RLS & depression..who has it? Pam/Connie

[Guest guest]

Hi, Pam........

Count me in....

I've been battling some pretty bad depression this past year. Not manic...I'd

almost welcome a little of that......and I'm probably not what you would call

" clinically " depressed, although I would swear that I was.

I've been able to force myself to get out some....and I work on it constantly,

trying to change my mindset when the blues set in.....but between the rls,

depression, anxiety attacks and arthritis......I'm so exhausted all of the

time....I have to push myself every minute. I refuse to let this get the best

of me, though. I'm not taking any medication for depression because I know

that it could possibly make my rls worse.

I have made a personal decision to keep trying to defeat this on my own. I

make sure I accomplish something every day, try to be involved in the problems

of others in the group, work on some craft items and listen intently to some

beautiful music, simply for the pure pleasure and self-satisfaction,

..........I work very hard to write cheerful letters......and when I look

around me and see so much work that needs to be done that I want to cry, I

take a hefty dose of the medicine that Dr. Levin has prescribed for

me.... " stop and smell the roses..... " ......and that always makes me feel

better.

I think it has been pretty well proven that sleep deprivation leads to some

form of depression. It's obvious that we have to be extremely careful how we

deal with this, and we have to do the most that we can for ourselves. We also

have to recognize when the time comes that we need medical assistance and not

hesitate to get it.

Take care,

Connie