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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tabitha on June 25, 2003, at 1:52:39
Hi y'all, just wanted to start a topic on whether anyone feels that long-term therapy has allowed them to reduce their meds. My dx is bipolar II, which should mean mood stabiliser plus AD forever, worsening with age. After nearly 10 years therapy I'm getting by with just a fractional dose of AD and no m.s.
My theory, the therapy has finally straightened out some of my distorted thinking that created more mood instability. I'm more resilient to daily setbacks, and don't spiral down so easily.
Or it could be something else. Thoughts?
Posted by Dinah on June 25, 2003, at 5:49:02
In reply to Therapy as mood stabilizer? Opinions please., posted by Tabitha on June 25, 2003, at 1:52:39
Absolutely. My therapist and I even speak of it this way. And my pdoc wrote a recommendation for it. I am so sensitive to the side effects of the medications that they often do as much harm in my ability to function as they do good. You don't get much work done while you're sleeping all day, or if you can't remember things for five minutes. So I use therapy as an adjunct to meds.
Sometimes it works really well, other times it's a bit insufficient, but meds aren't perfect either.
I think part of it is a change in my way of thinking, but part of it is just the supportive part of therapy. Having somewhere safe, and someone safe, to dissipate the stressors in my life, keep those stressors from bringing on crises.
I see my condition as a chronic one, and therapy as a part of my lifelong treatment plan. Of course, if they came out with the perfect drug tomorrow, I might feel differently. :)
Posted by Dinah on June 25, 2003, at 5:50:42
In reply to Re: Therapy as mood stabilizer? Opinions please. » Tabitha, posted by Dinah on June 25, 2003, at 5:49:02
P.S. All that being said, I'd also like to reduce my use of therapy, just as I reduced my drugs. I keep hoping that once a week will be sufficient.
Posted by noa on June 25, 2003, at 20:53:59
In reply to Re: Therapy as mood stabilizer? Opinions please., posted by Dinah on June 25, 2003, at 5:50:42
It hasn't led to reducing my meds but without it, my meds would have limited value, I am sure. I feel there is a synergy between the two. Without meds, my use of therapy is impaired and I would get limited results, and without therapy, meds only go so far. My meds can't solve all my problems, just keep me functioning well enough to work, etc. and therapy is where I really figure out better ways of coping.
Posted by Tabitha on June 26, 2003, at 0:23:58
In reply to Re: Therapy as mood stabilizer? Opinions please., posted by noa on June 25, 2003, at 20:53:59
I guess I'm wanting to think there's been some kind of permanent re-wiring. Maybe it's just because it's coming up on my 10 yr therapy anniversary-- I hope it's something besides just ongoing support.
Posted by Dinah on June 26, 2003, at 2:24:31
In reply to Re: Therapy as mood stabilizer? Opinions please., posted by Tabitha on June 26, 2003, at 0:23:58
Hey! "Just ongoing support" ain't bad. :)
I'm not worse, I'm not in the hospital, I'm still employed, and a reasonably decent mom. I'm not dead, and I've reduced SI to almost nothing. Mainly from "just ongoing support". And in the face of naturally growing stressors in my life that may have done me in otherwise, or reduced me to living a mechanical life artificially deadened by heavy duty medications.
My therapist has said that he feels that support and keeping me from getting worse is a sufficient reason for therapy. But that change and improvement is something he always works for as well. And achieves.
But I can't say that I could stop therapy tomorrow and find that I've grown enough to be able to do without it.
But that's me.
Tabitha, I have to tell you, that there has been rewiring done in your ten years. In just the time I've known you here, you've grown and evolved. Enjoy your ten year anniversary with assurance that the rewiring is apparent to those who know you.
(But support isn't a negligible benefit either.)
Posted by noa on June 26, 2003, at 21:58:15
In reply to Re: Therapy as mood stabilizer? Opinions please., posted by Tabitha on June 26, 2003, at 0:23:58
Well, there could be some rewiring. For me, even though I might not lower or go off my meds, I think the therapy has helped me function more effectively, and I think that can involve brain changes. I think there have been some studies on brain changes from therapy. Keep in mind--although I am pretty much in remission now, I have a severe and treatment resistant form of recurrent/chronic depression ("double depression"). The depression I have now is more the dysthymia layer of the double depression. But you should have seen me in the throes of the major depression!
So, for me, lowering or going off meds just may not be a realistic way to measure the changes I get from therapy.
This is the end of the thread.
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