Posted by holymama on October 25, 2005, at 8:52:09
In reply to Re: thoughts, posted by Maynerd on October 25, 2005, at 1:08:02
Some thoughts:
1. Have you told your doctor about your insurance/financial situation? Maybe you could get free samples if there are other meds you want to try.
2. How are your lithium levels? Is it possible you could use an increase?
3. I understand about making yourself feel better with a joint or alcohol...I did that for years while on medication. I felt so bad, I figured why not medicate myself? I finally hit bottom last summer (hospitalized twice) and made the decision to stop all of that -- I gave away my pot and all of my alcohol, so my husbadn and I don't keep any in the house anymore. It was really hard at first. I felt really bad and had nothing to make myself feel better. I had to start learning other techniques to get rid of tension or depressed feelings, like taking long walks or watching funny movies...anyway, a few med changes later and I'm doing better than I ever was while mixing all of those chemicals. I'm not trying to preach, just telling you that in my experience all of those things the doctors say to regulate -- go to bed at the same time every night, no alcohol or drugs, exercise every day, sunlight every day...it really has worked well with me. I think that for all of those years that I was drinking/smoking while taking medications, I was not letting the doctors and meds actually help me. The mixing of chemicals was making me worse. I don't know how much of a problem it is for you, for me it was.
4. I wonder about your relationship with your T -- you said he doesn't really know you or what makes you feel better or not -- doesn't that relationship only really work if you are honest with him so he can understand you?
All the best to you, and again, I hope I'm not coming across as really preachy. Just giving you stuff to think about.
~~Autumn~~
poster:holymama
thread:571559
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20051021/msgs/571678.html