Posted by SLS on March 26, 2013, at 12:29:03
In reply to Re: My attempt to discontinue Lamictal = relapse., posted by Twinleaf on March 26, 2013, at 11:44:31
Hi Twinleaf.
> I have a couple of thoughts: because you have an element of PTSD which has responded well to Prazosin, would it be worthwhile to find out your cortisol levels,
My cortisol levels have historically been high, and I am a dexamethasone non-suppressor.
> and,if it is high, and if you don't suppress normally, do the things which are known to lower it - such as meditation, physical touch
Physical touch is tremendously soothing to me, depending on the person doing the touching. :-)
> such as massages, and even trying a spray of nasal oxytocin?
Interesting. Where would I find this?
> TMS definitely lowers cortisol, and can also reverse non-suppression, but only temporarily.
I didn't know that. Thanks.
> It does this for me. You do have to keep on doing it, and the cost gets very high. I have one treatment every four months.
I thought to use TMS as an adjunct to medication. I have not checked recently with Medicare to find out whether they have started to cover it yet. What do you know about deep TMS?
> Lastly, and probably most important, what about another trial of therapy, with emphasis on the cortisol- lowering aspects - a very good fit where you feel truly safe, and where the relationship is of primary importance?
I think about returning to psychotherapy every now and then, but I haven't decided upon what issues I need help with. I'll give it more thought.
> I feel that this has been the most important thing I have done, and the one thing that has helped the most. I know those really good therapy relationships are not easy to find, but they can be invaluable.
I need someone who is committed to the fact that my that depressive disorder is predominantly biological in nature, and to design a treatment plan taking that into consideration. My last psychotherapist didn't do this, although I profited a great deal from my interactions with her. I simply filtered out her biases against biological psychiatry. It was a source of tension, though.
Thank you for offering such kindness and insightful suggestions.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1041110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130322/msgs/1041126.html