1. < Depression & Anxiety

Depression and Anxiety at an older age

Posted by pjss48 @pjss48, Sep 14, 2018

I am a 70 year old woman who has had depression and anxiety for a long time. It got worse 3 years ago when my husband lost one of his jobs. I panicked and my anxiety increased. I was afraid to do things. like driving. I have arthritis pretty bad and foot problems. I'm a Christian and my faith has helped me. My husband was a pastor and our church closed 3 months ago. We've had continual stress. Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself during the day. I've gotten help from several doctors, including a psychiatrist. I also have IBS. I am better. I'm taking trazadone duloxetine, remeron and xanax. Also on osteo biflex, probiotic , bentyl and celebrex. I want to get on Sam e but it may interact with one of my meds. Thanks for listening.

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BoneHead | @stsopoci | Sep 6, 2019
In reply to @Liane1 "For years, I did well on a very small dose of Lexapro. Only recently did I..." + (show)
@Liane1

For years, I did well on a very small dose of Lexapro. Only recently did I learn that it reduces bone density--I have osteoporosis. Also, I am having memory lapses--some of the research suggests that SSRI's cause memory problems and some articles say they help with memory. I need accurate information for a 66 year old with osteoporosis and memory lapses (with a family history of both osteoporosis and Alzheimers).

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I’d like to know more about the bone density issue with lexapro since I take 20mg. I’m 71 and I want my bones to stay strong. Is there some research article I can read?

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1 reply
Parus | @parus | Sep 7, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@parus I like what you said about thankfulness for what you can do now. Sometimes just..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@parus I like what you said about thankfulness for what you can do now. Sometimes just being thankful for the energy to be productive (or just clean) can be uplighting!

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@hopeful33250 You betcha!!!! Even dropping by connect is an accomplishment.

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Parus | @parus | Sep 7, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@hopeful33250 Just as @parus mentioned, it is way too easy to let thing accumulate and clutter...." + (show)
@gingerw

@hopeful33250 Just as @parus mentioned, it is way too easy to let thing accumulate and clutter. While my laptop warms up, clean up something! While my single cup coffee maker is brewing, organize! I hate cleaning, but will tell myself when laundry is going, that is my time to clean. These laminate floors throughout the house are so much nicer than carpet, but they demand a sweep/dry mop every other day, which helps the place look neater. I can then reward myself with reading a chapter [or two] in latest book.
Ginger

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@gingerw It is interesting and amusing how we condition ourselves. Chuckling to myself.

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1 reply
Mamacita, Alumna Mentor | @mamacita | Sep 7, 2019

@teresa, Volunteer Mentor, chronic debilitating pain loves to smack us in the face with blows to our self-esteem. Three o'clock and the dishes still sit in the sink? And we call ourselves productive?

Hey, I'm with the rest of you. I am just thankful I have gotten done the few things I have been able to accomplish today. My newest meds are helping me tremendously with the anxiety and depression. All my hormone levels are functional at this pount, and what a difference it makes in my life.

Thank you all for being here and sharing your experience, strength, and hope.

Love and light to you all.

Mamacita Jane

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4 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Sep 7, 2019
In reply to @mamacita "@Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, chronic debilitating pain loves to smack us in the face with blows to..." + (show)
@mamacita

@teresa, Volunteer Mentor, chronic debilitating pain loves to smack us in the face with blows to our self-esteem. Three o'clock and the dishes still sit in the sink? And we call ourselves productive?

Hey, I'm with the rest of you. I am just thankful I have gotten done the few things I have been able to accomplish today. My newest meds are helping me tremendously with the anxiety and depression. All my hormone levels are functional at this pount, and what a difference it makes in my life.

Thank you all for being here and sharing your experience, strength, and hope.

Love and light to you all.

Mamacita Jane

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So nice to have you back in our midst, @mamacita! I'm glad that your new meds are helping. Stay well, we all missed you, but we were glad that you were taking care of yourself and your family.

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Sep 7, 2019
In reply to @mamacita "@Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, chronic debilitating pain loves to smack us in the face with blows to..." + (show)
@mamacita

@teresa, Volunteer Mentor, chronic debilitating pain loves to smack us in the face with blows to our self-esteem. Three o'clock and the dishes still sit in the sink? And we call ourselves productive?

Hey, I'm with the rest of you. I am just thankful I have gotten done the few things I have been able to accomplish today. My newest meds are helping me tremendously with the anxiety and depression. All my hormone levels are functional at this pount, and what a difference it makes in my life.

Thank you all for being here and sharing your experience, strength, and hope.

Love and light to you all.

Mamacita Jane

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@mamacita
I’m not depressed but if you’ve ever read my posts you’d know how abhorrent I think the kitchen is. I even hate walking through it to go into the garage or take out the garbage and often go out the front door.
But I only let a few dishes accumulate. I fixed a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch which is equivalent to making a Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinner all at once. I’m not sure who’s nuts, y’all for liking to cook or me for not. I have to wash that pan before bedtime. I like a clean kitchen in the morning. Well truth be told, I’d prefer no kitchen at all. Now my office unfortunately is another matter.
Jake

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ailean55 | @ailean55 | Sep 8, 2019
In reply to @mamacita "@Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, chronic debilitating pain loves to smack us in the face with blows to..." + (show)
@mamacita

@teresa, Volunteer Mentor, chronic debilitating pain loves to smack us in the face with blows to our self-esteem. Three o'clock and the dishes still sit in the sink? And we call ourselves productive?

Hey, I'm with the rest of you. I am just thankful I have gotten done the few things I have been able to accomplish today. My newest meds are helping me tremendously with the anxiety and depression. All my hormone levels are functional at this pount, and what a difference it makes in my life.

Thank you all for being here and sharing your experience, strength, and hope.

Love and light to you all.

Mamacita Jane

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Abused as a teen. A family member abandoned us 10 years ago.Lyme disease then fibro. Just found out three cardiac arteries are severly calcified. Talk about depression? Yep. If it wasn't for God and my hubby I would give up.

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2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Sep 8, 2019
In reply to @mamacita "@Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, chronic debilitating pain loves to smack us in the face with blows to..." + (show)
@mamacita

@teresa, Volunteer Mentor, chronic debilitating pain loves to smack us in the face with blows to our self-esteem. Three o'clock and the dishes still sit in the sink? And we call ourselves productive?

Hey, I'm with the rest of you. I am just thankful I have gotten done the few things I have been able to accomplish today. My newest meds are helping me tremendously with the anxiety and depression. All my hormone levels are functional at this pount, and what a difference it makes in my life.

Thank you all for being here and sharing your experience, strength, and hope.

Love and light to you all.

Mamacita Jane

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@mamacita It's so good to see you posting. Each day is a new day. Those lists we make in our mind or on paper are not set in stone, or at least they shouldn't be. Do what we can, what we feel ready to do, feel gratitude for accomplishing that. And know we will add to that list tomorrow and continue to whittle away at it. And that is okay.
Ginger

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Mamacita, Alumna Mentor | @mamacita | Sep 8, 2019

Dearest Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, thank you. I'm getting there. Genetic testing revealed why I have had such a rough time. It's going to be better. More later. Still in pain. Love and light.

Mamacita Jane

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annedodrill44 | @annedodrill44 | Sep 9, 2019
In reply to @lisalucier "@hopeful33250 - I tried out this "cleaning the kitchen" technique yesterday. I do have depression and..." + (show)
@lisalucier

@hopeful33250 - I tried out this "cleaning the kitchen" technique yesterday.

I do have depression and anxiety, but they are fairly well controlled with medication. I'm sure I naturally get to work sometimes doing something during time microwaving, but sometimes not. The idea of being proactive and making a small dent in something - putting laundry in the dryer, cleaning the kitchen sink, tidying the counters - during microwaving is a little uplifter. "I just used that time well and got something accomplished."

I often find chunking tasks - working in little bits, and over time - helps me in getting things done and mentally/emotionally. In grad school, many of the degree programs had comprehensive exams for the entire program as a graduation requirement. This is kind of daunting - studying everything from 2 + years. Some of my friends put it off till the last 2 weeks and were panicked. I started about 6 months out devoting an hour a day to studying for comprehensives, and it really helped me to do a solid review and freed me up from anxiety.

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Lisa, do you get strong anxiety attacks that come and go, as I do? Or is it a constant feeling of just being on edge? I ask because I’m still sorting among the several types of anxiety disorders to decide exactly where I fit. Geeeeez!

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