I originally wrote this as a comment for another blog but I got so into it that I figured that I could share some of my research and experiences with my anxiety disorder.
I also have a severe case of seasonal depression, coming from Perth, Australia to Toronto, Canada made a big change. I had very little depression in Oz as I always had lots of sunlight but here in T.O. in the winter I have to use a SAD light to function, or go away to the Caribbean every month for a few days.
That’s a bit expensive though as I am on long term disability.
I fried my brain working as a precision surveying specialist for the last 12 years. Rather stressful being the risk management and working to the design by observation method. Working to +/-2mm on a bad day, measuring to 0.1mm with robotics, working in subway tunnels for risk management, writing white papers and articles for specialist magazines.
Construction sites aren't the quietest place to work and then you have heavy machinery moving by you, workers who don’t understand what your doing and destroying the targets we measure too for fun.
I would always give the workers some targets to stick on their helmets instead of taking them off of the shoring when I started on a new site.
Other times we would have up to six robots measuring to targets while they dig down to the bottom of the columns in Union Station, Toronto. to put in extra basement room.
They would create a temporary shoring system to hold up the roof, which the trains were moving over while we worked. No train was allowed to stop and no train was allowed to come through the roof while we did it. Below is the comment I left on the original post.
Thank you all for your kind words and helpful advice. I have 2 doctors, my GP and my psychiatrist.
I’ve also had 20 sessions with the social worker attached to my GP. I’m on Wellbutrin, and I’m switching from Zoloft to Duloxetine as the Zoloft didn’t work.
I’m also taking Pregabalin for my chronic pain from 3 vertebrae that lost their jelly and for my sciatica. 36 years of surveying has taken it’s toll.
I also have Teva-Quetiapine as my rescue med.
I have some herbs also but am currently avoiding them as I’m taking a lot of meds.
I find that the Pregabalin in a large dose is great for removing the anxiety and having a nice high for the whole day. That keeps me going for 3 days before the anxiety symptoms come back.
I’m very glad that I live in Canada, I have 100% med cover from my work and everything else is covered by OHIP.
I garden and go for walks with my lovely honey who I have been married to for 22 years. We did some therapy together and found out what kind of loving we need. My Honey likes having things done for her and I just need physical contact.
I also use Lavender oil on a handkerchief to sniff and help calm me down.
I’ve tried Kava, it doesn’t seem to effect me but Valerian, hops, passionflower and wild lettuce are good for sleeping although you have to be careful with the Valerian. I also have some 5-HTP to help with serotonin pickup.
I’ve also learnt that if you set small goals and accomplish them, you get a dopamine hit. You can also trick your brain by thinking about past accomplishments, your brain doesn’t know the difference between reality and fantasy. Your brain will release pseudoephedrine and dopamine when you think about your accomplishments. (I think) I lost that article.
Thanks again and I’m going to make this comment a new blog.
Peace and love, The Cat.