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Managing Lifelong Mental Health as a Senior

Posted by georgette12 @georgette12, Jan 13, 2017

I have just started using this site so this is my first message.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Mental Health Support Group.

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Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Apr 28, 2017
In reply to @janharris0306 "First time for me too. I am looking into Anxiety and Corticobasal Syndrome. I have both." + (show)
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First time for me too. I am looking into Anxiety and Corticobasal Syndrome. I have both.

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Hello @janharris0306, what sort of questions do you want to know about how Connect works?

If you are responding by email, my first suggestion is to scroll to the bottom of this email message and click on the VIEW & REPLY button. If you do this, it will take you to the site where you can see the entire discussion in the correct order. This makes it easier to reply to specific messages and to the correct members.

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Trout | @ricktrout | May 17, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @georgette12 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community of folks..." + (show)
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Hello @georgette12 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community of folks who are interested in health topics and sharing information about what has helped and encouraged them. Please feel free to share with us as to what brought you to Mayo Connect. Is there a specific health issue you or a family member/freind is dealing with? All of us came to Mayo Connect as a result of some health-related issue and we have found support and help along the journey. We look forward to getting to know you! Best wishes. Teresa

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Hello Georgette12. I am a 72 yr old man who has suffered with life long depression. I wasn't diagnosed until my 50s. I've been on 180mg daily of Effexor. It seemed to work for some years but it seems to have stopped helping over the past few years. I wonder if I should try something else.

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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 17, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @georgette12 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community of folks..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

Hello @georgette12 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community of folks who are interested in health topics and sharing information about what has helped and encouraged them. Please feel free to share with us as to what brought you to Mayo Connect. Is there a specific health issue you or a family member/freind is dealing with? All of us came to Mayo Connect as a result of some health-related issue and we have found support and help along the journey. We look forward to getting to know you! Best wishes. Teresa

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Hello @ricktrout and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you have chosen to join this online support group. Many people in our discussion group have discussed medications that they have taken for depression and I'm sure that they will be joining you in this discussion in the near future. Please feel free to continue to share with us, as you are comfortable, more about the ways you cope with depression. Also, have you discussed the medication problem with your doctor? We will be a listening ear for you. Best wishes as you work through this situation. Teresa

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Trout | @ricktrout | May 17, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @georgette12 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community of folks..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

Hello @georgette12 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community of folks who are interested in health topics and sharing information about what has helped and encouraged them. Please feel free to share with us as to what brought you to Mayo Connect. Is there a specific health issue you or a family member/freind is dealing with? All of us came to Mayo Connect as a result of some health-related issue and we have found support and help along the journey. We look forward to getting to know you! Best wishes. Teresa

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Hello Teresa. Yes, I'm seeing my dr. This week and plan to discuss my medication issue.

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Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | May 17, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @georgette12 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community of folks..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

Hello @georgette12 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community of folks who are interested in health topics and sharing information about what has helped and encouraged them. Please feel free to share with us as to what brought you to Mayo Connect. Is there a specific health issue you or a family member/freind is dealing with? All of us came to Mayo Connect as a result of some health-related issue and we have found support and help along the journey. We look forward to getting to know you! Best wishes. Teresa

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@ricktrout

I tried a number of antidepressants, and landed on Bupropion (Wellbutrin). I think I tried a couple of other meds that would enhance the Bupropion, but they didn't seem to be any help. I started my first antidepressant, Celexa, around 15 years ago. Along with the help of therapists (still seeing one), and the support of my wife, church, God's care, and my service dogs, I've come a long way.

I believe you'll find the medication that will work best for you.

Jim

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Trout | @ricktrout | May 18, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @georgette12 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community of folks..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

Hello @georgette12 and welcome to Mayo Connect. You have joined a wonderful online community of folks who are interested in health topics and sharing information about what has helped and encouraged them. Please feel free to share with us as to what brought you to Mayo Connect. Is there a specific health issue you or a family member/freind is dealing with? All of us came to Mayo Connect as a result of some health-related issue and we have found support and help along the journey. We look forward to getting to know you! Best wishes. Teresa

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Thanks Jim.

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faith123 | @faith123 | May 18, 2017
In reply to @johnhans "I am having a hard time adjusting to major depression and the problems of senior living...." + (show)
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I am having a hard time adjusting to major depression and the problems of senior living. I also have neuropathy which makes it hard for me to walk and impossible to drive. This cuts me off from social activities and leaves me isolated. I am feeling increasingly frustrated and highly agitated and irritable. After a lifetime of depression that was at least partially controllable, now it is just getting worse and nothing works on me. When I do go out with paratransit I get in arguments with others which makes me want to stay home and never go out. I find the local hospitals here in Minnesota to be not worth much in treating depression, just shove out the door to get the next person in. Only Mayo is rated good, but I have no way of getting there since I do not drive and I do not know if my insurance is even accepted there. Is this what senior life is like for the mentally ill? There are no local services for me. I have checked.

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Hopeful refered me to talk to you. I fractured my hip last August and am still not able to walk without walker or cane. I' m 81

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Trout | @ricktrout | May 18, 2017
In reply to @johnhans "I am having a hard time adjusting to major depression and the problems of senior living...." + (show)
Profile picture for johnhans @johnhans

I am having a hard time adjusting to major depression and the problems of senior living. I also have neuropathy which makes it hard for me to walk and impossible to drive. This cuts me off from social activities and leaves me isolated. I am feeling increasingly frustrated and highly agitated and irritable. After a lifetime of depression that was at least partially controllable, now it is just getting worse and nothing works on me. When I do go out with paratransit I get in arguments with others which makes me want to stay home and never go out. I find the local hospitals here in Minnesota to be not worth much in treating depression, just shove out the door to get the next person in. Only Mayo is rated good, but I have no way of getting there since I do not drive and I do not know if my insurance is even accepted there. Is this what senior life is like for the mentally ill? There are no local services for me. I have checked.

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Faith, I'm so sorry to hear you fractured your hip. Take great care of yourself. God bless you.

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faith123 | @faith123 | May 18, 2017
In reply to @johnhans "I am having a hard time adjusting to major depression and the problems of senior living...." + (show)
Profile picture for johnhans @johnhans

I am having a hard time adjusting to major depression and the problems of senior living. I also have neuropathy which makes it hard for me to walk and impossible to drive. This cuts me off from social activities and leaves me isolated. I am feeling increasingly frustrated and highly agitated and irritable. After a lifetime of depression that was at least partially controllable, now it is just getting worse and nothing works on me. When I do go out with paratransit I get in arguments with others which makes me want to stay home and never go out. I find the local hospitals here in Minnesota to be not worth much in treating depression, just shove out the door to get the next person in. Only Mayo is rated good, but I have no way of getting there since I do not drive and I do not know if my insurance is even accepted there. Is this what senior life is like for the mentally ill? There are no local services for me. I have checked.

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Thank you. It has been difficult pill to swallow. I am trying to hang In there

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faith123 | @faith123 | May 20, 2017
In reply to @lesbatts "These people are supposed to be Christians? I'd try another church if I were you and..." + (show)
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These people are supposed to be Christians? I'd try another church if I were you and don't tell anyone about your background.
I do not go to church but I had plenty of it when I was a child, enough to make me not want to ever go to church again.
My family and close friends know that I am Bipolar and I never tell anyone else. I thought the bias was lifting against people with mental illnesses but I guess not.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

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I also broke my hip in August of last year. Have been trying to get in touch with you to see if you have any tips for me and I also suffer from depression

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