Posted by shellie on December 3, 2000, at 18:28:57
In reply to Calling Dysthymics-My recent diagnosis-Help-Long , posted by shar on December 3, 2000, at 13:43:30
> I finally met with a real pyschopharmacologist, hoping at long last that I would be able to get above my depression. My diagnosis is dysthymia (I've heard that before but did not realize it was essentially a death sentence for feeling good). I also have double depression (dys+major depressive episodes) at times. Doc said it is hard to treat, I might be able to find something that will help a little, but in her opinion I was doing quite well.
>Shar. The only reason I believe diagnoses are helpful is for treatment purposes. It is only helpful for the pyschopharmacologist to tell you you have something hard to treat, if it is her intent to aggressively help you find something that will work for your depression.
There are several posters on this board (coming to mind Andrew B., John L, and Adam) who aggressively searched for something to help them and were successful. You should take a lot of encouragement from that. Other posters who found relief dropped off the board and I assume are busy feeling pretty good and living their lives.
You are not doomed to a life of depression, and staying out of the hospital and maintaining stability is not good enough. Nothing has really changed. Someone has just labeled how you already feel. If you go back to this pdoc, what did she offer you in terms of treatment ideas? Did you feel she's be totally committed to getting you better? If so, $200 would be worth it, to at least stay until you are feeling that something is working well for you. If not, there are other specialists in treatment resistent depression.
But please, don't allow a diagnosis to strip you of hope. shellie
poster:shellie
thread:49856
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001130/msgs/49864.html