Posted by Maxime on May 20, 2005, at 6:22:53
In reply to Re: Why are evenings worse? » Maxime, posted by jerrympls on May 20, 2005, at 1:33:57
Jerry, I am the same way re. the summer months! Wow, I have never found anyone like me before. And it's strange because I have a harsh Canadian winter to face after the fall! But I liven up a lot. I think because it reminds me of going back to school which I always enjoyed and will be returning once again to change careers in a year. I was always happy in university, even during my graduate programme which was tough.
I also cut at night sometimes as well(ashamed). And I am anorexic so my blood sugar and energy is depleted in the evening even though I do eat around 5 pm. (nothing after 6pm is allowed).
I will be seeing a neuroendocrinologist who will be testing my hormones etc. and hopefully my cortisone levels. I think the corticosteroid I was taking for asthma for well over ten years has done some damage, but I don't know for sure. Now that I am off it, I feel much better (thanks to CK1). Although now my asthma is starting to get worse. Sigh. MY GP is going to be so angry with me for stopping, but my mood and health has improved so much.
Thanks again Jerry, as usual you are a wealth of information. :-)
Maxime
> > Hello.
> >
> > I find that my depression takes over in the evening. I try to keep myself distracted by reading or writing, but still I feel a wave of sadness come over me. If I call a friend, I still feel very alone.
> >
> > Is there a biochemical reason for this? Would it have anything to do with cortisone levels?
> >
> > Sometimes I work on CBT exercises from the Feel Good Handbook to see if it will help, but so far it hasn't.
> >
> > It really is a significant drop in my mood. When I can cry .... I do. Right now I can't cry. I don't feel any anxiety or anything just EXTREME sadness.
> > This has always been the case for me. It's like my anti-depressant just stops working.
> >
> > Anyone have any input? Sometimes I don't feel very safe at night and I end up having to call a hotline. A few nights ago I went to the hospital, only to be sent home and feeling even worse.
> >
> > Help?
> >
> > Maxime
> >
> HI Maxime
>
> I'm the same way. But I get more anxious and lonely than sad. Part of it for me, I think, is that my Dexedrine has worn off - but I also think that cortisol levels have some impact as well. If I am not mistaken, cortisol production/release? is *supposed* to taper down at night staying at lower levels throughout the night and then gradually tapering back up in the morning. I THINK?? But I wouldn't blame it all on cortisol - medication timing, hormones, melatonin function, etc all come into play. I had my cortisol levels checked pretty thoroughly a while back and they found that my levels were consistently LOW! Which kinda makes sense - since my depression is more anhedonic/lethargic, etc.
>
> I know scientists are looking at meds that stabilize the cortisol system - otherwise known as the HPA axis. My pdoc think that my HPA system is out of balance - but haven't found any suitable meds to try to get it back on track.
>
> I also notice that I get more lethargic and depressed in the spring/summer months. Exact opposite from usual SAD. Not sure why that would be? But I can certainly feel a bit of mode improvement in the Fall & Winter months.
>
> Anyway, hope this helps..
> Jerry
>
poster:Maxime
thread:499967
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050516/msgs/500246.html