Posted by jsarirose on September 18, 2002, at 13:46:16
In reply to Re: MAO cheese, soy, etc followup, posted by cybercafe on September 18, 2002, at 13:00:24
> Hmm... so at 50 or 60 mg you found you weren't depressed. But if you increase more, not only are you not depressed, but you feel better and better? Hmm.. what does that feel like? :)
>I would say less depressed, not free from depression. For me feeling better means feeling more energetic, more optimistic, more social, less compulsive (mostly regarding food & money), and more willing/able to benefit from a good (emphasize "good") therapist.
> So a psychiatrist should/will not consider it a success if we are just free from symptoms of depression, but we should also be feeling pretty good too? because this is how normal people feel?
>
> I never considered that
>
My psychiatrist wouldn't consider me completely healed unless I were basically symptom free and able to work full-time again. Since I was still have some problems at 100mg and I had major acne as a side effect, we decided to try augmenting the Parnate to try to boost the positive effect and perhaps allow me to lower the dose somewhat. Although it was better than I'd felt for most of my life, it wasn't necessarily what "normal" people feel. And I did realize, no matter how perfect the drug, I would still need some psychotherapy. But if the drug is working well, I'm more receptive to therapy and get more out of it. My hope is that at some point I would be able to be off drugs. I no longer accept it as a given that I'll be taking something for the rest of my life. Of course since reducing my dosage and feeling worse, it makes me a bit more discouraged. It's amazing that when you feel better your suddenly question whether it really is the drug that's doing it or if it's changes you've made in your life and attitude. It's always a struggle.Okay - guess I'm a bit wordy today. Sorry.
-Jessica
poster:jsarirose
thread:75408
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020914/msgs/120277.html