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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tebasmm on February 15, 2010, at 23:32:09
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on the latest treatment for dysthymia. "talk therapy" is not working. The drugs help to a certain extent when I am on the right ones. But they burn out and they only seem to keep me out of major depression. It seems no matter what I try I can't get negative thoughts out of my head. Deep down thats not who I am or who I want to be. I've tried journaling affirmations and it triggered severe depression and a suicide attempt or at least it immediately followed. I tried group therapy at a day program but I am extremely shy. I can talk in groups of 3 or 4 but never opened up in front of the full group so they say I "never let it work for me" I keep looking for a new Pdoc and therapist but there are not many online places to look with actual client reviews or with therapist or Pdocs who specialize in dysthimia or chronic depression.
Posted by Dinah on February 16, 2010, at 11:10:13
In reply to Treatment for Dysthymia, posted by tebasmm on February 15, 2010, at 23:32:09
I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds positive affirmations counterproductive!!! They ring with falsity to me, and that makes me feel bad about where I am right now.
I find balanced affirmations much more useful. Not "I am strong. I am nice to be around. People like me." But more "I am not precisely strong, but I manage to do what I need to do. Some people like me and some people don't. I'll never be popular precisely. But it isn't necessary to be popular to be happy. A small circle of good friends doesn't require everyone to like me. Just a few. I'm good at some of what I do, but other things I'm not particularly good at. That's true of most people. I wonder what I can do to either get better at those things, or to arrange it so those things aren't something I need to be good at."
Do you have a doctor of some other sort that you trust? I really liked my ob/gyn and told her that I was looking for a pediatrician with a similar philosophy to her own, and ended up with one we just love. My best pdoc recommendation came (gasp!) through my mother from a friend of hers. I found my therapist by attending a one day presentation on anxiety. In larger cities, I think those things are occasionally held.
I'm not familiar with the latest treatments on dysthmia. I'd think CBT was still the standard, and I think I've heard that DBT is being used for all sorts of things now. But many people don't fit neatly into a therapeutic model and good therapists are willing to bend and be "eclectic" to match their client's needs.
What is the pdoc/therapist situation where you are?
Posted by tebasmm on February 16, 2010, at 14:47:42
In reply to Re: Treatment for Dysthymia » tebasmm, posted by Dinah on February 16, 2010, at 11:10:13
I am looking for new ones. My Pdoc is not helpful just wants to give more and more drugs. He doesnt listen or have time very rushed. The therapist just seems to use talk therapy. To me it's like so what I didn't get validation as a child from my parents so now I feel unworthy. So what? I figured that out 10 years ago. It doesn't give me and ah ha moment and make me go out and change my life. Thats just a simple example that I can think of. Or my therapist always says "its not your fault how you grew up". I KNOW THAT ALREADY. Repeating it over and over again doesn't change the way I feel. She is the best therapist I have ever been to in that she doesnt fall asleep she remembers my name and even my history. But her methods are not working.
Posted by Dinah on February 16, 2010, at 17:52:49
In reply to Re: Treatment for Dysthymia, posted by tebasmm on February 16, 2010, at 14:47:42
You'd prefer something a bit more practical and here and now? More like CBT?
Posted by floatingbridge on March 2, 2010, at 18:17:13
In reply to Treatment for Dysthymia, posted by tebasmm on February 15, 2010, at 23:32:09
Books have helped me focus in on my sources of discomfort. I read lots, which can be crazy-making if I try and self-diagnosis. Speaking of myself here, the more aware I became of my particular issues, the easier I was able to talk to a shrink.
I 'have' double depression--dysthymia and chronic major depression w/ a great
helping of c-ptsd. Now that I take my crappy childhood seriuosly without minimizing it, I've gained traction in therapy. Right now a combination of stuff, like real world assignments, talk, exploring the past, mood charting, and
help replacing maladaptive thinking with reasonably healthy ideas (like what Dinah talked about).A book I like is called Undoing Depression. It's no cure, but gave me new perspectives to think from.
I'm just going on and on. Good luck. Don't give up on finding the right fit. It's there.
Posted by CrAzYmEd on March 3, 2010, at 12:54:28
In reply to Treatment for Dysthymia, posted by tebasmm on February 15, 2010, at 23:32:09
Try trivastal.
This is the end of the thread.
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