

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to faucet]

👋🤗❣️ hey there!! Thanks 🙏 for the support ☺️ nice to see you this morning

[faucet]

Just curious, i was going to try microdosing mushrooms, whats a good amount to start with?

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to faucet]

I do 0.15 g and that's enough to get a teeny tiny shift in visual perception and a little giddy for a short time if taken on an empty stomach. Try 0.1 g to begin...super duper small amount 🤏

[faucet]

Thank you, they are not legal here yet, unless you go through a limited number of Doctors and therapists who are licensed by the government. They charge anywhere from $500 to $2500 for sessions in which they sit with you and talk you through the experience. I refuse to pay that when you can buy them for $5/gram.

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to faucet]

They're not "legal" here yet either...but I have good contacts from within the medical marijuana community.