[CraigT]

This morning I woke up in a funk. Cranky. Blue. Down in the dumps. I would have called it PMS, but biologically that probably won’t happen to many of us guys.

Now, I know I’m not the only person who feels occasionally out of sorts. Many folks periodically look up from a normal life experience to find that the fog just rolled in. Maybe there were warnings signs, but I never hear the fog horn myself.

In the past, when I found myself in this very uncomfortable place, I used to have a small panic attack and try to fix the situation. (Even though I had no idea what was broken.) But, life has taught me that things aren’t always rosy 24/7 and I will periodically experience a bout of depression. Sometimes it comes from nowhere and other times I have unfortunately put myself in a self-destructive situation that causes a momentary collapse in my sunny world view. Sound familiar?

Knowing why you got depressed in the first place is not all that important in the midst of the fog. Only two things matter right then:

Don’t make the situation worse.

Remember that the fog always rolls out.

In other words, DON’T PANIC. Not even a little justified panic will do much good. In the midst of the fog, the biggest thing is recognizing that you are in a fog. I still get amazed how long it takes me to recognize it. Being married, my wife can sometimes see it before I do. Once you’ve nailed down the fact that you’re in a funk, you can take appropriate measures:

1. No major decisions. You may not be the best qualified to make big decision right this minute. Most decisions can wait a little bit.

2. Simplify your path for the rest of the day. By this I mean, take care of the basics, but don’t stack on other issues. This is not the best time to try and solve all your life’s dilemmas.

3. Do what you know is right. Eat right, get your exercise, and spend some quiet time with God thanking him for the distance he has already brought you.

The next thing is find a friend and talk about it. Turn to a support group, if necessary. How many times do you keep from sharing because you are afraid of what others may think? Trust me, you aren’t as unique as you think you are. Some folks are going through the exact same thing right this minute. Others may be just about to enter into a fog, and still others are successfully holding firm while the fog rolls out. By sharing your own experience, it helps everyone to not feel so alone while enduring temporary craziness.

In summary, the fog will roll in again. Trust me. But, with that said, the fog will always roll out, as well. Learn to recognize when you’re dealing with a bout of depression, and have an action (or inaction) plan. Then relax.

Hey, the fog is lifting… I think I’ll go fishin’.

[Gone4good]

I do suffer from depression. It has been four weeks since RNY and I am still taking my same anti-depression "coctail". I am aware that my body is not able to absorb like it used to and I am eagar to go back to my phyciatrist to know if the meds must be "uped" or if this is just normal to feel depressed lately. This seems like a very hard time for me as I have had Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays in the last 4 weeks and everything seems to center around food. I want to fit in and not "miss" the holidays but feel exhausted and emotionally challenged and alone alot. Any insights or readings that you can refer me to would be greatly appreciated.

[ginagirl]

i know how you feel i have the same feelings sometimes even when i take my meds i always get in a funk around christmas cause i miss my mom and wish she was here to share my success and troubles but i get over it and feel better god bless and feel better happy holidays to all

[DocSanae]

Are your antidepressants time release types? If so, that is the reason they aren't doing the job well. People with small pouches need regular forms, oral dissolvants, or liquids because the time release can't sit in your pouch long enough for them to be dissolved and absorbed.

You may not need the dosage changed, just the form it is in.
(((HUGS))) Hope both of you can get into an upswing mood soon, but then, it is winter, so it's okay to hibernate.

[BreeChick]

Thank for this post Craig! You are so awesome in sharing the most amazing things with such clear honesty!

I know for myself, having had major brain dysfunction with the chronic illness for so many years that for ME..this often signals a new re-routing of something. I used to have the most clear Eidetic (photographic memory) and totally lost it. Several years ago it started coming back in small doses.

The doc I saw for so many many years in Missouri told me to look at it as if I'd been someone who had had a major stroke event. You lose a lot of abilities and then it slowly over sometimes 10yrs plus comes back slowly and maybe not all of it.

The hard thing for me is being able to remember how easy things were before all that sudden overnight moment in 1993 when I had the initial major relapse. I remember how very smart I WAS, how easy it'd been for me to remember everything in the world after seeing it one time. Scarey smart it what they called me. Now..nah..I just have those silly "rain man" moments now. HA!

But I know on those days that I have that 'fog' as you called it..I just try and set that day aside, go with it, don't fight it or put it off and honestly for ME it is so much better than trying to ignore it or wish it away.

Its like so many things in healing..there has to be some pain involved before you gain abilities back. OR at least that is how I look at with this particular event. If I fight it, it makes it so much worse!! Instead of just one day it ends up being a week or more if I fight that "fog".

If I just give in to it and FEEL...omg..FEEL? yes I said it! FEEL IT and it passes SO much quicker. The next day or 2 it's just gone like it was never there before.

Then it's that wonderful discovery of what did I get back this time?

[BreeChick]

And oh yes..the most important thing...

Acceptance of God's path for my life. THIS is part of my personal path of healing, inside, outside, spiritually, emotionally.

Acceptance of it makes it all so much easier.

I've spent so much of my life like a 2 yr old on a tantrum of "I wanna do it MYSELF!!" that after having been brought to the end of myself..I see how silly and foolish it was of me!

God's direction is amazing when you just give in to it and let Him show the way to go. Part of this path is not always easy, sometimes it hurts to GROW..but it's not one I regret ever!

[decker1976]

Great advice!

[clancythecamper]

Thanks for sharing ~ I've been dealing with more foggy moments lately and then it dawned on me ~ this is my first Christmas with my dad and, while I was fighting "feeling" it with everything I had, it was the realization of what I was fighting and then letting the feelings surface that helped me get thru. Thanks for the reminder ~ que Annie ~ the sun will come out, tomorrrow ~~~