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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lindenblüte on November 21, 2006, at 21:32:28
"I think you are much more stabilized. before it was like WHoooooooo whoooooooooooooo! now it's like, you're regular. thanks to your therapist. I don't like to thank the pill. I want you off it as soon as possible. You're not going to be addicted, like 'mentally' [air quotes] to the pill, right? Like everytime something goes wrong you're gonna be like Kramer [on Seinfeld] all jittery?"
I only WISH I could be jittery like Kramer. *grin*
-Li
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2006, at 21:48:14
In reply to sophisticated diagnosis from husband, posted by Lindenblüte on November 21, 2006, at 21:32:28
Li so in other words a pill didn't help it was the theraphy . Typical male. They don't a lot of them ask for help if they need it. But he should read this board and see all the males here and have you ever let him read this board? Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2006, at 21:49:19
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband » Lindenblüte, posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2006, at 21:48:14
I take back that statement typical male as it was wrong. And I apologize. Love Phillipa
Posted by tensor on November 22, 2006, at 5:51:50
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband, posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2006, at 21:49:19
> I take back that statement typical male as it was wrong. And I apologize. Love Phillipa
I think it's typical for people who have never suffered from a mental illness. There are exceptions.
/Mattias
Posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 7:46:10
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband » Phillipa, posted by tensor on November 22, 2006, at 5:51:50
My husband reads over my shoulder sometimes, but he's not particularly interested in psycho-babble. He thinks psychotherapy is a waste of time and is resentful because I made him see a "shrink" for his insomnia. All he wanted was a sleeping pill, but I made him see the "shrink" first, before I agreed to get an Rx for him from one of my doctor-relatives.
I think his difficulty in accepting me taking psychopharm drugs is the concept that as long as I am taking drugs I am "sick" no matter how normal I behave.
So, if I take these drugs for the next 6mos-year, to prevent relapse or whatever, am I sick? am I healthy? very interesting question, really.
-Li
Posted by tensor on November 22, 2006, at 9:21:00
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband, posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 7:46:10
>So, if I take these drugs for the next 6mos-year, to prevent relapse or whatever, am I sick? am I healthy? very interesting question, really.
Your medications gives you symptomatic relief from your illness, they don't cure. You still have the illness, if quit your meds, the symptoms will(probably) recur.
/Mattias
Posted by bassman on November 22, 2006, at 12:14:42
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband » Phillipa, posted by tensor on November 22, 2006, at 5:51:50
Amen. And the idea that if you take a med you are "mental" is not only held by society, but by individuals taking meds. If they go off the, they rationalize, poof-they are "normal". No, usually just feeling ill. Have you given him the standard "you wouldn't stop a diabetic from taking insulin, would you?" analogy?
Posted by bassman on November 22, 2006, at 12:15:54
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband, posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2006, at 21:49:19
You couldn't say anoything nasty if you tried-we all know that! Actually, I thought it was funny.
Posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 15:28:35
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband » Lindenblüte, posted by tensor on November 22, 2006, at 9:21:00
> >So, if I take these drugs for the next 6mos-year, to prevent relapse or whatever, am I sick? am I healthy? very interesting question, really.
>
> Your medications gives you symptomatic relief from your illness, they don't cure. You still have the illness, if quit your meds, the symptoms will(probably) recur.
>
> /MattiasSo, I'm going to be a little difficult-- let's say that in the past, I had at least one other Major Depressive Episode, 5 years ago. I never sought treatment. I just kept on going. Exercising, and healthy diet. I graduated from college, and moved, and got married, and what do you know? The depression went away too!
So, if lifestyle changes kicked depression's *ss the first time, does that mean that I've been sick all this time, but my life was preventing a relapse in symptoms?
:(
I'm kind of hoping that I can get my issues sorted out and learn more self-awareness in psychotherapy, so that when the time comes to change meds/go OFF meds, I will be able to sustain my own mental stability.
what a dream.... ahhh!
-Li
Posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 15:35:05
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband, posted by bassman on November 22, 2006, at 12:14:42
> Amen. And the idea that if you take a med you are "mental" is not only held by society, but by individuals taking meds. If they go off the, they rationalize, poof-they are "normal". No, usually just feeling ill. Have you given him the standard "you wouldn't stop a diabetic from taking insulin, would you?" analogy?
Haven't tried that analogy. I'll try it next time this comes up.
I am also prone to that particular thought distortion. "I feel stable on meds, therefore I am healthy, therefore I do not need meds, therefore I forget to take them..."
Don't worry. This has only happened a few times. Enough to make me realize that my mental stability and cheerfulness is sustained and supported by high doses of mind-altering substances. I cannot even alter what time of day I take them without destabilizing consequences. Who likes the thought of that?
As long as I'm walking straight ahead, I can ignore the fact that I'm on a balance beam. The slightest deviation in my path, however, reminds me of how precarious my situation is.
-Li
Posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 15:37:29
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband, posted by bassman on November 22, 2006, at 12:15:54
> You couldn't say anoything nasty if you tried-we all know that! Actually, I thought it was funny.
Aww thanks, Bassman. I try not to post too much when I'm feeling b*tchy, that's all!
I think it's funny too. Communication and sense of humor definitely necessary for my crazy brains to get along with my husband, or with anyone else, for that matter.
-Li
Posted by tensor on November 22, 2006, at 15:42:51
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband » tensor, posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 15:28:35
>Major Depressive Episode, 5 years ago. I never sought treatment. I just kept on going. Exercising, and healthy diet. I graduated from college, and moved, and got married, and what do you know? The depression went away too!
I can only speak for myself, but when I'm having a major depressive disorder, it's often severe. That means, I can eat a healthy diet, but I'm not able to exercise, work, study or anything that requires just a tiny effort. Maybe you are a stronger person or the severity of your depression is not the same as mine.
>So, if lifestyle changes kicked depression's *ss the first time, does that mean that I've been sick all this time, but my life was preventing a relapse in symptoms?
Sorry, I don't understand this, where's the problem?
>I'm kind of hoping that I can get my issues sorted out and learn more self-awareness in psychotherapy, so that when the time comes to change meds/go OFF meds, I will be able to sustain my own mental stability.
what a dream.... ahhh!I agree, but will it ever come true(i.e. for me)?
/Mattias
Posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 16:54:27
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband » Lindenblüte, posted by tensor on November 22, 2006, at 15:42:51
> >Major Depressive Episode, 5 years ago. I never sought treatment. I just kept on going. Exercising, and healthy diet. I graduated from college, and moved, and got married, and what do you know? The depression went away too!
>
> I can only speak for myself, but when I'm having a major depressive disorder, it's often severe. That means, I can eat a healthy diet, but I'm not able to exercise, work, study or anything that requires just a tiny effort. Maybe you are a stronger person or the severity of your depression is not the same as mine.
>
No, you're right, of course. During the worst time, I was pretty incapacitated. But I was living with a roommate, and I didn't want folks to know how miserable I was, so I kept on showing up to the gym to work out with my friend, and going to the dining hall with my other friends. That's how the exercise and healthy diet persisted. I'm a pretty good actress...******
I'm only questioning this model of depression as a chronic disease. I know that research shows that having one episode predisposes the average person to having multiple episodes. Between the episodes, during periods where we are asymptomatic, are we still diseased?That's my point- if taking meds keeps me asymptomatic, and avoiding stress and exercising also keeps me asymptomatic, is there any reason to think that in the former case I am "sicker" than in the latter case.
I don't mean to sound confrontational. I actually consider these really interesting philosophical questions. How do I incorporate my mental health status into my self-concept? How do I understand illness when it's asymptomatic.
Unfortunately, tensor, I'm not 100% asymptomatic these days. I'm just anti-depressed, that's all. I still have plenty of symptoms of anxiety, or maladaptive coping mechanisms for anxiety, whatever you want to call it.
Well, I hope you're doing okay these days. I want to feel okay. I'm really good at ignoring anxiety, but not so good at ignoring depression.
-Li
Posted by Phillipa on November 22, 2006, at 19:07:47
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband » tensor, posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 16:54:27
Personal experience? Well as a child I was told I had dysthymia. When 23 first panic attack which at the time benzos were in. I functioned extremely well. Had my own Aerobic Dance business, Modeled, made two movie(no not porno!!!!) Ran, worked with a photograher in a big job as a gopher but loved it. Raising three kids while putting myself through nursing school going through a divorce, graduating magna cum laude. If the idiot LPN hadn't joined I'd have been sigma cum laude. Anyway I was the best RN ever till ll years ago and on very low doses of benzos. So low that they didn't count .l25 of xanax then my thyroid went and the high anxiety and depression started so was I depressed all this time and in remission? Who knows as my ex father-in-law had one manic episode during World War II and went on to build an empire and in his 50's another manic episode and he's never recovered. Full blown manic depression now. 85 years old. So do these illnesses wait til we're vulnerable and then rear their ugly head again? Love Phillipa
Posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 21:25:48
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband » Lindenblüte, posted by Phillipa on November 22, 2006, at 19:07:47
> So do these illnesses wait til we're vulnerable and then rear their ugly head again? Love Phillipa
yep, sounds like a good hypothesis to me. So, now that depression is under control, what's my excuse not to write my dissertation? Oh, wait. I actually started writing today. Just a lousy appendix, but I wrote 10 pages. That's a good start. I think my particular stressors might include husband being stationed halfway across the country from where I'm doing my stupid PhD, maybe the fact that my dad has been on his deathbed a few times in the last couple of years, and perhaps a bit of stress from this dissertation thingie. Nothing much, really?
Geez, why can't I DEAL with it?
Oh well, at least there's chocolate in the house. and benzodiazepines, and I hear that there will be *pie* tomorrow!
-Li
Posted by Phillipa on November 22, 2006, at 22:29:18
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband » Phillipa, posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 21:25:48
Li I have no idea why you are stressed out. Ha Ha Love Phillipa
Posted by bassman on November 23, 2006, at 8:16:16
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband » Phillipa, posted by Lindenblüte on November 22, 2006, at 21:25:48
Advice from a fellow Ph.D. and long manuscript writer: make a list of the various parts of the thesis, the number of hours you guess they will take to complete and a little check box. :>} Make the pieces small; no part with a time exceeding maybe 2-4 hours. Check them off as you do them-you already have one to check off! Otherwise, you end up like a marathon runner saying to himself, "well, only 25 miles to go..." It takes a lot of chocolate to write a thesis...
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 24, 2006, at 18:23:16
In reply to Re: sophisticated diagnosis from husband, posted by bassman on November 23, 2006, at 8:16:16
> Advice from a fellow Ph.D. and long manuscript writer:
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups regarding long manuscripts to Psycho-Babble Students. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/studs/20060709/msgs/706802.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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