Hey,
I've suffered from symptoms of depression and anxiety since age 12, and only realized to address these issues in my 20's.
Long story short, currently I'm trialing Bupropion (I'm aware of its anti-nootropic characteristics), and it seems to be helping.
My question is this: Is homeostasis likely to rebalance any "improvement" Bupropion causes in my dopamine signalling? Because quite frankly,
I've had these symptoms since childhood and don't really know what is the "real" me. It feels illogical that my individual homeostasis
would be just so skewed to cause these symptoms?
If receptor downregulation is inevitable, would a dose low enough to boost my dopamine levels to a tolerable level be more viable? I would
like to only get a subtle boost from bupropion in the fear of further desensitizing my reward system.
What has worked:
- Meditation
- CBT (lots of self-defeating thought patterns that are resolved with this intervention)
- Moderate exercise (too intense only worsens my fatigue. Though CoQ10 and D-Ribose help here.)
- CILTEP (this is making me able to focus enough at work)
- Abstinence (6-12 hour fasts improve mental clarity and anhedonia. Also no porn/masturbation. Should try minimizing computer time too.)
- Bacopa (smooths anxiety, improves sleep)
- Ashwagandha (almost fully deletes my stress, improves concentration a bit. Slight unmotivation though.)
- Probiotics (improves my sluggish digestion)
- Caffeine-free (I plunged in to a 2-week dark depression after ceasing my already low <100mg caffeine intake. Mood and anxiety seems better now though.)
- Uridine (worked good for a year, then pooped out even with all of the co-factors. Could the receptor downregulation or some other mechanism have played a role here?)
What has not worked:
- B-vitamin complex (never noticed anything apart from tiredness with these. Also trialed Methylfolate and the active forms of B-12 to no avail.)
- Rhodiola
- Fish oil (might lessen anxiety, but obliterates my already low libido)
- ALCAR (improves energy but seems to also kill libido?)
- CDP-Choline (choline seems not to suit me)
- Gluten & dairy free for 8 months (some improvements in digestion, no mood effect)
- Curcumin
I'd appreciate any insight!