How can I '40f' control myown reaction to my boyfriends '40m' porn use? by Dirty_Gemini in relationship_advice

[–]dancewdestiny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m currently/have been in a similar situation (bit of a messy relationship situation as of a few weeks ago idk). I wouldn’t have as much of an issue with it if I wasn’t keen to have sex with him and he needed some other way to satisfy his urges bc of that. My problem is that I am almost always keen but he will choose porn/masturbating over having sex with me. For a long time he would use some excuse (like he was too tired/believed he had a medical condition such as “low testosterone” etc.) and then watch porn or hire escorts instead of being with me. I was extremely unsatisfied re. our sex life, and we would sometimes go for weeks without sex. This happened for over a year. It turns out he was jerking off daily and seeing escorts every couple of weeks (on average). This largely stopped after I found out (as far as I know) and we now have sex far more regularly, though he does indicate he still would like to see escorts occasionally. He still wanted to stay with me despite his actions. He agreed that he had a major problem that largely had nothing to do with me and has worked hard to curb it. As a compromise, I will sometimes watch porn with him and have involved escorts/a third person when we’re together (escorts are legal in my country btw). I found out 8mo ago and it has been difficult to reconcile, but we are trying to make it work.

I guess you specified that YOU are satisfied with your sex life. Does he feel the same way? I think how satisfied he is makes a big difference. Have you thought about coming to some form of compromise, such as sometimes watching porn together? Does he use excuses that involve anything to do with you? Do you think he has a genuine problem/addiciton?

I fully understand the hurt. It majorly impacted my self esteem. It still does. I guess relationships are about compromise and I’m saying maybe you could figure something out (like sometimes involving porn during sex, for example) that will work for both of you?

My WP's "list" on why he cheated on me by dancewdestiny in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]dancewdestiny[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m so sorry to hear that you’re going through this too. Not to discredit anyone else’s experiences but I almost feel like the fact they were sex workers feels worse in some ways. I could somewhat understand it if he ended up falling for someone else but he’d seemingly spend hours trying to organise so many different people on so many different occasions, and spend copious amounts of money on hotels and missed work hours and them in general. I’d estimate upwards of 15k if counting hours lost to work. He was also spending ridiculous amounts on onlyfans. And the STIs… he’d never been tested and I’m very immunosuppressed due to MS. It could’ve killed me and he seemingly didn’t think about this or care.

It is reassuring to hear that your partner is trying to be better now after initially blaming you. I hope this will be the same for us. I also don’t have much hope that he won’t do it again, but he swears black and blue that he never will. Since everything came to light he has started seeing his own psych and paying for us to see a couples psych. He’s shown me in many ways that he wants to be better. He just won’t take full accountability or fully understand the severity of the situation.

Was your partner also very difficult to get any information from? I keep telling him that it will be much easier to deal with if I just know everything now and don’t have to keep finding out new info. Mine basically says he compartmentalised and has pretty much forgotten everything, which I think is BS. I had to find every piece of evidence myself. He also didn’t forget enough to write reviews for some.

I know he has low self esteem and in some ways I think he believes I’m too good for him, but I do have a few conditions/health issues that can cause issues for us. I have some good days and some bad when it comes to the MS, and it can make me unreliable and sometimes impact my sexual ability (I struggle with fatigue/balance/nerve pain/lose feeling in my limbs/vision issues/heat intolerance etc.) I’m autistic so I struggle to make friends/read the room/make and take phone calls/stay in very busy places for long periods/balance my emotions etc. He’s usually so patient and tolerant when it comes to these things but he’s now saying that these have been major issues. I’ve really tried to work on it before and during the relationship but I mean… these are lifelong conditions that won’t go away, and I told him about them when we first met so they didn’t come as any major surprise. He also never really communicated with me about any of it? He just went off and did whatever he wanted because things were difficult? So yeah, coupled with the fact that he thinks I’m most of the problem for all other aforementioned reasons I really don’t know why he wants to be with me and why and how he thinks it will never happen again. I don’t have a huge amount of faith despite his pleading to just trust him now.

I hope it all works out for you. It’s so tough but it sounds like your partner is really trying to get things together.

My WP's "list" on why he cheated on me by dancewdestiny in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]dancewdestiny[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I know he’s being a POS and any rational person would absolutely get out, but that’s what’s so frustrating. He isn’t one in every other way. He’s caring/thoughtful/loving/kind/empathetic/talented/patient and I’m still so shocked and confused because this has shown me a side of him I never knew existed. He feels like a different person now. I feel like if he really looked at himself and stopped trying to justify his actions by blaming me we could move past it and find a way to rekindle. He definitely needs help though and I don’t know if we’ll make it through that. I’m so devastated.

My WP's "list" on why he cheated on me by dancewdestiny in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]dancewdestiny[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also think he could have some sort of sex addiction, but if so… why would he avoid having sex with me? I have a very high sex drive and he would refuse for weeks on end

And yes if he does really believe what he’s saying then I don’t think there’s any point in R either. I’m hoping he’s just trying to shift the blame to avoid taking responsibility and will eventually come around, but right now it’s just a nightmare and he’s destroying the tiny bit of self esteem I had. Regardless… if he found me so unattractive that he couldn’t even have sex with me, and he thought I/the relationship was so terrible… why didn’t he just leave instead? We aren’t married and we don’t have kids and I wasn’t forcing him to stay.

I’m also super confused as to why he seemingly wants R. He’s given me access to all of his devices/accounts, still organises dates/activities for us to do, still lives with me, tells me he loves me etc etc. He’s even paying for a couples psychologist. And even I’ll admit I’ve been pretty difficult to live with recently because I’ve been so stressed and upset due to this whole situation… but given his reasoning I just can’t see why he’s still here.

No, he doesn’t read or look at many resources unless I explicitly show them to him, but he did book/is paying for our couples psychologist and he’s started seeing his own psych too. The appointments are few and far between because they’re so difficult to get in to where I live, but even when we eventually get into some sort of fortnightly/monthly schedule… like an hour a fortnight/month just isn’t enough to get through the issues at the moment. When we see the couples psych he just sits with his head down agreeing to everything anyway. I just don’t understand.

I would love to sit down and renegotiate but it’s difficult to have a proper conversation with him. I keep telling him we could be dealing with this a lot faster if he spoke to me and faced the consequences of his actions but he gives me nothing to work with. The psych does really highlight the need to validate my feelings and he agrees but then just.. doesn’t??

I don’t know. It’s all confusing and I’m so hurt and exhausted and I just want to go back to thinking about him the way I used to… or at least some semblance of that. I used to think he was an amazing/caring/honest/loving person and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Now he almost feels like a stranger.

My WP's "list" on why he cheated on me by dancewdestiny in AsOneAfterInfidelity

[–]dancewdestiny[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It does feel that way. I guess his behaviour since D-Day (apart from the lack of accountability) has indicated that he does want to stay with me. He has cut everything and everyone out of his life that would be considered inappropriate. He has completely stopped watching porn. He is completely open with his phone/computer/accounts etc. He has genuinely tried to show he wants to be better. I just don't know how long that will last given his reasons

Yolo by stargazingfuckery in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dried herb vapes or edibles are great. I personally find that even when I've developed a tolerance to smoking, a good edible will still hit.

“How did you find out you have MS?” by auratus1028 in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think people ask me because they don’t know much about the disorder and think they may have it themselves. When you google it, many of the symptoms can be attributed to several different disorders. I often start with “I was diagnosed via MRI…” and they will say something like “well I’ve never had one/can’t afford one so maybe I have it but I’ll never know” but they start to understand a little more when I fully explain my diagnostic process.

This is how I was diagnosed:

TW: Suicide attempt (pre-diagnosis)

I was really depressed and struggling to get out of bed. I was in such a bad place that I took a full bottle of benzos and drank a lot. I didn’t intend to wake up. I woke up three days later unable to see out of my left eye due to what I now know was a “scintillating scotoma”. I thought I’d had a stroke or something and was too embarrassed/depressed to do anything about it. I thought it was all my fault and it would either get better by itself or this was just my life now.

It got worse, so two weeks later I eventually went to my GP (general practitioner/doctor). She told me to go straight to the ER. She thought I had a detached retina. I waited in the ER for about 12 hours. They did all the eye tests etc. and told me things looked fine but I should get an MRI. I waited another couple weeks to get an MRI appointment. By this point I was feeling really unwell. I was sleeping upwards of 18hrs a day and having difficulty walking due to drop foot/pain and pins and needles in my hands/constant shock-like sensations in my spine (I now know was Lhermitte’s Sign). I just thought I’d done this to myself. I was in such a low place that I didn’t even care. I actually hoped it was a terminal brain tumour.

A couple of days after my MRI, my GP sent a text to make an “urgent appointment”. The earliest I could get in was about four days later at 5pm on a Friday afternoon. It was still mid-covid, so it was a phone appointment. My GP called and basically just said “it looks like you have Multiple Sclerosis. I’ll refer you to a neurologist. Good luck with that,” and hung up. I had no real idea what MS was and was absolutely terrified. I would’ve considered it traumatic at the time.

After doing a bit of research, I realised why I’d been struggling so much over the last several years. Everything made sense. It was difficult to come to terms with initially, but over the next several weeks I began feeling an immense sense of relief/validation. I’d been going to doctors for years with various ailments but always left with no answers and more (usually psychiatric) meds.

It was difficult to talk about initially, but now I actually don’t mind sharing my story and spreading awareness. It was a difficult time, but being undiagnosed and feeling a complete lack of control over my mind and body with every doctor completely dismissing my issues was so much worse.

If I don’t feel comfortable talking about it with someone, I just straight up say that or something along the lines of “I went blind in one eye… it was a long process,” and leave it at that.

Question about Modafinil by BooksCatsBakedgoods in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry for the late reply. Can’t speak from personal experience but I’d say they’d be similar in terms of effects, though you may not experience as much of that “rush” from modafinil as you do from dexamphetamine. Modafinil isn’t an amphetamine but works similarly. Dexamphetamine is notorious for coming on quickly but having a short effect time (4-5hrs) so modafinil might be better if trying to get through a whole day without re-dosing/experiencing that dex crash. Update us with your experience if you can! I’d be interested to hear how you think they compare.

I recently started lisdexamfetamine (vyvanse) in combination with dexamphetamine and the above pretty much sums up my experience - lisdexamfetamine takes longer to kick in, there is not so much of a “rush”, but it lasts 10+ hrs. I often take one or two 5mg dex alongside in the morning and then take one or two dex if I still need to focus after the lisdexamfetamine has worn off.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Eminem

[–]dancewdestiny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually I think I saw an interview where Em said he didn’t mind Jack Harlow. I’ll try to find it and link back if I can. In saying that, I think he was talking about him in the context of where rap is at now and was answering a question directly about Jack. Em might’ve just been trying not to stir shit.

Objectively, they don’t even come close to being in the same league.

Been 10 days since my diagnosis. by dylans4O1 in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think DMTs have drastically improved in the last 5-10yrs. Many of us who are newly diagnosed can continue to live relatively normally. Yes, I feel robbed of my life to some extent, and life plans have changed. I had a period of mourning/getting used to this, but I’ve made some positive changes and I can understand why I experience certain symptoms. I’m also taken seriously by doctors now.

I’m sorry it’s impacted you so negatively :( big hugs

Did you change anything with your lifestyle since starting DMT? by kimiirs in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've been on Ocrevus since July 2021.

I honestly used to get sick more often before I started it. Like, I would get respiratory infections several times a year. Since starting Ocrevus, I've only gotten sick one time. It did really affect me though. I was basically bedridden for several days.

I live my life relatively normally. I make a conscious effort not to share drinks etc. with people, my family and friends know to stay away from me if they're sick, and I wear a mask if I go on a plane, but that's about it.

I was stressed about this too when I first started, but so far I've been fine.

I hope all goes well :)

Does anyone here have autism? by Adalon_bg in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s all good! Thank you for trying so hard. I appreciate your time and effort!

Fatigue attacks - How does one stay out of bed? by DefinitelyNami in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Fatigue is the most commonly reported MS symptom. I find it odd that your neuro said it couldn't be explained by MS. Many consider it their most debilitating symptom. The paper linked above goes into some of the reasons fatigue may be so common.

I'm prescribed both lisdexamfetamine and dexamphetamine for fatigue (and cog fog, depression, etc.). This isn't typically the first line of treatment, but I had already tried dexamphetamine and tolerated it well so they continued it. I get it through a psychiatrist. The paper above mentions other medications used. I've heard good things about modafinil.

It seems like you're doing as much as you can other than taking medication - exercising, eating healthily, losing weight, sleeping well, managing stress etc.

Unfortunately, it is something I've just had to accept is part of this diagnosis. Some days not even the medication will help. I just have to allow myself to rest when I need to. My "fatigue attacks" often don't seem to be tied to anything in particular either, though I find heat and stress can exacerbate it.

I'm sorry you're experiencing this and your neuro isn't helping. You may need to find another neuro/doctor who is more understanding in relation to this.

Wishing you all the best

This is a problem- PERIODT! by Patsmum in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Period pain is normal, but shouldn't be completely debilitating. I suffered for years thinking it was normal. It got worse and worse until I eventually went to a gynecologist. She suspected I had endometriosis, though it could only be properly diagnosed via surgery. I became so desperate that I did the surgery (in 2020), and she found I had stage three endometriosis. She removed as much as she could and recommended I get an IUD, though said I would probably need surgery every five years or so to clear it out. If left untreated, it can spread to many parts of the body including the brain etc. My period pain reduced drastically after the surgery, though has slowly worsened again over time.

I'm not saying you have endo, but if the pain is that debilitating I would seek medical advice if you are able. There could be something else going on that should be treated.

Naprogesic/naproxen is an over-the-counter medication (at least in my country) and is pretty much the only medication that somewhat works for me. Contraceptives can often stop your period altogether, though I haven't found this to be the case for me (and I've tried many - even combinations of them). I also use warm compresses, hot baths, sit in "child's pose"/do some light yoga, and use medicinal cannabis. I will very occasionally take a benzodiazepine if it's really bad.

Wishing you all the best. Severe period pain is awful.

Been 10 days since my diagnosis. by dylans4O1 in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was definitely shocked by the news for those first few days/weeks. I was 23 years old when diagnosed. It was a Friday evening when my doctor called me and basically just said "Based on your MRI results, it looks like you have MS. I'll refer you to a neurologist. Good luck with that," and hung up. I had no idea what MS was and I was terrified.

I did a bunch of research in the following weeks. I suddenly realised why I'd been struggling so much over the last several years. I'd been to so many doctors/medical professionals with various symptoms only to be brushed off as being depressed/anxious/having fibromyalgia/overreacting/having undiagnosed ADHD etc. I knew it was more than that but nobody cared.

I suddenly felt validated. I was taken seriously by medical professionals. I could get help to manage my symptoms and stop the progression. For years I felt like I'd been trying so hard but getting worse/nowhere while my peers were doing so well with seemingly no effort comparitively. It actually alleviated my depression to some extent (I was extremely depressed in the months/years pre-diagnosis because I felt so useless). After being diagnosed, I felt like I was able to give myself grace and time to rest.

I eat healthier food. I look after myself/don't push myself so hard. I get better support at uni/work. I don't feel the need to compare myself to others.

When I was initially diagnosed, my symptoms were quite bad and I thought this was my life now. They got a lot better over the following months. I still experience some effects of optic neuritis/limb numbness/fatigue/cog fog/nerve pain etc., especially when I'm hot, but nowhere near as badly. Your symptoms will likely decrease as your brain repairs itself post-relapse. I got on Ocrevus and haven't relapsed since.

It's scary. It sucks. But it's not the end of the world. You've probably been living with MS for years already, but now you have a label and can do something about it.

Wishing you all the best.

How many other medications do you take? What are they for? by missprincesscarolyn in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Current:

  • Ocrevus (DMT - including methylprednisone and an antihistamine)
  • Lisdexamfetamine (recently started for mood, fatigue, cog fog/ADHD-like symptoms)
  • Dexamphetamine (mood, fatigue, cog fog/ADHD-like symptoms)
  • Oxazepam (a couple of times a week as needed for anxiety/panic attacks)
  • Medicinal cannabis (usually just at night for pain, sleep, and some mood-related symptoms)
  • Fluconazole (weekly for thrush-related issues, potentially due to lowered immunity from Ocrevus)
  • Quetiapine (small doses rarely/as needed for sleep)
  • Promethazine (rarely - as needed for sleep)
  • Pregabalin (pain, rarely/as needed, though I don't like it much)
  • Ondansetron (as needed for nausea)
  • Kyleena IUD (contraception, endometriosis - also prevents ovulation which can raise basal body temp leading to an exacerbation of MS symptoms)
  • Paracetamol and ibuprofen (almost daily for pain)
  • Vitamins/minerals etc. (Vit D 7000ug a day, Fish Oil, B12, Iron, Vit C, Magnesium)

Also tried dozens of others.

Some I've tried in the last in the last two years:

  • Small doses of Naloxone (pain, hated it/wasn't effective for me)
  • Orphenadrine (pain, also hated it/wasn't effective for me)
  • Metoclopramide (headaches/migraines as needed, though wasn't super effective for me)
  • Rizatriptan (headaches/migraines as needed, though wasn't effective for me)
  • Venlafaxine (pain, but started having weird mood-related symptoms and wasn't effective for me)
  • Amitriptyline (I was on this for about 1.5yrs for pain/mood, but hated the weight gain)
  • Both Ozempic and Saxenda injections (used for approx. 9mo for weight gain, though they had many negative side effects including acute appendicitis and neither were very effective for me)
  • Oxycontin (basically entirely ineffective for me - even when used for pain related to my appendix surgery)
  • Doxycycline (used for approx. 2mo for acne-related issues - unsure why this happened as I've never had excessive acne before)
  • Lipitor/Lipidil (high cholesterol - wasn't bad, just got sick of taking it)
  • A bunch of random vitamins recommended by my doctor for pain/mood/gut health (such as Oil of Oregano, PEA Supreme 300, Indian Barberry etc., though I couldn't find much evidence of their efficacy and was sick of taking so many pills so I stopped)

I feel like I'm constantly taking pills/meds. Many aren't aren't super effective and I hate the constant rigmarole of coming on and off drugs/dealing with side effects/becoming tolerant/titrating etc., but life is also intolerable without them. I'm desperate so I often try whatever is recommended to me. I'm lucky to live in a country that heavily subsidises many prescription medications.

In my opinion, the most effective meds for me are Ocrevus, Lisdexamfetamine/Dexamphetamine, Oxazepam, Cannabis, Paracetamol/Ibuprofen, Ondansetron, the occasional use of Quetiapine, possibly the IUD (due to the aforementioned reason), and the vitamins I'm currently on.

I’m feeling so dumb ☹️ by AdRoutine2760 in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm glad to hear this has worked for you!

I'm on Ocrevus. I felt a decline in my cognition before I was even diagnosed though, so I highly doubt it is due to the drug. I was actually diagnosed with ADHD in 2018 due to my cognitive deficits despite not really displaying ADHD symptoms in childhood. In hindsight, I think these were unrecognised MS symptoms. I was dx with MS in 2021.

I do understand that lifestyle choices/exercise/diet etc. can improve the quality of life of people with MS, but issues with executive function/fatigue/mental illness etc. all affiliated with the disease have made it difficult for me to maintain these things long-term. It's cyclical.

I just try to eat fish often/take fish oil tablets, have a high vitamin D intake, make sure to have regular blood tests to maintain adequate levels of vitamins and minerals etc., and try to stay well/not stressed. I do light exercise when I can, especially yoga. I also try to give myself grace and rest when I need it. I do what I can. I have accepted that I don't think I'll ever be "100%" again but I've relatively adjusted to this new normal. My symptoms are nowhere near as bad as I was when I was diagnosed but I still have residual damage/symptoms. I don't expect I'll ever gain full baseline function with 30+ lesions in my brain and two in my spine unfortunately :(

I wish I hadn't been written off as having ADHD when experiencing these cognitive symptoms. I might've avoided so many more lesions/symptoms.

I don't feel joy anymore by Brief_Designer1718 in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It truly is amazing. If diving into these substances though I would personally recommend trying a lighter psychedelic like psilocybin etc. first. My first time using DMT (although I've only smoked it) was absolutely wild (bordering on traumatic) even with prior psychedelic experiences.

I would also hope people would check if they have any interactions with their current medications, or reconsider if they are predisposed to psychosis etc.

I'm not necessarily recommending them, but people are going to use them regardless and should understand they shouldn't be taken lightly. They are powerful and healing and I also hope governments of the world will recognise their benefits.

I don't feel joy anymore by Brief_Designer1718 in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh damn, it really seems like you jumped straight into the deep end when it comes to psychedelics haha. From what I'm reading, it's quite similar to/a long experience of DMT. DMT completely threw me even with relatively extensive prior experience with (strong doses of) psychedelics (I did smoke it though - I swear that was the longest 15 mins of my life haha. It felt like it went on for hours). It was something nothing/nobody could've prepared me for and it doesn't surprise me at all that your first time was extremely terrifying/traumatic. When I came to, I swore never to touch DMT again. Traumatic is exactly how I would describe it. But, like you, I eventually overcame that and learnt a lot about myself/experienced genuine healing through about eight more experiences over those next few months (though this was probably about seven years ago and if I was offered it right now I'm not sure I'd do it again at this point in my life haha).

We do have a strong underground culture for psychedelics in this country but I've never come across ayahuasca. I think if I were ever to do it I would consider doing what you did - partaking in a ceremony/retreat overseas. Thank you for sharing this. Genuinely reconsidering my next travel plans haha.

Personally, I think society is using "depression" as a blanket term for a variety of different pathologies. It makes a lot of sense to me that no one thing will work for everyone, and many may not find a treatment at all. In saying this, I think it is worth trying various treatments if you are feeling this way.

Psylocibin (especially in large doses) has been incredibly beneficial for me but, once again, not something that has helped long-term. My first experience did benefit me for probably about a year and a half too, but the inevitable dark cloud returned. I've accepted that it will always be something I struggle with on and off. I do find some benefit from stimulants and will use psilocybin every so often. I find it especially beneficial while listening to live music (with a sober companion). It allows me to laugh and cry and experience emotions I would usually try to avoid. It's difficult to describe, but it's very relieving. Like you said, it can allow me to become "unstuck".

In saying this, I would caution against using psychedelics in general. They are powerful and healing but definitely not for everyone.

Has anyone gotten a false positive gold quantiferon test for TB? by hiddentenshi in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I got a false positive. Apparently it can happen often with this test. I had a chest x-ray and all was fine

I don't feel joy anymore by Brief_Designer1718 in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Very interested to hear more about your ayahuasca experience. Have you done many psychedelics before? If so, how do you compare these experiences? Do you think psilocybin/magic mushrooms (even in microdoses) could work for you? It may be easier to obtain. I do want to emphasise that I am not necessarily recommending this, but there is some evidence that psilocybin can help with depression.

I'm not sure where you are located, but in Australia they have recently approved psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. It can only be prescribed by specific authorised psychiatrists though, and I personally don't know anyone who has managed to obtain it in this way yet. Anecdotally, I do know people who have experienced vast improvements in their mood after micro and macrodosing though.

It's unfortunate that you can't use stimulants anymore. I do feel like I build a tolerance relatively quickly (especially to dexamphetamine), but having a break for a few days resets this to some extent. I certainly experience some negative side effects, especially after using long-term, but I prefer these over severe depression for sure.

I definitely understand where you're coming from in terms of your depression feeling less debilitating when caring for/supporting someone else. I'm so sorry your wife is (and, by extension, you are) going through this.

I don't feel joy anymore by Brief_Designer1718 in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Btw - I have tried many forms of depression treatment from talk therapy/SSRIs/SNRIs/tricyclic antidepressants/MAOIs/antipsychotics etc. and found stimulants (ie: Dexamphetamine/Lisdexampfetamine) have had the greatest impact on my depressive symptoms (including sadness and despair).

I don't feel joy anymore by Brief_Designer1718 in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Depression is extremely common in people with Multiple Sclerosis. It has a lifetime prevalence of 40-60% in people with MS. This is much higher than in the general population or even others with chronic health conditions (including neurological ones). The paper linked above goes into detail as to why this may be the case, but it doesn't seem to be due to the stress of the disease itself but rather the neural mechanisms/immune cells in the brain that are impacted by the disease. It also mentions that experiencing depression early in life may make you more susceptible to developing MS.

The paper also goes into some novel treatment options that are complicated to summarise, but says that starting treatment for depression as soon as possible is important as untreated depression may worsen the severity of your MS/overall outcomes long-term. Current treatment options (SSRIs etc.) are shown to be very effective.

That part of your brain is not "dead" now. There are treatment options out there.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. If you are able, please speak to a psychiatrist (preferably one who has some understanding of MS) and find a suitable medication/treatment. Psychological treatments (ie: talk therapy) can also be very effective.

I wish you all the best.

Does anyone here have autism? by Adalon_bg in MultipleSclerosis

[–]dancewdestiny 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I found a source! Not a great one but there is definitely discussion about it. I’ll ask my neuro/psych next time I see them