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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 EscherDementian on September 4, 2003, at 7:13:08
i need to find a ___(?) Doctor? Therapist? ??? and am overwhelmed by the number of practitioners and different titles in my insurance directory.
This year has been hell, and i am as confused as Buridan's donkey... and going down fast.
i have been bounced from primary care physician (have been having an entire A-->Z of illnesses due to what he called "anxiety" and wiped out immunity) to someone for stress reduction techniques. This referral practitioner saw me a few times, then said said that i had to go to a "Depression and Anxiety Clinic". There, the titles of the practitioners were a huge range, so i went with the first one who had an appointment opening. She told me that she i had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and needed medication for the extended period of high stress cortico-hormones i had been running on & referred me to someone else who could prescribe. That practitioner, a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, tried Seroquel & Effexor and Wellbutrin, then Lexapro unsuccessfully(they had terrible side-effects) then concluded that i had ADD. The the medication that she insisted should be working for me was doing the OPPOSITE of what she told me should be happening, and in fact was causing _more_ problems without solving my original un-wellness. (EXCEPT for Adderall. ADDerall was a godsend. It calmed and focused me). But the other side-effects were becoming excruciating and she seemed to discredit my descriptions of their ill-effects OR requests(mine) to try alternatives. Last month, after being immobilized with depression, childhood flashbacks, excruciating inner-ear screeching, and anxiety/despair because of the preceeding, i felt i simply could not continue anymore with that particular combination, and began weaning myself off. In therapy, i told her this, and rather than explore a different combination she refused to perscribe anything at all, and says i need to have Behavioural Therapy,(NO medications) for The Highly Sensitive Person. i looked at her referral's info. very sincerely and researched everywhere the therapy's descriptions but quite honestly, all my instincts tell me that this isn't quite on target.
i only have 10 visits for Behavioral Therapy alotted to me by my MedInsurance, at a huge copay, and i just can't handle anymore time and agony wasted- my soul's worn out at the knees. and i'm not rich$. What can be done in only 10 visits? i have many more visits alotted AND perscription coverage, if i choose someone 'within net'. And that list is HUGE. With nearly just as many titles. *))boggle((*It's been a month or so without meds. The side-effects have stopped. The ADDerall proved to be the only side-effect-free benefit, but i have run out. Coping 'scattered' all the time again is tough.(i apologize for going on and on- i hope i've made sense- it's hard to filter concisely).
THANX for listening. Please help if you can~Escher
Posted by Adia on September 4, 2003, at 12:59:31
In reply to Who to turn to?, posted by EscherDementian on September 4, 2003, at 7:13:08
Hi,
I'm afraid I really don't know how to help, but I wanted to let you know I've heard you ...
I don't quite know how things work there where you live, and if you would be able to afford going to a psychologist or therapist in private therapy..or if you could find out a bit more about any of those therapists on the list you have?
I too think that in 10 sessions you can't accomplish much...It took me years(!) to build enough trust with my psychologist to start really working with her. Apart from her, I see a psychiatrist once a month who prescribes my meds.
If you choose one name from the list, then is your number of sessions unlimited? Maybe you can start with a therapist or psychologist from there and if you feel comfortable with her you can work something out as regards money and keep on working with her?
I do hope you find the right person to help you through all of this...
I wish I could help more...
Just wanted to let you know I hear your frustration and hurt and I really hope you can find the right person to work with you.
I hope you soon find the help you deserve...
lots of support,
Adia.
> i need to find a ___(?) Doctor? Therapist? ??? and am overwhelmed by the number of practitioners and different titles in my insurance directory.
>
> This year has been hell, and i am as confused as Buridan's donkey... and going down fast.
>
> i have been bounced from primary care physician (have been having an entire A-->Z of illnesses due to what he called "anxiety" and wiped out immunity) to someone for stress reduction techniques. This referral practitioner saw me a few times, then said said that i had to go to a "Depression and Anxiety Clinic". There, the titles of the practitioners were a huge range, so i went with the first one who had an appointment opening. She told me that she i had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and needed medication for the extended period of high stress cortico-hormones i had been running on & referred me to someone else who could prescribe. That practitioner, a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, tried Seroquel & Effexor and Wellbutrin, then Lexapro unsuccessfully(they had terrible side-effects) then concluded that i had ADD. The the medication that she insisted should be working for me was doing the OPPOSITE of what she told me should be happening, and in fact was causing _more_ problems without solving my original un-wellness. (EXCEPT for Adderall. ADDerall was a godsend. It calmed and focused me). But the other side-effects were becoming excruciating and she seemed to discredit my descriptions of their ill-effects OR requests(mine) to try alternatives. Last month, after being immobilized with depression, childhood flashbacks, excruciating inner-ear screeching, and anxiety/despair because of the preceeding, i felt i simply could not continue anymore with that particular combination, and began weaning myself off. In therapy, i told her this, and rather than explore a different combination she refused to perscribe anything at all, and says i need to have Behavioural Therapy,(NO medications) for The Highly Sensitive Person. i looked at her referral's info. very sincerely and researched everywhere the therapy's descriptions but quite honestly, all my instincts tell me that this isn't quite on target.
> i only have 10 visits for Behavioral Therapy alotted to me by my MedInsurance, at a huge copay, and i just can't handle anymore time and agony wasted- my soul's worn out at the knees. and i'm not rich$. What can be done in only 10 visits? i have many more visits alotted AND perscription coverage, if i choose someone 'within net'. And that list is HUGE. With nearly just as many titles. *))boggle((*
>
> It's been a month or so without meds. The side-effects have stopped. The ADDerall proved to be the only side-effect-free benefit, but i have run out. Coping 'scattered' all the time again is tough.(i apologize for going on and on- i hope i've made sense- it's hard to filter concisely).
> THANX for listening. Please help if you can~
>
> Escher
Posted by EscherDementian on September 5, 2003, at 13:20:26
In reply to Re: Who to turn to? » EscherDementian, posted by Adia on September 4, 2003, at 12:59:31
my god, thank you Adia for responding. Your notice of my note has been a lifeline.
Thank you for your shared experience in having a psychiatrist once a month for meds and a psychologist for ongoing therapy. i hadn't a clue after being passed around so much for an entire year- reducing my paid visits to nearly zilch. i didn't know how to be frugal with what/where to go next. *sigh* i earn my living, but kindergarten teachers don't earn alot to spare, and my MedIns. is too big and vast to be helpful with personal help.
Thank you for sharing the diff. between psychiatrists and psychologists, too. -Why is everyone so general/nebulous over the phone?
Lately i've felt like a one-legged person in an ass-kicking contest.
Dear Adia, your listening & responding has been oxygen in my air today. Thank You.
Escher
Posted by Adia on September 5, 2003, at 14:07:46
In reply to Re: Who to turn to?, posted by EscherDementian on September 5, 2003, at 13:20:26
Dear Escher,
Hi!! I'm soooo glad that my note was of some help to you.. :o) Thank you for sharing back with me...It meant a lot! I'm really glad I could be of some help..
I hope you can find a good psychologist to guide you through....
I started seeing my psychologist and then she was the one who suggested that I should take some medication and see a psychiatrist to find the right medication for me. But therapy is the most important thing for me.
I sincerely hope you can find a good supportive psychologist..
I'm a teacher too and I don't earn much...
as I see my psychiatrist once a month I can afford it and with my psychologist we have worked out a fee that I can pay.
I wish you the best in finding the help you deserve..
Let me know how it goes...okay?
I'm truly glad you feel a little better...or not so lost...and I hope you can find the right psychologist for you.
:o) Sending you my support,
Adia.> my god, thank you Adia for responding. Your notice of my note has been a lifeline.
>
> Thank you for your shared experience in having a psychiatrist once a month for meds and a psychologist for ongoing therapy. i hadn't a clue after being passed around so much for an entire year- reducing my paid visits to nearly zilch. i didn't know how to be frugal with what/where to go next. *sigh* i earn my living, but kindergarten teachers don't earn alot to spare, and my MedIns. is too big and vast to be helpful with personal help.
>
> Thank you for sharing the diff. between psychiatrists and psychologists, too. -Why is everyone so general/nebulous over the phone?
>
> Lately i've felt like a one-legged person in an ass-kicking contest.
>
> Dear Adia, your listening & responding has been oxygen in my air today. Thank You.
>
> Escher
>
>
Posted by HannahW on September 5, 2003, at 16:41:37
In reply to Who to turn to?, posted by EscherDementian on September 4, 2003, at 7:13:08
Would your insurance cover a psychiatrist that also did therapy? Then you'd have one-stop-shopping. The benefit there is that you would have one person who could determine whether your continued misery was due to needing a med adjustment or needing more progress in therapy.
I've read that people often see a pdoc for meds and a counselor-type for therapy in order to save money, but studies actually show that it's cheaper to go with only a pdoc because supposedly it's more effective and doesn't take as long. I can't say for sure whether that's really true, but that's what the study showed.
Good luck. With all the different titles and different types of therapy out there, it does seem impossible to know where to turn. From my experience with nurse practitioners, though, I'd stay away from them. They're wonderful people, but just don't have the training that some of the others do. I'd much rather work with the supervisor (the pdoc) than the person being supervised (the practitioner). Just my .02
Hannah
Posted by EscherDementian on September 9, 2003, at 15:33:50
In reply to Re: Who to turn to?, posted by HannahW on September 5, 2003, at 16:41:37
Thank you Hannah. i'm going to try that too.
Am still waiting for apptmnt with #2 Psychiatrist, and trying to learn what to ask. i now consider the first apptmnts 'interviews' , but i'm not so sure how to know if one will be a good relationship down the line. i think that asking what kind of psychological therapys the psychiatrist might refer to or work with me, might be a good question to discuss. (i might have to note the answer down and then research what it meant later ;)
What will a Psychiatrist want/need to know about me in the first interview? (heck, maybe i should print my first post in this thread and hand that out! maybe i should print out ALL my posts and just hand them over! *laugh*)Is there anything anyone else can think of?
Escher
P.S.
How are you doing, Adia? :) :)
Posted by Adia on September 9, 2003, at 20:21:49
In reply to Re: Who to turn to? » HannahW, posted by EscherDementian on September 9, 2003, at 15:33:50
Dear Escher,
Hi... :o) Thank you for asking..I'm feeling relieved because my therapist agreed to see me on friday and she's giving me a chance...I'm counting the hours...
I hope you find a good psychologist or psychiatrist to work with you...Let us know how it goes....It's soooo hard to open up and talk and say what you need or what's going on inside of you...Maybe you can write something and take it with you to make sure you'll be able to say what you need to say..
I hope you sooooon find a good, supportive person to work with you...
Sending you lots of support,
Adia.
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