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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by DiscoPuppy on July 29, 2002, at 10:26:52
I've gotten a lot of great advice and comfort from reading posts (and making a few of my own) on here in the past.
However lately, it seems as though a lot of the posts are filled with technical jargon that leaves me with a big question mark above my head.
For example, if you take any of Shawn T's message at random, he talks about neuropeptides, 5-HTs, GABBAs, etc. It sounds very, very impressive, but unfortunately it means nothing to me.
Am I really *THAT* dumb? Does the average psycho-babble user know all this stuff?
Help!
-puppy-
Posted by LLL on July 29, 2002, at 11:39:20
In reply to I feel more stupid and confused on this board. . ., posted by DiscoPuppy on July 29, 2002, at 10:26:52
No, you're not dumb! If you are - then we both are because I don't understand all that jargon either. Take what's useful and disregard the rest. It's all meant to be helpful and although I haven't always understood some of the same messages I'm sure Shawn's intent is to help.
Posted by bubblegumchewer on July 29, 2002, at 13:40:30
In reply to Re: I feel more stupid and confused on this board. . . » DiscoPuppy, posted by LLL on July 29, 2002, at 11:39:20
Some people understand and some don't. Maybe most don't. I'm one who wishes she did. I wish I could take a course, starting with 101, and build from there so that eventually I'd have a good understanding of neurotransmittors etc. I know I'm smart enough but I don't have the knowledge and don't know where to start.
Posted by hildi on July 29, 2002, at 14:03:15
In reply to I feel more stupid and confused on this board. . ., posted by DiscoPuppy on July 29, 2002, at 10:26:52
So I"m not the only one here who feels stupid trying to read these posts??! Good!
You know, I'm a psychology major and I feel frustrated, like I'm having to do homework when I'm trying to read and understand some of this technical jargon.
Anxiety is a real issue for me so I often just get frustrated and don't try to take the time to read through some of these posts- I just can't.
Posted by DiscoPuppy on July 29, 2002, at 14:33:08
In reply to Re: So I'm not the only one here . . . ?, posted by hildi on July 29, 2002, at 14:03:15
Goodness, I know how you feel. Like BubbleGum said, I *WISH* I understood the mechanics of pharmacology and how it relates to mental disorders. It seems as though ShawnT has a good handle on that. I hope it didn't seem like I was picking on just him - it's just that, well in some ways, I'm kind of jealous of his knowledge.
In any event, I seem to do better with posts that are written in more common terms and contain personal experiences, as opposed to absracts and studies.
Thanks for making me feel "normal" (whatever that means).
Posted by Geezer on July 29, 2002, at 16:18:29
In reply to I feel more stupid and confused on this board. . ., posted by DiscoPuppy on July 29, 2002, at 10:26:52
No puppy you are not stupid. If you are then that would make at least two of us. There are some very BRILLIANT people on this board and I haven't found one yet unwilling to explain things, in terms I could understand, when asked. Sometimes I am a bit reluctant to jump into a thread that is going "hot and heavy" on neurochemistry, so I just wait a bit and ask later. Hang in there - I have learned alot here. Are you on a Bipolar World board also.....I maybe getting my board names mixed up.
Posted by DiscoPuppy on July 29, 2002, at 17:14:08
In reply to Re: I feel more stupid and confused on this board. . . » DiscoPuppy, posted by Geezer on July 29, 2002, at 16:18:29
Thanks for your message!
No, I'm on here to find out more about different experiences people like me, who have ADHD, and their personal experiences in medications used to treat it.
Is there something like Bipolar World, for people with ADD/ADHD?
> No puppy you are not stupid. If you are then that would make at least two of us. There are some very BRILLIANT people on this board and I haven't found one yet unwilling to explain things, in terms I could understand, when asked. Sometimes I am a bit reluctant to jump into a thread that is going "hot and heavy" on neurochemistry, so I just wait a bit and ask later. Hang in there - I have learned alot here. Are you on a Bipolar World board also.....I maybe getting my board names mixed up.
Posted by velaguff on July 29, 2002, at 18:41:29
In reply to I feel more stupid and confused on this board. . ., posted by DiscoPuppy on July 29, 2002, at 10:26:52
I wouldn't worry, I've been reading a lot longer than I've been posting, and you can usually find the puzzling posts eventually explained in layman's terms (i.e., how will this or that drug or drug combination make you FEEL?), if not in response to your own inquiry then to someone else's. No, the arrogant intellectuals aren't to be found here, but they're often found among the doctors who are treating us. That's what you should watch for.
> I've gotten a lot of great advice and comfort from reading posts (and making a few of my own) on here in the past.
>
> However lately, it seems as though a lot of the posts are filled with technical jargon that leaves me with a big question mark above my head.
>
> For example, if you take any of Shawn T's message at random, he talks about neuropeptides, 5-HTs, GABBAs, etc. It sounds very, very impressive, but unfortunately it means nothing to me.
>
> Am I really *THAT* dumb? Does the average psycho-babble user know all this stuff?
>
> Help!
>
> -puppy-
Posted by Geezer on July 29, 2002, at 19:08:21
In reply to Re: I feel more stupid and confused on this board. . . » Geezer, posted by DiscoPuppy on July 29, 2002, at 17:14:08
Hi DiscoPuppy,
Sorry if I misunderstood your question. I am not aware of a board or chat room for ADD or ADHD - seems there should be some out there for a problem that is so prevalent. It seems I see it mentioned often because it is difficult to diagnose between ADHA and Bipolar. Example: pstims. are bad news for us Bipolar folks without mood stabilizers - for you guys with ADD or ADHD its just what the doctor ordered.
Geezer
Posted by cybercafe on July 29, 2002, at 23:58:14
In reply to My guess is..., posted by bubblegumchewer on July 29, 2002, at 13:40:30
> Some people understand and some don't. Maybe most don't. I'm one who wishes she did. I wish I could take a course, starting with 101, and build from there so that eventually I'd have a good understanding of neurotransmittors etc. I know I'm smart enough but I don't have the knowledge and don't know where to start.
I found I got the most benefit from a book called Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, by Kaplan and Sadock ... surprisingly available in most library reference sections
Posted by shar on July 30, 2002, at 1:51:55
In reply to My guess is..., posted by bubblegumchewer on July 29, 2002, at 13:40:30
Who is the typical psycho babbler? There is such diversity on this board, it's really not possible to come up with a good babbler profile.
There are a lot of people who look into things on their own, they have access to research resources, and are curious, and enjoy the drudgery of plowing through stuff one baby step at a time.
I don't understand the most technical discussions here, but I don't pressure myself to. I can read about it, and ask questions (I'm good for dumb questions), and learn. However, not about everything discussed here. There are lots of meds that, once I learn a certain amount about them, I sort of ease up on them.
There are lots of curious people here. And there are lots of people to whom the more technical aspects of meds and their actions are not their reason for coming here at all. This is how it should be. Ultimately, we all help each other learn, and learning IS what this particular board is about, imo.
You will be surprised at how much you absorb, and how easy it is to search the archives and learn more about one particular med or procedure, if that's a goal you have.
This is NOT a good place to come and feel dumb. First, it is not required, and secondly that kind of self-evaluation (so common in our illnesses) just throws up blocks to your getting help or learning what you want.
Ask away, read, absorb, skim the stuff that is not your bailiwick. This is your board, too.
Shar
Posted by awake at last on July 30, 2002, at 9:51:33
In reply to I feel more stupid and confused on this board. . ., posted by DiscoPuppy on July 29, 2002, at 10:26:52
> I've gotten a lot of great advice and comfort from reading posts (and making a few of my own) on here in the past.
>
> However lately, it seems as though a lot of the posts are filled with technical jargon that leaves me with a big question mark above my head.
>
> For example, if you take any of Shawn T's message at random, he talks about neuropeptides, 5-HTs, GABBAs, etc. It sounds very, very impressive, but unfortunately it means nothing to me.
>
> Am I really *THAT* dumb? Does the average psycho-babble user know all this stuff?
>
> Help!
>
> -puppy-*************************************************
Don't feel stupid - 3 years ago I was in your shoes. Knowledge comes from research. When my doctors didn't seem to be able to figure out what was wrong with me, I went on a quest to figure it out myself. I've spent hour upon hour researching (mostly through the internet using layman terms ("fatigue", "depression",..etc.) Each reasearch sent me onto another ("thyroid", "Hypothalamus"...etc). Now, even the technical terms all make since, and eventually they will to you too. Find something you don't understand...do a search on it, or ask people here...no one will think you are stupid for asking. I'm a true believer in the old adage - "The only dumb question is the one that wasn't asked".
Good luck....
This is the end of the thread.
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