Question:
I'm currently tapering off of the new antidepressant Remeron because of
undesirable side effects (oversleeping, weight gain). My pdoc wants me to
contact her at the first sign of crashing, so I can switch to something
else if need be. She said one of the first warning signs is irritibility,
but now that the semester is over, I'm probably not going to be around
that many people on a regular basis.
So what are the other *initial* warning signs of impending depression that
you have noticed?
Answer:
I stop doing everyday tasks like laundry or grocery shopping. Another
good indicator for me is whether I am taking the time to balance my
checkbook. I did it yesterday. I guess that's a sign that I am doing
better. Unfortunately, the balance I came up with may send me into
another crash. With me the first sign was always just a change in sleep patterns for no
reason. I would just start having a hard time getting to sleep and then I
would only sleep for four or five hours at a time. Everything else seemed
to follow pretty closely on the heels of that.
My first sign (at least that I've noticed) is driving home without the
radio on and realizing I'm not thinking of anything in particular.
"spacing out" so to speak. Since I *have* to have the radio on the
other 99% of the time this is more significant than it sounds. I didn't
recognize it as that the first time I crashed to the extent of suicidal
thoughts. Only recognized it in retrospect and now watch for it to try
to turn the depression around before it goes to deadly extreme. Early signs for me include going to the grocery store or library and not
being able to commit to taking anything off the shelf. Feeling irritable
toward people and negative toward any new idea. Sitting around being
hungry, but not interested enough to get up and fix a meal. Also, not
being able to decide what to wear in the morning -- equally indifferent
to everything.
