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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 9:07:12
I just wrote on the meds board that I am going to start taking Prozac again, after 4 years or so of not taking it...
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040329/msgs/329767.html
Now I am wondering if I should talk to my psychologist about it. I'm not sure what he would think, either about my not taking it for those years, or about my starting it again. Since he is a psychologist, not a psychiatrist, it is not his area of specialty. I am sort of afraid that maybe he would think it is a cop-out, that I am just going to pop some pills instead of working on my negative thoughts or whatnot. Maybe I should just ask him his opinion about whether or not I should start taking it again. Or maybe it would be best not to tell him at all... I don't know. Anyway, I am seeing him tomorrow.
Posted by Dinah on March 29, 2004, at 9:36:35
In reply to Should I tell him?, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 9:07:12
Well, you know what my opinion *always* is about telling your therapist something.
Did you say that you were graduating after this semester?
Posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 9:39:58
In reply to Re: Should I tell him? » lonelygirl, posted by Dinah on March 29, 2004, at 9:36:35
I am supposed to be graduating, but seeing as I am failing most of my classes, I am probably not... Why do you think I should tell him? I mean, what benefit would it have to tell him?
I have so little time with him, too. I almost hate to waste any of it on something like this.
Posted by Dinah on March 29, 2004, at 9:46:57
In reply to Re: Should I tell him? » Dinah, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 9:39:58
Well, it's more that I don't believe in deliberately not telling your therapist something. I don't tell my therapist everything that happens in my life, but if there's something I know I don't want to tell him, I generally make a point of telling him.
Posted by EmmyS on March 29, 2004, at 10:25:09
In reply to Should I tell him?, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 9:07:12
LG sweetie - Yes, please do tell him. I would suggest this, "Listen handsome, I am starting to take prozac again because I feel my depression is affecting my school work in that I cannot concentrate, have no motivation, and have been feeling much too down. I don't want to spend a lot of time talking about meds because we have so little time, but I wanted to make you aware of this change in my status so you can write in my stinkin' chart."
Good luck. Emmy
Posted by pegasus on March 29, 2004, at 10:53:40
In reply to Should I tell him?, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 9:07:12
Yeah, I think you should tell him too. Just because he's a psychologist doesn't mean that he doesn't have a lot of info about medications. It just means that he isn't allowed to prescribe them. In my experience, my Ts have had a lot of useful things to say about meds. He's probably seen many clients go on and off of various medications, and I'm sure he'll have opinions. And, anyway, he might notice a change in you, and it would probably be useful for him to know whether that's a med related change, or something else in your life.
Having read your posts lately, it does seem like a pretty good idea to try Prozac again, if it has helped you in the past. I don't know you well, and I'm no expert, but you have sounded rather depressed lately. And it sounds like it's getting in your way with the school work.
By the way, do you think it's possible that some of your problems getting going with schoolwork could be related to your feelings about having to leave your T when you graduate? I mean, in a subconscious way? Since, if you don't graduate, you might be able to keep seeing him for longer, right? Just a thought.
- p
Posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 11:06:01
In reply to Re: Should I tell him?, posted by pegasus on March 29, 2004, at 10:53:40
The thing is, I don't think it has helped me in the past.... Although it has been so long, I can't really remember.
I am still kind of unsure about these subconscious thoughts. They seems a little far-fetched to me. He suggested that the "real reason" I didn't turn in a project was that I wanted to get out of my group. I don't believe that. But as a matter of fact, I have considered the relationship between my problems with school and my attachment to my psychologist. I also don't really believe that... I have not had a good experience at school and I have been looking forward to getting out of here for some time now. Plus, I had problems last semester as well. I nearly failed 3 classes, but I managed to bring up my grades at the last minute (actually in one case, it was after the semester was over, and I had to beg my professor to accept 2 late lab reports, which I had to complete over winter break). This was before I had this issue with my psychologist. So I don't know. I also can't really talk about this with him.
You make a good point about the meds... I think I will tell him if it comes up. I am kind of shy about bringing things up, though, so I will have to try to work it into something else we talk about.
Posted by noa on March 29, 2004, at 11:31:15
In reply to Re: Should I tell him? » pegasus, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 11:06:01
lg,
1. I think you should tell him.
2. He may see it as I do--a proactive thing you are doing to treat your debilitating depression, so you can start to feel better, and be more likely to get more benefit from the therapy (that was my experience).
3. You are taking it "again"--does this mean you have consulted a pschiatrist and gotten a scrip or are you resuming meds you happened to still have from before, without seeing a psychiatrist?
4. If you feel the Prozac might not have helped before, maybe a different med would? Discuss this with the psychiatrist.
5. It might be good to have your psychologist and psychiatrist consult with each other. The psychologist might be able to help you and they psychiatrist hone in on a good medication for you, as well as help you monitor how the med is working and any SEs you might experience.
Posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 11:31:32
In reply to Re: Should I tell him?, posted by EmmyS on March 29, 2004, at 10:25:09
LOL... I should read that to him verbatim. "Listen, handsome!"
Posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 11:41:44
In reply to Re: Should I tell him? » lonelygirl, posted by noa on March 29, 2004, at 11:31:15
Thanks for your input...
I am supposed to be taking it, and I have been supposed to be taking it, for the last several years. I have not been taking it for the entire time I've been in college, but I still go to the psychiatrist (for my parents' wishes), tell her I'm taking it, and she gives me refill prescriptions. So as far as she knows, I have been taking it all along. I don't see her very often -- really only 2 or 3 times a year when I need a refill prescription.
It's not really a possibility to have the psychiatrist and psychologist consult with one another... It's kind of complicated so I will refer you to a previous post I made for an explanation:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040313/msgs/326304.html
Posted by Joslynn on March 29, 2004, at 12:37:14
In reply to Re: Should I tell him? » noa, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 11:41:44
I would be honest with the psychologist that you were not taking the meds and that now you want to take them. He's not allowed to tell your parents what you tell him, so they won't know.
The pdoc and psychologist could communicate by phone. My pdoc and therp have each other's numbers. My pdoc told me that he would like my therp to call him if I seem to be slipping, since she sees me more than he does. I am ok with this. Maybe you could work out a deal like that?
If you do take the meds again, just make sure they are not expired, if you have old ones laying around.
Posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 12:46:22
In reply to Re: Should I tell him?, posted by Joslynn on March 29, 2004, at 12:37:14
Thanks for your input... I do not really want the pdoc in on this, because I have kind of been lying to her for the last 5 years : )
I have a brand new bottle o' pills that I just got a couple of weeks ago, so no worries about expiration.
Posted by noa on March 29, 2004, at 19:35:31
In reply to Re: Should I tell him? » noa, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 11:41:44
Why don't you find a psychiatrist locally where you are? Many insurances will reimburse for out of state, especially for a student.
It worries me how much you haven't told either of the professionals you are in treatment with. It worries me that you are resuming meds but not under a doctor's care.
Posted by noa on March 29, 2004, at 19:39:07
In reply to Re: Should I tell him? » Joslynn, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 12:46:22
LG,
If you are afraid about fessing up to having lied to the previous pdoc, find another. Ask your therapist to recommend someone. It makes sense to have one nearby now anyway.
How do you expect any of your doctors to help you if you aren't honest with them?
Posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 20:03:28
In reply to Re: Should I tell him? » lonelygirl, posted by noa on March 29, 2004, at 19:39:07
I appreciate your concern, but I have been honest (for the most part) with my psychologist. I told him I wasn't taking any meds, and I wasn't, until today (and I haven't seen him since Friday). I will (probably) tell him tomorrow.
As for the pdoc, I tried being honest. I told her, I told my parents, I told the psychologist they forced me to see, that I did not want to take the meds, and they forced me to. Then I graduated from high school and went far away from home for college, and I didn't have to take any medications I didn't want to, so I didn't. I knew that if I told people the truth, they would only try to force me to take the meds again, so I just didn't tell them. What else could I do?
Now that I'm taking it again, it will be honest when I tell the pdoc that I am... Now I'm being honest with everyone, so everything should be cool, right?
Posted by fallsfall on March 30, 2004, at 7:45:54
In reply to Re: Should I tell him? » noa, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 20:03:28
Honesty is a very good thing. I hope that you do talk about this with your therapist. Maybe... just maybe, the Prozac will help, and I know that he would want to know why there has been a change.
Sometimes I start a comment with "There are other things that I want to talk about today, so I don't want to spend a lot of time on this, but...". Usually they are curious enough about the other things that they don't spend a lot of time on whatever "this" is. Once in a while, though, he comes back to it if he thinks it is more important than whatever came next... It works most of the time.
Good luck
Posted by lonelygirl on March 30, 2004, at 16:43:46
In reply to Should I tell him?, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 9:07:12
Well, now everybody's going to be mad at me, but, um, I did not tell him about the Prozac. Sorry -- it just didn't come up!
We continued our discussion on why I am not getting things done. It is kind of annoying, in some ways, because he kind of keeps telling me that I have good reasons for being a failure and a procrastinator. It's almost like he's encouraging me. I don't know. I'm sure he has a point, but I have to wait until next freaking Tuesday to hear it.
We got off on this long tangent about one time when I got in trouble in high school, and I couldn't decide whether to tell him about it or not, and finally I did. He said he was glad that I trusted him enough to tell him. Aww : ) But then we ran out of time : ( But he touched me on the shoulder! (Ok, so it was sort of like he was shoving me out the door, but his hand was on my shoulder! If he had kicked me in the ass, I would have framed the pants that his shoe touched!)
Posted by Dinah on March 30, 2004, at 16:49:31
In reply to And... I didn't tell him, posted by lonelygirl on March 30, 2004, at 16:43:46
No fussing from me. It's your therapy and your choice what to talk about.
But please do let someone know you are starting the Prozac again. It's a wonderful proactive thing to do to improve your life, but sometimes psych meds have side effects. So someone should know to keep an objective eye on you.
Posted by fallsfall on March 30, 2004, at 16:53:59
In reply to And... I didn't tell him, posted by lonelygirl on March 30, 2004, at 16:43:46
Sounds like you were talking about important things. The other thing to watch out for with Psych meds is that lots of times you need to start with a smaller dose, and work up to the full amount. I know that I started with a smaller dose when I went on Prozac. But what you should start with depends on you and how your body works with meds - so I couldn't tell you what to start with. My experience with meds says that if you start with too much you can have pretty severe side effects, or other bad things. Maybe you could talk to a GP at the college health center?
Posted by Fallen4myT on March 30, 2004, at 16:57:36
In reply to And... I didn't tell him, posted by lonelygirl on March 30, 2004, at 16:43:46
Posted by noa on March 31, 2004, at 5:25:09
In reply to Re: Should I tell him? » noa, posted by lonelygirl on March 29, 2004, at 20:03:28
YES, I hope so! I'm glad you are going to be more open and honest with your doctors.
Now you are an adult so you get to decide on your treatment. And this includes finding a different pdoc if you don't like working with the one your parents had picked.
I remember once when I was around your age, I was living in a group apartment and I used to sneak eat all the time when my roommates would be out. Then one day, I stopped myself and realized that my roommates couldn't care less what I did or did not eat. This behavior was a holdover from living at home with my parents, because my mother was extremely controlling with me over a lot of things, including what I was allowed to eat. So I developed this sneak eating habit of lurking until my mom went out of the house and then scrounging through the cupboards as quickly as possible and downing as much as I could without the impact on the food supply being too noticeable (e.g., not eating too much of any one thing at a time, but taking some from a lot of different things). It was a horrible way to eat--stuffing food fast without really savoring it. It was compulsive, and an attempt to deal with feeling deprived becuase of the way my mother tried to control me. It kind of reminded me of the feral behavior of this ex-stray cat I once had, who would sneak into the kitchen and steal whatever he could and then run off to the inaccessible corners of the house or yard to chow down.
Anyway, why am I telling you this? Because when I was your age I suddenly realized that I was still operating as though under my parents' control and came to see that I didn't have to anymore--that my decisions could be my own at that point. I think that is where you are now. You had some bad experiences with your parents forcing treatment on you, so you felt you had to take care of yourself by deceiving the adults involved. But now, you have more control as a young adult.
I'm so glad you are going to try to be more honest. Good luck!
Posted by noa on March 31, 2004, at 5:30:28
In reply to And... I didn't tell him, posted by lonelygirl on March 30, 2004, at 16:43:46
>If he had kicked me in the ass, I would have framed the pants that his shoe touched!)
LOL!! You have a great sense of humor!!
Anyway, no, not mad at you. It's a process. But if you do want ideas about how to introduce the topic, we can give you lots of 'em.
BTW, doesn't the school health service have any pdocs you could see about the meds? It would be better to have someone following you as you start them again. But of course, someone you can feel more comfortable with than the pdoc you saw during high school.
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 1, 2004, at 17:13:49
In reply to And... I didn't tell him, posted by lonelygirl on March 30, 2004, at 16:43:46
> If he had kicked me in the [*]ss
Sorry to be such a prude, but please don't use language that could offend others:
If you have any questions or comments about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
or redirect a follow-up to Psycho-Babble Administration.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by lonelygirl on April 1, 2004, at 17:28:11
In reply to Re: please be civil » lonelygirl, posted by Dr. Bob on April 1, 2004, at 17:13:49
This is the end of the thread.
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