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need help adjusting to being paralyzed I always seem to get depress
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need help
Explore topics in this discussion:
Exercise Counseling Miscarriage Lexapro Physical therapy Prozac Effexor Depression Zoloft
7 replies
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- By FuschiaFan
- Posted August 10, 2007 at 8:56 am
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There is no shame in being depressed. It is a common problem after a life-altering event such as a SCI. Are you taking any medication or getting counseling for this? Have you talked with your doctor about this so you can get some help? Do you have a good SCI physiatrist?
It helps to talk to others who have been down this path. Do you have access to a support group in your area? There are a number of different websites (including this one) that offer discussion boards, and many find that they can be helped by sharing with others who have similar injuries in this way.
What do you do with your time? Getting active, exercising, volunteering, working or going to school are good ways to get yourself back into life, and often are helpful in having a sense of control and quality in your life. Please share and we will try to help.
- By BaseballMom
- Posted August 10, 2007 at 6:01 pm
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These are some excellent suggestions. Many find that even just getting outside in the sun for brief periods of time, chatting online, volunteer work , etc helps. I personally find that the busier I am the less time I have to focus on the what is not working in my life. Also, making a list of reasonable tasks for each day increased my sense of success. The more successful I felt, the better I felt.
Some depressions need a doctors help and need to be treated medically. If you think you fit this catagory, talk to your doctor to get help.
Keep posting, you are not alone here.
- By pbiswanger
- Posted August 11, 2007 at 8:15 am
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Hi Passion:
Congratulations on having a healthy two year old son, especially after all you've been though! I am sure he is a joy to you. Now you've got to master your depression because when he gets older he is going to be a handful, as are all boys, so you've got to be able to handle him.
I was on Effexor even before my SCI, and thank God for it. I don'tthink I would have survived the past 18 months without it. You really should ask your doctor if he'd recommend anything.
I also make a point of having at least one good laugh every day. There are so many funny things on the internet. For example, I subscribe to a daily email from "The Onion," which is a satirical news service. I get an email from them everyday at about 3pm, just when I am at work and my energy is tanking. So maybe you could find something like that to give you a little lift during the day?
And definitely talk to your doctor about an anti-depressant. God put these medications here for a reason, and we shouldn't avoid them if they will help us!
- By Passion
- Posted August 11, 2007 at 11:33 am
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Thank you for responding to my discussion well I told the doctor about it before he gave me a medication Lexapro but I really didn't take it it's just the thought of being on a medication for DEPRESSION I'm trying to handle it on my own. I never knew there was a such thing as SCI physiatrist I need to find one in my area. No I dont have access to a support group in my area I need to find one soon because I feel like I dont have no one to understand my situation. I dont anything with my time I'm basically a home body not very active or anything no physical therapy that stop months ago because they said they did'nt see any approvement and medicaid wont continue to pay for it. So that put my spirts down and I dont have anybody to do physical therapy on me at home. So if there is anything else you can help me let me.
- By FuschiaFan
- Posted August 11, 2007 at 1:38 pm
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There are a lot of people from Florida with SCI both here and at CareCure. I am sure they can advise you about local support groups, ILCs and wheelchair sports activities.
You don't need a PT to exercise...what are you doing on your own? Are you standing? Stretching and doing your own ROM daily? Pushing for miles? Swimming? Working with weights and/or Theraband? You can easily do all of those activities and it is very likely you can get access to other sports in your local area. Exercise and sports builds endorphins and helps with depression.
Please reconsider taking the Lexpro. It may help you significantly.
A SCI physiatrist is a physiatrist (specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation) who further specializes in SCI. Those in your area on CareCure or her can also make recommendations to you to find one close to your area. Do you also have a good urologist? You need both of these specialists on your team of physicians...for the long term.
- By twobadwolves
- Posted August 11, 2007 at 4:39 pm
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While I don't suffer from SCI (my husband does), I can attest to the use of medications for depression. Following a miscarriage about ten years ago, I sunk into an incredible depression. Cared about nothing and no one...not even myself! It took me a LONG TIME to get over the "I can do this on my own" thought pattern. Also continually told myself that I must be pretty weak if I required medications to get "out of the dumps". Well, I'm here to tell you, it was the best step I'd ever taken!!! I took Zoloft and it made a world of difference in my life. I was on it for about 18 months and then went off (following doctor's plan). Have been on it twice for a year or so since then when finding myself in a depression again. Don't give up...and if your doctor gives you a medication that doesn't seem to work for you, ask for a different medication. My sister took Prozac while I was on Zoloft. I took Prozac first and got sick to my stomach and had no changes in thoughts...switched to Zoloft and noticed changes within first three weeks. Give meds a chance! Good luck!
- By pbiswanger
- Posted August 11, 2007 at 10:00 pm
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Dear Passion:
Please, please, please DO NOT think that you can handle depression on your own, without medication! Anti-depressants are a gift from God, and you'll be doing yourself and your son a huge favor by accepting this gift.
As others have pointed out, Lexapro may not be the right medication for you, and you may have to try several before you feel better, but you've got to start. And maybe you'll be really fortunate (like me) and respond well to the very first medication you take, within days.
If you lose the depression and all the distorted thoughts, you'll be able to map out some kind of strategy for yourself because things won't seem so totally bleak and impossible. You really have to give it a try!
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