![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MCush on September 29, 2006, at 12:54:28
I want to see if anybody can relate to what I'm going through because I'm lost and starting to freak out
I'm currently waiting on an appointment at a Mental Health Hospital in my city to get assessed for my conditioin. This is a condition that I've had pretty much my entire life and that nobody, including my MD, believed that I had untill I stopped taking some of the medication that I've been on for the past 6 years so that the symptoms would be a lot more visible.
I think the only reason that I'm the only person that really knew that anything was wrong is because it's mainly all mental. I feel like my brain is basically on speed almost all the time. My thoughts just keep coming faster and faster untill eventually I get too damned tired to even think anymore and then I'm just kind of stuck in a daze for a day or two untill the cycle starts back up again.
My current daily medical cocktail consists of 500mg of Epival, 20mg of Lexapro, 1mg of Clonazepam and 7.5mg of Zopiclone. The Clonazepam and Zopiclone is taken exclusively before bed because otherwise I can't sleep. I'll just lie there and daydream, tossing and turning, untill it's time to get badk up again.
My mother passed on when I was 16 and that was pretty traumatic for me. That kicked in a viscious bout of depression which lasted for about 6 years untill I seeked help for it. It was pretty much the fact that I couldn't go through a day without bawling my eyes out and the fact that I just about completely quit sleeping (maybe I'd get 10 hours a week) that made me seek out help.
Eventually a Therapist got me settled on the above cocktail, instead it was Celexa back then instead of Lexapro, and that made things a lot easier to handle but I was still never really stable.
For example, I'm 28 now and still live at home with my Dad. I've only held a few short-term contract jobs which is about all that I could really handle regardless of the fact that I've got 3 different business related College diplomas. I've never had a real serious girlfriend and I basically had to cut off all my "friends" when I made a personal decision to get sober and after that realized hwo bad the drug problems were with everybody that I associated myself with.
Which brings me to another point... For about 8 years the only thing thaht would keep me from going off the rails, from keeping my brain from speeding up too much and just kept it nice and mellow was from drinking and smoking marijuana pretty much every day.
For a job, this is pretty much the process that I would go through. I would get a call for an Interview. At that point I would immediately have to go and search out where the job was located. I'd either drive or take public transit there and back home again, timing it. Sometimes I wouldn't be happy with the average time of the return trip because I had taken it at a different time of day and would have to do it again just to see what the trip really averaged out to be so that I would know exactly how long it would take me to get there in the mornings. Then I would have to make sure that I set my alarm clock to give me enough time to factor that trip in. Then I would have to figure out what else I had to do in the mornings... should I shower and shave in the morning or at night... should I bring a lunch or should I make one... if I made a lunch to bring, what should I bring and when should I buy the groceries, if I bought one, then where would I buy one... Did I look over the fast food locations around the job site properly the last time I was out? What about supper, same process... What about my clothes for the week... you know, you really can't wear jeans to an office environment and you shouldn't wear the same outfit twice in one week... when can I factor in doing laundry?
God, it's almost exhausting to describe that to anybody. But that is pretty much what I would go through and once I had my schedule down pat I would start training my body into accepting that schedule. You know, I would have to make sure that I got at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night so that my brain could function properly the next day and everything outside of work and sleeping would have to somehow fit into that schedule.
The sleeping schedule would have to be the same exact pattern every night. Hell, I haven't even worked in about a year and I'm still stuck on falling asleep at 10:30 at night and up by the latest 7:30am. Regardless of what day it was. I haven't been out at night or even out at night past Midnight for at least a year now.
Anyways, that process would take place before I even had the Interview. If I passed the interview and got the job, well, you can just imagine how exhausted I would be by then. I will generally crash and burn the first week on the job unless it was something that required no pressure whatsoever.
For the last year, due to other health problems that I am dealing with at the same time, I have been out of work and have basically become a recluse. I read voraciously... I have a pile of paperbacks and hardcover books on all kinds of different subjects, autobiographies, biographies, etc. that number at least 60 right now thaht I haven't even touched yet. I have to tell myself not to buy anymore till I have read those though I still do.
I'm enrolled in a few online distance education courses at College right now. I'm about a month ahead of schedule in all of them because I just can't keep from studying. I'll study for about 7-8 hours every day of the week because I am afraid of falling behind in my studies.
My medication even, I've got to keep at least 3-4 months of each pill on-hand just so that I can avoid the feeling that I'm going to forget to get my prescriptions renewed and go off the medication. I'll even lie to my Doctor about how much I really have at home so that he'll give me prescriptions to go out and buy more.
A few months ago I decided to go off of Celexa completely because nobody would believe how much I was suffering. My Father and Brother (the only family I really have) refuse to believe in mental illness and think that I'm just being myself in my own way. They refer to me as being lazy, that I need a good kick in the butt to get on with my life, and that I should get off all my happy pills so that I can move out into the real world.
I have been sober now for over a year so to have your family make you feel like a drug addict for taking medication that is supposed to be helping you is really going too far. That is one thing that I just couldn't deal with.
I told my MD that I was going to stop taking the Celexa. He didn't think it was a good idea but I told him that I needed to find out if I really needed to take it and if I did and if I had to be on it for life then I wanted him to refer me to the proper people that could help me effectively manage it. So he agreed and set me up with a schedule that allowed me to effectively taper down and get off of the medication in a two month span.
I went through absolute Hell trying to get off Celexa and actually managed to go 3 months without it though I was basically bedridden for the majority of the time. After 3 months I started to have attacks where my thoughts would just slow right down to a crawl like I was depressed but at the same time I'd be absolutely wired and wouldn't be able to sleep for a few nights even with the Clonazepam and Zopiclone. I'd be basically going in two directions at once... not sure if I wanted to break down and cry or just start screaming and jump out of my skin.
So back I went to my MDs office one morning when I was in the middle of one of those attacks. He was effectively freaked out, I agreed to go back onto Lexapro, and he filled out an "urgent" recommendation for me to be assessed at a local mental health facility. Even with an "urgent" referral you still have about a 2-3 month waiting period before they see you. It's been about a month now for me.
My MD has told my Father and I that he has a feeling that I've been suffering from OCD for quite a while now. My Father then told him, which was news to me, that my schoolteachers recommended that I start seeing a Psychiatrist for the same thing when I was about 4 years old, again when I was about 8 and then now. Since he didn't believe in mental illnesses he never followed through with it.
If anybody has actually been able to follow this post through, does it sound like I might be suffering from a form of OCD? All I know is that I'm very very tired... I just want this to stop. I'm 28 now and pretty much don't have a life and at this point I'm not even that interested in having one. The only thing that is keeping me going is that I'm very spiritual. I believe that your soul is attached to your body and the material world in order to learn and strengthen your spirit. If I really believed that committing suicide would actually stop everything I'd already be dead. Even though I already feel that I am out of hope for ever having a normal life I'm too stubborn to fool myself into believing that suicide is ever the answer.
Kind of funny... my stubborness is effectively keeping me alive.
Mike
Posted by JOP on September 29, 2006, at 13:34:39
In reply to My Brain is on Speed, posted by MCush on September 29, 2006, at 12:54:28
> I want to see if anybody can relate to what I'm going through because I'm lost and starting to freak out
>
> I'm currently waiting on an appointment at a Mental Health Hospital in my city to get assessed for my conditioin. This is a condition that I've had pretty much my entire life and that nobody, including my MD, believed that I had untill I stopped taking some of the medication that I've been on for the past 6 years so that the symptoms would be a lot more visible.
>MCush —
Sounds like you are in an uncomfortable place right now. The description of your problem was clear and concise; however I don’t have any experience with OCD or anxiety, but maybe someone else will chime in to offer their thoughts.
One thing I do know is that sometimes waiting for an appointment when you aren’t feeling so good can be agony. If you are feeling really bad can you get to a hospital? If you have the money/insurance can you call a psychiatrist that can see you immediately? If you are in the US, you might try calling the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Information Helpline. (see http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=Helpline if you are interested). They might be able to give you more options for immediate treatment in your area (I don’t think they provide referrals, but at least they might be able to give you some ideas) and you might be able to talk to someone just for some support. It’s worth a shot and might be more helpful than sitting around waiting for an appointment.
Hang in there . . . . .
Posted by MCush on September 29, 2006, at 13:57:31
In reply to Re: My Brain is on Speed » MCush, posted by JOP on September 29, 2006, at 13:34:39
Unfortunately, I'm in Canada. Which means we have free health care but that everything is severely wait-listed.
I have already even spoken to the place where my referral has been submitted. One of the Head Nurses there had confirmed that she had received my referral, told me that it was going to be submitted to a Mood Disorder Specialist but that there was a wait list for about a month or two before assessment.So I know that help is coming... and I have my MD in case of Emergencies.
Posted by fca on September 29, 2006, at 17:26:09
In reply to My Brain is on Speed, posted by MCush on September 29, 2006, at 12:54:28
I have an anxiety disorder with some OCD features--you can find some posts of mine(fca) on SIAD where I just saw a post of yours. I am glad you are getting as much information as possible. It does sound as if there is some OCD in your thoughts and behavior. The only real test is if your obsessive thoughts and or compulsive behaviors interfer with your daily life. It certainly does sound as if you are experiencing a great deal of anxiety. The good news is that medication for both anxiety disorders and OCD is often quite similar: I see you are taking Epival--have you been diagnosed bi polar (with mania) or are you using it off label. It is a pretty potent drug with potentially difficult side effects. If you are Bipolar this is out of my league so ignore what I am saying except for cbt/erp and healthy living.
Common protocol includes:
1)SSRIs (higher dosage for OCD than depression or anxiety) alone or SSRI and possible benzo as needed during initial titration or until side effects are minimal--with a history of substance abuse your are less likely to receive a benzo--historically preferred SSRIs for OCD are paxil, prozac, luxox--I am not sure it really makes any difference--BTW--you can easily move from one to another wwith little problem as long as you have not discontinued one before starting the other2)SSRI plus benzo or other anxiolytic on a regular basis or until anxiety is dampened and symptoms are under control
3)A TCAs or other drugs--
4) Who knows--but plenty of options
The important thing to remember from my perspective (as a 35 year sufferer with mostly successful experiences and 40 years in the MH profession)
1) Good CBT and ERP are extremely important
2) Give the meds a chance--6-12 weeks at least before switching--response for OCD tends to be longer--higher dose can be quite important
3) If they are not working do not be afraid to switch
4) No matter how good the meds are you need to do the things you need to do as much as is humanly possible for you--work, school, some social life, exercise, blah,blah,blah
4) Stay in CBT and/or ERP as long as necessary and refreshers are usually necessary and important
5) Alcohol and drugs a no no--any temporary relief displaced by almost inevitable rebound anxiety etc--if you really are completely clean and sober benzos can be helpful--they are discouraged as a first line response but.....you are already taking them.
Probably more than you wanted and I apologize if so--perhaps to simple minded
However--my best wishes and good luck fca
Posted by MCush on September 29, 2006, at 18:50:29
In reply to Re: My Brain is on Speed, posted by fca on September 29, 2006, at 17:26:09
Wow, I am in too dark of a place right now to really understand most of this. I'm sorry...
SSRIs are really hard for me to take in general. I've tried Effexor, Paxil and Zoloft for periods of 2 months or more and was taken off of them because they seemed to make me more unstable then to actually help me. Celexa made me bounce around a lot less and I believe that is why I was put on Epival. I think the Doctor believed that Epival would help balance out the effects of the SSRI so I would stop bouncing?
I should probably also state that my lungs are absolutely horrible now. I take Symbicort (a turbo-inhaler) twice a day. I have also found out within the last 6 months after having an MRI done on my head and my spine that my Cerebellum grew in abnormally over my lifetime. That's causing a lot of problems with my vision and my balance. So taking all of that in together, getting intoxicated on anything is a serious no-no for me even before taking anxiety into the equation.
I have no idea what CBT or ERP are. My MD doesn't believe I need any Therapy which I seriously disagree with. I'm scared and need to talk to somebody (other then myself) about this but my family doesn't even believe in mental illnesses. Talking to them about anything makes me feel worse.
They simply don't understand anything about what I'm going through. I'm beginning to fully grasp that right now considering that there are really only 3 people prominently in my life at the moment. My Father, my Brother, and my Father's girlfriend. Right now, my father's girlfriend is out of town putting her Dad into a pallative care hospital (he's dying from cancer), my Father is out of town golfing till Sunday and I have no idea where my brother is. I haven't seen anybody since yesterday morning and am not expecting to till Sunday.
> I have an anxiety disorder with some OCD features--you can find some posts of mine(fca) on SIAD where I just saw a post of yours. I am glad you are getting as much information as possible. It does sound as if there is some OCD in your thoughts and behavior. The only real test is if your obsessive thoughts and or compulsive behaviors interfer with your daily life. It certainly does sound as if you are experiencing a great deal of anxiety. The good news is that medication for both anxiety disorders and OCD is often quite similar: I see you are taking Epival--have you been diagnosed bi polar (with mania) or are you using it off label. It is a pretty potent drug with potentially difficult side effects. If you are Bipolar this is out of my league so ignore what I am saying except for cbt/erp and healthy living.
> Common protocol includes:
> 1)SSRIs (higher dosage for OCD than depression or anxiety) alone or SSRI and possible benzo as needed during initial titration or until side effects are minimal--with a history of substance abuse your are less likely to receive a benzo--historically preferred SSRIs for OCD are paxil, prozac, luxox--I am not sure it really makes any difference--BTW--you can easily move from one to another wwith little problem as long as you have not discontinued one before starting the other
>
> 2)SSRI plus benzo or other anxiolytic on a regular basis or until anxiety is dampened and symptoms are under control
>
> 3)A TCAs or other drugs--
>
> 4) Who knows--but plenty of options
>
> The important thing to remember from my perspective (as a 35 year sufferer with mostly successful experiences and 40 years in the MH profession)
> 1) Good CBT and ERP are extremely important
> 2) Give the meds a chance--6-12 weeks at least before switching--response for OCD tends to be longer--higher dose can be quite important
> 3) If they are not working do not be afraid to switch
> 4) No matter how good the meds are you need to do the things you need to do as much as is humanly possible for you--work, school, some social life, exercise, blah,blah,blah
> 4) Stay in CBT and/or ERP as long as necessary and refreshers are usually necessary and important
> 5) Alcohol and drugs a no no--any temporary relief displaced by almost inevitable rebound anxiety etc--if you really are completely clean and sober benzos can be helpful--they are discouraged as a first line response but.....you are already taking them.
>
>
> Probably more than you wanted and I apologize if so--perhaps to simple minded
> However--my best wishes and good luck fca
Posted by fca on September 29, 2006, at 19:45:39
In reply to Re: My Brain is on Speed, posted by MCush on September 29, 2006, at 18:50:29
Sorry you are so isolated. Have you been diagnosed as bipolar--that would explain why SSRIs are not effective and may exacerbate your symptoms. CBT is cognitive bahavioral therapy and ERP is Exposure Response Prevention ( a cbt technique that is very useful for ocd). I am glad you have an appointment with a MH center--has any diagnosis other than possible OCD been suggested. Please stay in touch fca
Posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2006, at 21:36:38
In reply to Re: My Brain is on Speed, posted by fca on September 29, 2006, at 19:45:39
Do you think your medical conditions are contributing to this. I'd say go to a hospital. That will rule out medical conditions and speed up you psych evaluation. Love Phillipa
Posted by MCush on September 30, 2006, at 8:03:06
In reply to Re: My Brain is on Speed, posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2006, at 21:36:38
Man, I really don't like hospitals. They scare the crap out of me. Instead I just took a couple of Clonazepams and tried to get some sleep. Tried being the key word since I didn't really manage more then 4 hours.Soooooo tired today... wondering if my insomnia is due to a normal reaction to Lexapro, a bad reaction to Lexapro, or something else going on in my body. I've been taking 20mg of Lexapro for close to a month now and I really only have started having a really hard time sleeping again in the past 3 days. That's with 1mg of Clonazepam and 7.5mg of Zopiclone.
My head feels a lot better today other then being very tired. I think I was having another "attack" yesterday. I don't really understand those. My head slows right down to a crawl, it gets really hard to think straight, and I have a ton of morbid thoughts. But at the same time I feel completely wired... kind of like I'm on the verge of having a panic attack.
I've had 3 of those in September.. They last for about 2 days, maybe a little less and it seems like the only way to really get through them is to just wait them out.
They seem to happen whenever I get even a little stressed out. Which would make sense because I don't think I like being just suddenly left alone for a few days.
I just need to hold on for a few months because I'm seeing a Neurosurgeon at the beginning of November and I'll most likely be seeing a Mood Disorder Specialist around the same time. That's not too long to wait just have to practice patience and patience will just make me stronger so it's all good.
Posted by MCush on September 30, 2006, at 16:12:32
In reply to My Brain is on Speed, posted by MCush on September 29, 2006, at 12:54:28
I do not know if I am Bi-Polar. I have never been properly diagnosed with anything. I also don't know what to think anymore. I could be Bi-Polar?I keep having these damn attacks which is kind of what happened yesterday and most of today though it has kind of stopped now.
On Thursday my mind was just racing... nothing really irrational but my mind kept going and going and going. It was like by the time I was even able to properly recognize what my mind was analyzing at that moment I was already two or three decisions ahead.
That was accompanied by some pretty nasty insomnia that night.
Then it went on again for most of Friday till I started to drop rapidly. My mind would slow down to a crawl and I would start to get some seriously morbid thoughts going on. Different ways to harm myself though I don't believe in Suicide.
At the same time that was going on though my body felt like it was electric... like I wanted to jump out of my skin. I've had 'many' panic attacks over my lifetime and that felt like the oncoming of a rather nasty one that never quite hit me. Just the building up of one.
So while my mind is obsessing on suicide I'm also going pretty much manic. That was also accompanied by horrible insomnia last night.
Then today I wanted to harm myself for hours today while I was just trying to block it out. Put on my headphones and just cranked some music up loud for a few hours so that I couldn't really pay attention to the thoughts that were going through my head.
Then it stopped... Just like that... I'm tired as Hell right now but not too anxious or depressed, just tired.
For the Hell of it today I ran a search on Google to see if Cerebellum, anxiety, and depression were interrelated at all. Was pretty surprised at what I found.
Posted by fca on September 30, 2006, at 17:28:58
In reply to For fca, posted by MCush on September 30, 2006, at 16:12:32
Thanks for checking in--I really appreciate your commitment to hang in there until your appointment. I wish I could offer some temporary support and relief. The reason I have been persistent on finding out if you are bipolar is the SSRIs have very mixed results with persons who have bipolar disorder. They can lead to hypomania including agitation,insomnia,and increased blood level of Epival. On the other hand they can be beneficial in handling the depression during cycling (if there is any). What struck me is the fact you are taking Epival. Say in touch with your physician and let him/her know what you are experiencing. Also,stay in touch with us. fca
Posted by 4WD on September 30, 2006, at 21:29:01
In reply to Re: My Brain is on Speed, posted by MCush on September 30, 2006, at 8:03:06
Hi.
It sounds like you are in a lot of pain right now and really suffering. Like some of the other posters, I wonder whether you are actually bipolar. Not the classical kind, where you are up for a few months and then down for a few months but the mixed states kind.
The speedy wired feeling you talk about is one I know well. For me, it's not just wired it's also scared. To the point of being terrified for almost a year. I thought I had depression with bad anxiety - I'd had a problem with depression for a long time. But a few months ago I was finally diagnosed with bipolar.
Sometimes bipolar can be depression mixed with those intense feelings of hyper-ness. Do you get scared? You said it was like being on the verge of a panic attack. That's how it felt to me, too. I kept telling people it was like if 1 was normal and 10 was a panic attack, then I was at 8 or 9 all the time. The only thing that helped was the clonazepam.
But Geodon (and earlier, Zyprexa) really made a difference. I didn't want to accept the bipolar label - especially since the feelings just kind of started up out of nowhere when I was 48. Other bipolar medicines help, too but the side effects weren't tolerable.
When you make it to your appt., mention the possibility. But if doctors in Canada are like the ones here, you can't suggest it like you are diagnosing yourself. Say a doctor told you you might be bipolar a couple of years ago or something. Or just tell your symptoms stressing the wired feeling and your reaction to ssris. I have the same reaction by the way.
Try to hang on. It's good that you have a spiritual life. It's saved my life a few times.
Marsha
Posted by Squiggles on October 1, 2006, at 8:31:56
In reply to My Brain is on Speed, posted by MCush on September 29, 2006, at 12:54:28
> If anybody has actually been able to follow this post through, does it sound like I might be suffering from a form of OCD?Not to me; but I am not a medical professional;
to me it sounds like manic-depression, or
hyperthyroidism.
Just my humble opinion -- if you want to get
checked for that "man-on-the-street" suggestion.Squiggles
....
> Mike
I
Posted by MCush on October 1, 2006, at 8:40:40
In reply to Re: My Brain is on Speed » MCush, posted by 4WD on September 30, 2006, at 21:29:01
Marsha, I don't know if I would classify it as being scared because I like to be scared. I'm a huge fan of Horror movies and Horror novels. I'm even hoping that I'll be healthy enough on Friday to go see th new Texas Chainsaw movie.This, however, I HATE
What is happening does scare me though.
On a scale of 1-10 as far as my energy level goes, yeah, i would say I'm at about 8 or 9 for most of the time. It builds up till I feel like I'm on a stimulant and then I completely exhaust myself and crash for a day or two.
At the moment, because I think my body is still getting used to having an AD working inside of it, the moods are a lot more severe.
For example, on Wednesday I was talking to my Father. 'Talking to' since I was doing almost all the talking. My head was moving so fast that it was almost like I coulnd't get the ideas out fast enough before my head jumped to something else. My Father eventually just looked at me and said "Don't you get tired? It's mentally exhausting to even listen to you" hahaha...
Then eventually I exhaust myself... my brain won't work... going through the process of doing something simple is hard (like having shave/shower, making a sandwich, etc.) While that is going on I have an overwhelming feeling to hurt myself. But at the same time I can't relax, I can't sleep, I can't even lie still. I just kind of hold on and wait for it to pass.
The thing is that if that is what is referred to as "cycling" then I'm cycling pretty fast. I've now had 3 of those attacks during September and they seem to get more severe and last longer each time.
I'm still able to have some grasp on reality/rationality when these are happening though. I know when I'm speeding up that I'm moving too fast and it's not right but I can't slow it down. I also know when I crash and I want to hurt mself that I really don't want to hurt myself so I'll fight it off till the urge goes away.
What's scary is what happens if/when that part of me disappears?
Posted by 4WD on October 1, 2006, at 12:47:04
In reply to For 4WD, posted by MCush on October 1, 2006, at 8:40:40
I know. I worry too about the day or night when the rational part of me is completely lost and I can't see any light at all and give up. That scares me too.
It sounds as if on some level you enjoy the heightened energy level. (I guess I'd have to call that state mania or at least hypomania.). do you ever do things while in that state that you later regretted or saw were foolish? My niece is bipolar and while on an "up" cycle whent out and bought seven pairs of Chanel sunglasses. Ever do anything like that? maybe your obsessive studying is similar.
I wish my energy level was high without the accompanying sick scared feeling in the pit of my stomach. But I don't have the collapses that you do either. When my fear goes away, I feel normal, okay.
I definitely think you doctor needs to know what's going on. maybe you could print out some of the posts you've entered here and take them with you to your appointment. You've described here pretty eloquently what your emotional state feels like. It's hard sometimes to get them to understand when you have a time limited appt.
Marsha
Posted by MCush on October 1, 2006, at 13:11:47
In reply to Re: For 4WD » MCush, posted by 4WD on October 1, 2006, at 12:47:04
do you ever do things while in that state that you later regretted or saw were foolish?I could write a multi-volume book on the amount of things that I do while in an elevated state that I later regret and felt when I looked back on them that they were definitely stupid.
As soon as any amount of pressure is put on me that it outside of my control then I spin out of control and that is usually the first result. I start to do really stupid things.
But even in the course of every day life... I'll go Grocery Shopping and spend over $400 on food and there are only 3 of us living here. I'll come home with the Groceries and my Father will usually just look at me, like, ummm, ok.... so I guess you were hungry?
This Term I signed up for 5 Distance Education Courses knowing full well that I was sick and might not even make it through one with good results. I had to withdraw from four of them after my Doctor asked me what the Hell I was trying to do to myself.
I would usually rather read a book then watch TV so I try to keep good books around here to read. I have over 60 right now untouched and still can't stop adding to the collection.
If I go to a Buffet I'll either overeat to the point where I can't move or actually throw up.
Those are just the physical actions though. My Father says that my motto towards everything and anything is "more is better".
I'm not sure which is worse though... the things that I do or the things that I say.
Posted by fca on October 1, 2006, at 14:14:24
In reply to Re: For 4WD, posted by MCush on October 1, 2006, at 13:11:47
I am putting my money on bipolar (probably mixed). A thorough history should clarify things--bipolar tends to respond to proper medication (out of my league) so hang in there. Call your own doc as soon as is reasonable to make sure any ssri you are taking is not exacerbating the hypomania This will get better--very possibly much better Take Care fca
Posted by Phillipa on October 1, 2006, at 19:20:31
In reply to Re: For 4WD, posted by fca on October 1, 2006, at 14:14:24
I agree. Love Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on October 1, 2006, at 20:29:05
In reply to Re: For 4WD, posted by MCush on October 1, 2006, at 13:11:47
I understand that organizations such as
NAMI, and many others associated with
hospitals or government wings, try to
eradicate the stigma of mental illness
in good faith. Education, tolerance,
and statistics are encouraged so as
to integrated the mentally ill in society.But, if I had my choice, i would keep
stigma. I think stigma is a good thing
because it encourages medical treatment
rather than avoiding it or making light
of a serious medical condition. In the
case of heart disease, for example, there
is no fight against stigma.I find the fight against stigma, a social
battle, which leaves the mentally ill without
practical support from the government and
the hospitals. It is also a bit of a double
standard, as it shows that professionals like
kin, and the public in general, are ashamed
of mental illness, and wish to get rid of
the stigma attached to it. Personally, i care
more for the treatment than the whether i
fit into society. In the history of such
matters, it is the law that delivers justice,
not the enlightenment of the people.Squiggles
Posted by Phillipa on October 1, 2006, at 20:46:33
In reply to Stigma » MCush, posted by Squiggles on October 1, 2006, at 20:29:05
Squiggles I agree. As when I worked in psych and were short of staff and got someone from another speciality to fill in they hated it. thought everyone was crazy. And hid in a corner a lot of the time. Sad but true. Love Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on October 1, 2006, at 20:57:13
In reply to Re: Stigma » Squiggles, posted by Phillipa on October 1, 2006, at 20:46:33
> Squiggles I agree. As when I worked in psych and were short of staff and got someone from another speciality to fill in they hated it. thought everyone was crazy. And hid in a corner a lot of the time. Sad but true. Love Phillipa
Wow, that was fast -- yeah, it's sort of
like a right to have a certain illness and
let everyone know it; they don't have to
come near you if they think it is contagious,
but the drs. have to treat you.Squiggles
Posted by Phillipa on October 1, 2006, at 21:05:04
In reply to Re: Stigma » Phillipa, posted by Squiggles on October 1, 2006, at 20:57:13
Ahh but unless you're cooperative they can send you to a state hospital. One pdoc I worked with hid in the nurses station on the floor . Door was locked. When a patient went off and needed unfortunately to be medicated and restrained. left all the nurses all female to do it. We did I usually could talk the patient down so he/ her would come to timeout without a fight. Love Phillipa
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