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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dave1 on February 7, 2003, at 18:49:37
Has anyone gotten confused or disoriented from their depression?
Dave
Posted by bozeman on February 7, 2003, at 23:33:16
In reply to confused/disoriented, posted by Dave1 on February 7, 2003, at 18:49:37
> Has anyone gotten confused or disoriented from their depression?
>
> DaveYes, in every possible way I can imagine. Did you have a specific instance in mind so I could respond more specifically?
bozeman
Posted by Dave1 on February 8, 2003, at 0:00:38
In reply to Re: confused/disoriented » Dave1, posted by bozeman on February 7, 2003, at 23:33:16
Hi,
Thanks for your responses to both my posts. Regarding the specifics of how I feel. When I go out driving everything looks unfamiliar to me. Sometimes I think I won't be able to find my way home. I have trouble figuring out what day it is. Everything seems really foggy when I try to think. Even when I look at my mother she seems like a stranger. Some of the doctors are telling me I'm getting schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Others say its all from anxiety. Now I think I'm going insane from depression and OCD worries. I've read other posts by other people and they were talking about brain fog and similiar things. When I read all these things I think my symptoms are just a part of my stress and depression.
Regarding the doctors, I've tried a few that specialize in OCD and they seemed to help the most.
Thanks again.
Dave
Posted by Craig on February 8, 2003, at 4:04:56
In reply to Re: confused/disoriented, posted by Dave1 on February 8, 2003, at 0:00:38
Hi Dave. Have you done any research on depersonalization and derealization? There are similarities with what you describe. Look here http://www.mhsource.com/expert/exp1052697b.html and if this sounds anything like what you’re feeling, an Internet search will turn up a lot more information. I’ve snipped this from the link:
“Depersonalization disorder, in brief, involves the persistent or recurrent experience of feeling detached from, and as if one is an outside observer of, one's mental processes or body. Individuals with DD often report feeling as if in a waking dream or a movie and may also experience derealization (the sense that the external world is unreal or strange). DD is not a psychotic condition, though individuals with DD often worry about this.”
***************************************
“When I go out driving everything looks unfamiliar to me.”
“Everything seems really foggy when I try to think.”
“Even when I look at my mother she seems like a stranger.”
“Now I think I'm going insane from depression and OCD worries.”
Posted by sl on February 8, 2003, at 19:47:45
In reply to Re: confused/disoriented, posted by Dave1 on February 8, 2003, at 0:00:38
These can also be signs you're on the wrong meds (you're here, so I'm thinking you're probably on meds). Make sure to discuss the list of RARE symptoms with your doc, the ones you or the doc might not be really watching for (there's usually a chart on the bottom of the info-sheet that comes with the meds, and just after the chart there will be the list of very rare side-effects that [they couldn't confirm] were happening during the tests).
Good luck,
slPS you might consider carrying some sorta personal information card with your address and emergency contact, just in case you have a really bad reaction and don't know who/where you are. :)
Posted by dude on February 11, 2003, at 11:44:41
In reply to Depersonalization and derealization, posted by Craig on February 8, 2003, at 4:04:56
Hi Dave,
I have the exact same problems that you speak of. It is indeed called depersonalization and/or derealization. I had this condition long before I started any meds. The SSRIs can help, but what I found is that a combination of an SSRI and klonopin works best.
Check out this web site:
There are many felow Depersonalization/Derealization sufferes there.
Best of luck! Remember, there is hope, and you won't be like this forever.
Posted by michael73 on February 12, 2003, at 2:26:47
In reply to confused/disoriented, posted by Dave1 on February 7, 2003, at 18:49:37
Hi Dave, I talked to you awhile back on brain fog / OCD. We do have things in common. I most definitely slow down and get confused when low in depression. My derealization gets worse. Sometimes I get so slowed down I even see tracks though that is rare and not overwhelming. Just my mind gets that slow. I even have trouble talking sometimes mispeaking words. It's like a brain cramp. I saw a new psychiatrist today and I happened to be low (and sleepy from Luox) and was talking in circles. He did hint at schizophrenia and asked if I'd tried risperdol. I really don't believe thats my problem and I'm afraid of the anti-psychotic meds. I do have a general confusion a lot and lately short term memory problems. I think to someone first meeting me I might fit some shcizophrenic symptoms. He actually asked me if I felt like I was in a fog. Of course I did and I brought up the pressure in my forehead and the fact that a sudafed (non-pain relief) seemed to relieve it and also clear my mind and that if I did'nt know better I'd have thought it was pschoactive. He jumped on that - turns out psuedoephedrine (Sudafed) is psychoactive and the effect it had on me is what he'd expect with someone with ADD. (Remember I'm having a slow day and changing subjects a lot because I'm essentially blanking out.) I tried an ADD med but I don't think it cleared my thinking, it just speeded me up a bit. I think I really did have sinus pressure when I took the Sudafed and that I just focus on things like that because of OCD. Anyway I most definitely get confused and disorientated when I really go down into depression and to some extent I always have a low grade confusion - I think that's OCD - just a constant feeling that somethings not right or there's something I need to do or remember. I do cycle also and am going to try a mood stabilzer before going back to try OCD medications. Luvox is just making me too sleepy. He said that wouldn't go away for me. I will definitely share if something works for me. Remember that Anafranil did but I got sick of the side effects. Michael73
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