[FaithlessCat]

Just curious what you guys do to help get through your depressive phases. Especially the hypersomnia.

I usually try to stick to my exercise regime but this episode seems to have really knocked me. Halfway through my training this morning i just lost all energy. Almost broke down crying twice for no reason at all ... assumed it was just the endorphins.

I guessing this is worse because I'm day 10 off my effexor so brain chemicals all over the place.

So atm im just giving in to it working my days around naps to try to keep the tiredness at bay but really curious how you guys cope or what have you found that works ?

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[txbipolar]

I end up taking naps and trying to do spurts of things that have to be done. Some days it's really hard to do the "have to's". I am meeting with a personal trainer at the gym to put together a workout plan that I pray helps some.

[wildflowerchild25]

The exhaustion is the worst for me. I just try to make a small goal for the day and cut myself breaks on the other stuff. Like for work I will scrap my lesson and do a worksheet instead. Then at home I will make dinner but not wash dishes. That way I feel accomplished just a little.

[hamster-bamster]

I have never been on Effexor but have a male friend who takes it. from him I know that going off it sucks big time. Make sure you do not blame yourself, your depression (incl. hypersomnia), your energy levels, or the position of the stars for something that may just be withdrawal. I would make sure to drink lots of tea - I do not know whether Effexor is cleared by the kidneys (in which case the more you drink the better) or the liver (still drinking more fluids won't hurt), but either way.

[FaithlessCat]

Thanks for the replies. I am pretty sure this is more chemical than bipolar induced ... i mean I'm crying just reading the replies ! Lol

Its funny i run a support group for families affected by asd and the first thing i say to new families is " once you forget what's normal out there and accept what's normal in your house you will have won half the battle of moving forward "

I have decided to apply this to my current situation and just go with it rather than blame myself or try to fight it.

For me the biggest challenge is being my own worse enemy because of my OCD . It's usually a blessing because i nag myself quite successfully out of any funk. But man even my OCD ( purely obsessional ) has been taken down by this bad boy.

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[hamster-bamster]

The phenibut supplement helps with hypersomnia, but be careful with it and stop taking it if you start getting really elevated.

Sorry, I just shoulder through it. I don't know if that is the military training or not. I'm used to being exhausted and functioning at close to 100%. I've only lived on about 3 hours a night of sleep on average for the last 20 years. I guess I've just gotten used to being tired. But, caffeine and nicotine help A LOT!

[nowIgetit]

I drink a lot of coffee (I know, bad), take lots of naps and ask for lots of help from my husband. I also cut myself a lot of slack, i.e. if I can get out of bed, shower and go to work maybe that's enough for the day and I order takeout for dinner. Fatigue is my biggest depression symptom and what made me finally talk to my doc. When I am depressed I can sleep 15 hours a day/night and still feel exhausted. It sucks.

[FaithlessCat]

Ok i have nooooo idea what phenibut is and sure as eggs are eggs it won't be available in ireland but i'm gonna get on google and check it out.
I reckon i might be on the up now because i actually found it difficult to get to sleep when i went back to bed today .

i have a function to go to tonight so wanted to make sure i'd be able to stay awake but instead of sleeping i just tossed and turned.

The last few days i've had 16 hours of sleep per day. My hypersomnia is like narcolepsy if it hits I'll just fall asleep there and then lol as opposed to my just suffering from fatigue which is annoying but i can work through

Looks like I'll be getting acquainted with some energy drinks tonight

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Originally Posted by FaithlessCat

Ok i have nooooo idea what phenibut is and sure as eggs are eggs it won't be available in ireland but i'm gonna get on google and check it out.
I reckon i might be on the up now because i actually found it difficult to get to sleep when i went back to bed today .

i have a function to go to tonight so wanted to make sure i'd be able to stay awake but instead of sleeping i just tossed and turned.

The last few days i've had 16 hours of sleep per day. My hypersomnia is like narcolepsy if it hits I'll just fall asleep there and then lol as opposed to my just suffering from fatigue which is annoying but i can work through

Looks like I'll be getting acquainted with some energy drinks tonight

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Here you go. PHENIBUT: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD

[InLimbo82]

I've been using LexaPro to curb my tiredness, usually I'm tired, but lately I've been extra extra extra tired. If I'm at a stoplight, I'll do anything I can to keep my eyes from closing, and pray to any god to help me keep them open so that I can make it home alive. I decided not to drive when it happens, but to pull over and sleep on the side of the road. Other than that I just try to stay hydrated, bit eat anything sugary, and talk to my pcp. I have a neurological and sleep consult coming up because I've been riding my doctor about it. He at 1st, didn't think I needed a sleep consult, but I convinced him that what I'm experiencing isn't normal, although my normal sleep habits are less than normal too.

Diag:
Depression, PTSD, Anxiety with some bouts of mania, arthritis, latent tb
Prescrip:
Esciatolopram, Tramadol, Meloxicam, Isoniazid, Vitamin B12

At 10 days off effexor your body is still recovering. This will pass as the drug gets out of your system. Try to stay in a routine as best you can, especially at night. Stay sleeping at night and if you have naps during the day make sure they are after a definite wake up time.

The more I sleep, the lower I get. Its hard to stay up but I force myself, even if it be just sitting on the couch on the laptop. Fatigue is awful, so give yourself credit for each thing you get through and manage to achieve.