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Re: Help! Meds vs Psychotherapy

Posted by Pandora on January 8, 2001, at 20:10:10

In reply to Help! Meds vs Psychotherapy, posted by Lisa's Husband on January 8, 2001, at 19:17:47

> Hi all;
>
> My wife just finished a 3-day stay at a Mental Health Facility.
>
> It breaks my heart to watch one of the most incredible women on the planet (In the last 17 years, she has awakened every day to defeat the HIV that occupies her bloodstream and I am helping her successfully raise our 3 children) become stricken with depression and paralyzed with anxiety.
>
> I have to admit, I have never been directly exposed to Clinical Depression before, and should also speak to my guilt. I am guilty of (many times) talking to depressed friends with tones of "snap out of it" and "you need to go to the beach or Disneyland". I post before you as a reformed, and humbled believer in the uncontrolled pain of Clinical Depression.
>
> Here is a quick synopsis of her treatment to date:
>
> 5 weeks ago, she was struck down by a massive depression. Put on Zoloft (.5) and Zanax (1.0 x3) by her (trusted?) doctor, 1 week later, there was no effect. A Psychiatrist (who seemed to prefer medicating via telephone over an office visit) said it would be okay to double the zoloft.
>
> Within days, Lisa was paralyzed with anxiety, from the time she opened her eyes in the morning. After a few days of torture, she woke up with a pulse of 160 (normally 45). At the emergency room that day, they took her off Zoloft for 2 days, followed by a reduction to .5 per day.
>
> Oh, did I mention the addition of a small quantity of Wellbutrin? Another inept decision from the same lazy Psychiatrist (Or, as I saw in one of your posts, Psycho-Pharmacologist?) AFTER her Emergency Room visit . If she didn't like the Zoloft version of anxiety, let's see if she can tolerate the Wellbutrin version, right?
>
> The final blow for Lisa was having to admit herself to a Mental Health Ward last Wednesday. A move that may have been necessary solely in order for her to stabilize her treatment and get a REAL Psychiatrist.
>
> Now, back at home, she is still struggling with depression (now taking .75 Zoloft and 50mg x 3 Klonopin).
>
> The HELP! in the Subject line is 2-fold:
>
> 1. What should I/should I not be doing to give her the support she needs from her husband. I struggle with the question of talking directly to her feelings vs providing an "escape" by diverting her to activities, pushing her to get out of the house, etc.
>
> 2. Did we choose Pharmacology too early? She had one visit with a PHSYCHOLOGIST prior to going on meds. Is it possible that the Pharmacology might be inhibiting her ability to get help via Psychotherapy?
>
> ANY feedback/insight you have will be greatly appreciated.
>
> David

Generally speaking, meds can help a person get more out of therapy, especially where acute anxiety is present - if you can't stand to sit through a session, you don't get much out of it. I'm sure you've looked into this, but could this be a complication related to her HIV status? Either way, I would imagine that someone who is HIV positive might benefit from therapeutic support regardless of how supportive her family is... obviously in this case, your wife is incredibly lucky to have such a supportive partner. Certainly, therapy won't hurt and since the symptoms began "out of the blue", there might be a psychological componant that can be helped by counseling. I would also keep bugging the docs if the meds don't seem to help - there are so many out there that it's unnecessary to suffer when one or two don't work...

I applaud you for seeking help and wish you the best of luck.


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Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:Pandora thread:51206
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001231/msgs/51212.html