anyone out there increase meds during winter?

[lisasaurus]

hey ladies-

i take an ssri for depression/anxiety, a moderate dose that serves me very well. I have been feeling an increase in anxiety/ruminations lately and am thinking about increasing for the winter.

thoughts? experiences?

[Naturopath Mom]

dh takes these types of meds....I don't think he increases in the winter...I know he does increase when his anxiety is bad. Thankfully though he has been able to cut back on them because the natural treatment we have been using is helping alot. Maybe some vitamin D could help? That tends to lower in teh winter? Maybe you should ask your doc...

[journeymom]

I've noticed the same thing. I take a mood stabilizer and an anti depressant that seem to work well for me. Except I feel the same increase in anxiety/ruminations you describe starting to build.

January, February, March, even a little of April are tough, and have been getting harder for the past three years, maybe. This last winter was really, really tough. I put up with it thinking it would get better, but I won't be toughing it alone this winter. I'll be talking to my doctor about this.

I have a hunch that these seasonal effects are harder on the gals than it is on the guys. And I think it's age related. I'm 42 y.o.

Yes, definitely vitamin D. I take one teeny gel cap of 5,000 units of vitamin D. I don't know if it makes me feel better, but it's good for bones, brain and heart, too.

[lisasaurus]

thanks for the replies

i did talk to my pdoc and therapist and upped my ssri by 50%. we'll see. it makes me nervous to go to a higher dose, but i'm willing to do it to stave off the black pit, if you know what i mean.

hopefully i'll be feeling good enough to taper back down in the spring, and up again next fall etc.

every time i have an "episode," i get closer and closer to accepting that this is a forever thing I will need to consistantly manage. i'm not there yet, but getting there.

[Naturopath Mom]

s If you want something with more permanent solutions check out flower essences. Feel free to pry me for more info.

Wishing you all the best.

[Surfacing]

Lisasaurus, I could write your posts! I've been noticing the black hole creeping too and bumped my meds us a wee bit... but I think it may need more. It's hard and like you, am thinking I have to keep accepting that this is probably something I will need to deal with my whole life.

Gotta run but keep us posted about whether it helps.

Naturopath Mom - many of us go on meds after trying all the natural stuff, and it didn't seem to work. How do flower essences act on the brain? TIA

[Naturopath Mom]

Hi surfacing, I know meds can be a last choice for many people, however most have never heard of flower essences, which is why I mention them They help heal emotionas and negative thoughts/behaviors. They do not have the same effect as supplements, where they are effecting brain chemistry. They help you process your emotions and restore them back to healthy functioning.

A good website to check out is www.flowersociety.org

They help to rebalnce the emotions and correct them, actually healing them in the process. For example, if you are taking one for anxiety it should help you to relax and think rationally through the anxiety. My husband had horrible anxiety, taking meds for over 10 years. He still takes them when he gets really bad but he certainly takes less now. If he listened to me and did what I told him to do ALL the time, I think he would be at a point where he didn't need them anymore.

For me personally, I have relieved my stress (that built up during the last 7 years), gained my confidence and let go of my guilty feelings (people-pleasing)...and I've had those problems most of my life.

I love natural herbs and vitamins of course, but flower essences are on a whole 'nother level for mental and emotional imbalances. It's so hard for me not to mention them when reading posts like this, they have such potential to change lives.

[lisasaurus]

I have tried a gazillion natural approaches to treating my symptoms, including flower essences. they never even touched my anxiety. i do believe they can help, but for me not so much. i had heavy metal testing done and have high levels of both lead and mercury. i do believe this is a big contributor to my symptoms, but i'm not in a place financially to get all my teeth redone and go through the chelation process. so for now, meds help me function and enjoy my life. thank god they are there!

surfacing- i upped my meds 2 weeks ago i think? it has definitely help me from spiraling into the black pit. i know it will keep getting better too, because it takes me a while to feel the full effect of a dose change. already my appetite has returned, and i'm sleeping a million times better. for me, it was the right choice. I do think i'll be able to taper down to my normal lower dose in the spring.

hoping you feel better soon!

[Naturopath Mom]

Lisa - surprised to hear they did not help you! Would you mind sharing your experience with them? What kinds you took and how often?

I'm glad to hear that you found some relief though! I don't go through such hard times but I have seen it in those close to me! I know it can be hard to finally find what works.

[lisasaurus]

when i was a few weeks post partum and feeling completely lost from myself, i went to the local naturopathic college and they treated me with progesterone cream, vitamins, and several flower essences. for a time, this regime felt like it was working, but then it totally stopped working. and if i was just mildly anxious and/or depressed, i would have kept working with them. but i sank into a really horrific depression/anxiety and my only choice (honestly in order to keep living and functioning) was to go on heavy duty meds. it was really hard for me to accept, still is to a degree, but i had to be present for myself and my family.

then after i was stable for a time, i started working with my current naturopath who treats these symptoms aggressively with nutrition, supplements and acupuncture. again it worked for a while, and then the non-functioning horrific scary anxiety/depression crept back in. i continued to work with him while going back on medication, and we found the heavy metal toxicity, which so far has been the only concrete imbalance we've found. its gonna be some time before i can afford to get the work done that i need, and i'm ok with that. like i said, i am grateful that i have meds (that are freakin free with my insurance!) and my wonderful therapist in the meantime.