Posted by bobbiedobbs on May 3, 2004, at 13:54:35
In reply to Re: does it sound like my Zoloft is working? » SDA, posted by psychosage on April 19, 2004, at 11:11:40
Thought your remarks on the tightwalk of treating emotional difficulties while maintaining intellectual/cognitive functions was very well expressed. Hits at the heart of many individuals' difficulties in seeking relief while being able to continue to meet their external (and internal) intellectual needs. This is often underappreciated by therapists who rightly advise patients to stay the course when acclamating to a medication but who don't fully appreciate the difficulties. Perhaps the PDOCs have limited choices, or perhaps they need to ramp up their "bedside" counsel. In any case, I just wanted to say I appreciated your counsel in this string. That said, if Nardil worked for me and didn't make me tired, but stopped being effective after several years, and I've had cognitive difficulties/the "out of it" effect on Lexapro, Prozac and Luvox, would you suggest Zoloft, Effexor or Marplan. I am team leader of a group that writes job aids. The work, and managing ornery personalities, requires a bit more energy and cognition than I seem to have at the moment. Thanks, PHil
> > I have absolutely no idea if the Wellbutrin worked or not. Like I said, I don't think I was truely depressed back then. I was also too young to know any better.
> > >
> > > As for the intellect/emotions thing: I'm currently at a top university majoring in physics. Obviously I value intellect VERY hightly. At the moment I don't feel terribly sad at all, just mentally crippled and physically ill.
> >
> > Scratch that. A wave of saddness just hit me, and I started spontaneously crying and comtemplating suicide. After about 5 minutes I was more or less alright.
> >
> > Maybe I really am bipolar. Here's a little more backsotry that points in this direction:
> >
> > As I said before, last year (my freshman year in college) I went off meds for the first time since age 11. I felt like a new person, and I liked it. On the other hand, a lot of weird things started coming up, although I didn't pay enough attention to them at the time. I somehow got into the habbit to getting only a couple hours of sleep on week nights, but still pulled off straight A's. My self esteem was also WAY too high, and I had the classic "racing thought" of a manic person. Perhapse my number finally came up, and the boom has finally gone bust on me.
>
>
> Wow, that was some mood swing. Well, I have been in and out of an elite university in the Northeast for a very very long time. Meds knocked me out the last time, so I do suggest you be very very vigilant about your side effects.
>
> I suggest you stay close to your counseling and psychological services in the event of a crisis. You may also need some people to vouch for you in case you need accomodations to finsih your work as the semester ends.
>
> You can bring up the issue of the bipolar possibility with a psychiatrist and or therapist. You are at the age where it begins to really manifest itself, so it would be good to catch it early.
>
> Here are some good links, and think about asking your pdoc for wellbutrin or any other options.
>
> Generally, SSRIs {anything serotonergic}, mood stabilizers {maybe not keppra, an anticonvulsant occasionally used as a MS} and neuroleptics {maybe not abilify} compromise the very functions you are worried about. however, perhaps you are at the point where you have to step back and like I said before, take care of your emotions. It is really hard to think in that way when you are used to being hyperbusy and high-achieving, but you won't be functioning optimally down the road if you don't slow down.
>
>
> Good luck! Also, don't be hesitant to walk into an ER if you are suicidal or self-injurious.
>
> http://www.thecrimson.com/mentalhealthseries.aspx
>
>
> http://www.mcmanweb.com/index.html
>
> http://bipolar.about.com/library/howto/ht-explain.htm
>
> Check out Dr. Kay Jamison from Johns Hopkin.
>
> http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/418724?WebLogicSession=P98TwdNSwgRUL7qZqRH69mlKakc0BI3QiPi4tFFB2lo8YpJ9qO6Q|5556142915857907078/184161392/6/7001/7001/7002/7002/7001/-1
>
> http://www.bipolarworld.net/job_school/job_school.htm
>
> http://www.crazymeds.org
poster:bobbiedobbs
thread:336972
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040429/msgs/342868.html