![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alexandra_k on June 4, 2014, at 4:38:13
thinking of you. hoping things are going well for you. looking forward to hearing from you when you are able.
Posted by Partlycloudy on June 5, 2014, at 17:46:22
In reply to pc..., posted by alexandra_k on June 4, 2014, at 4:38:13
Thanks, Alexandra. I just got home today. I left early, though much healthier and with the alcohol issue firmly resolved. Did a 12 day course of sauna (mornings spent 20 minutes in and 10 minutes out) to "detoxify" the body. Um. Bloody uncomfortable, but they made sure we were hydrated and given magnesium so we wouldn't pass out.
I pretty much didn't agree with the treatment premise, which is called the 3 Principle Theory. It disagrees with psychiatric care and any type of therapy, the belief being that we are innately mentally healthy and have thought ourselves into all forms of mental illness and addiction. I about had a cow when I realised the underhandedness with which this approach was drilled into the clients.
So I didn't do well socially at all. I ended up wearing sunglasses and noise cancelling headphones to create some semblance of soothing. There were big screen TVs playing loudly at all hours. We were given one hour a day to read course material in silence. I devoured 10 books in almost 4 weeks, and had already read another 10 that were in their reading library before I arrived.
Mixed bag, really. I am on half the benzo dose and less than half of the sleeping tablet dose than before I went in. Far too quick a taper in both cases, with my head pounding every day and astounding panic attacks.
But I am home, happy and feeling pretty off my game. It will take a few days to readjust.
PC
Posted by alexandra_k on June 6, 2014, at 2:07:17
In reply to Re: pc..., posted by Partlycloudy on June 5, 2014, at 17:46:22
aw. i'm having deja vu of treatment, now. i have philosophical issues with their 12 step stuff... your higher power can be anything you like but you will feel a little silly confessing your sins to your bedpan ahhahaha.
sounds like an experience, for sure :)
nice to have you back.
Posted by Partlycloudy on June 6, 2014, at 5:30:49
In reply to Re: pc..., posted by alexandra_k on June 6, 2014, at 2:07:17
This wasn't, thank goodness, a 12 stepping place. More of a "I feel like total crap." (You look up and see a cloud passing.) revelation: "Wow, my bad feeling feeling passed just like that cloud. My suffering has been in my head only all along."
That is the flavour of crap we were fed.
I missed you too.
Posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2014, at 9:48:11
In reply to Re: pc..., posted by Partlycloudy on June 6, 2014, at 5:30:49
PC I'm glad you feel better. But I can understand how you felt. What if the person was bipolar or something else. Did they think themselves into this? I know when I was healthy and charge nurse of employee assistance program for not just alcohol but all drug rehab it was the opposite for some and others had real physical problems which caused them to abuse to kill the pain which was physical. I've not heard of this type of program. So bottom line did it help you and will you return to your docs here? Phillipa
Posted by Partlycloudy on June 6, 2014, at 10:49:25
In reply to Re: pc... » Partlycloudy, posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2014, at 9:48:11
> PC I'm glad you feel better. But I can understand how you felt. What if the person was bipolar or something else. Did they think themselves into this? I know when I was healthy and charge nurse of employee assistance program for not just alcohol but all drug rehab it was the opposite for some and others had real physical problems which caused them to abuse to kill the pain which was physical. I've not heard of this type of program. So bottom line did it help you and will you return to your docs here? Phillipa
I could never get a straight answer from anyone regarding serious diagnoses.
Within the first week I was there, I had suicidal ideations, was threatened with involuntary hospitalisation, and was told I was probably in the wrong place. No refunds, mind you. $29,000 and no insurance coverage.
My Klonopin was reduced from 3 mg per day to 1.5 mg. Ambien XR 12.5 mg has been reduced to generic zolpidem 5 mg in less than 4 weeks. No wonder my head is spinning.But yes, despite the nasty, rapid taper, I feel better, if foggy. I cannot fathom drinking again. I also think the program is a load of unsubstantiated B.S. We Skyped with the author of a bunch of the course books. I asked him whether the organization just did not believe in the disease model of mental illness, and his reply was that he was "just a consultant". They lost me then and there.
It is good to be home.
Posted by alexandra_k on June 6, 2014, at 19:30:45
In reply to Re: pc..., posted by Partlycloudy on June 6, 2014, at 10:49:25
wow. you could have... gone to college for a year, or something like that.
Posted by Partlycloudy on June 6, 2014, at 20:16:14
In reply to Re: pc..., posted by alexandra_k on June 6, 2014, at 19:30:45
<strained voice> oh, I know.
I am not so much embarrassed as realising that it is an illustration of the state of private health care. It's criminal, and there is NO recourse. You pay, and if you leave early, it is your money gone.
Posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2014, at 20:24:47
In reply to Re: pc..., posted by Partlycloudy on June 6, 2014, at 10:49:25
I'm sorry you were so miserable. But it sounds like bottom line was worth it as no more drinking, Klonopin down and ambien as well. I think congratulations are in order don't you? Phillipa
Posted by alexandra_k on June 7, 2014, at 2:41:10
In reply to Re: pc..., posted by Partlycloudy on June 6, 2014, at 20:16:14
> <strained voice> oh, I know.
> I am not so much embarrassed as realising that it is an illustration of the state of private health care. It's criminal, and there is NO recourse. You pay, and if you leave early, it is your money gone.well... i guess it's like college, too. i have student loans i have to pay back for tech even though i dropped out... once they've got your money... and it is next to impossible to do proper homework beforehand. especially when one isn't well...
Posted by Partlycloudy on June 7, 2014, at 8:27:37
In reply to Re: pc... » Partlycloudy, posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2014, at 20:24:47
> I'm sorry you were so miserable. But it sounds like bottom line was worth it as no more drinking, Klonopin down and ambien as well. I think congratulations are in order don't you? Phillipa
Thanks, Phillipa. I am not sure the taper should have been this swift, but I am very happy about the cessation of drinking. That was my primary goal.
Posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2014, at 20:51:50
In reply to Re: pc... » Phillipa, posted by Partlycloudy on June 7, 2014, at 8:27:37
PC and you accomplished your goal let the rest follow. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.