Depression Recovery

Question:

Kathy, I don’t have any particular disorders but at 3months quit, my husband told me I had been an angry person for as long as I’d known him.  At 4 1/2 months quit, he changed his mind and told me he remembered saying that but he didn’t feel that way anymore. Feelings come and go.  Be tough!  You just have to ride those feelings.  I felt everywhere I went.  I cussed, I cried, and I danced. It all evens out, it just takes a little while. With hope and heart, Kathleen — The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.   ~ J.R.R. : Today is day 10.  I felt somewhat anxious today, but made it.  I saw : my pdoc today (I am bipolar)and told him I’m on the patch.  I’ve only : been on the highest patch 21 mg. for 10 days now and it says to stay : on the high dose for six weeks before dropping to 14 mg.  My first : week I had severe anxiety when I dropped from wearing the patch 24 : hrs. a day to taking it off at night.  This withdrawal and anxiety : lasted about two days.  If anyone else out there is bipolar or has : anxiety disorder as well, he said to increase my mood stabalizer one : more pill at bedtime.  But what I failed to ask and he is only in on : Sat. mornings and doesn’t like phone calls, was when should I start : this increase for my anger management?  I still have over a month on : the 21 mg. patch before I step down if I follow the program.  I don’t : think I will feel anything like this again until I step down.  I am : scared to have these emotions but know they can’t be avoided when you : drop to a lower mg. patch, RIGHT?  I not only have to try and avoid : cravings but depression and anger and anxiety with all this and know : cold turkey didn’t work for me so I’m now trying the patch as last : resort.  I feel like I’m repeating myself in these postings.  Sorry. : Day 10 : Kathy

Response:

It really depends how long the med takes to kick in and how well you are currently managing anger.  If you are not having trouble now, and you know that the med will act rapidly, then you could wait and start taking it shortly before you drop down.  If you are having some control problems now, I would start taking it now, even if the problems are small.   I know that every bipolar person is different, but based on my own experiences and what I’ve read, cumulative stress can have a lasting impact on mood swing intensity in all bipolar people, and quitting smoking can cause a lot of stress.  Each time I am in an emotional situation, it takes me a while to regain my balance.  The more often it happens, the longer it takes to get balanced again.  I now take whatever steps I could to *prevent* any extreme emotions.  Of course, that is me… you know how you respond to stress.   I’ve yet to meet a bipolar person who didn’t know exactly how much stress they could handle… so… how much stress are you feeling?  Are you currently in need of medication to control extreme moods?  How long does the med take to kick in?  When you’ve answered those questions, you’ll know when to start taking the med. Diane M.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Today is day 10.  I felt somewhat anxious today, but made it.  I saw > my pdoc today (I am bipolar)and told him I’m on the patch.  I’ve only > been on the highest patch 21 mg. for 10 days now and it says to stay > on the high dose for six weeks before dropping to 14 mg.  My first > week I had severe anxiety when I dropped from wearing the patch 24 > hrs. a day to taking it off at night.  This withdrawal and anxiety > lasted about two days.  If anyone else out there is bipolar or has > anxiety disorder as well, he said to increase my mood stabalizer one > more pill at bedtime.  But what I failed to ask and he is only in on > Sat. mornings and doesn’t like phone calls, was when should I start > this increase for my anger management?  I still have over a month on > the 21 mg. patch before I step down if I follow the program.  I don’t > think I will feel anything like this again until I step down.  I am > scared to have these emotions but know they can’t be avoided when you > drop to a lower mg. patch, RIGHT?  I not only have to try and avoid > cravings but depression and anger and anxiety with all this and know > cold turkey didn’t work for me so I’m now trying the patch as last > resort.  I feel like I’m repeating myself in these postings.  Sorry. > Day 10 > Kathy

Response:

Kathy, Sorry – I have no advice to give you on this.  But I want to say that you are doing very well to be at Day 10!!  Keep it up. -Joe D. 03 Oct 2001 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Today is day 10.  I felt somewhat anxious today, but made it.  I saw > my pdoc today (I am bipolar)and told him I’m on the patch.  I’ve only > been on the highest patch 21 mg. for 10 days now and it says to stay > on the high dose for six weeks before dropping to 14 mg.  My first > week I had severe anxiety when I dropped from wearing the patch 24 > hrs. a day to taking it off at night.  This withdrawal and anxiety > lasted about two days.  If anyone else out there is bipolar or has > anxiety disorder as well, he said to increase my mood stabalizer one > more pill at bedtime.  But what I failed to ask and he is only in on > Sat. mornings and doesn’t like phone calls, was when should I start > this increase for my anger management?  I still have over a month on > the 21 mg. patch before I step down if I follow the program.  I don’t > think I will feel anything like this again until I step down.  I am > scared to have these emotions but know they can’t be avoided when you > drop to a lower mg. patch, RIGHT?  I not only have to try and avoid > cravings but depression and anger and anxiety with all this and know > cold turkey didn’t work for me so I’m now trying the patch as last > resort.  I feel like I’m repeating myself in these postings.  Sorry. > Day 10 > Kathy

Response:

Today is day 10.  I felt somewhat anxious today, but made it.  I saw my pdoc today (I am bipolar)and told him I’m on the patch.  I’ve only been on the highest patch 21 mg. for 10 days now and it says to stay on the high dose for six weeks before dropping to 14 mg.  My first week I had severe anxiety when I dropped from wearing the patch 24 hrs. a day to taking it off at night.  This withdrawal and anxiety lasted about two days.  If anyone else out there is bipolar or has anxiety disorder as well, he said to increase my mood stabalizer one more pill at bedtime.  But what I failed to ask and he is only in on Sat. mornings and doesn’t like phone calls, was when should I start this increase for my anger management?  I still have over a month on the 21 mg. patch before I step down if I follow the program.  I don’t think I will feel anything like this again until I step down.  I am scared to have these emotions but know they can’t be avoided when you drop to a lower mg. patch, RIGHT?  I not only have to try and avoid cravings but depression and anger and anxiety with all this and know cold turkey didn’t work for me so I’m now trying the patch as last resort.  I feel like I’m repeating myself in these postings.  Sorry. Day 10 Kathy

Response:

Kathy, FIrst of all, 10 days is fantastic! Congratulations. Next, I want to tell you that my pdoc (I am bipolar) also increased my mood stabalizer, just like yours did, in response to anger management. He did it after I got inappropriately angry at a health care provider of mine. I wouldn’ t want to wait too long if you see yourself getting snappy, take that extra pill at night.  He upped it at week 3, and we stayed at that level till week 8. I was sleeping too much (10-12 hours a day) and groggy during the day, and we agreed that I was overmedicated. Now it’s been one week since I got back down to my standard, pre quit dosage of medications. It has been an anxious time, but I liken it to stepping down a step on the patch, at first it is a little rough. I am not on the patch, just that reducing psych meds feels sorta like what others describe with their experiences on the patch. I had no idea my bipolar illness would affect a quit the way it has. If I woulda thought it through, I would have gone with the patch. I’m kinda jealous of you that you have the patch! Today I am actively recovering, taking it easy. I tire readily. Brain fog sets in. I am still waiting for my personality to make a reappearance. I roll with it. Lastly, take care, and I hope that some of this helps you. Moll Two months, five days, 8 hours, 45 minutes and 27 seconds. 1659 cigarettes not smoked, saving $249.02. Life saved: 5 days, 18 hours, 15 minutes.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Today is day 10.  I felt somewhat anxious today, but made it.  I saw > my pdoc today (I am bipolar)and told him I’m on the patch.  I’ve only > been on the highest patch 21 mg. for 10 days now and it says to stay > on the high dose for six weeks before dropping to 14 mg.  My first > week I had severe anxiety when I dropped from wearing the patch 24 > hrs. a day to taking it off at night.  This withdrawal and anxiety > lasted about two days.  If anyone else out there is bipolar or has > anxiety disorder as well, he said to increase my mood stabalizer one > more pill at bedtime.  But what I failed to ask and he is only in on > Sat. mornings and doesn’t like phone calls, was when should I start > this increase for my anger management?  I still have over a month on > the 21 mg. patch before I step down if I follow the program.  I don’t > think I will feel anything like this again until I step down.  I am > scared to have these emotions but know they can’t be avoided when you > drop to a lower mg. patch, RIGHT?  I not only have to try and avoid > cravings but depression and anger and anxiety with all this and know > cold turkey didn’t work for me so I’m now trying the patch as last > resort.  I feel like I’m repeating myself in these postings.  Sorry. > Day 10 > Kathy

Response: