Way to Get me On board

[Misanthropical]

I had a job once that made me completely depressed, but my doctor and I didn't realize that was what was causing it at the time. We both figured it out at the same time. I quit my job and the depression goes away.

Anyway, I make an appointment to get a medical opinion right after the depression went away and the med student comes in and tells me I'm just depressed. I could not get this asshole to listen to a word I said, he just kept telling me it was because I was depressed.

I had to wait till my regular doctor came back from vacation to get the medical issue dealt with. I swore right then and there that there was no way in hell I would ever admit to having depression again.

[LadyAndreca]

Yeah, I know I don't have to be suicidal to be depressed, that's one of the reasons I was so annoyed about the whole thing. I know I'm not qualified to self-diagnose or anything, but a brush-off of "you just needed to talk it out" was NOT the right answer.

I've got an appointment with my doctor next week. I should bring it up.

[Seshat]

"talking therapy" can help - but is a vastly different thing from "just talk it out"

[Sapphire Silk]

Having the right therapist definitely makes all the difference.

The best therapists I've ever had were all licensed clinical social workers.

A few years ago I had a guy who had a general degree in counseling from a religious school. We spent as much time talking about him as we did about my problems, and it was more of an hourly gripe session rather than any real therapy. I'd been going to try and deal with minor depression and anxiety issues that were affecting my work performance. It turned into a major depression when my dad died . . . talk wasn't enough.

So I switched to a LCSW who used cognitive behavioral therapy. Then sessions were more about how to solve my problems as opposed to just bitching about them.

I've been out of therapy for a year now, and off medication as well. And I still feel good.

Therapy works . . . IF you have the right therapist.

[Eisa]

We rather disagree. And we're worried about what will happen when (not if) he does it to a rape victim.

Startle, scream, freak out, and maybe reflexively deck and/or kick him in the crotch.

[Seshat]

Therapy works . . . IF you have the right therapist.

I will very slightly disagree with you, for a change, Panacea.

IF you have brain chemistry or anatomy that is wrong in just the right way, or to just the right severity, you may need medication and/or surgery.

Other than that - and supplemental to the medication/surgery - I completely agree.

Startle, scream, freak out, and maybe reflexively deck and/or kick him in the crotch.

I was actually thinking of the damage to the victim, and of the duty of care the respite care centre has to them.

Now, if the victim were to reflexively deck and/or kick the person responsible for the decision to keep this guy in with other, unwarned patients....

[Eisa]

I'm not sure I could manage that and make it look reflexive...but I could try.

Cuz seriously, that is messed up.

[Seshat]

I TOTALLY agree!

I think it's irresponsible, dangerous, harmful, fails duty of care... plus a whole series of things that are definitely not G or PG rated to say.

If the guy truly can't help himself, he needs a carer with him whenever he is 'in public', including such places as respite care. And by 'with him' I mean 'close enough to prevent him'.

If he can and is using his genuine disabilities as an excuse to get away with the behaviour, then he deserves the reflexive kick too.

[SuperRTL]

Was seeing my doctor after my son was born because I was tired all the time, gaining weight, losing my hair and falling asleep and sleeping for 18 hours a day. She says I have post-partum and prescribes me drugs for it. Um, no, not depressed, dealt with that in high school, thanks.

So, she refers me to a psychologist. I go. Psychologist says, I'm right, it's not post-partum, I'm Bi-Polar! Nope, wrong again, PTSD from being raped in high school. Dealt with it. Not depressed, seriously have a problem here.

3 years and 5 doctors later, one of them looks at my list of symptoms and asks "Did anybody check your thyroid?"

My what?

Oh, it's that little gland that controls basically everything your body does. I had all the classic signs of hypo-thyroidism. Some of them so severe that it was impacting my life badly.

One little blood test later and bam, I'm on synthroid and I can actually function like a human being, though a slightly twisted and maybe a little evil human being. >

I've seen shrinks since then and if the first thing they do is offer to put me on an anti-depressant, I'm out of there. I don't need them and taking them without really needing them is scary.

I'm still dealing with the 100 lbs I gained after having the kiddo. Really thinking it should have been caught before it got to this point but, hey, at least I have the option now!

[Sapphire Silk]

I will very slightly disagree with you, for a change, Panacea.

IF you have brain chemistry or anatomy that is wrong in just the right way, or to just the right severity, you may need medication and/or surgery.

Other than that - and supplemental to the medication/surgery - I completely agree.
:

I beg your pardon; I did not make myself clear. I meant therapy for mild depression, which is usually treatable with therapy with or without medication. Major depression, PTSD, and major mental illnesses such as bi polar disorder or schizophrenia almost always require medication (I say almost always because there are some rare cases of patients who manage without medication).

Was seeing my doctor after my son was born because I was tired all the time, gaining weight, losing my hair and falling asleep and sleeping for 18 hours a day. She says I have post-partum and prescribes me drugs for it. Um, no, not depressed, dealt with that in high school, thanks.

So, she refers me to a psychologist. I go. Psychologist says, I'm right, it's not post-partum, I'm Bi-Polar! Nope, wrong again, PTSD from being raped in high school. Dealt with it. Not depressed, seriously have a problem here.

3 years and 5 doctors later, one of them looks at my list of symptoms and asks "Did anybody check your thyroid?"

One little blood test later and bam, I'm on synthroid and I can actually function like a human being, though a slightly twisted and maybe a little evil human being. >

I've seen shrinks since then and if the first thing they do is offer to put me on an anti-depressant, I'm out of there. I don't need them and taking them without really needing them is scary.

I'm still dealing with the 100 lbs I gained after having the kiddo. Really thinking it should have been caught before it got to this point but, hey, at least I have the option now!

You're right; the thyroid issue probably should have been caught earlier. All too often psychiatrists are little more than over educated drug dealers.

I could see the Post Partum Depression, though. Post Partum Depression is the result of the pregnancy, probably brought on by hormonal changes. Risk is heightened in patients with previous history of depression or major mental disorders. It is easily treatable, but if left untreated can turn into a psychotic situation (re Andrea Yates).

The hair loss was the big red flag for thyroid issues. I'm glad you got a second opinion and got the right diagnosis.

And after dealing with a shrink of my own who insisted on putting me on atypical anti-pyschotics to "bring me down" off the "energy" I would get from being on Wellbutrin for my depression, I agree with the sentiment: if meds are the first answer, look elsewhere for help.

[SuperRTL]

Yeah, Post-Partum can be rough. I had it, very, very mildly after my daughter was born. I can even see my doctor thinking it could be related but gaining a ton of weight while breastfeeding just after giving birth? And the hair loss? It was the hair loss that freaked me out and I mentioned it several times. I have fantastic hair and it was falling out by the hand full. I swear, I was on the verge of buying Rogaine.

I was completely misdiagnosed multiple times before I got to the right doctor.

one was: It's all in your head! You need to stop complaining and take care of my husband and child and get some exercise you fat tub of lard!
another: OMG! You almost have Type II Diabetes! We have to get you on this stuff right now! And on a new diet to get the weight down!

The diet the doctor put me on had me eating approx. 1000 calories a day, plus the pills for being pre-diabetic (can't for the life remember what they're called) had me shaking when I was awake but I didn't have the energy to get out of bed for 3 months.
That's the point where I went to a "whole person wellness center" that was actually covered by my insurance. It had "regular" doctors (MD's) who worked with aroma therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and several nutritionists. When I walked in for my first appointment, the doctor was fixing some piece of equipment, wearing jeans and had her laptop opened to my file, which she had me look at to make sure that none of the other doctors had left anything out. I was completely impressed. She was the first doctor to actually listen to me, ask questions and tried to understand me and my life.

All of which was put into my file and everybody else I talked to at the place had the same attitude. They were going to get me better, not put me on the drug du jour, and sometimes the things they were going to tell me weren't going to make me happy, but they would also explain everything, in lots of detail, so I could understand what was going on.

[Seshat]

I beg your pardon; I did not make myself clear. I meant therapy for mild depression, which is usually treatable with therapy with or without medication.

Perfectly alright - and I agree.

And after dealing with a shrink of my own who insisted on putting me on atypical anti-pyschotics to "bring me down" off the "energy" I would get from being on Wellbutrin for my depression, I agree with the sentiment: if meds are the first answer, look elsewhere for help.

Uh.... right. Funny, a friend of mine who's on wellbutrin for depression hasn't noticed any psychotic-style 'energy'....

And once again: ditto. You want the appropriate answer, not a pill. Cleaning and stitches for an open wound, thyroid meds if a thyroid test shows them as needed, and a good therapist (and sunshine, exercise, good diet) for mild depression.

one was: It's all in your head! You need to stop complaining and take care of my husband and child and get some exercise you fat tub of lard!
another: OMG! You almost have Type II Diabetes! We have to get you on this stuff right now! And on a new diet to get the weight down!

Even in the rare case when it IS 'all in your head', the patient needs assistance and counselling! Just saying 'do it' isn't any help - there's SOME reason they're not doing it. Maybe they don't know how. Maybe there's life circumstances preventing them. Maybe they need help developing new stress-management techniques (I used to be all 'comfort-food'. I'm slowly becoming a 'comfort-artist' instead.)

Pre-diabetes aka Insulin resistance is often treated with metformin. Is that the drug you were thinking of? It's sometimes sold as Diabex.

[SuperRTL]

Pre-diabetes aka Insulin resistance is often treated with metformin. Is that the drug you were thinking of? It's sometimes sold as Diabex.

Yep, that's the one. No idea if it was the meds or the diet but I was shaky as shit for 3 months and cried at the drop of a hat.

And I knew what to do! I had a personal trainer 3 days a week and I was at the gym every day. I ate healthy! I got regular sun! So frustrating to just keep gaining the weight that, by the time I finally did see the last doctor, I was getting depressed. Yeah, I had stress in my life but this was getting ridiculous.

[Seshat]

Indeed. If you're doing the stuff that normally fixes X, and you're not getting better... maybe you don't have X!

Isn't that common sense? No?

[Sapphire Silk]

Uh.... right. Funny, a friend of mine who's on wellbutrin for depression hasn't noticed any psychotic-style 'energy'....

I was being treated for anxiety as well as depression, and my shrink swore the wellbutrin would increase the anxiety and make me restless, so she needed to "slow" me down with the atypical anti-pyschotic. I was a lot more trusting then . . . I went with it.

I can't begin to describe what those drugs were doing to me. I quit taking them quickly, and switched to a new shrink shortly thereafter. I am now very skeptical of the psychiatric "profession." I am beginning to view most of them as little more than credentialed snake oil salesmen.

Indeed. If you're doing the stuff that normally fixes X, and you're not getting better... maybe you don't have X!

Isn't that common sense? No?

You'd think . . .