What My Depression Feels Like

I wish I knew how to explain depression, my depression. Whenever I think of putting it into words all these cliches run to the front of my mind. I have a feeling I won't say it right the first time around, maybe after a few tries I will have gone a bit deeper. 

Oh, off topic, but, after looking at some past journals stowed away in my old room I have realized that when I used to write as a teenager I was more honest, even cruel with myself. I was a straight shooter. And maybe that is because I was so depressed, I don't know. Lastly, it seems, according to my journals, that I've always wanted to be a writer and tell stories. 

My depression. My depression is like a veil, a scrim, going over my eyes, blocking out sunlight, distorting how I see the world. The color drains from everything around me and all I see is a dull and hopeless surrounding dying before me. Nothing has happiness, everything is there because it is, it has no purpose. I go through the day interacting with so many people and things, and yet they all feel grey, colorless, empty, foreign things that don't speak my language. I am alone and the world is lonely. Everything tainted with a dark shadow. 

The cruelest part is that when I'm there in those moments of despair, when everything around me is part of a daily strum with no direction, it is in these moments that I am blinded by my own illness. I can't even realize and or understand what my mind is doing. To me it's not a trick, it's my reality. In that state of mind I am not cognitive enough to see that it's my depression making everything gray and bleak, and rather the world is truly not that way. I can't even tell I'm depressed. To me, it's normal. It feels as if I am on a track, spurring along with no decided direction, rather something is pulling me and propelling my body to whatever is next in the game called, "life," but I do it mindlessly, but not with ease, without motivation or hope. I do it because I know nothing else than this repetitious behavior. 

I just wish I could emphasize more how my mind does not work properly, or how it plays tricks on me, or how everything feels like a silent movie with me on a conveyor belt going through the motions because that's all I've ever known. Being depressed and in that moment not knowing that it is your mind telling you to put the lighted fire closer to your skin is the most frightening and bewildering thing I think I have experienced. It's like being mind raped while you are immobile and petrified. 

During that second when I think about burning myself never do I have the second thought of, "this is my depression talking." It's taken over my sanity. "I should not burn myself not just because it is wrong, but rather because I am in an altered state of mind that does not match what I feel in my soul." I don't trust my mind. In fact I don't even know if I can call it my friend. It frightens me and tricks me as if I'm a fool. No, it's my depression. I am smart, not only with my mind, but with my heart. You might be able to pull the wool over my eyes, and whisper my fatal and upcoming tragedies in my ear, but you cannot take the essence of me, the thing that survives the rubble every time you push me off that god damn cliff. 

I hate you. I hate that you make me think I am nothing. I hate that you make death seem like a peaceful slumber awaiting me in the distance. Just past those trees you will find your happiness. The trees are crowding the good. There's good in there amongst the dark and the only way to find it is through. It's hard, and I hope your mind never wins that battle where it takes you and leaves just a memory of who you wanted to be. Keep going. 

The light pervades. 

are you getting WELLbutrin?

I feel like this post will either be extremely boring or somewhat educational.

I have depression. I take medication. I go to therapy. It has been like this since I was 15.

{go ahead and judge}

Anywho, I recently decided to cut ties with the guy who gives me drugs. Please note he is a licensed professional and not a thug (reading this 2nd time and is not that funny, I apologize). I made this decision because I was tired of him trying to add more drugs to my already full cocktail of wellbutrin,lexapro,lamictal.

It may sound like a lot to you. 3 pills?! They're milligrams. Relax.

So, long story short I say goodbye to old psychiatrist and say hello to a new one. He suggests that I up my wellbutrin which I was definitely okay with. I have a solid plateau of meds, I don't need to add more, lets just ya know rearrange them.

3 days of 300 mg of wellbutrin instead of 150.

HOLY FUCK.

It is as if I am a new woman. I am fucking happy and elated and excited and motivated. I couldn't help but smile the other day. I find more reasons to talk to people and I keep making weird sort of funny jokes. My attitude has changed. All I feel is happy.

Besides some side effects such as extremely dry mouth, I am also a bit more... twitchy, ocd, hyper, excited.

It's hard to explain, but imagine a cat who one day picks up a frisbee, throws it, wants to go on walks, jumps through hoops and just never stops. That's how drastic the change is. I am a crazy cat instead of a lazy cat.

PLUS, I am no longer lethargic. I woke up at 9 am this morning. 9 am! People who know me would be shocked. Typically I sleep till 1 or 2pm.

Why am I writing this? Because I feel like this is a sham. Are people always this happy? Is this what I've been missing out on?

And...
What is the price you pay for happiness. I am not talking dollar signs. It's more like, though I am happy, I am sort of/have become overtly hyper.

You may say this isn't a bad thing. It's a great thing. I feel the same way. But I am gaining happiness while also gaining shakes, twitches and sometimes racing heartbeat. It freaks me out a bit.

Wellbutrin in particular affects the dopamine neurotransmitter, therefore, this might indicate that I am/was dopamine deficient.

I am of course going to talk to my new doctor about all this, but I thought it would an interesting read for people with depression who take this and or other medications.

Just some thoughts. I have never been this happy before. It's odd.