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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on October 15, 2002, at 8:00:11
Judy, you mentioned that therapy was part of your treatment for your bipolar disorder. I'm officially diagnosed with cyclothymia and have definite mood swings.
My therapist and I were talking about this the other day. He asked how I would know when I no longer needed therapy. And I was kind of surprised. I think of myself as having cyclothymia and OCD and treating it with therapy and a low dose of medications. I don't think of therapy as something that I'll be finished with. I see it more as a maintenance thing, like insulin, used in conjunction with medication.
I realize I could take more meds and less therapy, but I don't like the meds side effects. One day if they invent a better medication, I would be happy to do that.
I don't see therapy just as building better coping skills and then moving on. I think there are ongoing challenges in dealing with a mood disorder, times when my thinking is not as objective as it could be and I need a reality check. Times when my thoughts get all twisted and I need some untwisting. Times when everything builds up inside and I need a safe place to reduce the pressure. I don't want to burden my family with thoughts of suicide or self injury that I am pretty sure I won't act on, but that need to be discussed or they feed on themselves. I do think as I build better coping skills I can use therapy less. Maybe go to every other week or once a month or something.
I discussed all this with my therapist, and he is okay with my conception of therapy. But I was wondering what your attitude and your therapist's attitude was about this. Do you see therapy as a legitimate treatment for ongoing biologically based mood disorders (along with meds)?
I suspect this view is going out of favor as psychopharmacology and chemical models of mental illness gain ground. But I honestly think therapy helps me function as best I can in the workplace and at home, given my biological brain glitches.
Thanks,
Dinah
Posted by judy1 on October 16, 2002, at 19:20:05
In reply to Bipolar spectrum and maintenance therapy - Judy, posted by Dinah on October 15, 2002, at 8:00:11
I think my shrink is one of the few psychiatrists today (certainly not in the past) who views therapy as a primary treatment in bipolar and medication as supportive. Obviously my therapist agrees (most psychologists do, in my experience). I don't see therapy as something I will 'wean' off of, on the contrary I view meds that way. I feel biologically based therapy has swung way too much in the mainstream with therapy a distant second. BTW, I was struck by the poster on the other board (and you) taking effexor with bipolar spectrum symptoms- every bipolar specialist I have seen feels ADs worsen cycling, and many felt they induced mood destabilization. something to think about... take care, judy
Posted by Dinah on October 16, 2002, at 20:23:16
In reply to Re: Bipolar spectrum and maintenance therapy - Judy » Dinah, posted by judy1 on October 16, 2002, at 19:20:05
Agreed about antidepressants (and the rest too), Judy. The only one that didn't cause me trouble was Luvox. And I understand it has a very low effect on norepinephrine (sp?) which may be why. Mood stabilizers and klonopin are the best for me.
I'm glad to have some backup for my position on therapy and bipolar. I'm not even sure my therapist thinks therapy isn't something i won't one day outgrow.
This is the end of the thread.
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