• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Mental Health Resources
    • Depression Resources
  • Blog
    • Coping
    • Medication
    • Self Care
    • Stress and Anxiety
    • Unhelpful thinking
      • Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
      • Fortune-Telling
      • Guilt and Shame
      • Time Travel
    • Sleep Issues
    • Depression
    • Covid19
    • Suicide & Self-Harm
    • Wellness Tools
      • SMART – Self Management And Recovery Training
      • WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)
      • Change Triangle
  • Contact

“I Suffer From Depression.” Here’s What I Am Learning.

Turnaround
You are here: Home / Coping Statements for Depression / It Happens Every Time My Depression Medication Is Adjusted

It Happens Every Time My Depression Medication Is Adjusted

April 10, 2022 by Depression Is Not My Boss Leave a Comment

It happens every time there is a change in my medication. I have physical symptoms including trouble staying asleep.
https://unsplash.com/@amjd159

You would think I would stop thinking that this time will be different.

After three years and over a dozen changes in my medication to address my Major Depressive Disorder, I am still shocked my body doesn’t adapt instantly. My psychiatrist even reminded me last Tuesday, that there was going to be a week or so where my body would be adjusting to the new dose.

Yet here I am, wondering why I’m back to having trouble getting out of bed.

Now in all fairness, I am not stuck, or up against a wall. There is no feeling of circling the drain. I am not running to look at my Wellness Recovery Action Plan to see what I should do. And I am certainly not withdrawing because I am feeling that only depression understands me. I am not keeping secrets and I am still engaging others.

Yet, dropping back from 450 mg of Wellbutrin to 300 mg daily is making changes in my body.

I can tell as I attempt to sleep. While over the past few years, my sleeping has been an issue, the past few months have been easy. Yes, I was waking up during the night, but only once. And I have been able to go to the bathroom, have a quick drink of water or Gatorade, and go right back to sleep.

Since Tuesday, sleep is just not happening.

Well, I am awake most of the night. This puts me falling asleep the first time between 10 and 11 PM. From there, I am back to waking up at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, again about 4:30, and finally, the alarm goes off at 7 AM. If I set the alarm for 6:30 Am, I hit snooze five times and still get out of bed at 7:00 AM.

READ MORE: Day five of my staycation – so why can’t I sleep (June 10, 2020)

I must get up at 7 AM to be at work a few minutes before 9:00 AM.

So, when it gets to be 7 AM, I must get up. My high-functioning depression kicks in and I get to work. I first take my Wellbutrin. Up until last Tuesday, it was 450 mg. For the past 6 days, it has been 300 mg. On day one I did not see any difference.

In fact, during the day, 300 mg and 450 mg have been the same for me.

Once I am out and going, the day moves along simply fine. But the nights are getting longer. I am also back to kicking covers off, pulling covers on. And I am flipping all night long like a bluefish on the sand, hoping to flip back into an oncoming wave. Nothing is comfortable, no position gives me relief so I can stay asleep.

It is possible I will try melatonin again.

I have not had much luck with this natural sleep aid. Of course, I only tried it for a few nights. And I did not stay asleep. However, I did fall asleep. But that’s not where my problem lies. After a few hands of digital solitaire, my eyes are heavy, and out goes the light. Very soon I am asleep.

But staying asleep has been a chore since I reduced my dose of Wellbutrin.

In all fairness to my psychiatrist, she said it might take a week or even two before my body would adjust to the lower level of Wellbutrin. As she has been right about so many things, I am certain I will have some relief in the next 5 to 8 days. If not, she is very prompt at returning calls or my email.

For tonight, I will cross my fingers and hope I can stay asleep.

Filed Under: Coping Statements for Depression, Depression, Facts and myths about mental illness, Featured Home, Mental Health, Self Care, Sleep Issues, therapy Tagged With: concealed depression, depression, depression and anxiety, High-functioning depression, mental health, sleep, sleeplesness, Wellbutrin XL

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

I write My Concealed Depression to create Mental Health AwarenessHello, I am Joel. I have Major Depressive Disorder.  I am genuinely determined to figure out my personal relationship with depression. With 40+ years of living with concealed depression, I write my blog to find answers. 

I once got so carried away searching for answers that I even earned a  certification in  SMART Recovery. 

Get my latest posts, (your email is never sold or rented)

I developed a 38 Page Mental Health Tools Flipbook. Complete the Form and Get Your Free Copy Now.

Privacy Policy

Discover Self-Care, Coping Strategies, Understand Anxiety, Track your Triggers, Mood, and Sleep; Recap Therapy Sessions, and more.

https://myconcealeddepression.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/my-concealed-depression-intro.mp4
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

More to See

The startling truth about coping statements for anxiety and depression

The Startling Truth About Coping Statements For Anxiety and Depression

October 28, 2020 By Depression Is Not My Boss

My 101 Coping Strategies for Anxiety

My 101 Best Coping Statements For Anxiety and Depression

October 18, 2020 By Depression Is Not My Boss

Am I Able to Be Happier, to Feel Joy?

January 24, 2023 By Depression Is Not My Boss

Depression almost kept me from summiting mount Kilimanjaro with unhelpful, all or nothing thinking

What Made Depression Almost Keep Me From Summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro?

January 21, 2023 By Depression Is Not My Boss

You Never Pay More, Yet Clicking These Links And Making a Purchase Helps Fund My Blog

PureFormulas.com-Pure Healthy Goodness, Highest-Grade Natural Supplements! Fast, Free Shipping!
Mosaic 250x250
Blog Meets Brand
Your Page Title

Footer

Contact

Email:  my.concealed.depression@gmail.com

Privacy Policy

Recent

  • Is My Anxiety Because I Am Still Unpacking from Africa?
  • Am I Able to Be Happier, to Feel Joy?
  • What Made Depression Almost Keep Me From Summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro?
  • 3 Years and 9 Months After Admitting Depression, I Can Say Merry Christmas
  • What I Learned Having Skin Cancer Removed from My Face

Search

© Copyright 2020 · My Concealed Depression · All Rights Reserved · Designed by The Marketing Momma