Pur de Cat

Written by

Thu, August 28, 2008

I am a 72 year old man who has lived with depression, anxity and sever social anxity all my life. Some of the times were real bad and I tried to end it several times, but wasen't good at it.

I am also a disabled, mental, Koren vet and get all my treatment at the local VA hospital. The VA has been awsome for me and I would not be here but for them and there caring.

My only companion for the past 25 years has been my cats. I have had good indore kittys that saved my life several times.

My medications have finaly been worked out so I am pretty good alot of the time.

I take Primidone. Bupropion, Ctalopram, Olanzapine, Aripipazole, Alprazolam in varing amounts daily, and the only side affect I have is weight gain.

I am retired and have worked most of my non milatary life as a Cad Draftsperson.

It sometimes takes along time to get the drug combination that works for you. Not everything woorks for everyone. It tuck 10 years to get my meds. working OK., and I owe that to the good people at the VA.

I dont have any people in my life accept my VA case manijor, who is great.

I would be willing to talk with anyone about this dibilating disorder, and hhelp if I can.\

I am a poor speller without a spell checker, so please just put up with me.

Trev, and Scupper

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Merely Me

8/28/08 8:38pm

Hey there

Just wanted to thank you for sharing your story and your experience here with us. I applaud you for your courage and spirit to battle your depression for so long. You will undoubtedly help others by talking so openly about your life.

Very nice to meet you.

Merely Me

Trev

9/ 1/08 9:53am

Thanks for the hellow. Its been a long jurney, with some good periods and some real down times.

Right now I try to walk a mile and a half every day and do some heavy hands upper body exercise daily. The exercise is critical to my moods. I feel much better when I just get out and walk. I have a exer-cycle so in bad winter weather I can still do some kind of a work out.

I would say the exercise has helped my daily mood the most, and medication helps keep me from extream swings over the long run

I will be glad to answer any one who wants to talk.

Have a good holiday friend.

lunablue

9/ 3/08 10:37am

I really admire your gut's and love of feline's. I also have a 8 yr old cat, she too is my only confidant. I share your symtoms.

Trev

9/ 3/08 10:59am

Thanks for posting. Sure nice you have a great kitty, thay are so much company.

I hope you are having a good period and can enjoy some things. I love college football and hockey so during the fall and einter I can get lost in sports, and that helps get me out of my moods, and gives me something else to think about.

I hope you have a good week and weekend.

Take good care friend

Trev abd Scupper

lunablue

9/ 3/08 11:15am

Thank you, Sir

I read alot, and do fill-in puzzles to distract me and excerise my brain,(or try to!) there are many way's to communicate, I myself am not good at talking, but I am a great listener. I hope you have a great day&night.

Danny G.

9/ 3/08 7:16pm

I salute you as a vet and also as a Cad draftsman. I think there is a connection don't you? I can't wait to retire out of this computer -aided world. I ' ll go back to my 6H

pencil and squares, machinery handbook,etc. Hang tough, I am with you, man !

I also got 3 cats, they are so cool, all different, You have a lot of experience in many

areas. I appreciate your sharing. It took a while for my meds to work too.

Peace & Blessings ........ - Danny G.

Trev

9/ 3/08 8:23pm

Thanks for the kind words. I apperciate it. Ya I was glad to retire too from working and all the changes to drawings everyone wanted. I dont do any Cad work any more. JUst surf the Net. and have fun with my computer,

Cats are supper; my old cat could tell when I was having problems with depression, and would get up on my lap, or curl up by me and start puring. Helped alot.

Thanks again.

Take good care and have a good week and weekend.

Trtev and Scupper

Vicki M

9/ 4/08 8:11am

Hi Trev,

What a wonderful story to wake up to today! Thank you for sharing your experiences. One of the hardest things to do is open up about things like depression. It can be such a personal thing. I am glad you found comfort in your cats. They are very intuitive animals. But it's also nice to see you here where you can be such a testament to life. I know there are days when times are tough, but if you run in to one of those days, just reach out and post a sharepost here! If you are having a good day, then let us know about that too! Perhaps someone who is feeling really low will read your story and be uplifted like we were. It could literally make the difference in someone's life.

You mention a love for football. Who's your team? We're die hard Redskins fans in this part of the country. Whoever you root for, I hope they play well and you enjoy the games!

Take care and stay in touch. Let us know how you guys are doing!

Vicki M

Trev

9/ 4/08 11:23am

Hi Vicki.

Thanks for the post. I enjoy hearing from others who are working through there illness.

I am in Colorado, so watch the Broncos, and the Avalanche through out the season.

I get some popcorn and a big coffee and Scupper on my lap and we watch sports. I do at least, and Scupper usually goes to sleep.

Actually I am having some depression problems this week. I have a hard time getting out for my walk, but so far have not missed a day. I just dont feel up, just one of those small low periods , so I try to stay positive, and know this will pass to. I have learned to be patient with myself and not beat-up on myself . Dosent always work but halps.

Will take care and enjoy all you can.

Trev and Scupper

Dorothy Hill

9/ 8/08 8:00pm

Hello,

I am a 29 year old married woman without kids. I have been living with depression most of my life.

I don't have many people in my life except my husband. I am writing to you because I logged onto this website today and really am starting to feel better about the whole living with depression scenerio.

I can relate to how important your cats are to you. I have a dog and cat and they have brought so much comfort to me.

I hope that the comments you get will give you comfort. I care about your well being even though I don't personally know you.

I walk my dog and sometimes I think to my self: I am alone and no one cares about my trials with depression. I am rooting for your struggle. I will keep you in mind on my walks and that will make me feel that I am not alone in this world.

Dorota

Trev

9/ 8/08 10:38pm

Thanks for your post. I apperciate your kind thoughts. I hope you find some comfort, and hope in the fact I have survived so long with my illness. I thank the VA medical center for my good medication, otherwise I would not have made it this far.

It's nice you have a nice dog and cat to help you along. Pets are a God send. I don't know what I would do without my cat.

Thanks agan for your post, and I will be thinking of you and your dog when I walk too.

Trev and Scupper

rar1951

9/10/08 8:08pm

Trev,

Your blog is great. It has a surprise ending, since only the first 2 sentences are shown for everyone's blog. Yours starts out real sad, but ends up very positive. I hope you give comments to others because there are a lot of hurting people putting blogs here. Yours is one of the few positive ones. I noticed a few vets put blogs here, and one in particular is close to suicide. You have been to that dark place, and have made it back. You

rar1951

9/10/08 8:08pm

Trev,

Pur de Cat

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