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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Eric on May 11, 1999, at 14:04:44
Dear Dr Bob and others,
I have been suffering from indecisiveness since the
age of 18. I have had great difficulties taking
decisions concerning basic problems like: where
to live? which studies to do? which job to take?
I hesitated for years before marrying. I have lived
in different countries, studied different studies
(chemistry, medicine), and currently I am busy
doubting whether I should specialize in family
medicine, specialize in oncology, specialize in
psychiatry, work as a GP, or embark on a research
project (I have been admitted in all these).
I have had a very special childhood: my mother
suffered from post-partum psychosis after I was born,
and she never developed any warm feelings toward me.
My father was extremely violent and I have been
severely abused physically and psychologically until
the age of 18.
My question is the following: is this symptom of
indecisiveness a symptom of OCD or of depression?
And what is the most adequate treatment?
I tried already more than once sertraline, but I
never reached higher doses than 100 mg/day because
of the somnolence it induced. It did not help at all.
I also tried clonazepam 1 mg/day for 2 weeks. It did
not help either. Do you have an advice?
Posted by stjames on May 11, 1999, at 15:25:14
In reply to Indecisiveness: diagnosis? treatment?, posted by Eric on May 11, 1999, at 14:04:44
> Dear Dr Bob and others,
> I have been suffering from indecisiveness since the
> age of 18. I have had great difficulties taking
> decisions concerning basic problems like: where
> to live? which studies to do? which job to take?
> I hesitated for years before marrying. I have lived
> in different countries, studied different studies
> (chemistry, medicine), and currently I am busy
> doubting whether I should specialize in family
> medicine, specialize in oncology, specialize in
> psychiatry, work as a GP, or embark on a research
> project (I have been admitted in all these).
> I have had a very special childhood: my mother
> suffered from post-partum psychosis after I was born,
> and she never developed any warm feelings toward me.
> My father was extremely violent and I have been
> severely abused physically and psychologically until
> the age of 18.
> My question is the following: is this symptom of
> indecisiveness a symptom of OCD or of depression?
> And what is the most adequate treatment?
> I tried already more than once sertraline, but I
> never reached higher doses than 100 mg/day because
> of the somnolence it induced. It did not help at all.
> I also tried clonazepam 1 mg/day for 2 weeks. It did
> not help either. Do you have an advice?james here....
All the meds in the world are only get at the tip of your problems unless you get into thearpy. Your childhood experiances need to be dealt with
b4 you can go on. Since you did not mention thearpy I'm assuming you have not been there, but if you have, was it sucessful ?james
Posted by Elaine on May 12, 1999, at 1:07:15
In reply to Indecisiveness: diagnosis? treatment?, posted by Eric on May 11, 1999, at 14:04:44
I second the idea of therapy. How do you know you need meds at all? Maybe it is something that, for example, behavioral therapy could help you with. Were decisions made for you as a child so you never learned how to make them? Or were your parents particularly critical if you made a decision and the result was not favorable? Were you criticized whenever you were not successful or the best at something? I would strongly recommend you seek out therapy to address any such behavioral issues. Meds might help any depression or other resulting emotion, but unless any underlying problem is uncovered and dealt with, meds will only serve to take care of symptoms, not resolve the problem. Personally, I wouldn't want to be on meds for the rest of my life in order to keep compensating for the result of a root cause. Hope this wasn't said too strongly, but I do hope you seek alternatives to meds to explore WHY you have such difficulty making decisions. Of course I'm not ruling out that you might have a condition needing meds, but I would like to see you explore other options.
Posted by MA on May 13, 1999, at 21:40:35
In reply to Re: Indecisiveness: diagnosis? treatment?, posted by Elaine on May 12, 1999, at 1:07:15
Great advice on exploring more in therapy. It is admirable that you have accomplished so much despite this 'handicap', if that is the correct word?
I always felt that I was indecisive and also I second guess myself tremendously. Once I finally make a decision I will question it over and over again.
I went into therapy for depression, since I was crying, thought I had no purpose in life, hated myself, and was stuck not experiencing any happiness or joy in life.
Indecisiveness was a small part of the depression, but not even worth mentioning at that time. It was there but hidden under the sadness and misery of depression. The unfortunate thing is that this therapist never treated me with medications and I really needed them more I can tell you.. Finally I insisited that I wanted to try medication and I was referred to a psychiatrist. With medication, I was finally able to start living again. The indecisiveness is still there but I am comfortable with it as part of me, as long as I can make some important decisions in life.So, I agree that going for therapy to deal with the symptom of indecisiveness is the first step. Medication be needed if therapy alone is not enough.
Have you thought that you might be depressed? Sometimes it can manifest itself in less than obvious ways.
Good luck.
MA
Posted by JD on May 16, 1999, at 8:29:54
In reply to Re: Indecisiveness: diagnosis? treatment?, posted by MA on May 13, 1999, at 21:40:35
Beyond the therapy suggestion, which I stand
behind too, I'll throw in my two cents from
personal experience--I think that
indecisiveness is often a kind of OCD
that serves to "mask" or "hide" an underlying
depressive state. Some of my most serious
bouts with depression were preluded by periods
of major indeciveness during which I probably
would have denied that anything was wrong
at all; I was just trying to "decide"
something! Therapy is the kind of thing that
can help one be more a bit more insightful
about where such indecisiveness comes from
and what it might be "covering up", as it were.
Best,
JD
Posted by Eric on May 16, 1999, at 11:00:01
In reply to Indecisiveness: diagnosis? treatment?, posted by Eric on May 11, 1999, at 14:04:44
Dear StJames, Elaine, MA and JD,
Thank you very much for your andwers.
Concerning psychotherapy: I have been through a
number of therapies, first two different CBT-
therapists and then a famous psycho-analyst.
I have done a "classical" psycho-analysis for
more than 6 years. It did change my character:
I became more altruistic and more understanding
towards others; it helped me to decide to study
medicine; and it made me capable of "breaking off"
with my mother. But the indecisiveness remained.
I hope there is a medication which can help.
During the next period I shall try (in this order):
betaxolol, Gingko biloba, moclobemide, venlafaxine,
bupropion, bromocriptine, selegiline, ...
Anyway, thanks
Eric
Posted by JD on May 17, 1999, at 5:17:47
In reply to Re: Indecisiveness: diagnosis? treatment?, posted by Eric on May 16, 1999, at 11:00:01
Eric,
I agree that therapy can't always take care
everything (been there, done that myself--
often it means that I can UNDERSTAND my
indecision from every angle but still can't
do much about it!). The right med(s) can
make a world of difference--I assume you have
already tried SSRIs, as they would probably be
the first line choice. Dopaminergic meds like
selegiline or bupropion might be helpful too--
if you are going so far to consider bromocriptine,
you might inquire into some of the newer dopamine
agonists purported to have less side-effects
and better anti-depressant activity...
Best,
JD> Dear StJames, Elaine, MA and JD,
> Thank you very much for your andwers.
> Concerning psychotherapy: I have been through a
> number of therapies, first two different CBT-
> therapists and then a famous psycho-analyst.
> I have done a "classical" psycho-analysis for
> more than 6 years. It did change my character:
> I became more altruistic and more understanding
> towards others; it helped me to decide to study
> medicine; and it made me capable of "breaking off"
> with my mother. But the indecisiveness remained.
> I hope there is a medication which can help.
> During the next period I shall try (in this order):
> betaxolol, Gingko biloba, moclobemide, venlafaxine,
> bupropion, bromocriptine, selegiline, ...
> Anyway, thanks
> Eric
This is the end of the thread.
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