![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on February 13, 2010, at 13:03:38
It was brought to my attention by a babbler that a lot don't like hearing about physical causes of mental illnesses that they scare you. But is it true or do some feel that the whole mind body issue ties in and the more we connect the dots maybe a solution or clues can be found. If you prefer not hearing about thyroid or other illnesses fine I'll let it die. Thanks for feedback. As I feel if we can't discuss it up front and only behind the scenes what's the point. Lets try to work together to make this the fabulous supportive site it was in the not so distant past. Love Phillipa
Posted by Sigismund on February 13, 2010, at 19:10:10
In reply to Question Mental Health Med + Physical Ilnesses, posted by Phillipa on February 13, 2010, at 13:03:38
Doesn't worry me at all.
(Why is autism in the DSM, anyway?
What has psychiatry got to offer that?)It's our lamentable mind/body split thing that bothers me.
Posted by Phillipa on February 13, 2010, at 21:55:04
In reply to Re: Question Mental Health Med + Physical Ilnesses, posted by Sigismund on February 13, 2010, at 19:10:10
Sigi like someone cut our head off. Love PJ
Posted by janejane on February 14, 2010, at 11:57:30
In reply to Question Mental Health Med + Physical Ilnesses, posted by Phillipa on February 13, 2010, at 13:03:38
I think it's impossible to separate mind from body. Thyroid for instance. This should be one of the first things to check for when someone is depressed. It's a no-brainer. Yet it is often overlooked, and sometimes psych meds are given while a thyroid problem is ignored.
There can be so many causes of the symptoms we have, from nutritional deficiencies (e.g. iron deficiency anemia) to food intolerance (e.g. coeliac disease) to infection (e.g. lyme, candida) to heavy metal toxicity (e.g. from mercury or lead), etc. People may consider CFS or fibro to be physical illnesses yet they clearly have mental/emotional components.
As far as I'm concerned, everything in the body is interrelated and if we limit ourselves to DSM diagnoses, we run the risk of closing ourselves off from many treatment options. It may be scary to look at all the possible causes of our illnesses, but I think a comprehensive approach is most likely to lead to the best outcomes. It doesn't make sense to pretend that the brain is somehow closed off from the rest of the body, because it really isn't.
I think that probably a good portion of people with mental illness do have a problem that can be treated with psych meds, but many of us are here are treatment resistant, and I think it's likely because our problems are more complex. One of the best things about babble, for me, has been learning about all the possible causes of my depression. It makes me feel more empowered.
Posted by floatingbridge on February 15, 2010, at 20:47:09
In reply to Question Mental Health Med + Physical Ilnesses, posted by Phillipa on February 13, 2010, at 13:03:38
PJ,
As an adult, I welcome information presented with civility in the common interest of recovery and treatment. I'd rather have information than not, and I think this forum can tolerate the ideas of many personal agendas and treatment goals.
Free exchange of information here; that's what I want come here for. (That's why I think I can impress my pdoc :-). He says I am a very well-informed patient.) Besides, my 'illness' is under a category that is placed, by MYSELF and others, as a body/mind thing (chronic ptsd, plus whatever one may say is co-morbid). This is how I personally think of MY situation. Everyone is free and able to define whatever they experience as they may.
Why do I have symptoms of fatigue, maybe CFS? Why did I develop ptsd and not someone else? Low immunity? Osteo arthritis? Autoimmune? And depression from, let's see, cradle to grave?
Research is now showing that ptsd, esp. early onset, has a factor in all of the above--brain development irregularities, hpa axis dysregulation, and yadda, yadda, yadda.
Will I need meds the rest of my life? Hecka' yeah. Will they alone cure me or grant remission? Hmmm. Rather doubtful at this point.
And if PTSD, why not depression (w/o trauma), or bipolar, or anxiety? Those illnesses can affect the body as well. However, those are decisions I cannot make for anyone else, and I reserve the right to make my own, and happily accept advice, opinions, and information to aide my decision-making process. I'm my own advocate in this world.
You're posts are welcome by me!
fb (stepping off the soapbox now and wishing everyone the best with whatever ails them)
Posted by Phillipa on February 15, 2010, at 21:34:58
In reply to Re: Question Mental Health Med + Physical Ilnesses » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on February 15, 2010, at 20:47:09
Heah I don't know either if you will attain med free status, treatment of a physical condition, well assuming your're treating thyroid, but they claim that is the CDC that as an example didn't used to be this way or criteria it's new that lymes will not be treated buy CFS which might or not be valid, Fibromyalgia same criteria, depression/ anxiety, PTSD all forms can be reasons for symtoms. Gee sounds like a blanket statement. So researching is very necessary in my opionion. Only way to learn is to ask and as told once no question is stupid or dumb not asking is. Kind of off track. Oh well I'm off. Love Phillipa
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.