Posted by wishingstar on March 30, 2008, at 20:24:08
Hi - I've suffered from major depression on and off for several years. I've been off all meds for about 6 months, and have never really found a medication that has helped with my depression. I've tried SSRIs, tricyclics, mood stabalizers, and MAOIs, and a stimulant. It's been a journey. In the past, I have struggled some with self-injury/cutting but it hasnt been much of a problem for me for 6 months or longer now. During my more serious depression, I've also been very suicidal and spent a great deal of time thinking about overdosing, suicide, etc, but again, this really hasnt been a problem for me in several months at least. I've never had much trouble with anxiety, but have taken xanax .5mg in the past to get me through some intense, desperate moments with my depression.
I started a new job in November that has been VERY stressful and produced a lot of anxiety on a day to day basis. It's really unavoidable, given the nature of the work, so my therapist recommended I go to the psychiatrist for an anti-anxiety medication I could take on a daily basis. I'm not having panic attacks, I just need something to take the edge off. I'm starting to feel a lot of anxiety-related dread and avoidance of people/tasks/etc.
I was prescribed klonopin .5mg at bedtime. I started it Friday night. Since starting it, I'm having strong urges to self-injure and also to overdose on the drug. I'm not particularly suicidal and will NOT overdose, but I feel a draw to it. The self-injury urges are stronger and while I havent given in, it concerns me. There is nothing going on in my life right now that seems like it would cause this. It really seems to coincide with this drug, as I've really felt this way since I woke up Sat morning.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Coincidence? Or could the two somehow be related? I know in the past, guided relaxation and other stress-reducing activities have always seemed to intensify my depression in the moment and for an hour or so. I will certainly bring this up to my dr if it continues, but any thoughts?
poster:wishingstar
thread:820781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080330/msgs/820781.html