At my last pdoc appointment, he gave me a script for a med to relieve nightmares. I have emotionally-charged dreams during which I thrash about, yell, & sometimes fall out of bed! I started taking it & it worked... except that it made my mouth feel like Death Valley & it has caused my weight to mushroom! I have allot of emotional energy tied up in my ability to keep my weight in check. So no more anti-nightmare medication for me!

I've been on Cymbalta for a couple of years now. It's okay. I don't know as it's performing any miracles but, it's something. A while back, my pdoc added Lamictal to my Cymbalta. I got the Lamictal rash. Prior to being on Cymbalta, I was on Effexor. I tried to delete myself.

So here I am in the middle of my 6th decade... "retired" (which is code for: too screwed up to hold a job.) Nowhere to go, nothing to do... I don't even like to fish! I guess I'm just supposed to accept this as the way it is. And I try to do so. But it's hard...

[Altered Moment]

Isn't your wife retiring soon? That is going to be a big change.

[Rohag]

Originally Posted by The Skeezyks

I guess I'm just supposed to accept this as the way it is.

On the one hand, I personally don't accept the way things are; on the other, I don't have the energy or focus to do much about changing things. The medicos, I suppose, have helped me not hit that delete button. Beyond that...?

[Frankbtl]

Hi Skeezyks, not so fast on this accepting business!!
Now is where you can learn to like different things including fishing if need be (although I'd maybe pass on that too ).
I do get how nothing seems to "do it for you" with how you're feeling. But it probably is just that- the way you're feeling, not you!!
Depression/anxiety can take so much out of you, take motivation, take the "joy" you could have in things.
But some of it can sometimes be about pushing at those boundaries slowly (OK, very slowly!). Now whatever you do doesn't even have to be big (no climbing mountains here!) but just something you can gradually get even the briefest of pleasure/achievement from as time goes by. And let your imagination run wild (or google a lot!! ).
It could be learning bits of another language, it could be doing an online course, it could be learning a bit about something that might have been of interest to you a while ago, it could be walking, it could be looking into meditation/yoga, it could be arts and crafts. This could be the start of a new life for you.
I know it may be really tough and sound like an impossible dream (?) right now with the way you're feeling, but just know there can be something to aim for. And the depression, well that may be a one step at a time thing but everything you can pull on to help you with that, hey?? Perhaps revisiting a therapist, perhaps online crisis lines.............and definitely sharing with us!! We're right here for you!! One day at a time.............

[And maybe check around on here for any "success stories" with other medications to help with sleep/nightmares alongside talking to your doctor a bit more. Hopefully if you start on a lower dose of something else the "side effects" are going to show before they become "full blown", in which case something else might work- you know the old story..... ......trial and error but can be worth it!!! ]



Alison

Yes Zinco, (I'm impressed that you would remember that!) at least she's hoping to... And yes that certainly will be a BIG change. It remains to be seen if it will be a positive one. I've always been a person who has valued solitude; & I've had my weekdays to myself for years. So adjusting to having my wife home most of the time is going to be a big deal. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't approaching the situation with a certain amount of trepidation...