Posted by eris-24 on August 9, 2002, at 16:55:41
In reply to Re: flat/blunted emotions » eris-24, posted by Dinah on August 9, 2002, at 8:57:34
Thanks for your reply! All reasonable advice.
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For what it's worth, it sounds as if there is a dissociation/derealization component to what you describe. You might want to look into your research from that angle.
--I have looked into this. I was posting on a DD/DR board for a few months, and everybody said it sounded like I had something else. I came to agree with them -- it's not very intense, it's there all the time, and I never got the panic attacks.
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Did any of your doctors recommend atypical antipsychotics?
--No... not even typical antipsychotics. Just SSRIs. I am holding myself back, here, from griping about the doctors.
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You only felt paranoid while on SSRI's?
--Yes. I'm usually incredibly apathetic. Every single one of the four SSRIs I tried made me paranoid.
I remember Zoloft in particular, because it was really nasty: I stopped in a convenience store to pick up a carton of cigarettes, and the clerk told me they didn't have cartons, just packs, and I got really confused over that. I finally just took what he gave me (he was looking unworldly-odd standing behind the counter) so he wouldn't think I was drunk or high or something (paranoia 1). Then I bought some food, and I kept thinking the microwave was gonna explode (2) or the clerk was going to spit in it (3). I'd gone totally crazy. And I know this is NEVER supposed happen on little ol' Zoloft.
They put me on Luvox (an anti-anxiety drug!), and I would lie awake at night worrying about insane things like, "My house is going to be invaded by bugs!" when I would have much rather just gone to sleep.
Obviously SSRIs aren't the answer.
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There are mental health clinics that will see you on a sliding scale. Please call your local officials to see what options you might have.
--Well, see, I'm kinda screwed there. I called the nearest clinic in the next county at the very beginning, and I live out of their "service area". Currently I'm unemployed and broke, so I can't even work with a sliding scale. I'm going to have to content myself with doing my own research some more.
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Psychotropic medications can have some nasty effects, and if you don't have a doctor on board, you won't be able to evaluate objectively what is happening, because psychotropic medications by definition will interfere with that objectivity.
--I perfectly understand.
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This is a great board, but it is no substitute for a physician.
--I suppose my last post was too long and too vague. I know that I can't be diagnosed or treated over the 'net. I just keep hoping that maybe if I talk about it enough, I'll find someone who has the same thing.
What I'm really looking for is a list of drugs to lower serotonin levels. I may not even try any of them; but I DO definitely want to research them.
Thanks,
eris
poster:eris-24
thread:115787
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020807/msgs/115859.html