Posted by Angel Girl on February 28, 2002, at 11:07:31
In reply to Re: Psychotherapy ~ need advice please!, posted by ST on February 28, 2002, at 3:00:05
> >>Hi! I just discovered this forum a few days >>ago while doing a net search on Effexor.
>
> That's how I found this place. You'll notice there is a lot of Effexor talk! I've been on 225 mg of Effexor XR for about two months now.
>
>
> >> I have some side effects,
>
> My side effects have been dry mouth, fatigue and constipation. They are going away slowly. As far as the jerks and twitches, I think there is a med for that which has been discussed on this board. Try doing a search for it in the archives.
>
> >>I have been depressed most of my life to >>varying degrees but last July I was >>experiencing extreme highs followed by >>crashes.... I didn't mind the highs at all but >>the crashes were unbearable...But all of a >>sudden in October, the highs disappeared and >>left me with severe depression. That is when I >>sought medical help.
>
> That's pretty much my story. Depressed since I was 15 when I tried to commit suicide, and then when I was about 20 I started experiencing minor high periods followed by crashes. Then after a particularly "high" period, I crashed severely. That's when I finally went to a doctor. I was diagnosed as a bi polar II and put on Depakote, a mood stabilizer. There were no more high periods, but there were still the debilitating depressons. After about a year or two, my pdoc added Wellbutrin to the mix. Still no real
> long-term "lift" in the depression. Finally, I added an SSRI (Serzone, then Celexa and now Effexor) with the Wellbutrin and Depakote and have been feeling great every since.
>
> >> I am not in any therapy
>
> You HAVE to find a psychiatrist as soon as possible. Hopefully, he/she will help you find a therapist. I think you can benefit from both.
>
> >>...as I can't find anybody who will take me as >>a patient.I've so far been told that >>I'm 'untreatable'
>
> That is the most ridiculous thing I think I've heard. I'm sure you're a challenge to a doctor, but to REFUSE you? Believe me, there are plenty of doctors and therapists who will take you on.
>
> >> I have numerous major traumas in my life that >>lead me to this point. I also have 'blocked >>out' details of most of the traumas and an >>entire 4 1/2 year consecutive time-span.
>
> I really believe that a combination of talk therapy along with visits to a psychiatrist for medication will do wonders for you and give you hope once again. You'll be surprised how much progress you can make. These doctors who are saying "no" to you are appalling!
>
>
> >>I'm also VERY suicidal and have a plan worked >>out. I am VERY self-destructive in all aspects >>of my life.
>
> All the more reason to find a good doctor as soon as possible. Have you tried to commit suicide in the past?
>
> >>Throughout my depression I managed to get >>myself into MAJOR financial debt and almost >>lost my home.
>
> Oh boy...me too. I now have the most hideous credit.
>
> >>Everybody thinks I should just snap out of >>this. Ooooooh, if it was that easy. :(
>
> It would be good for you to find understanding people with knowledge about mental illness and surround yourself with them. (Coming here is a good start!) I used to truly believe I was a bad person for not being able to "snap out of it".
>
> >>Do you work while you're dealing with your >>depression???
>
> During my up and down - mostly down - times, I rarely worked. It was a major achievment to get to work and make it through the entire shift (I was waitressing at the time). I would constantly cry on the way to work because I hated going. I could only muster the energy for two, maybe three shifts per week. I would call in sick or continually try to find other people to "cover" my shifts.
>
> >>Do you think with multiple MAJOR traumas, >>blocking out traumas, difficulty in talking >>about them and constant suicidal thoughts that >>I am a candidate for therapy???
>
> Of course. Once your Effexor (or something else perhaps) really kicks in, you'll be able to really start focusing on getting your life in order. You seem willing to look at your past and willing to go in to therapy. You sound like a great candidate!
>
> >>If so, what kind of therapist: psychatrist, psychologist, therapist, social worker, other???
>
> Start with a really good psychiatrist (for meds and diagnosis) and from there you should be able to get some recommendations for a good therapist.
>
> Also, arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can. Read the posts here. Do searches on the web. Read about the different classifications of medications. Read about unipolar depression, bi polar I and II and anything else you can get your hands on. As soon as I was diagnosed as bi polar, I went ape trying to find out as much as I could. I found that the knowledge I gained eventually narrowed the gap between myself and my "illness". Now, my "illness" isn't so huge and unmanageable and scary to me. I also ask alot of questions of my psychiatrist and even discuss different medications and dosages with him.
>
> If you are diagnosed (after a few opinions)
> as bi polar, you will most likely be prescribed a mood stabilizer like Lithium, Depakote or Topamax in addition to your AD. Because of your highs and lows followed by crashes, it sounds as if you are bi polar.
>
> Do you have insurance? And do you mind revealing what part of the country you are in?
>
> Good luck!
>
> Sarah
SarahYou sound EXACTLY like me. I can't believe I have found somebody that appears to be going through exactly the same thing as me. I live in Canada. I do have insurance. Although I have been to 2 different pyschatrists neither one of them gave me a diagnosis to what kind of depression I have. I didn't think to ask. My only concern was to get help before I was successful with suicide. I don't have the highs anymore. They only lasted 2 months ending last August. Now I only have severe depression. A week and a half ago I was changed from Effexor 150mg to Effexor XR 225mg. Immediately after one dose my life improved. I have not cried once and have no more suicidal thoughts. BTW, yes I have tried to commit suicide a couple of times and came very close to doing it several times before increasing the Effexor to 225mg. The 225mg seems to be a Godsend for me. Thank you for replying my post. I feel so much better to know that what I am experiencing isn't unique and that I'm not going crazy. :)
poster:Angel Girl
thread:95742
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020222/msgs/95825.html