Posted by terra miller on August 8, 2001, at 11:32:44
In reply to 2 rage incidents in one day with wellbutrin, posted by akrake on August 8, 2001, at 8:29:35
amie,
sigh. i know it's hard. cam gave you such thoughtful and understanding advice. you're in the tough phase. this is when the rage, if you're going to have it i suppose, was REALLY tough for me. (the 4-6 week mark) and also for me it was my kids that set me off. i think it's because i'm doing all that i can to cope and when they do something to get in my face, or be too loud, or a sudden & startling move... i would just lose it! it sounds like you are still using your wits to do what is right and remove yourself from the situation. it sounds like you handled both situations very well.
cam was right when he asked, "only 2?" there were times when it was more the norm that i was rageful then not. i have also had "the talk" with my own kids. we actually made a joke of it (my then 7 y/o and me.) i would say that mommy needs to take her "crabby medicine" (ativan) and she would smile and laugh.... it was really a relief to her i think to know that mom was on top of it and recognized the unacceptable behavior. i also have a 4 y/o currently. i think he would be able to understand that concept of "being crabby" for a while. do you think your 4 y/o would? i don't think i recommend hiding your situation from your kids. kids always seem to know more than we think or want to think they do.
even without meds/stuff, raising a 2 and 4 y/o is tough. these are the really taxing years of childraising. once mine hit 5, i could reason with them. i have also read elsewhere (where??) that the age of 4 is when we humans have the most energy in our entire lives. having done this with three kids now, i would concur! make the park your friend.... and getting outdoors will also help you focus. also not letting yourself get overheated in the summer heat will help you stay calm. i rented a bunch of calming kids movies from the library and actually laid on the floor with my kids and allowed myself to watch them and just rest my brain. we watched christmas videos, which will do wonders for helping you stay cool in the summer, plus it brings back all those fond magical childhood memories/wishes. i also kept a 2 pound bag of plain m&m's available at all times! :-) that was my spouse's job actually. now, i've moved up to peppermint patties. (he buys them for me by the case and stores them in the fridge..... when you're on wellbutrin and if you lose weight, you can eat peppermint patties whenever you want and it doesn't matter! ha!)
back to the rage.... now is the time to make that klonopin your friend. don't be afraid to take it as prescribed. i didn't want to take my ativan... i wanted to tough it out. but it really was the smart thing to do to take it. it won't always be like this. this is a wellbutrin phase and you want something that can help you now. prozac is helpful, yes, but it's one of those long term helpful meds. oh... and try to cut back on the caffeine if you can. i found this extremely helpful.
you should know that when i hit this stage it was also cam who helped me know that i wasn't a nut! it really does help to know that this happens and that it gets better. but when you are in it you think you've lost all your marbles. shoot for 6 weeks. just shoot for that. it may or may not let up by then, but at least it's got you looking ahead to a goal but not so far ahead that it looks impossible.
again, it sounds like you made some really good parenting choices. we're here for you.
-terra
poster:terra miller
thread:74114
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010804/msgs/74143.html