[THE16THDOCTOR]

I have had a cold/flu for the last ten days about. In this time my depression has become almost crippling. I take lexapro and lamactil and Klonipin as needed. It's as if I'm on no meds right now. It's ********! I'm sick with cold and flu and now this. I have no drive. Things I love to do I just don't do them. The depression has been for two weeks. Could the sickness be the cause of the depression and if so why?? I just want to feel ****ing normal.

[LastQuestion]

It could be that the illnesses you have are interfering with how you metabolize your meds. It could also be just feeling miserable due to being sick, which seems to be a normal response people have.

[Crazy Hitch]

Yeah feeling sick is enough to make someone feel downright crappy. Throw depression in the mix and it can magnify the symptoms tenfold. I hope your cold/flu goes away so your immune system can kick start back to what it was before you got sick.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

I sink into the depths of depression for about three days before a cold/flu becomes symptomatic, but once ill rise back to more or less normal levels.

[~Christina]

Illness definatly drags you down. I have also found the meds to treat the cold/flu can interact with Psych meds.

[Curious651]

I am sure it has something to do with the illness. Possible many contributing factors to that situation.

[THE16THDOCTOR]

Thanks everyone. I just needed to hear that it's probably the illness. It's childish but I needed reassurance. As we all know the depression just hurts so bad other ppl don't seem to understand that.

[hamster-bamster]

In addition, you are moving less - you are probably in bed. Since movement helps alleviate depression, your being in bed contributes to depression.

I think that there may be an association between the bed (the object - the piece of furniture itself) and depression. If you usually spend hours in bed when depressed, then the bed is linked with depression in your mind. Now, you are in bed for another reason - the flu - but the association still "clicks". Maybe a change of bedding - bright or simply fresh linens - can dis-associate the bed and depression for you.

These are just conjectures, of course, but I do know that the hypersomnic type of depression did make the bed and depression associated in my mind.

Also, for many of us, it is in bed that we think our darkest thoughts.

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

In addition, you are moving less - you are probably in bed. Since movement helps alleviate depression, your being in bed contributes to depression.

I think that there may be an association between the bed (the object - the piece of furniture itself) and depression. If you usually spend hours in bed when depressed, then the bed is linked with depression in your mind. Now, you are in bed for another reason - the flu - but the association still "clicks". Maybe a change of bedding - bright or simply fresh linens - can dis-associate the bed and depression for you.

These are just conjectures, of course, but I do know that the hypersomnic type of depression did make the bed and depression associated in my mind.

Also, for many of us, it is in bed that we think our darkest thoughts.

I think this is very insightful. I have never thought about this problem in this way.