NetWellness Depression

Depression or Borderline

Lawson Wulsin MD — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:01:00 EST

Question: For the past two-three years I have had bouts of depression and anxiety. I don`t know what to do or how to inform someone I need help.

I also have had borderline like symptoms for the past two years. I have experienced low self-esteem, obsession (clinging to one friend until I lose them or hate . . .

Answer: The best answer for the troubling symptoms you describe is a carefully chosen course of psychotherapy. The therapy should help you first understand these complicated feelings and behaviors and then help you communicate with those you care about so they too can understand you. Then you may learn how . . .

Ask an Expert: Lawson Wulsin MD, Depression

Depression and anxiety

Lawson Wulsin MD — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:01:00 EST

Question: I was diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety a year and a half ago when I started the nursing program, but never had any symptoms before that. I`m wondering if this was caused by the stress of school and will resolve or if it was always there and will have to be on medicine for the rest of my life. A . . .

Answer: It's hard to know if stress played a role in the onset of your depression and anxiety. Often it does, but the course of depression and anxiety depends on how you treat it and how you manage stressors that exacerbate it. So study with your doctor or therapist the factors which make your depression an . . .

Ask an Expert: Lawson Wulsin MD, Depression

Advice on depression

Lawson Wulsin MD — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:12:00 EST

Question: Hi for about a few years now i have been diagnosed with depression. In the begining just before my diagnosis i had a lot of issues with sleep, emotions and other various things related. After getting on the proper medication and starting an intense exercise routine i felt very mellow and happy. In t . . .

Answer: Possibly your quickest route to better sleep is to resume your intense exercise routine. If you do that and get yourself to bed regularly, but your falling sleep does not improve, you should call your doctor and ask for a short course of a sleep medication until you can see your doctor for a more in . . .

Ask an Expert: Lawson Wulsin MD, Depression

Trying to wean off anti-depressants

Lawson Wulsin MD — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:11:00 EST

Question: Hello, I have been on antidepressants (Wellbutrin and Celexa) for many years. I have since quit drinking all alcohol for more than 2 years. I do believe much of my depression was from my heavy drinking. How can I slowly wean off my meds. to see if my depression is finally at bay without meds.?

Answer: Your risk for a recurrence off medications should be lower without alcohol, so that's a helpful step. Whether you should stop your medications altogether depends on what other risk factors may contribute to a recurrence, such as:

a) other medical illnesses,
b) other psychiatri . . .

Ask an Expert: Lawson Wulsin MD, Depression

Children inheriting mental illness

Lawson Wulsin MD — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:11:00 EST

Question: If mental illness (depression, "cutter") runs in my family, how likely that my children will inherit this trait?

Answer: Since "mental illness" is an extremely complicated phenomenon, you can rest assured that it cannot be passed along in a single (or even a few genes). And most mental illness is only partially inherited, requiring some environmental factors (trauma, substance abuse, chronic stress) to make the illnes . . .

Ask an Expert: Lawson Wulsin MD, Depression

Anit-depressant weight gain

Lawson Wulsin MD — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:10:00 EST

Question: I am taking Savella. I have tried numerous other anti-depressants, for migraine, and Savella is the first that actually seems to be working. I have also tried a host of other meds. So switching to another one is not the answer. Although Savella is reported to be weight neutral, or even cause weight . . .

Answer: You're doing the right things to combat the weight gain. You could work with your doctor to see if adjusting the dose stops the weight gain or if a second medication might help. Topiramate can be helpful for both pain and weight gain. I don't have experience with Savella, but a specialist in fibromy . . .

Ask an Expert: Lawson Wulsin MD, Depression

New to Cymbalta

Lawson Wulsin MD — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:10:00 EST

Question: I have just been put on Cymbalta by my physician as a treament for anxiety, depression and chronic pain which I have been trying to deal with myself for the last 15 years. My doctor feels it will greatly improve my quality of life. However, I have read multiple stories of nightmarish withdrawal symp . . .

Answer: Withdrawal symptoms vary by individuals and depend on the rate at which the dose is decreased. As with any medication, withdrawal from Cymbalta can be prevented by gradual tapering schedules. I know of no studies that suggest that either Cymbalta or any other antidepressant causes brain damage. Howe . . .

Ask an Expert: Lawson Wulsin MD, Depression

Depressed........

Lawson Wulsin MD — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST

Question: I am 30 and my husband is 34. We have sex only once in a month or once in two months. He enjoys it when we do have intercourse but he simply has little interest. he says that sex is just not important and that it is natural for working couples to have sex less frequently. I don`t understand this. We . . .

Answer: It's time to get a professional evaluation of your marriage. You have tried a number of approaches on your own to resolve this distress, so I suggest you ask your primary care doctor for a referral to a psychologist or social worker who does couples therapy. This evaluation can help the two of you i . . .

Ask an Expert: Lawson Wulsin MD, Depression

Cymbalta

Nicholas Votolato RPh BCPP — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:08:00 EST

Question: I have been on various drugs for about 15 years (started off with Paxil, zoloft, Effexor-when I was pregnat, now Cymbalta of about 3 years) - for Social Anxiety, then panic attacks. I have gone off the cymbalta now of almost 60 days.... the withdraw took 3 months... aweful!!! Now being off the drug . . .

Answer: Obviously this is a topic of discussion with you and your physician. Let me try and help "frame" this discussion for that meeting. If you derived some benefit from Cymbalta (without significant side effects) than some consideration for restarting it might be in order. Your concern about needing . . .

Ask an Expert: Nicholas Votolato RPh BCPP, Depression

Depressed at school

Lawson Wulsin MD — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:06:00 EST

Question: I`m currently in college working toward my bachelor`s degree. I have had a hard time adjusting to school and being away from home. I get depressed pretty easily. What type of things can I do to help my mood? How should I know when to see a doctor?

Answer: First, learn to monitor your moods. You can use a 0-10 scale, the PHQ 9, or the Beck Depression Inventory. If you're ever down for most days during a couple of weeks, seek an evaluation at your student health center. You should know whether you have a clinical depression that requires treatment. You . . .

Ask an Expert: Lawson Wulsin MD, Depression