Hi. I am 19, new here, and newly diagnosed. I started treatment recently (Lamictal) after getting off yet another anti-depressent (they all make me crazy). I lightened my course load to help deal with it, but now the semester is getting to the end with all the exams, lab practicals and papers weighing me down. On top of that I went into a depressive cycle last night and am trying to study and write a paper today. it is not going well. Is there anything i can do/try in addition to tweeking medication? I have to write a major Psychology paper tonight (ironically). Can't concentrate and the paper itself is beggining to sound depressing. thanks for any and all advice.

How long have you been on the Lamictal? It took about 8 weeks before I noticed any significant relief. It is a good medication and worth the slow dosing procedure. I went through a major bout of depression last November and during this time had to take 8 re certification test. I felt the worse I ever have on that day. I thought for sure I would fail them all, but made it through with very few wrong answers. I would recomend plenty of exercise and sunshine, drink lots of water (about half your body weight in ounces will do), I take 1000mgs of EPA and DHA fish oil capsules a day and noticed some improvement. Watch what you eat, some of us have food intolerance that will cause mood disorders. I have a problem with wheat, dairy, sugars, and caffeine. I also try to stay as active as I can, even when I don't feel like it. I like to work out. I walk on an elliptical machine for 30 minutes at 9 to 10 mph almost every day. Then I work out on a bowflex for 15 minutes. I started that in November and it has become a habit now. Also try not to self medicate on alcohol, sedatives, opiates, or stimulants. That will only make things worse. I know that from experience. I now rarely have any depression, and if I do it usually lifts pretty quick. I still have days of depersonalization, but that beats depression any day. Also, what antidepressant are you coming off of? Some of them have terrible withdrawal. The withdrawal from effexor was the biggest nightmare for me. The only one that wasn't too bad was Lexapro. I wish the best for you. Tom

Thanks. I had to go through extreem effexor withdraw twice. did you have those gnarly shocks to? Tried oneanti-depressent where i felt sound (not just loud ones) and saw scary colors. only took one of those. another doc. gave me a minute amount of one anti depressent when i was 15 that made the BP so bad that my mom considered hospitalizing me till it wore off. she probably would have if i hadn't slept 13-15 hours a day. I am not sure how long i have been on the lamictal. I tend to loose all sense of time whenever it gets bad, which is all the time now. i think i am on the third month. i do alot of the stuff you do. try to get fish oils, exercise most days, cut out 90% of caffeine and sugar, ect. i know lots of people will think i'm crazy(maybe even the ones that don't already :) but going to the chiropracter helps me. Even if it doesn't help with the BP (i think it does a little) at least it makes it more tolerable. Fewer back/neck aches.

what kind of recertifcation tests?
Sunlight is hard for me. I get this thing where there is too much imput or something. I have to find someplace dark, quiet and still constantly or i get angry.

Yes, the effexor caused some bad brain zaps and I was badly irritated as well. I go to the chirorpactor and massage spas and do get some relief from both. I also quit watching the news and violent shows, that has helped. It's too bad about the sunshine, it is the best medication for me. I can't get enough of it. I just about get in a depressed mood every time it's cloudy. My re certification test were for ASE. That is Automotive Service Excellence. I'm a Certified master automotive technician. Tom

Why/how does the news/violent shows affect you? Sometimes comedies can cause a rapid depression cycle for me. Seems weird I know.

When I watch certain 'edgy' things like the movie Requiem for a Dream, Traffic, Casino, Blow I'll start to feel edgy myself. Perhaps it's the anxiety/drug related bits. Also any suspenseful/horror movie ... especially with eerie music. Which is a shame because I do love darker movies. My mood will change though and the way I feel reminds me of when I would be strung out (either from drugs years ago or just an insomnia/overly stressed strung out).

Sometimes i like darker movies to. Now i know what you mean about the edgy thing. I just saw "Collateral" and felt like that. Can someone explain "depersonalization"?

The best way to find out about depersonalization is do an internet search on it. You will find loads of information about it. But the basics of it are you feel like you are living in a dream state, detached from the world around you.