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Hi everyone! It’s a rare person with this condition who doesn’t have waves of depression/suicide ideation. What do you do for yours, and was it effective? Mine is gone, but honestly, I was taking so many supplements, etc that I’m not positive what stopped it. I think comparing notes would be tremendous for everyone! Thanks everyone! 😉
What helps me since I have very low blood pressure (may not be safe if you have high BP) is when I am really down and depressed I dive down to the bottom of the pool and hang out for a bit. Somehow I knew this would kick out the depression and it does almost immediately. Later I learned this triggers the “dive reflex” that we share with penguins and other animals. It slows the heart rate, vasoconstricts which increases arterial blood pressure! The purpose of these combined reflexes is to conserve oxygen and to redirect blood to the brain and heart. I had also learned that cold water showers a couple of times a day is great for depression and has many other benefits. If there was a fire and I had to grab 2 of my supplements it would be the Butcher’s Broom and Licorice. Anything that constricts makes me feel a lot better physically and emotionally.
I was originally on Cymbalta but I got extreme stomach cramps and had to stop it and was then put on Effexor which I have been on for many years now. However, I was wondering if anyone is on Doxepin. I was thinking about coming off Effexor and going on Doxepin since it also has the anti-histamine affect for the mast cells. Only problem is if I don’t take my Effexor at the same time everyday I have HORRIBLE withdraw like symptoms. I tried coming off of it last August by tapering off and ended up admitted to the hospital with what seemed like to doctors as a TIA mini-stroke but ended up just being horrible withdraw symptoms. ANY imput would be appreciated, this is something I struggle with daily and know I NEED to be on something until I get everything FULLY under control. 🙂
What helps me since I have very low blood pressure (may not be safe if you have high BP) is when I am really down and depressed I dive down to the bottom of the pool and hang out for a bit. Somehow I knew this would kick out the depression and it does almost immediately. Later I learned this triggers the “dive reflex” that we share with penguins and other animals. It slows the heart rate, vasoconstricts which increases arterial blood pressure! The purpose of these combined reflexes is to conserve oxygen and to redirect blood to the brain and heart. I had also learned that cold water showers a couple of times a day is great for depression and has many other benefits. If there was a fire and I had to grab 2 of my supplements it would be the Butcher’s Broom and Licorice. Anything that constricts makes me feel a lot better physically and emotionally.
I love this advice, Jennifer! I never considered going under water before! Vasoconstriction, absolutely! I couldn’t survive without Sudafed most every day for about 3 years. Rats! We don’t have a pool or I’d be there right now! So you think the depression is secondary to lack of blood flow to the brain and heart, then? That could absolutely be right. I always considered it to be a result of brain inflammation, but since hypoxia should result in inflammation, that still makes sense. I have the hyperadrenergic form, and when we were ruling out pheochromocytoma, I remember needing to rule out licorice, too! 😉 Doe sit matter if the licorice is red or black? That black stuff is, well, kinda yuck… 😉 Thanks, Jennifer. Is it OK if all depressed folks show up at your pool? 🙂
Yes! Pool Party at my house! 🙂 If you can’t make it, then some say the mammalian reflex can be achieved by dipping your face in ice water. Not as fun as a pool party!
Luckily since I agree with you about licorice not tasting that great I take Licorice Root capsules. I heard this from a Vimeo lecture on POTS and the Dr. mentioned licorice was the natural alternative to Florinef.
Anyway I can’t help but wonder if (at least for me) the hypoxia is a major culprit in the snowball that just keeps rolling…EDS=low blood pressure=hypoxia=adrenaline surges and pots. Hypoxia also= mast cell activation=inflammation=pain AND nerve damage=big snowball=depressing! I know it’s not that simple but something along those lines? I am doing many different things to feel better but constriction is top of my list. I am instantly MUCH happier when constricted! Coffee also has been a gift from God for me too. It has snapped me back to normal many times. Anyone reading this take all my info with grain of salt (which by the way helps too) haha.
Hi Jennifer, Yes! Dipping your face in cold water can often break a tachycardia episode — it stimulates the vagus nerve! But it doesn’t help with that all over vasoconstriction that coffee (or Sudafed and other things) can do. We have to be careful, sometimes, with our BP, but it sure helped me for a long time! I agree that your theory is vry basically what happens, but as you said, it’s not QUITE that straight-forward. Working out all of the kinks now, though! We have genetic defects we have to consider, plus a boat-load of chemicals that assault us! And that’s just the beginning! OK, see you soon with my Speedo (that is SO not true!). 😉
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