Posted by Shes_Initforthemoney on March 24, 2012, at 22:33:46
In reply to Re: new pdoc says there 'are no answers', posted by TiredofChemicals on March 24, 2012, at 13:21:09
> > I dumped my unhelpful pdoc and now I'm "shopping." I had my first appointment with a new one last night. After taking an extensive history, he asked if I had questions for him. I asked what his thoughts were on the diagnosis and medications.
> >
> > He said: "as you've found out, psychiatry now is in the same place that geography was when Columbus discovered America."
> >
> > He said that these diagnoses/labels--the 'descriptive' psychiatry represented by the DSM-are all well and good to put on insurance forms, but they don't capture people's suffering at all. He seemed to be saying it didn't really matter whether I was Bipolar II or MDD or something else. He said that the meds could relieve some acute distress and we'd work on that, but that with most people, things went deeper, and there was no magic medication that would fix things without deep therapy and other changes as well.
> >
> > It sounded strange for a pdoc to be saying this stuff, but in a way it's what I suspected about myself all along. I'm not sure if I'm going to stick with this guy (I have other appointments) but I thought Babble posters might be interested in his thoughts.
>
>
> ^^^ Exactly! that's the conclusion I came to on my own. It was a painful journey I took through ten years of taking almost every single SSRI on the market (and many combinations of said, "meds") from about 1995 through 2006.
>
> I also took many similar "medications" in combination with the SSRI's like Wellbutrin, for example during that time. I was also prescribed the SSNRI's and, honestly can't remember all the combinations of those many chemicals.
>
> The only chemical that lifted my mood noticeably, was Remeron out of all those medications and combinations of medications. The mood lift was minimal but I did notice it.
>
> Sadly, it was also the only medication that gave me noticeable side effects (besides the chemicals that caused my nervous system disorder.)
>
> The side effects that I experienced from Remeron caused my psychiatrist to discontinue the drug.
>
> I now live with constant spasms in my lower legs. It took me three different visits to neurologists to confirm my suspicion that psychiatric drugs were the cause of my nervous system disorder.
>
> I believe that antipsychotic medications were the primary cause of my disorder.
>
>
> One neurologist I visited even dismissed my disorder saying "A medication does not cause effects once the medication is discontinued."
>
> That, to me, brings to mind many of the commercials seen on TV "pushing" medications to treat "depression." One of the warnings I hear often is, "May cause suicidal thinking in; children, teens, and young adults."
>
> !!!^^^!!! My question to that statement is,"AT WHAT AGE, EXACTLY, DOES THIS MEDICATION NOT CAUSE A PERSON TO POSSIBLY HAVE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS!?!?
>
> That angers me if I have not displayed that yet, *sarcasm*
>
> I finally came to my own conclusion that I am just a very unhappy person (to put it very mildly) and that no magic pill was going to fix all of the truamatic issues and associated negative life experiences from my childhood to the present that affect my present state of being.
>
> I admit that I am presently taking pain medications due to a recent traumatic injury and opiates lift my mood substantially. I am very aware of the dangers associated with opiates.
> I'm being honest here about the chemicals affecting my mood.
>
> I was also prescribed a medication to treat my neuropathic pain. This medication helps to manage my leg spasms. This is a HUGE factor affecting my mood and present state of being. I have been seeking effective treatment for my leg spasms for years. It has been frustrating and exhaustive to find something to help me, more effectively cope.
>
>
> My disposition and general state of being display an individual that is generally not happy and generally miserable for the most part.
>
> I am often skeptical and suspicious of the public populace in general however, I believe that I am in general, in a better state of well being while not taking psychiatric medications. (The only exception to that is that I am taking a low dose of Clonazepam or Klonopin that helps for me to deal with the anxiety from my leg spasms.
>
> There was a point for me while taking psychiatric medications and I was suicidal. I felt adrenaline flowing through when I knew firearms were available to me. I felt compelled to go through with ending my life.
>
> I have no answers for when I wanted to end my life. I guess it is possible that I may be there again. Right now though, I am in a generally better state of well being than when I was taking psychiatric chemicals to treat my "depression."
>
> A big contributor to my present state of better well being, is that, I have made a conscious decision to be brutally honest with myself and others about my entire being and all that I am.
>
> I have been on a decades long quest to make amends to those that I may have harmed. I no longer feel a need to feel guilty of past actions.
>
> That's part of my story. I have been a lurker here since around 1997 or so. If I would have contributed to this board prior to this, my contributions would have been similar to many that I read here: failure after failure to treat my "depression." Year after year.
>
> I know the seriousness of the terrible "darkness" that many of us have experinced, or are experiencing. We have just shared our own version of it.
>
> I wish all here, release from whatever terrible "illnesses" or "afflictions" that they may be experiencing.
>
> I am not totally free from my own "afflictions."
> I just know that, even when I am not under the influence, I have not been suicidal recently.
>
> That, in itself, is a significant contributor to my present state of being. So, I may be miserable but, once again, I feel that I am better while not taking psychiatric medications.
>
> My state of being could easily change so I am saying that I don't have the right answers for anybody. My sharing with you now, however, is different than I EVER could have shared with you since I started lurking here to the present.
---
First, I am sorry for your pain. I personally think this differs from person to person, and I am no way blaming you for anything. Well, for the record, I am a 23 year veteran of almost every psych drug out there. I am not smug about it, but do know there is hope, as I viewed all of my prescriptions as trial and error. Being off psych meds has IT'S side effects as well. Even before meds, I had way worse problems than now. Sometimes, the side effects from psych meds can be dealt with by just going off and on and mixing certain combinations. I know it is NOT easy! I am ALIVE thanks to these meds, and once you try different medications until you find the right ones, I don't think it is fair to write-off medication. There are PLENTY out there, and many combos to try. You can't give up. You have to kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight. I am a BETTER person because of meds, and am so much more loving and understanding. I am actually now (than before meds) hardly working on my university degree, and am doing very well. My days aren't always 'perfect', but when symptoms overwhelm, I know I have a med to take that will fix that. So, I am sorry you had problems with meds.(And yes I stuck out months of horrible side effects to get better.) But, not everyone does. I wish you the best. My prayer is also that you find relief for your pain.Jay (I hope I worded this right..I don't want ANYONE to feel bad.)
Jay
"Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic and we'll change the world," ~Jack Layton 1950-2011
poster:Shes_Initforthemoney
thread:1013788
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20120316/msgs/1013874.html