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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LLee on January 11, 2012, at 15:45:07
I have had PTSD for a long time now, it was not diagnosed originally, but I had agoraphobia and that was a symptom of my PTSD that I was being treated for. I was on Geodon, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Clonzepam for 10 yrs and was once again a functioning member of society. I lost my job of 8 yrs in the end of April 2010. I didn't have medical insurance and I stopped taking all medication except Clonzepam on an as needed basis. Now because of mild depression I have started on the generic Wellbutrin again 150 mg XL once day. I also have Dermatillamania which I just figured out that there is an actual name for it and that it is an actual illness caused from OCD. I have recently started taking Inositol for it, I think it may be helping but not sure yet. I have an appt with my Dr on the 25th, I want to ask her to help me with my PTSD and yet she is a family physician so not sure how much she knows about it. I have read that none of the meds that I was on actually helps PTSD and that Wellbutrin definitely has no effect on it. I had read that only prozac and zoloft I think are two that will help with it. Has anyone had any good experiences with taking any medication for PTSD or should I just figure I will have it for the rest of my life and try to get SSD? I am now on unemployment, but my PTSD is really keeping me from finding a job, and I don't want to apply for SSD until my EDD runs out in case they say well if you can't work you can't get EDD and then not be able to get SSD either. I'm really scared that I will never get better. My PTSD has been there since childhood and has gotten even worse with things that have happened as an adult. I don't like to share the abuse, domestic violence, death threats w/weapons, and more:( so I don't talk about it to anyone. Can't afford a psychiatrist. Don't know what to do?
Posted by pegasus on January 12, 2012, at 8:45:06
In reply to PTSD, posted by LLee on January 11, 2012, at 15:45:07
Hi LLee,
Some of the most effective treatments for PTSD are not medications, but things like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, etc., which use mind-body methods to resolve the trauma. Studies show EMDR, at least, to be very effective at helping to resolve PTSD. I'm wondering whether you have access to any resources in your community that might provide one of these treatments at a low cost for you? Sometimes even a relatively low number of sessions can bring a lot of relief, depending on what your traumas are. I know that my local mental health center has a number of people trained in EMDR. And there are definitely people in the community who have flexible sliding scales and provide various of these trauma treatments. Sometimes folks who are just staring out have much lower and/or more flexible fees, but still good training in the techniques. Depending on where you are, of course.
Good luck. Let us know if you need help figuring out how to find low cost help.
- Peg
Posted by Dinah on January 12, 2012, at 10:23:35
In reply to PTSD, posted by LLee on January 11, 2012, at 15:45:07
Welcome!
I'd second everything Pegasus said. Therapy has a good record at helping with what you're describing. Sometimes medication is also useful in conjunction with therapy. Have you asked on the medication board?
Therapy has helped a lot with my OCD. But I also take Risperdal (an antipsychotic that I take for its effect on anxiety) as needed. I take Lamictal as well, but it's prescribed for migraine prevention. Still, it probably has mood stabilizing effects. Different people respond differently to medications, but Risperdal seems to suit me.
Posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 10:34:03
In reply to Re: PTSD » LLee, posted by Dinah on January 12, 2012, at 10:23:35
Ugh I thought this was the medication board....oops will try again! Thanks!
I know I was on Geodon and that is also an antipsychotic and was mentioned in an article I read that Risperyadal and Geodon didn't help:( Although Geodon was the medication that did help me get out of the house and drive again.
Posted by Dinah on January 12, 2012, at 11:18:48
In reply to Re: PTSD, posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 10:34:03
Then it helped!
Antipsychotics are what is used to be known as major tranquilizers. If your brain chemistry is compatible, they can be very good for the anxiety that comes with OCD or PTSD.
I do think, however, that for PTSD medications combined with psychotherapy (with a good therapist) is superior to medications alone. The medications might make it possible to tolerate therapy, but they aren't going to change the underlying problem.
Posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 11:51:09
In reply to Re: PTSD » LLee, posted by Dinah on January 12, 2012, at 11:18:48
Well it did help me while I was on it. Unfortunately I no longer have medical insurance so I have had to go off it, can't afford brand medications:( I'm not sure what to do? Also I don't want to be on medication forever. I was on it for 10 yrs and it did help with the agoraphobia but not with the PTSD itself because I still have other symptoms of it. I can't afford to go to a psychiatrist and even when I did go to one I couldn't talk about the things that caused the PTSD, I use numbing and avoidance a lot. It's like I have no emotions anymore. I can't even cry when I'm sad:(
Posted by pegasus on January 12, 2012, at 12:13:13
In reply to Re: PTSD, posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 11:51:09
Yeah, that's one reason some of the new trauma therapy methods are really great. They don't require you to necessarily talk much about your trauma. The processing is mostly done internally, with the help of some tools that stimulate the part of your brain that can process and integrate the experience, to reduce its charge. And with the guidance of a good T, of course, who can help you keep from getting all activated from remembering the trauma.
If you can't afford a psychiatrist's usual fees, there might be ways that you can still find help. What have you tried so far? MA level counselors are usually much less expensive than psychiatrists, and some have sliding scale fees that go pretty low. A fair number of them, around here at least, are trained in trauma therapy methods like EMDR. And sometimes there are community services that you might have access to.
What I'm trying to say is that there is a lot of hope for recovering from PTSD. But I think it does take a particular type of assistance. You may need to look for a while before you find the right kind of help, considering your lack of financial resources at this point. But I hope you won't give up looking for it. We might be able to offer suggestions here.
You can find EMDR trained counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists at http://www.emdria.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=235 . Or even at Psychology Today (http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/?utm_source=www&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=topnav_find_therapist) if you filter by choosing EMDR from the list of treatment orientations. That site also lets you get a sense for the fees a therapist charges, and whether they have a sliding scale.
peg
Posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 14:40:18
In reply to Re: PTSD » LLee, posted by pegasus on January 12, 2012, at 12:13:13
Thanks Peg will check into those resources. Unfortunately because I'm on EDD right now I am only getting $1100 a month and that barely covers my rent of $900 w/utilities in S Cali:( I have been thinking about trying to get SSD so I can have insurance that may be able to help me, but if I go for SSD I'm afraid they will say since I can't work I can't get EDD then and SSD takes a while to get if they will even give it to me at all. I'm sort of between a rock and a hard place:(
Posted by SLS on January 12, 2012, at 16:01:41
In reply to Re: PTSD » LLee, posted by pegasus on January 12, 2012, at 8:45:06
Have you ever tried EMDR?
- Scott
Posted by LLee on January 12, 2012, at 19:20:28
In reply to Re: PTSD » pegasus, posted by SLS on January 12, 2012, at 16:01:41
No I don't even know what that stands for?
I go back to my family Dr on the 25th and I'm not sure she can even help me? But it has been since March 2010 that I saw any Dr. I was kind of hoping she could give me something to help the PTSD symptoms or tell me if I should try going back on my Geodon or what? She may not even be willing to prescribe because it's mental and not physical?
Posted by pegasus on January 16, 2012, at 8:19:17
In reply to Re: PTSD » pegasus, posted by SLS on January 12, 2012, at 16:01:41
Are you asking me? Yes, I have. I found it very interesting, and helpful. And not as scary as I had expected. I really looked forward to my EMDR sessions.
- peg
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