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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by peddidle on April 20, 2007, at 16:33:25
Now to follow-up... do I have to be depressed all the time to have depression? I've felt OK for most of today, but maybe it's just the nice weather. I was feeling anxious when I was in the library trying to work on my paper, and now I'm back at my house feeling kind of "eh." I feel fine, not sad at all, but not as good as just a little while ago. This also leads me to think that the fact that the anxiety/suicidal ideation gets worse when I'm trying to do schoolwork has more to do with being lazy and procrastinating and not wanting to do the work, than it does with being depressed.
I felt kind of depressed most of the day yesterday, including during my session. I was pretty upset after my session when I was trying to work on my paper, also. So, my T wanted me to call or email her if I decided I wanted to get something from the health center to help with the anxiety from the suicidal ideation (i.e. ativan, xanx, klonopin) so that I can write my papers, or even if I just wanted to hear her talk. She also said I could see her for a half hour on Monday to work on some kind of "plan of attack" for my papers. I really don't want to bother her, though, and she's probably gone for the day anyway. I know she wouldn't have offerred if she didn't truly mean it, but it still feels like an imposition. Plus, I only have two more weeks until the end of the semester, and I don't want to start getting "clingy" now, when I know I won't see her over the summer. Although, she said she's not cool with me not being in therapy over the summer, so maybe I can finagle some kind of email or phone session arrangement with her, or drive to her other office every other week or something. :)
I can't tell if I'm really that anxious or not. I mean, I think I'm just an an anxious person in general, so maybe I can't distinguish "normal" anxiety from excessive anxiety anymore. I don't know if I really need to take anything. I guess it can't hurt to try it once, but I also don't want to make the depression/anxiety worse. I also sometimes feel like I have to act depressed so that my T will know that I really don't feel that great. Like, if I feel OK before my session, and I walk in there smiling and happy, that she won't think I'm depressed. I hate how I can feel OK during a session, and then feel like complete sh*t a couple hours later, or vice versa. It makes me feel like, either way, I'm lying to her. At this point, if I'm happy if/when I see her on Monday, will it give her further evidence for her theory that could be a little cyclothymic, or can dysthymia work that way too?
Can I be anxious and depressed? Can anxiety be a symptom of depression? Can I still feel OK, or even happy sometimes and still have depression or dysthymia?
Also, thanks to everyone in chat last night. I hope all the sick princesses are feeling better. ;)
Posted by JoniS on April 20, 2007, at 22:25:47
In reply to Anxiety and dysthymia, posted by peddidle on April 20, 2007, at 16:33:25
FYI
I get anxious and depressed. The anxiety comes from pressure and panic for me. It's been a year or so since I've had anxiety.
I can be happy and then really low within a couple of hours too. But I still know I'm depressed. I've done the same thing as you though, worried that if I came into therapy too "happy" then my therapist would believe I'm no longer depressed. Silly, isn't it?
Take care!
Posted by cubic_me on April 21, 2007, at 16:57:04
In reply to Anxiety and dysthymia, posted by peddidle on April 20, 2007, at 16:33:25
> Now to follow-up... do I have to be depressed all the time to have depression? I've felt OK for most of today, but maybe it's just the nice weather.
Ofcourse you don't have to feel depressed all the time to have depression, though I know how it feels to think you should (otherwise you might feel like you aren't "really" depressed). The clinical definition of depression includes persistant low mood, that doesn't preclude it from fluctuating a little. If you fluctuate enough you might be called cyclothymic or bipolar, but it doesn't mean the depression you feel during the down times is any less intense than someone who's down all the time.
>I was feeling anxious when I was in the library trying to work on my paper, and now I'm back at my house feeling kind of "eh." I feel fine, not sad at all, but not as good as just a little while ago. This also leads me to think that the fact that the anxiety/suicidal ideation gets worse when I'm trying to do schoolwork has more to do with being lazy and procrastinating and not wanting to do the work, than it does with being depressed.
I don't know about you, but when I'm doing something engrosing, the suicidal thoughts seem further away, but when schoolwork is tough and not really what I'm interested it can make any emotion I'm feeling more intense, especially depression or ideation.
>
> I felt kind of depressed most of the day yesterday, including during my session. I was pretty upset after my session when I was trying to work on my paper, also. So, my T wanted me to call or email her if I decided I wanted to get something from the health center to help with the anxiety from the suicidal ideation (i.e. ativan, xanx, klonopin) so that I can write my papers, or even if I just wanted to hear her talk. She also said I could see her for a half hour on Monday to work on some kind of "plan of attack" for my papers. I really don't want to bother her, though, and she's probably gone for the day anyway. I know she wouldn't have offerred if she didn't truly mean it, but it still feels like an imposition. Plus, I only have two more weeks until the end of the semester, and I don't want to start getting "clingy" now, when I know I won't see her over the summer.Your T sounds lovely, if you need her or the health centre, please use them, that's what they're there for and they want to help. I can understand about not wanting to get too attached at this stage of term, I was like that too, but if you can get a couple of really useful or insightful sessions in before the vacation it can help to carry you through.
>Although, she said she's not cool with me not being in therapy over the summer, so maybe I can finagle some kind of email or phone session arrangement with her, or drive to her other office every other week or something. :)
That sounds like a really good idea, it's worth asking if she's able to put something in place for you.
>
> I can't tell if I'm really that anxious or not. I mean, I think I'm just an an anxious person in general, so maybe I can't distinguish "normal" anxiety from excessive anxiety anymore. I don't know if I really need to take anything. I guess it can't hurt to try it once, but I also don't want to make the depression/anxiety worse.Have you talked to your T about your anxiety? There might be some things you can do before you start taking meds for it, like insight work, relaxation, breathing techniques etc.
>I also sometimes feel like I have to act depressed so that my T will know that I really don't feel that great. Like, if I feel OK before my session, and I walk in there smiling and happy, that she won't think I'm depressed. I hate how I can feel OK during a session, and then feel like complete sh*t a couple hours later, or vice versa. It makes me feel like, either way, I'm lying to her. At this point, if I'm happy if/when I see her on Monday, will it give her further evidence for her theory that could be a little cyclothymic, or can dysthymia work that way too?
I'm dysthymic and still have good days sometimes. Do you find you can seem happy on the outside, even feel happy to some extent, but have something inside you that's still really sad or depressed? Or are you truely happy? I think that goes part of the way to explaining whether you are dysthymic or cyclothymic, but really a diagnosis is just a label and doesn't change who you are inside. I felt I had to put on fake happiness to many, and fake sadness to a few sometimes, for fear of them thinking I was something I wasn't, and it felt like lying. It was always something I was too scared to discuss with my T, but I wish I had. I'm sure she'd have understood.
>
> Can I be anxious and depressed? Can anxiety be a symptom of depression? Can I still feel OK, or even happy sometimes and still have depression or dysthymia?
Mixeed anxiety and depression is really common, and depression with associated anxiety is too. If you're anxiety is something that's bothering you or affecting your life, it's definately worth having a chat to your T or doc about if you can.cubic_me x
Posted by peddidle on April 25, 2007, at 19:56:51
In reply to Re: Anxiety and dysthymia, posted by JoniS on April 20, 2007, at 22:25:47
> FYI
>
> I get anxious and depressed. The anxiety comes from pressure and panic for me. It's been a year or so since I've had anxiety.**Wow! Good for you!
>
> I can be happy and then really low within a couple of hours too. But I still know I'm depressed. I've done the same thing as you though, worried that if I came into therapy too "happy" then my therapist would believe I'm no longer depressed. Silly, isn't it?**It's VERY silly! haha But it's good to know I'm not the only one who has that concern.
>
> Take care!**Thanks!!
Posted by peddidle on April 25, 2007, at 20:23:18
In reply to Re: Anxiety and dysthymia » peddidle, posted by cubic_me on April 21, 2007, at 16:57:04
> Ofcourse you don't have to feel depressed all the time to have depression, though I know how it feels to think you should (otherwise you might feel like you aren't "really" depressed). The clinical definition of depression includes persistant low mood, that doesn't preclude it from fluctuating a little. If you fluctuate enough you might be called cyclothymic or bipolar, but it doesn't mean the depression you feel during the down times is any less intense than someone who's down all the time.
> I don't know about you, but when I'm doing something engrosing, the suicidal thoughts seem further away, but when schoolwork is tough and not really what I'm interested it can make any emotion I'm feeling more intense, especially depression or ideation.
**Exactly. Like when I was working on my [oddly enough] psychology project, I was really interested in it and focused on it. But when I'm trying to do work that I'm not really interested in for another class, the thoughts keep popping up and I can't concentrate at all. >
> >>
> Your T sounds lovely, if you need her or the health centre, please use them, that's what they're there for and they want to help. I can understand about not wanting to get too attached at this stage of term, I was like that too, but if you can get a couple of really useful or insightful sessions in before the vacation it can help to carry you through.**Haha "lovely" is a word she would never use to describe herself, along with "lady," but you're right-- she is amazing.
I ended up going in for the half hour on Monday. It was fine, I just feel bad about keeping her there after the office is closed, especially because my last couple of sessions have run over 30-50 minutes
>
> That sounds like a really good idea, it's worth asking if she's able to put something in place for you.
>**I haven't mentioned it yet. I'm going to say I'll do it tomorrow, but knowing me, I probably won't.
>
> Have you talked to your T about your anxiety? There might be some things you can do before you start taking meds for it, like insight work, relaxation, breathing techniques etc.
>>
> I'm dysthymic and still have good days sometimes. Do you find you can seem happy on the outside, even feel happy to some extent, but have something inside you that's still really sad or depressed? Or are you truely happy? I think that goes part of the way to explaining whether you are dysthymic or cyclothymic, but really a diagnosis is just a label and doesn't change who you are inside. I felt I had to put on fake happiness to many, and fake sadness to a few sometimes, for fear of them thinking I was something I wasn't, and it felt like lying. It was always something I was too scared to discuss with my T, but I wish I had. I'm sure she'd have understood.**There are times that I seem happy on the outside, and even to some extent on the inside, but there is always something inside me that doesn't feel right... not exactly depressed, though there are those times too, I don't really know how to explain it.
I want to talk to my T about so many things, but when the time comes, I'm just silent. I talked to her about this recently, because she told me that, based on how frustrated she is, she knows it's only a fraction of how frustrated I am. That's when I was able to express to her that it's more about not being able, or not knowing how, to tell her things, more than not wanting to.
>
> Mixeed anxiety and depression is really common, and depression with associated anxiety is too. If you're anxiety is something that's bothering you or affecting your life, it's definately worth having a chat to your T or doc about if you can.
>**I'm sure she's noticed already, because I have these weird habits when I'm anxious or stressed out. The worst one is that I kind of yawn a lot. It's not exactly yawning, it's more like I have to take a deep breath, but if it's not deep enough I have to do it again. I'm sure I'm not explaining it well, but it's very weird. I think I might bring it up again tomorrow though.
Thank you so much for your responses, they were really helpful.
This is the end of the thread.
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