Posted by viridis on March 19, 2003, at 22:03:46
In reply to Re: Social Phobia - various medsnot exactly, all, posted by utopizen on March 18, 2003, at 4:26:15
The "rationality" issue can be pretty strange. In between meds, before I found my current psychiatrist, I saw a therapist several times during an episode of severe agitated depression. When I get into those states, I become very fixated on certain problems -- always real (nothing psychotic), but I think of all the worst-case scenarios, and they dominate my life.
I was quite aware that my degree of worry was exaggerated, but I got very frustrated when she kept telling me that my fears were "irrational". My response was no, they're rational, I'm just obsessing about them and they're interfering with my life, which is why I'm here (at the time I was involved in a complicated legal issue that could have caused me major problems). But she just insisted that I was "irrational". As you said, if that were the case, why was I actively seeking treatment?
I finally moved back to meds, this time successfully. I mentioned the above situation to my psychiatrist, and the anxiety it caused, and he said something like "wow, that would drive me crazy too -- I'm not surprised you were so stressed". That was one of the signs that he was a good guy. Another positive sign was that he wasn't surprised by my reactions to the ADs I'd tried, and said that they were to be expected for someone with an anxiety disorder like mine, who really needed benzos.
Anyway, you sound pretty rational, and sincere about looking for help. I wouldn't stay with a doctor who dismisses your ideas so freely and seems (based on some of your other posts) bent on keeping you away from the meds that might help most.
poster:viridis
thread:209732
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030319/msgs/210810.html