[andymania]

Two big things happened to me last summer that resulted in a breakdown last Fall. One being that my family was robbed of money that was for us from the Last Will of our great uncle who passed away and second being my parents heavily encouraging me to try out a job I was offered in California (I live in NJ). Now when I arrived in CA. I already had huge levels of anxiety and panic and since it was such a split descision to leave home. Eventually I freaked out and bailed out on the job and flew back to NJ, and found a local job. That was when the breakdown hit me. The aftermath. Now before last summer, I was great. No panic attacks for 3 years, some normal anxiety, no OCD. I felt normal! Now, I went on Wellbutrin during the Winter and eventuallyu bailed out on it since it did nothing for OCD or anxiety and I fell back into the bad depression and experienced for the first time really bad DP around February. I went back on Zoloft in late March and up till now, there has been great GREAT improvement. Occasionally I have set backs and like today the DR came back a little and my mind was empty and robotic again (nowhere as bad as it was before, but still uncomfortable and unplaseant) These setbacks kind of frighten me and was wondering if I'll ever get back to the way I was in the years 2001-2004. I am afraid that once I experienced the way I did during the winter, will I remain scarred with this forever. I never had it before. That's the problem with these setbacks; they tend to send back into feeling hopeless and elimnate your progress.

-Andy

 

[Da'Burgh]

I believe right now I'm in the process of setbacks. I can taste reality in a sense, then I get these setbacks. I can be feeling wonderful and then I start feeling DR'ed and anxious. You just have to remember this will take a while and will not just go away overnight. It could take even a few months of coping and what really helps - eating right. Hope I helped you some. Hang in there.

 

[Sojourner]

Andy,

Contact your doctor. You may need to adjust your dosage.

Setbacks are normal. You said "a little" DP; if it's not full-blown, it's still progress, no?

You can never go back to an earlier time; you are always where you are in the present. But your present can always get better. There's no reason you can't feel as good as you used to in the future -- or better.

Do not be discouraged. It sounds as if the events of last summer would have made ANYONE upset. You can call it a setback, but I don't think that's the best term. Life is always going to throw us stuff; the setback would be if you veer from your present course of doing what you know is right.