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Questions on helping to lift depressive episode

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Posted 9/27/2007 5:19 PM (GMT -6)

Greetings all :-)

It's been a bit since my last post here but I have been checking in every day to see what's going on..

I have a question regarding a depressive episode.  For those of you that are familiar with my background, my bf is still currently experiencing a depressive episode.  He's been this way since the end of June. 

He was given a rare opportunity to visit Europe with all expenses paid; flight, accommodations, food, etc.  His meds are not working for him right now and he is currently doing a mood chart and taking his meds for his anxiety since they still have some affect on him.

My question is, do vacation, especially travelling away from the day-to-day drudge help to lift an episode?  Have any of you experienced feeling much better after going on vacation..maybe helping to lift you out of an episode?

I attend support groups every week and a friend of mine that attends the same meeting is BP and said he forced himself to take a trip in order to see if it might help lift him out of the depressive state he was in.  It had a positive effect on him so I wanted to see if any of you may have had similar results.

My bf currently takes Lexapro and xanax, but the lexapro no longer works as he had a breakthrough sometime late May, early June I think.  His pdox is having him chart his moods and considering changing his dx.  He's been doing this since mid-July and is still currently charting his moods and waiting for a right mix of meds.  I don't think his pdoc has given him a new mix of meds to try.  Is that normal...I mean it's now the end of September, and he's still waiting.

Thanks to anyone willing to read this and giveme any advice/their opinion.  It sure will help smurf

Posted 9/27/2007 6:01 PM (GMT -6)
You would think that vacations or fun things would definately be uplifting but unfortunately for some of us that have severe depression, it is a crap-shoot on whether we will be able to tolerate what to others seem fun.

 

For me. my vacations and outings were the most wonderful things I have experienced in my life.  Many factors played into that such as the quality of my relationship and my ability to be honest with him about how I was feeling,

 

From a depressed person who understands what you are saying, go into everything with a positive attitude and when you start feeling the depression, it makes it a little easier to tolerate.

 

Good luck I hope this helps.

Posted 9/28/2007 4:28 AM (GMT -6)
Like Teresa, I think a holiday would lift a depressive episode, but not always. Holidays are (Generally) stress free and packed full of fun activities. Since there is usually something for everyone... whether its looks around art galleries or white water rafting, there is something for everyone. I would definately say go for it.

Posted 9/28/2007 6:04 AM (GMT -6)
Wickedly

Like the others have said it can help at times. But when the depression is at it's worse it is a crap shoot that is for sure.
One of the main reasons is when we are at our lowest,we think we do not deserve to have fun,and be happy so therefore we limit ourselves.
But,once we are able to let go of that feeling and enjoy ourselves we do feel alot better.

My advice is to take it one day at a time. Keep a mental list of what you know he really likes to do,and try to do that. If it is just eating a certain type of food that he loves then try to seek out somewhere that serves that.

Good luck to you and I hope he lets his guard down for both of your sakes!

Shy
Posted 9/28/2007 6:13 AM (GMT -6)
Hello ya'll......I also agree with you both. Vacations is so much more laid back, easygoing, unstressfull that I can honestly say GO!!! I suffer with Major Depression and have for the past 28 years. As Teresa said vacations have been the most enjoyable times of my life...but of course the birth of my baby girl was the biggest. I have been a member here for heck I don't remember for how long, maybe a couple of years but I mostly read for info posting now and then.
Wicked, as far as your BF Pdoc mixing combos of meds for him to try to see what works for him that is a good thing. Mine did the same and I am finally settled into a concoxtion of Cymbalta, WellbutrinXL, Trazadone, and Lunesta. I feel better at this time now the best since my last long episode since Katrina.(2yrs ago) But at the same token I do have simple bouts(short lived) episodes. But at least now I know I CAN and WILL get better again shortly. At the present I am very nervous that I have to go to the ALJ hearing on next Tuesday regarding SSA Disability. I filed immediately after Katrina. If any of you are praying people please send some this way.
If I can be of any help to anyone here please don't hesitate to give me a shout. I will do my very best!
As Teresa said keep the positive attitude it makes the bumps in the road a bit softer.
Posted 9/28/2007 10:06 AM (GMT -6)
Thank you so very much for all of the replies! 

 

Unfortunately, I am not the person going with my bf on vacation.  He was fortunate enough to get all expenses paid to Rome.  A wife of a friend of his works for one of the airlines and had an extra ticket plus accommodations so he took it.  He'll be with his friend and his friend's wife.  

He left yesterday.  He was excited about it but also scared since he only had his anxiety meds working and didn't have anything to control the depression.  I am really hoping Rome will have a positive affect on him and may lift his spirits.  Maybe if his spirits are lifted from the vacation, his depressive state may subside, but not sure...just hopeful.

 

The next time I see him is end of October.  It will be four monts since the depression started but possibly 5 months since the symptoms started slowly rearing their heads.

 

If anyone has anymore advice, suggestions, or comments, I'd love to hear them.

 

Again...thanks a lot!

wcc

Posted 9/29/2007 2:49 AM (GMT -6)
Hiya,

Italy is a beautiful country and Rome is a perfect example of everything Italy has to offer. There are monuments such as the Collesseum(sp) for culture vultures, there is a huge football (soccer) stadium for sports lovers, the scenery is fantastic and there is also some more bizzare things to do as well such as Grape Picking (For Wine) and Basil Picking (For Pesto). Those sort of activities really provide the best of everything Rome has to offer and its a wonderful experience. I hope he enjoys his stay and comes back rejuvinated(sp).

Darren

P.S What are you doing while he is away?

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