Low mood/ tears

[Temoral]

Hi Everyone. I have reduced to 5.5, heading slowly on DSNS method, but am experiencing a spell of low mood, and feeling teary at the slightest thing. Have others any thoughts on this.. is it to be expected on this journey? Thanks in advance. Wishing you all a more positive ang healthy 2023.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I’d plump for adrenals taking time to get going again…typical symptoms. Just a matter of taking the reductions very slowly, plenty of rest and TLC….and patience.

[Temoral in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you again....the 'doing too much to keep everyone else happy' and not looking after our own well being. Will not reduce anymore for another week and just chill out. ....patience, patience, patience...

[Charlie1boy in reply to Temoral]

yes, that’s my motto. Patience, patience and yet more patience.

Good luck - I know it’s hard!

[Temoral in reply to Charlie1boy]

Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is a not uncommon effect of reducing pred when the adrenal production of cortisol doesn't keep up to top it up. Slow down - and be patient.

[Temoral in reply to PMRpro]

Another common symptom...thank you...Will give myself a talking to...then perhaps a chocolate treat and curl up with a book.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Temoral]

Sounds like a plan 🌸

[123-go in reply to Temoral]

You deserve a treat.

[SnazzyD]

I was all over the place emotionally at the single figure doses until my adrenal function improved. 5-6pm was the worst time and if I had over done it which took very little. Others have reported feeling weepy too.

[Temoral in reply to SnazzyD]

All over the place is a very good description. It's like losing your identity, and ability to rationalise. All these things will pass...hopefully.

[Blossom20 in reply to Temoral]

I remember that feeling of having lost my identity. I can't remember when it came back, but it did! Don't despair. Sounds like rest, tlc and hugs are in order! The grey clouds don't help either! Hugs to you x

[Temoral in reply to Blossom20]

Thank you...x it's like a stream of hugs on here...looking for blue skies x

[Shaza123 in reply to Blossom20]

I feel like I’ve completely lost myself since PMR my confidence has hit rock bottom I feel I’m being looked at differently due to the weight I’ve gained and the hamster look. I find it hard to look in the mirror as I just don’t recognise the person looking back at me

[Temoral in reply to Shaza123]

You are still there...it is just difficult to reach your self, your true self, even though we look, and feel different. Positivity is a real effort too sometimes...sending hugs xx

[Twopies]

I’m at 5.5 too, so my answer is yes, yes and yes. As Dorsetlady said, “I’d plump for adrenals taking time to get going again”…isn’t that a hoot? Unfortunately at the slow rate I’m able to reduce, I don’t see blue skies in the very near future. But one can always hope, right? In the meantime my sunny disposition ain’t very sunny. Wishing all of us a very happy new year!

[Temoral in reply to Twopies]

Your reply made me smile...especially on a day of downpours with no blue skies at all! As for 'hoots' ...it's just the sound of me blowing my nose after crying senselessly over Call the Midwife...note to self...stop watching tear jerkers. Hoping for better things in 2023, for us all x

[calibriel]

Also Christmas itself can make you teary, in my experience. Even if you haven’t had significant losses (as I imagine most of us have) the combination of potent memories and high expectations is enough to set anyone off

[Temoral in reply to calibriel]

Yes...an added teariness x

[bonio]

Oh you poor things but yes i recognise this feeling, first hit me when reducing to 8mg, now trying to get down to 7.5mg. Just follow what PMRpro and DorsetJane recommend. Rest, rest, and tlc, some treats are good. Grey skies truly don't help but every day that goes past gets us toward bluer skies of spring and summer. Look after yourself, remember how far you've come to get to 5.5 and keep going very very very slowly. Thanks for sharing with us.

[Temoral in reply to bonio]

Thank you...yes we must congratulate ourselves on what we have achieved on this bumby road. X

[christi48]

Hmmm - I'm doing the ds taper, too, and have been feeling great physically and emotionally but recently I've been having anxiety attacks. I go over the top worrying about things and "what if..." until I'm tied in knots. Anyone else having this reaction as they taper?

[Temoral in reply to christi48]

Anxiety is a difficult hurdle. Spending time in nature, and monthly acupuncture helps ...even meditation and lovely salt baths. I hope you can find a calming solution.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to christi48]

Once you get to the adrenal function returning stage then anxiety can become a factor with a low pred/cortisol top up level. If you want more replies though you probably need to ask this as a post in its own right, just because of the way HU works.

[MiniSpec]

I wonder if S A D (Seasonal Affected Disorder) is involved in the low mood? I know I look forward to the longer, brighter days ahead, and I find myself brooding and irritable at this time of year. I'm sure I've either read it somewhere or seen it on a TV documentary, that sitting under bright lights can help to lighten one's mood. I'll have to Google it and see if I can find the details. If I can I might try it myself.

Being patient isn't easy when we all want to feel normal again, and we know that it involves reducing the Pred. The trouble is, I find myself equating the PMR with the Pred, i.e. if I can get off Pred then I won't have PMR any more ( like the tail wagging the dog ). However, I know that it's false logic to think that way, and that only depresses me as well.

Anyway, just relax, read a book (I do!) and let the world go its own way till Spring comes round again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MiniSpec]

Specific lights are sold to help deal with SAD. I developed it in the northern UK but no sign since I moved to halfway up a mountain in northern Italy. The days are short but the presence of snow brightens everything

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