![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Kerry on June 5, 2000, at 20:32:13
I am bombarded with negative thoughts all day long--still trying to get the medicine right to handle chronic depression and ADD. It starts in the morning as I walk from the parking lot to work...I see someone, say "hello," he/she says "hello" and I think "that person really hates me. That person thinks I'm the biggest loser around.." I'll go out to dinner and can only think of how I don't belong in that environment, how I have no right to be there, etc. It goes on and on. I cannot seem to "replace" these thoughts as is suggested in popular self-help texts...my thoughts may be distorted, but I believe them to be true and can't get them out of my head (I don't hear voices, just my own). Will meds help this??? As I said before, cognitive therapy has not worked for me.
Posted by Cass on June 5, 2000, at 20:54:05
In reply to That person hates me and other negative thoughts, posted by Kerry on June 5, 2000, at 20:32:13
I have that problem, too. It is so wearing. I find myself feeling exhausted over things that haven't even happened. I recently switched back to Celexa because I think it helped somewhat with thoughts like that. It also helped anxiety. My doctor has gotten me started on meditation. It is supposed to help me separate my "self" from my thoughts. He says this has helped a lot of people with problems like mine. I wish you luck. I sympathize with what you go through. Take care of yourself, please.
Posted by Cindy W on June 5, 2000, at 21:42:47
In reply to Re: That person hates me and other negative thoughts » Kerry, posted by Cass on June 5, 2000, at 20:54:05
> I have that problem, too. It is so wearing. I find myself feeling exhausted over things that haven't even happened. I recently switched back to Celexa because I think it helped somewhat with thoughts like that. It also helped anxiety. My doctor has gotten me started on meditation. It is supposed to help me separate my "self" from my thoughts. He says this has helped a lot of people with problems like mine. I wish you luck. I sympathize with what you go through. Take care of yourself, please.
Kerry and Cass, I have a problem with such thoughts too. In addition to meds, are you receiving talk therapy for this? Replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts takes a lot of practice; a therapist might be able to help you by giving you feedback about various thinking errors that might be contributing to this and how to build your self-esteem. (At least that's my hope, as I struggle with the same problem!!). Hang in there.--Cindy W
Posted by brian on June 5, 2000, at 21:59:59
In reply to Re: That person hates me and other negative thoughts » Kerry, posted by Cass on June 5, 2000, at 20:54:05
> I have that problem, too. It is so wearing. I find myself feeling exhausted over things that haven't even happened. I recently switched back to Celexa because I think it helped somewhat with thoughts like that. It also helped anxiety. My doctor has gotten me started on meditation. It is supposed to help me separate my "self" from my thoughts. He says this has helped a lot of people with problems like mine. I wish you luck. I sympathize with what you go through. Take care of yourself, please.
Kerry,
I get that too. I suspect that you don't really believe these negative thoughts because your able to see that they're inappropriate responses. Of course, that doesn't help much when your having those negative thoughts.
I get very (too) aware of myself in some social situations. I get nervous, flush, and then can't concentrate on what is being said because all I'm thinking is "does this person notice how anxious I am?" Or, "they probably think I'm weird." I've also tried cognitive therapy techniques, but they just don't seem to "stick."
I've been taking Celexa for about a month, now, and it does help with the negative thoughts. It just seems that I can reason things out better. If I have a negative thought, it's easier to examine it and see that it's an overreaction. It has definately been helpful. Now I feel that I could benefit from cognitive therapy because I feel more objective about my reactions.
Medication is not "the answer," but it can sure help facilitate healing. Good luck!
Posted by Cass on June 5, 2000, at 22:55:14
In reply to Re: That person hates me and other negative thoughts, posted by Cindy W on June 5, 2000, at 21:42:47
Cindy, I am receiving talk therapy. I think it is helping me. On top of the negative thoughts about other people thinking badly of me, I also tend to judge myself harshly for having negative thoughts at all. I am learning to love myself though. This is a breakthough for me. I come from a background where I was a victim of pathological emotional abuse. I tend to be very harsh with myself.
Posted by shar on June 5, 2000, at 23:15:34
In reply to Re: That person hates me and other negative thoughts » Cindy W, posted by Cass on June 5, 2000, at 22:55:14
Kerry--I've been in talk therapy off and on (mostly on) for over 20 years, and I can see with my current therapist that I've made progress in the area of self-acceptance.
I can't fully credit therapy for changing my perceptions of what others might be thinking about me. I happened to work with two people for several years, and their take on any perceived slight was "That person must be nuts."
So, I sort of adopted that stance in situations where I might normally mind-read a hateful message from someone (even a complete stranger could bring that out in me). Now, instead of "that person hates me" I think "boy, that person must have a big problem" or something.
It's a bit humorous to me, and I don't do it in serious situations, but it was almost like a conscious decision that if I was going to engage in taking everything personally, I might as well turn it around. It beats ripping myself to shreds.
This came a while after I had my "Popeye Revelation" which is, of course, "I yam what I yam." If people want to hate me, seriously, it really is up to them and not about me.
I probably prefer they like me but I don't have the power to change them, and I don't want to do the pretzel thing anymore where I have to be what every individual person wants me to be.
I am 48, so that may have something to do with it also. Hope some of this made sense.
S> Cindy, I am receiving talk therapy. I think it is helping me. On top of the negative thoughts about other people thinking badly of me, I also tend to judge myself harshly for having negative thoughts at all. I am learning to love myself though. This is a breakthough for me. I come from a background where I was a victim of pathological emotional abuse. I tend to be very harsh with myself.
Posted by ChrisK on June 6, 2000, at 6:20:19
In reply to That person hates me and other negative thoughts, posted by Kerry on June 5, 2000, at 20:32:13
Kerry,
I had very good success taking Zyprexa to get rid of negative obsessive thoughts. I really feel like it saved my life sometimes.
Just a thought (option),
Chris
Posted by Cindy W on June 6, 2000, at 9:20:28
In reply to Re: That person hates me and other negative thoughts » Cindy W, posted by Cass on June 5, 2000, at 22:55:14
> Cindy, I am receiving talk therapy. I think it is helping me. On top of the negative thoughts about other people thinking badly of me, I also tend to judge myself harshly for having negative thoughts at all. I am learning to love myself though. This is a breakthough for me. I come from a background where I was a victim of pathological emotional abuse. I tend to be very harsh with myself.
Cass, I can really relate to what you wrote about emotional abuse. I'm glad that you realize that thinking the negative thoughts does not make you a bad person (that's still something I'm struggling with). On the light side, the other day while driving, somebody "flipped me off" for no reason I could fathom, then drove ahead of me for a couple of miles with his finger high in the air. Instead of feeling I did something wrong, I was able to think, somebody is having a really bad day!!--Cindy W
Posted by Cass on June 6, 2000, at 13:28:02
In reply to Re: That person hates me/negative thoughts--Cass, posted by Cindy W on June 6, 2000, at 9:20:28
>
> Cass, I can really relate to what you wrote about emotional abuse. I'm glad that you realize that thinking the negative thoughts does not make you a bad person (that's still something I'm struggling with). On the light side, the other day while driving, somebody "flipped me off" for no reason I could fathom, then drove ahead of me for a couple of miles with his finger high in the air. Instead of feeling I did something wrong, I was able to think, somebody is having a really bad day!!--Cindy WI think that is awesome that you were able to perceive it that way. I think your perceptions are a little more benevolent than mine. When something like that happens to me, I feel that I've made a breakthrough by fully acknowledging to myself that the person is a jerk and that their behavior has nothing to do with me. Intellectually, I can realize that fear is behind their hostility, but that doesn't keep me from being effected by the hostility. Anyways, I'm so glad to hear you are getting better. I really have never been able to love myself in the past; my therapist has helped me with that. On the other hand, though, I've also fallen madly in love with him. Take care!!!!
Posted by Cindy W on June 6, 2000, at 21:03:08
In reply to Re: That person hates me/negative thoughts--Cass » Cindy W, posted by Cass on June 6, 2000, at 13:28:02
> >
> > Cass, I can really relate to what you wrote about emotional abuse. I'm glad that you realize that thinking the negative thoughts does not make you a bad person (that's still something I'm struggling with). On the light side, the other day while driving, somebody "flipped me off" for no reason I could fathom, then drove ahead of me for a couple of miles with his finger high in the air. Instead of feeling I did something wrong, I was able to think, somebody is having a really bad day!!--Cindy W
>
> I think that is awesome that you were able to perceive it that way. I think your perceptions are a little more benevolent than mine. When something like that happens to me, I feel that I've made a breakthrough by fully acknowledging to myself that the person is a jerk and that their behavior has nothing to do with me. Intellectually, I can realize that fear is behind their hostility, but that doesn't keep me from being effected by the hostility. Anyways, I'm so glad to hear you are getting better. I really have never been able to love myself in the past; my therapist has helped me with that. On the other hand, though, I've also fallen madly in love with him. Take care!!!!Cass, I know what you mean! I feel better about myself, but I too have fallen in love with my therapist! What's a person to do???--Cindy W
Posted by Sara T on June 6, 2000, at 22:20:41
In reply to That person hates me and other negative thoughts, posted by Kerry on June 5, 2000, at 20:32:13
> I am bombarded with negative thoughts all day long--still trying to get the medicine right to handle chronic depression and ADD. It starts in the morning as I walk from the parking lot to work...I see someone, say "hello," he/she says "hello" and I think "that person really hates me. That person thinks I'm the biggest loser around.." I'll go out to dinner and can only think of how I don't belong in that environment, how I have no right to be there, etc. It goes on and on. I cannot seem to "replace" these thoughts as is suggested in popular self-help texts...my thoughts may be distorted, but I believe them to be true and can't get them out of my head (I don't hear voices, just my own). Will meds help this??? As I said before, cognitive therapy has not worked for me.
Kerry
You sound alot like me. I can tell you that after years of talk therapy I went on Prozac and Xanax and it was like all that anger, negative thoughts and fog lifted.
That was 3 years aog, but more recently I became depressed and the negative thoughts came back. They were intrusive, and I couldn't stop them. Again my pdoc raised the Prozac level and after a month the thoughts went away. So, yes, I'd say that meds can definitely help, and so can the therapy. But you can't hear the nice things sometimes til you get rid of those intruding, negative thoughts.
Good Luck,
Sara T.
Posted by Cecilia on June 8, 2000, at 19:02:26
In reply to Re: That person hates me and other negative thoughts, posted by ChrisK on June 6, 2000, at 6:20:19
> Kerry,
>
> I had very good success taking Zyprexa to get rid of negative obsessive thoughts. I really feel like it saved my life sometimes.
>
> Just a thought (option),
> ChrisWhat dose of Zyprexa did you take? What other symptoms did you have and did you take other meds along with it? Thanks for any info!
Posted by ChrisK on June 9, 2000, at 5:54:07
In reply to Questions for Chris K. , posted by Cecilia on June 8, 2000, at 19:02:26
Cecilia,
I take 7.5 mg a day of Zyprexa. I know a lot of people can get help from doses of 2.5 mg. Ten mg. is a common starting point for people with some sort of psychosis.
My main reason for taking it was extreme obsessive suicidal thoughts. I currently notice a big difference in my thinking if I miss two doses. It has really cleared up the way I think.
As far as other meds, I am currently taking Wellbutrin and Adderall for depression and anhedonia. I take the latter in the morning and the Zyprexa at night.
Hope this helps a little
Chris
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.