It Gets Better: Living Well While Being Sick

[KarenB]

Re-posting this article by GiaK in this forum, as it's past the stage of being 'In the Media' but is very relevant to those of us who are in this for the long-haul. 

 

http://beyondmeds.com/2014/08/25/living-well-while-being-sick/

[mjk1970]

Wow, my hat goes off to Monica (the author). She sounds like she's been through absolute hell, and still has the stamina to write and share her experiences to let people similarly suffering know that they're not alone.

[CaptainJackSparrow]

Hi everyone. I wanted to share some of the things that have helped me continue to taper and stay the course on this journey of mine. 

 

Having a big pill box. My pill box was a gift from somewhere and it has a week with morning, afternoon, evening, and night for each week. It has all in all about 30 little boxes. I put the dose I am currently on into each of them so I know that when I am done with the pill box it will be a month (30 days). 

 

Don't think about. Go on about your day and don't worry too much about the process. I have tons of hobbies like the internet, watching tv, and going for walks that i enjoy. I find not worrying about the process is very helpful and having faith that eventually it will work out is best. Also, when I start thinking and worrying about it i feel bad so I basically just forget about it and when I my pill box is full I know I have done 30 days of the med dose. 

 

Being tactical. All is fair in love and war, sometimes you have to make the best of what you have. One thing I did when I started this seriously was get as much of my antidepressants as I could get and stocked up on them just in case. 

 

Dealing with everyone around me. This has been the most challenging aspect of my journey. I had and still have nosy people including close family members who ask about my medication usage. Some of these people have meant well, others meant well but really didn't understand. The best thing that has helped me was to listen to their advice and agree if need be but stay the course. People have a right to think what they want I guess and it really doesn't PAY to try to convince them of your position.

Here is an example: "Don't you understand what you are doing?? You are going to ruin your life, your going to go completely insane! How could you do that?" to which I would respond "I understand" with a long pause of uncomfortably. After a while of these kinds of conversations, they started to go away. Eventually the people who are adamant about you staying on the meds start sounding more crazy than you and they just give up.

 

Especially since I still stay in contact with my psychiatrist this is very important that I am very calm and accepting of her opinions, but she knows that I am still staying on my course. She has told me numerous times about all the dangers and risks I am taking to which I calmly and simply respond "I know."

 

Avoiding family functions. This has reduced my stress level so much! Dealing with family causes so much stress in my life and can really increase my own depression and anxiety. This one has been challenging. One of the tricks I use because I have very demanding parents is that when they "ask me" to come over on a certain day I will tell them I will. If they ask me to come over "right now" I tell them "What about tomorrow? I could come over tomorrow" I make it sound very believable but the funny thing is when tomorrow comes it's really a different mindset and people forget. When they are very demanding I always agree with their plans and it usually never materializes. I should also add that i avoid all people who are stressful in my life. 

 

Playing the game. I think of life like a play sometimes with actors and actresses and audience members and everyone playing their role. When I am home alone, there is no audience, I can sit back and relax. When I buy groceries I play the part of the shopper, when I walk around I play the role of a regular inconspicuous consumer, etc etc, when I am home by myself there no longer needs to be an act. 

 

Taking baths. One of the biggest side-effects and physical annoyances when coming off antidepressants (Zoloft) is skin itching, rashes, all the works. One of the things I have done was take an actual aloe leaf and open it up and sit in the bathtub and squeeze all the juices around my body. Another thing I have found is VERY helpful for skin is taking "OATMEAL baths". I buy a little packet of oatmeal from the natural foods store and pour it into the tub and lay there for about 10 minutes. I don't use any chemical stuff on my skin and use all natural products like black soap. 

 

Supplies. I have bandages, cream for bruises, cream for itching, sore throat spray, nose spray, gold bond, pill-cutter, hydrogen peroxide, antacids. With gradually tapering off zoloft I have used a nose spray to feel better from time to time. 

 

Choosing smart times. When I am very busy I have stayed on my normal dosages and waited for periods of free time when I could go down. 

 

Crying and hitting my pillow. Sometimes the frustration really gets unbearable and I spend the night crying and hitting my pillow. 

 

Being spiritual. I almost forgot this part! This has been very important for me. I use meditation and have found people who have been kind enough to help me progress on my "spiritual journey". I am not just a person, I am a spirit and a soul underneath. I practice meditation non-obsessively because my life is a meditation. This is not about being "morally right" or trying "to perfect yourself" , far from it. For me it is about gaining knowledge and staying in touch with the universe and the divine. The guru is within me as buddha said. 

 

I could go on but I'm tired of writing, I didn't think this would be so long. I hope this is helpful to everyone. This is not just about me, this is also about helping others for me. Not out of any moral obligation, but out of practical survival. 

[ryella]

Hi there CaptainJackSparrow

Wow -  love that you've been really successful so far on weaning down. You sound really brave, it's so hard breaking away from people who tell us that these medications are doing us any good. If you DM me, I can give you some awesome books that may help you too.

I never thought about the "Pill Box" idea. This is so awesome! It seems like you are getting better daily. I'm currently having a little bout of insomnia withdrawal. Did this happen to you on Zoloft withdrawal? I'm currently weaning from Abilify first, then I'll begin my Zoloft wean journey..

 

You make some really good points here! I have recently started to wean down and coming here gives me the strength to do so! So you succeeded in helping others, at least me!

[KarenB]

Great list CJS - you are so proactive in your healing, and it's lovely to hear how you go about that. 

[Marsha]

Hi everyone. I wanted to share some of the things that have helped me continue to taper and stay the course on this journey of mine. 

 

Having a big pill box. My pill box was a gift from somewhere and it has a week with morning, afternoon, evening, and night for each week. It has all in all about 30 little boxes. I put the dose I am currently on into each of them so I know that when I am done with the pill box it will be a month (30 days). 

 

Don't think about. Go on about your day and don't worry too much about the process. I have tons of hobbies like the internet, watching tv, and going for walks that i enjoy. I find not worrying about the process is very helpful and having faith that eventually it will work out is best. Also, when I start thinking and worrying about it i feel bad so I basically just forget about it and when I my pill box is full I know I have done 30 days of the med dose. 

 

Being tactical. All is fair in love and war, sometimes you have to make the best of what you have. One thing I did when I started this seriously was get as much of my antidepressants as I could get and stocked up on them just in case. 

 

Dealing with everyone around me. This has been the most challenging aspect of my journey. I had and still have nosy people including close family members who ask about my medication usage. Some of these people have meant well, others meant well but really didn't understand. The best thing that has helped me was to listen to their advice and agree if need be but stay the course. People have a right to think what they want I guess and it really doesn't PAY to try to convince them of your position.

Here is an example: "Don't you understand what you are doing?? You are going to ruin your life, your going to go completely insane! How could you do that?" to which I would respond "I understand" with a long pause of uncomfortably. After a while of these kinds of conversations, they started to go away. Eventually the people who are adamant about you staying on the meds start sounding more crazy than you and they just give up.

 

Especially since I still stay in contact with my psychiatrist this is very important that I am very calm and accepting of her opinions, but she knows that I am still staying on my course. She has told me numerous times about all the dangers and risks I am taking to which I calmly and simply respond "I know."

 

Avoiding family functions. This has reduced my stress level so much! Dealing with family causes so much stress in my life and can really increase my own depression and anxiety. This one has been challenging. One of the tricks I use because I have very demanding parents is that when they "ask me" to come over on a certain day I will tell them I will. If they ask me to come over "right now" I tell them "What about tomorrow? I could come over tomorrow" I make it sound very believable but the funny thing is when tomorrow comes it's really a different mindset and people forget. When they are very demanding I always agree with their plans and it usually never materializes. I should also add that i avoid all people who are stressful in my life. 

 

Playing the game. I think of life like a play sometimes with actors and actresses and audience members and everyone playing their role. When I am home alone, there is no audience, I can sit back and relax. When I buy groceries I play the part of the shopper, when I walk around I play the role of a regular inconspicuous consumer, etc etc, when I am home by myself there no longer needs to be an act. 

 

Taking baths. One of the biggest side-effects and physical annoyances when coming off antidepressants (Zoloft) is skin itching, rashes, all the works. One of the things I have done was take an actual aloe leaf and open it up and sit in the bathtub and squeeze all the juices around my body. Another thing I have found is VERY helpful for skin is taking "OATMEAL baths". I buy a little packet of oatmeal from the natural foods store and pour it into the tub and lay there for about 10 minutes. I don't use any chemical stuff on my skin and use all natural products like black soap. 

 

Supplies. I have bandages, cream for bruises, cream for itching, sore throat spray, nose spray, gold bond, pill-cutter, hydrogen peroxide, antacids. With gradually tapering off zoloft I have used a nose spray to feel better from time to time. 

 

Choosing smart times. When I am very busy I have stayed on my normal dosages and waited for periods of free time when I could go down. 

 

Crying and hitting my pillow. Sometimes the frustration really gets unbearable and I spend the night crying and hitting my pillow. 

 

Being spiritual. I almost forgot this part! This has been very important for me. I use meditation and have found people who have been kind enough to help me progress on my "spiritual journey". I am not just a person, I am a spirit and a soul underneath. I practice meditation non-obsessively because my life is a meditation. This is not about being "morally right" or trying "to perfect yourself" , far from it. For me it is about gaining knowledge and staying in touch with the universe and the divine. The guru is within me as buddha said. 

 

I could go on but I'm tired of writing, I didn't think this would be so long. I hope this is helpful to everyone. This is not just about me, this is also about helping others for me. Not out of any moral obligation, but out of practical survival.

 

How very inspiring CJS. You encourage me. You give me confidence. Thank you.

[Buffy]

Hi everyone. I wanted to share some of the things that have helped me continue to taper and stay the course on this journey of mine.

 

Having a big pill box. My pill box was a gift from somewhere and it has a week with morning, afternoon, evening, and night for each week. It has all in all about 30 little boxes. I put the dose I am currently on into each of them so I know that when I am done with the pill box it will be a month (30 days).

 

Don't think about. Go on about your day and don't worry too much about the process. I have tons of hobbies like the internet, watching tv, and going for walks that i enjoy. I find not worrying about the process is very helpful and having faith that eventually it will work out is best. Also, when I start thinking and worrying about it i feel bad so I basically just forget about it and when I my pill box is full I know I have done 30 days of the med dose.

 

Being tactical. All is fair in love and war, sometimes you have to make the best of what you have. One thing I did when I started this seriously was get as much of my antidepressants as I could get and stocked up on them just in case.

 

Dealing with everyone around me. This has been the most challenging aspect of my journey. I had and still have nosy people including close family members who ask about my medication usage. Some of these people have meant well, others meant well but really didn't understand. The best thing that has helped me was to listen to their advice and agree if need be but stay the course. People have a right to think what they want I guess and it really doesn't PAY to try to convince them of your position.

Here is an example: "Don't you understand what you are doing?? You are going to ruin your life, your going to go completely insane! How could you do that?" to which I would respond "I understand" with a long pause of uncomfortably. After a while of these kinds of conversations, they started to go away. Eventually the people who are adamant about you staying on the meds start sounding more crazy than you and they just give up.

 

Especially since I still stay in contact with my psychiatrist this is very important that I am very calm and accepting of her opinions, but she knows that I am still staying on my course. She has told me numerous times about all the dangers and risks I am taking to which I calmly and simply respond "I know."

 

Avoiding family functions. This has reduced my stress level so much! Dealing with family causes so much stress in my life and can really increase my own depression and anxiety. This one has been challenging. One of the tricks I use because I have very demanding parents is that when they "ask me" to come over on a certain day I will tell them I will. If they ask me to come over "right now" I tell them "What about tomorrow? I could come over tomorrow" I make it sound very believable but the funny thing is when tomorrow comes it's really a different mindset and people forget. When they are very demanding I always agree with their plans and it usually never materializes. I should also add that i avoid all people who are stressful in my life.

 

Playing the game. I think of life like a play sometimes with actors and actresses and audience members and everyone playing their role. When I am home alone, there is no audience, I can sit back and relax. When I buy groceries I play the part of the shopper, when I walk around I play the role of a regular inconspicuous consumer, etc etc, when I am home by myself there no longer needs to be an act.

 

Taking baths. One of the biggest side-effects and physical annoyances when coming off antidepressants (Zoloft) is skin itching, rashes, all the works. One of the things I have done was take an actual aloe leaf and open it up and sit in the bathtub and squeeze all the juices around my body. Another thing I have found is VERY helpful for skin is taking "OATMEAL baths". I buy a little packet of oatmeal from the natural foods store and pour it into the tub and lay there for about 10 minutes. I don't use any chemical stuff on my skin and use all natural products like black soap.

 

Supplies. I have bandages, cream for bruises, cream for itching, sore throat spray, nose spray, gold bond, pill-cutter, hydrogen peroxide, antacids. With gradually tapering off zoloft I have used a nose spray to feel better from time to time.

 

Choosing smart times. When I am very busy I have stayed on my normal dosages and waited for periods of free time when I could go down.

 

Crying and hitting my pillow. Sometimes the frustration really gets unbearable and I spend the night crying and hitting my pillow.

 

Being spiritual. I almost forgot this part! This has been very important for me. I use meditation and have found people who have been kind enough to help me progress on my "spiritual journey". I am not just a person, I am a spirit and a soul underneath. I practice meditation non-obsessively because my life is a meditation. This is not about being "morally right" or trying "to perfect yourself" , far from it. For me it is about gaining knowledge and staying in touch with the universe and the divine. The guru is within me as buddha said.

 

I could go on but I'm tired of writing, I didn't think this would be so long. I hope this is helpful to everyone. This is not just about me, this is also about helping others for me. Not out of any moral obligation, but out of practical survival.

 

Thankyou for this. I have adapted to life in similar ways.

 

I find when I try to tell my housemate why I am so upset, I end up getting more upset - so yes best to keep quiet.