Reframing mood... or antidepressants?

Before being diagnosed with narcolepsy I was put on several mood stabilizers. The side effects were unpleasant and didn't help me at all. I didn't get any relief until I was diagnosed and put into the correct medication. That in it self help me out of depression and helped me change my mindset. 

I was told I had depression and that is why I couldn't sleep.  So many drugs and they were all wrong. I had Narcolepsy.  Once I understood that and that one big part of Narcolepsy is sleep deprivation i started looking hard at things.  Sleep deprivation causes depression, irritability and a whole range of other things.  Its hard to be happy when you are so exhausted and just trying to stay awake enough to do what everyone else is doing.

 

I do firmly believe that people can have a big effect on their own mood BUT if you have been depressed for longer than 6 months chances are you have clinical depression.  That means that your brain no longer produces enough stimuli to keep it happy and keep the seratonin flowing freely (not totally medically correct but the idea is there).  Most PWN (People with Narcolepsy) are often prescribed an antidepressant - not for mood but because it can aid with cataplexy and yeah ok it does help on those weeks when you haven't slept and feel really down.

Once you are out of clinical depression THEN you can begin the whole self actualisation and happy and healthy mindset.   So my advice would be give antidepressants a good 6 months to work and learn all about Narcolepsy and how it works, get a sleep specialist and then its the process of finding what meds work for you.  Good luck

 Hi Eric. Join us on Facebook where many other people with narcolepsy share their experiences. You'll get a lot more questions answered there. Search for pwn4pwn to find my group.

I have had narcolepsy all my life and was diagnosed about thirty years ago. I have been on antidepressants most of that time, with Prozac the longest time and vivactyl at the beginning. For years doctors have insisted I must have major depression because of it but they are for neurological symptoms and sleep regulation. If you have been chronically sleep deprived you most likely are not in the best of moods. An antidepressant may help with the physical part of things and improve your mood by default. I have led a full, interesting and happy life with narcolepsy. At times I have had sadness but believe we choose each day whether to be happy or not. One other thing is that you have not mentioned whether or not you have cataplexy which is a loss of muscle control. Many people with narcolepsy become emotionally flat as a coping mechanism. Since antidepressants help with the cataplexy, over time people begin to open up again. Good luck and best wishes. A good attitude goes a long way in dealing with this condition, as do diet and lifestyle changes.

Eric, I wouldn't say that N is causing you to have a bad mood.  I think that if it is your nature to be a happy, positive person then you will be a happy positive person.  The thing is that you are often sleepy, and that sleepiness is often misinterpreted by other people and even by yourself as being some sort of bad mood.  It's not. This is very common in narcolepsy and is the source of much trouble.   Nor are you necessarily depressed.  

Antidepressant medications, specifically SNRI's, are prescribed in narcolepsy to help control cataplexy.  If you have type 2 Narcolepsy you don't need any antidepressant medications.  You should also understand well that there is a difference between clinical depression, which is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and "situational" depression, in which circustances have got a person feeling down.In the latter case, an attitude adjustmnent (B-Mod therapy, cognitive dissonance, or a trip to the amusement park!) can set things right again.

I would encourage you to visit the Narcolepsy/Cataplexy Education Group on FaceBook, as well as the web site of the NICER Foundation, https://nicer.ngo.

Moshe Turner

 

Depression goes hand in hand. I once lost everything to now having more than ever. You,re a superhero! Effexor Xr does help depression for me.This Naps On Me! Blog