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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fiftylager on January 28, 2006, at 10:42:06
Hi, I am new here and feeling not so good as some of you may have read above. I'm thinking it's time for the doctor to really figure out what's wrong with me rather than pulling out her big book and deciding what drug to give me. I can't blame her because I'm not really forthcoming about all my problems. I feel intimidated at the doctors even though she is very nice. I also tell her how I'm feeling at that time but not what I may have been feeling a few weeks ago. I don't seem to see her during my depressed times so I always deny depression. I tend to down play my distress.
Anyways to make a long story short, I'm at my wits end and have decided I really need help. I sat down and basically wrote my mental biography from when my problems started. It is like 3 pages long. I think it can give her an accurate discription of where my head is at. When I read it I'm thinking, wow, you really are messed up and I'm scared of actually printing it out and giving it to her. What do you all think? Will she appreciate this or think I'm taking up to much of her time. Also I'm so scared I would probably chicken out too. For some reason I'm scared she'll think I'm exagerating things when the opposite is true. This is stuff I never tell anyone. Well, anyways, I look forward to hearing your replies.
Crissi
Posted by Phillipa on January 28, 2006, at 18:14:29
In reply to Need advice about going to dr., posted by fiftylager on January 28, 2006, at 10:42:06
Crissi you definitely did the right thing. She may not read it while you're there. But she will and you can highlight in words what is written and be honest and tell her you are scared. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by fiftylager on January 28, 2006, at 19:37:37
In reply to Re: Need advice about going to dr. » fiftylager, posted by Phillipa on January 28, 2006, at 18:14:29
Thank-you so much Phillipa. I have such crazy mood swings. I was freaking out yesterday and this morning but now I am fairly calm. That is one of my problems. If I had seen my dr. today I would have given it right to her but if I see her the way I feel now, it's like I'm in denial. I'll tell her I'm fine, I just have bouts of anxiety. I almost wish I could conjure up my other moods while I see her. Thank-you for your reply.
Crissi
Posted by 4WD on January 28, 2006, at 23:17:44
In reply to Re: Need advice about going to dr., posted by fiftylager on January 28, 2006, at 19:37:37
> Thank-you so much Phillipa. I have such crazy mood swings. I was freaking out yesterday and this morning but now I am fairly calm. That is one of my problems. If I had seen my dr. today I would have given it right to her but if I see her the way I feel now, it's like I'm in denial. I'll tell her I'm fine, I just have bouts of anxiety. I almost wish I could conjure up my other moods while I see her. Thank-you for your reply.
>
> CrissiHi Crissi,
You could keep a mood chart for your doctor. It's less "emotional" than a journal or biography - more "clinical" so you might not feel so embarrassed giving it to her. It would just be a record of how you have been feeling. You can just make one on paper with different times of day and the days of the week and then keep track. Like MOnday 9am - scared and anxious, pacing and crying Monday noon, calmer but very depressed, etc. Keep it for at least a week and then show it to her.
Sorry you are feeling so bad. I'd write more but I'm feeling pretty bad myself.
Marsha
Posted by summerflowers on January 29, 2006, at 6:46:54
In reply to Need advice about going to dr., posted by fiftylager on January 28, 2006, at 10:42:06
> Hi, I am new here and feeling not so good as some of you may have read above. I'm thinking it's time for the doctor to really figure out what's wrong with me rather than pulling out her big book and deciding what drug to give me. I can't blame her because I'm not really forthcoming about all my problems. I feel intimidated at the doctors even though she is very nice. I also tell her how I'm feeling at that time but not what I may have been feeling a few weeks ago. I don't seem to see her during my depressed times so I always deny depression. I tend to down play my distress.
>
> Anyways to make a long story short, I'm at my wits end and have decided I really need help. I sat down and basically wrote my mental biography from when my problems started. It is like 3 pages long. I think it can give her an accurate discription of where my head is at. When I read it I'm thinking, wow, you really are messed up and I'm scared of actually printing it out and giving it to her. What do you all think? Will she appreciate this or think I'm taking up to much of her time. Also I'm so scared I would probably chicken out too. For some reason I'm scared she'll think I'm exagerating things when the opposite is true. This is stuff I never tell anyone. Well, anyways, I look forward to hearing your replies.
> CrissiYes that sounds like a good idea.Being honest is going to help.I can relate SO MUCH to what you are saying.I hope you have some luck with that.Keeping a jounal dairy is good because,it is so easy to forget how you felt yesterday....3 hours ago!Especially if your moods are changing!I hope you have some luck.
Posted by Racer on January 29, 2006, at 14:47:42
In reply to Re: Need advice about going to dr. » fiftylager, posted by 4WD on January 28, 2006, at 23:17:44
> >
> You could keep a mood chart for your doctor. It's less "emotional" than a journal or biography - more "clinical" so you might not feel so embarrassed giving it to her.This is great advice -- although I'm biassed, since I was going to write it myself... Marsha beat me to it...
If you're not sure what a mood chart might look like, you can do what I did when I was trying to make one myself: do a web search and look at what other charts look like. I made mine to coincide with meals: every time I eat, I mark down a mood. (Although I've been slack on it lately...) That way, I can see trends like, "I seem to rally every day around lunch time," or "my moods are consistent and last an average of eight days in a row." Of course, I don't have any patterns like that, but those were examples.
You're right, though, and it's frustrating beyond belief. I've done it, I think most of us have at one time or another. Good luck with getting your answers, and let us know what happens.
Posted by summerflowers on January 29, 2006, at 15:13:02
In reply to Excellent advice here » 4WD, posted by Racer on January 29, 2006, at 14:47:42
> > >
> > You could keep a mood chart for your doctor. It's less "emotional" than a journal or biography - more "clinical" so you might not feel so embarrassed giving it to her.
>
You can also learn alot out about yourself too.I never saw any mood PATTERN untill I actually learnt about bipolar and did an analysis of the last 15 years,then saw a clear pattern of severe ups and downs.Read as much as you can about the various symptoms too of different illnesses so you can prehaps come up with some possibilities.And remember too that things can co-exist,like say you HAD one thing (say bipolar) other things can develop from that (like bipolar could cause social anziety disorder,or medications such as antidepressants can cause mixed states of bipolar.Confusing????Hey good luck,and hope you get to feel better soon,
Posted by summerflowers on January 29, 2006, at 18:22:06
In reply to Need advice about going to dr., posted by fiftylager on January 28, 2006, at 10:42:06
By the way im glad youve stuck around chrissi!!It gets so confusing here sometimes.Its hard to communicate on a computer because theres no face to face interaction,only words,and everyone has such different personalities and opinions!!!Some people are protective,some are knowledgable,some informative,some are humourous,some competitive,others are quiet ect ect.Also mental illness shows itself in many ways.Some are rejection sensitive,some angry,people going through there own crisis's.Also,it being a medication forum,medication doesnt just involve medication,theres a whole lot involved,includin diagnosis,help and support,controversy around meds,hospitilisation,psychiatrists ect ect.Many times iv found support and kind-ness here,other times iv been so shot down iv wanted to never come back.But I dont know,iv kept coming back.Im curious sometimes what people are like in reality because what we see here is only words,and im newish to the internet.I for example are average height and weight,green eyes,brown hair,I like gardening and have real concerns about people and the future,and im allways scared of offending or upsetting people.I also have an angry streak and can be very protective against injustice ect.(I also have studied law but gave it up due to having children).Another thing I hate about the internet is that whatever is put in writting is there to be read,reread,and sometimes things all come out wrong and are interpritted in different ways by different people.ANYWAY,what im saying is a whole different subject and we should get back to the original one!!!!!I JUST WANTED TO SAY glad you stuck around.
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