[pirilin]

Hello,

It's a feeling like a weight is all around. Inside me.
I'm awake but can't get up. A paralysis of sorts.
It takes a great effort to start moving.
Not much more to say. I'm very temped to blame the lithium,
but, in all honesty, it has happened to me before. Not this often.

Anybody familiar with this?... Any recommendations?.

[gina_re]

Every weekend for the past few months (I forced myself up for work because I wanted to keep my house, car, tv, etc.). I knew what I had to do, just couldn't do it. It was even a struggle to make myself go to the bathroom when I needed to. The only time I jumped out of bed was when my delivery guy rang my doorbell because I couldn't even get myself to make anything to eat sometimes.
This past weekend is when I finally left my house and took a shower both days!! But what worked for me was being in contact with my pdoc about exactly what was happening and making adjustments to my meds as she said. Then I got back into therapy and that helped me to change some of my negative thinking patterns.
I hope you are able to feel better sooner rather than later. Being in that depressive hole is a horrible feeling, so keep working on taking care of yourself.

[Icare dixit]

It is balancing the "advantages", thinking and not doing (I really think of depression as a very difficult puzzle, which you should try to focus on: something, just something intangible and subtle, some emotional-sensory dynamic, went wrong and you have to figure out what and in case of post-mania/-psychosis depression you just need to recharge physically and you should make sure nothing in your thinking might be a bit disordered/delusional still), and the disadvantages, understimulation (which could very well be a cause of depression to begin with, as well as overstimulation, which might be due to lack of freedom, to slightly lose some control, you afford yourself, clinging too much to some routine, and fear for losing it, which is caused by the same). That balance should be a purely rational decision, since your intuition/emotions are useless/clouded.

So take your time to experiment with that balance. Allow yourself more time, but use that time by thinking more constructively, if anxiety keeps you in (mental) paralysis. But gradually try to do anything more stimulating, which is of course really anything, more every day, allowing for some deviation (another balance).

If you escaped your depression, you should still very carefully balance under- and overstimulation, freedom and routine. Both cause anxiety: not enough or too much (self-)control. You don't want too many challenges or too much excitement either, both overstimulation. You can use your time depressed to make a plan that extends to that period.

I hope this helps. It might be obvious, but since obvious things might be missed when depressed, a reminder.

[Ellie_jo]

Originally Posted by pirilin

Hello,

It's a feeling like a weight is all around. Inside me.
I'm awake but can't get up. A paralysis of sorts.
It takes a great effort to start moving.
Not much more to say. I'm very temped to blame the lithium,
but, in all honesty, it has happened to me before. Not this often.

Anybody familiar with this?... Any recommendations?.

Are you talking about depressive symptoms making it hard to get up or physical paralysis? I some times get a weight on my chest and difficulty breathing and feel magnetized to my bed. If that's what you mean, I'm afraid I can't offer any explanation :/

[pirilin]

Originally Posted by Ellie_jo

Are you talking about depressive symptoms making it hard to get up or physical paralysis? I some times get a weight on my chest and difficulty breathing and feel magnetized to my bed. If that's what you mean, I'm afraid I can't offer any explanation :/

It's physical. Not related to depression. It's like something is pressing me down.
I can breathe fine. About the only thing I can do. Magnetized is a good term.

[Pikku Myy]

There was a member here called The Monster Not sure if he is still active, but he had sleep paralysis. I remember chatting with him about how horrible it was.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I recall once while I was ip, I don't know what Meds they gave me, I slept. Upon awakening I couldn't move my legs. At all. So I just stayed in bed. Weird.
Did you investigate the lithium to see if this is a side effect?

[pirilin]

Originally Posted by Pikku Myy

There was a member here called The Monster Not sure if he is still active, but he had sleep paralysis. I remember chatting with him about how horrible it was.

Horrible indeed. Total lack of movement. I've been googling it.
So far no solution. What I read is that half of the population in general
goes thru it at some point in their lives.

[pirilin]

Originally Posted by Ocean Swimmer

I recall once while I was ip, I don't know what Meds they gave me, I slept. Upon awakening I couldn't move my legs. At all. So I just stayed in bed. Weird.
Did you investigate the lithium to see if this is a side effect?

No. As horrible as lithium is, is not the culprit. Has happended to me years ago.

[Icare dixit]

Have you talked to your psychiatrist? It sometimes hard to believe they can also do useful stuff, things they're actually fit for, but they are actual doctors. Your GP?

[pirilin]

Originally Posted by Icare dixit

Have you talked to your psychiatrist? It sometimes hard to believe they can also do useful stuff, things they're actually fit for, but they are actual doctors. Your GP?

I talk to them the least possible. They play the guessing game with my skin.
I remember when I was betting the ponies, there was a guy in a corner and everybody asked advice from him. Whispering.... what number? 6 can't lose. Next guy... which one.... 4 is a winner. The next, 7 is a shoe in.
At the end, the MF gave every number in the race. And had the good memory of which number he told who, to go and get his tip.
Shrinks don't even have a good memory.

[Icare dixit]

Most do. You can't finish med school without it (I'd hope).

Maybe smoking less helps (just guessing): nicotine works on the muscles.

[pirilin]

Maybe smoking less helps (just guessing): nicotine works on the muscles.
[/QUOTE]

May be you finally got something going now. I increased the nic in the eLiquid.
Will make one with less nic. TU.