Depression fatigue

[Deadman]

How do you reorient yourself once you wake? That can be hard and I find myself feeling anxious when it happens TBH.

For a long time, I would wake up with a start wondering where (and even when) I was. I would struggle to remember which country I was in and where I had gone to sleep. Having something significant nearby really helps. For me, it's my dog. When I wake and he is at my feet I know I am in Canada and safe. You'll need to find something that can cue you to where you are.

 

[Overcoming]

:( Yeah, it was just a suggestion.
Have you tried other meds?
I'm a nurse and my job can be triggeri...

Wow, I hadn't thought of that. I'm studying to be a therapist, of all things. But it's my heart. I love social work and what I do. When I was a teen, I was given Paxil and Prozac and wanted to off myself. Had images of driving under semis. Felt impulsive. My Genesight results revealed only a couple of options that are recommend. Sertraline was in that list. It might have been the only ssri on the list. Forensics though, that's really cool

 

[Deleted member 42783]

Lol. Not that cool. It's not like TV. Its all dealing with victims of trauma whether its sexual, terrorism, death etc. I'm not sure I will be able to hack it but it's where my heart is.
I took Prozac over a decade ago and had no problem with it. Tried it this year and slept 14 hours a day no problem. Ugh. On Cymbalta right now and, after reading your post, wondering if my urge to drive the car off the road is related.

@Deadman
Love your idea of having something familiar nearby. For me, when I startle awake, and I always do, I know where I am but I'm panicked that someone is in danger or I missed something important. I need to tape a note to my bed that says You're All Right!!!

 

[Overcoming]

I have hope to live these days. Back then I didn't think I'd survive into my twenties. My biggest challenge now is facing and feeling emotions without trying to numb them through self-harm or alcohol. What concerns me is when I start to hit the point of impulsivity, and I wonder if I'll turn the corner back into suicidal ideations.

 

[Deleted member 42783]

@l'mom. I'm already at the alcohol and suicidal ideation point. Been that way for a year but it is very passive. I want to live to. ;)

 

[amosmorris]

@I'smom --first I should say @valkeasisu 's recommendation about slowing down and asking for help is so important and something I struggle with/need to do as well. To respond to your question about how I bring myself back after I check out--and I think in this way I am similar to @Deadman again--something consistent usually helps me. I write regularly and this helps to ground me and bring some temporary closure/relief. So for example--after I wake back up, but before I return to "life", I open the journal I've been writing in, write the date, and just write a few sentences about how I feel. For some reason this makes it real enough but also brings the episode, I guess, to some kind of more grounded place--like, ok, I'm going to make these feelings real and record them, put them down...somehow I think that gives me some control. This does happen to me at work, though my job is not directly related to trauma as yours is (that must be so hard for sure)--I am lucky to have an office of my own--and I do sometimes need to close the door and just take 20 mins.

 

[Overcoming]

Thank you guys for all of the suggestions. They are all very helpful. I feel alone a lot, so it's good to talk with others who are living through similar things. :hug: (hugs)

 

[amosmorris]

Thank you guys for all of the suggestions. They are all very helpful. I feel alone a lot, so it's good t...

:hug: back at ya. Being able to recognize myself on this forum has been a lifeline for me. This is a special place.

 

[Changing4Best]

Putting the tea kettle on first thing, if I wander back to bed, the whistle soon pries me out of bed again and then once I get my hand brewed coffee made, just the way I love it, that kind of keeps me up in my recliner as I sip it and meditate. Then I use the rest of the boiled water to make me some instant oatmeal, and add some honey to that and then I am "up." From there, if I can, I read some morning books I have that have quotes in them and little ideas that go with the quotes that kind of are inspiring for ideas as to what to do to make life better. Eventually I get myself out to the bus, and I am off to work. It is a step by step kind of thing, I try to do one thing at a time, not think too far ahead and "stay in the moment." If I look ahead to my whole day, I get overwhelmed.