Snorky: Reinstatement of amitriptyline

[Snorky]

9 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Great. None of it is working? Please join patientslikeme.com or depressionforums.org to complain. Let us know when your self-care is working.

Clearly my fault it’s not alleviating symptoms. Not trying hard enough or applying consistently enough.

[Erell]

3 hours ago, Snorky said:

Clearly my fault it’s not alleviating symptoms. Not trying hard enough or applying consistently enough.

There's no point in doing "hard enough".

Best to practice regularly, but no tools will 'fight' or win against your symptoms. Selfcare tools won't erase symptoms, your CNS need time to do his work.

 

The key is to practice acceptance, and try to see the big picture. Tools help to give this time to your CNS without adding more fears. 

 

Take care ❤

[Snorky]

1 minute ago, Erell said:

There's no point in doing "hard enough".

Best to practice regularly, but no tools will 'fight' or win against your symptoms. Selfcare tools won't erase symptoms, your CNS need time to do his work.

 

The key is to practice acceptance, and try to see the big picture. Tools help to give this time to your CNS without adding more fears. 

 

Take care ❤

Thank you. I appreciate your comments. The problem is the symptoms are deteriorating so fast in last few months. (Six months CT) Either CNS not doing its work or management tools not helping me cope for some reason. (Or Both?)

[Erell]

Just now, Snorky said:

Thank you. I appreciate your comments. The problem is the symptoms are deteriorating so fast in last few months. (Six months CT) Either CNS not doing its work or management tools not helping me cope for some reason. (Or Both?)

Unfortunately, 6months is early time  : you'll need to offer time to your CNS before trying to see changes.

 

Overthinking symptoms only make them worse : please, keep on practicing and remember everything is temporary. 

 

❤

[Snorky]

4 minutes ago, Erell said:

Unfortunately, 6months is early time  : you'll need to offer time to your CNS before trying to see changes.

 

Overthinking symptoms only make them worse : please, keep on practicing and remember everything is temporary. 

 

❤

You are right about overthinking, This is my biggest challenge, It may even be undermining my coping and distraction techniques, The problem is there is s fine line between simply being on receiving end of symptoms (no control) and overthinking. (Trying to curb this)

[Altostrata]

20 hours ago, Altostrata said:

From now on, any posts here must be reports about what coping skills you are practicing.

 

Snorky, you've just posted 2 posts in disregard of my warning. Each of these earned a warning point.

 

This is a site rule: We require members to take responsibility for their own self-care.

[Bea123]

Hello Snorky, i had the same issues with Amytriptiline

I only took for 12 days but ruined my Life

[Snorky]

Hi

 

Thsnks for your concern. I took it for 12 months😡

[Bea123]

How are you feeling now?

[Snorky]

25 minutes ago, Bea123 said:

How are you feeling now?

Truly awful, but I’m not allowed to talk about my symptoms.

 

[Bea123]

What are you doing to improve?

[Snorky]

Everything.

[Snorky]

Hi

 

Quick update. I started on magnesium glycinate (25mg) last week. I increased to 50 mg earlier this week. The intention was to alleviate my awful insomnia. Unfortunately, in the last few days, one of my main symptoms (pins and needles and numbness in head) has become more or less permanent. This is the same sensation I've had in both lower legs fir ages. 

 

Is is it possible that such a low dose of MG could exacerbate this symptom? (I know people can be sensitive to supplements, but thought this would manifest in other ways)

 

Thanks

[Altostrata]

Magnesium is probably not the culprit. You can test this, though -- simply reduce or stop taking magnesium.

[Snorky]

14 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Magnesium is probably not the culprit. You can test this, though -- simply reduce or stop taking magnesium.

Thanks. Will do as you advise. I agree with you but wonder what the culprit might be? I.e something that would intensify the head sensations? 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Sorry. Snorky. I've said everything I can say about your head sensations.

[Colonial]

 

Good to see You Snorky.

 

I had "new" or worsening symptoms come and go for 5 years, so there's not necessarily any one culprit.

But most of the people I've seen having problems with magnesium were taking mega dosages like,  1,000 mg all at once.

It would be hard to know when a "new" symptom or one getting worse is just coincidence or correlated to magnesium at such low dosages.

 

Anyway, Happy Easter or Passover if Your celebrating!

 

 

[Snorky]

13 hours ago, Colonial said:

 

Good to see You Snorky.

 

I had "new" or worsening symptoms come and go for 5 years, so there's not necessarily any one culprit.

But most of the people I've seen having problems with magnesium were taking mega dosages like,  1,000 mg all at once.

It would be hard to know when a "new" symptom or one getting worse is just coincidence or correlated to magnesium at such low dosages.

 

Anyway, Happy Easter or Passover if Your celebrating!

 

 

Hi

 

Took 50 mg magnesium glycinate again last night.

 

Perhaps I should elaborate, focussing on what I’ve done to mitigate the symptoms.

 

Last night followed the pattern of the last ew weeks.

 

I woke at 2am with usual nasty head sensations. I’ve had these for months. They are part tension, mostly nerve type edgy pain in top of head. They cripple sleep and prevent normal cognitive function during the day.  I’m certain they’re the same sensations I’ve had in my lower legs and feet for ages, which have just spread. In fact, you can feel the same symptoms in legs and head at the same time.

 

I did some TM and deep breathing to help. They didn’t alleviate, just helped me better tolerate the symptoms. My reward for this was awful mental tension and tightness from about 5. Like the brain not resting, repeating thoughts etc. Different from more obvious pains, but equally distressing.

 

Pretty certain that all of the above and my head tremors are linked. I did some research, and evidence pointing to anxiety as one of many possible causes.

 

Thanks

[mstimc]

24 minutes ago, Snorky said:

I did some research, and evidence pointing to anxiety as one of many possible causes.

 

25 minutes ago, Snorky said:

Like the brain not resting, repeating thoughts etc. Different from more obvious pains, but equally distressing.

Good Morning, Snorkly

 

Racing thoughts are awful.  Besides the TM, are you trying any diversionary thinking practices? It sounds like settling your mind is the key to dealing with the physical sensations.

[Snorky]

23 minutes ago, mstimc said:

 

Good Morning, Snorkly

 

Racing thoughts are awful.  Besides the TM, are you trying any diversionary thinking practices? It sounds like settling your mind is the key to dealing with the physical sensations.

Hi

 

The main “head sensations” are those described. (Tightness, nerve pain, pins and needles like feelinfs mirroring what I get in my legs.

 

I’ve tried some of the simple techniques suggested by my therapist. The sequence in my case is waking up, followed by bombardment of the head sensations. (These are in addition to normal cortisol spike stuff) There is no time for ruminating or intrusive thoughts  to precipitate these sensations. (Don’t think so, anyway)

 

More than happy to embrace diversionary thinking practices you can suggest.

 

Thanks

 

[mstimc]

11 minutes ago, Snorky said:

More than happy to embrace diversionary thinking practices you can suggest.

 

Thanks

 

 

I would start here:

And choose the topics and techniques that best match your sensations.  One thing you might want to try to head off the morning spiral is, as soon as you wake up, look for three to five things in your room, and focus on them.  In your thoughts, describe them in as much detail as you can; color, size, shape, purpose, etc.  The reason isn't important; the object is to crowd out the repetitive thoughts before they take control and turn into anxiety.

[Snorky]

Thanks. Did you see my ref to sequence in relation to head sensations in bed. Ie sensations happen without negative thoughts.

[Snorky]

Sorry M, didn’t see your advice re crowding out repetitive thoughts. I get that, but the majority of sensations are exactly that, not thoughts.

 

Thank you

[mstimc]

1 hour ago, Snorky said:

Like the brain not resting, repeating thoughts etc. Different from more obvious pains, but equally distressing.

I was responding to this part of your post. 

[Snorky]

13 minutes ago, mstimc said:

I was responding to this part of your post. 

Thanks. Will heed your advice. Re head sensations- I guess alleviation of these, if linked to WD, would be helped by other strategies?

 

Regards

[mstimc]

1 minute ago, Snorky said:

Thanks. Will heed your advice. Re head sensations- I guess alleviation of these, if linked to WD, would be helped by other strategies?

 

Regards

Yes, exactly.  The WD-caused anxiety is driving the mental and physical sensations.  Address that root cause and everything else will improve.

[Snorky]

29 minutes ago, mstimc said:

Yes, exactly.  The WD-caused anxiety is driving the mental and physical sensations.  Address that root cause and everything else will improve.

Ok. The root cause of the anxiety being the unwanted, intrusive thoughts etc? It’s just that the mental tension, pins and needles, edge sensations come on anyway. (Almost 24/7 now) Also I didn’t describe the insomnia situation v well. Not “ repeating thoughts” as much as repeating sensations. I guess I can only use the diversionary/distracting strategies to limit the negative thoughts, where they arise?

 

Thanks

[mstimc]

Don't overthink your situation, and don't try to separate the physical and mental symptoms.  The root cause of your issues is anxiety-driven withdrawal.  Adopt and practice coping methods and you will see gradual but steady improvement.  If you keep trying to find the "cause" of each and every feeling and sensation, you won't make any progress. 

[Snorky]

1 hour ago, mstimc said:

Don't overthink your situation, and don't try to separate the physical and mental symptoms.  The root cause of your issues is anxiety-driven withdrawal.  Adopt and practice coping methods and you will see gradual but steady improvement.  If you keep trying to find the "cause" of each and every feeling and sensation, you won't make any progress. 

Thanks. I appreciate you’ve said this a thousand times. I’m not striving for the cause of everything, just need to see where/how to apply techniques, when I’m getting about two hours sleep a night etc. Other thing is anxiety is so bad, unable to chill out watching tv. Seems that any external stimulus is now causing brain to freeze, resist the info being imparted. 

 

God bless you and your family. Hope you’re safely tucked up indoors.

 

S

[mstimc]

47 minutes ago, Snorky said:

Thanks. I appreciate you’ve said this a thousand times. I’m not striving for the cause of everything, just need to see where/how to apply techniques, when I’m getting about two hours sleep a night etc. Other thing is anxiety is so bad, unable to chill out watching tv. Seems that any external stimulus is now causing brain to freeze, resist the info being imparted. 

 

God bless you and your family. Hope you’re safely tucked up indoors.

 

S

Snorky, you really need to turn your approach around.   Start with believing you can and will recover and then commit to doing it.  There will never be a "right" time to start because  the symptoms won't let up until you begin practicing coping and stick with it.  I know how difficult it is but you need to let go of focusing on symptoms and get at the cause.

[Snorky]

14 minutes ago, mstimc said:

Snorky, you really need to turn your approach around.   Start with believing you can and will recover and then commit to doing it.  There will never be a "right" time to start because  the symptoms won't let up until you begin practicing coping and stick with it.  I know how difficult it is but you need to let go of focusing on symptoms and get at the cause.

I am changing my approach. This is why I was asking about diversionary strategies to best address my situation 

[mstimc]

3 minutes ago, Snorky said:

I am changing my approach. This is why I was asking about diversionary strategies to best address my situation 

Cool.  Check out the tips linked in my previous post; and try the morning focus I recommend.  

[Snorky]

Thanks. Just to be clear though, the morning focus would only be applied to intrusive thoughts, not the morning head sensations?

[mstimc]

2 minutes ago, Snorky said:

Thanks. Just to be clear though, the morning focus would only be applied to intrusive thoughts, not the morning head sensations?

It would help for both.  The thoughts and the sensations are coming from the same place--anxiety.  Manage the anxiety and the thoughts and physical sensations will fade. The morning focus will switch off the anxious triggers early.

[Snorky]

Thank you. Will give it a go and report back.

[mstimc]

Hi Snorky

 

So sorry to hear you're having anxiety issues at night.  Per our PM discussion, I'm posting here so others can chime in with help.   One suggestion is the legs on wall restorative pose .  If you can't manage to get your legs onto the wall (flexibility issues) it also works to lie on the floor with pillows and hook your legs onto a chair.  

 

10 minute Restorative Yoga for Relaxation | Up the wall