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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alanjacobs on February 27, 2008, at 15:10:30
I dont know what to do.
I just want to be alone all the time. I am trying to live with my GF but i cant get past these thoughts of wanting to be alone. When I leave she gets very upset. I just dont want to know anyone anymore. I dont want to talk to or see anyone.
I stopped taking my meds like 4 months ago, Abilify and Prozac.
I started back at school got an A in my first class that was 3 months ago. I have an A in the class I am taking now but with a big test comming up I just dont want to study or go to class.
I wish i were dead all the time. Its what I think about before i finally fall asleep each night.
I dont care about myself, the only reason I do anything is to keep my parents and gf from worrying.
I stopped going to therapy for a few months but started againa bout a month ago. Its not helping. I am going to see my doc about meds on monday.
I really feel hopless
I didnt know where to post this.
Posted by Phillipa on February 27, 2008, at 16:11:55
In reply to Help, posted by alanjacobs on February 27, 2008, at 15:10:30
Seems it's both psychology and meds. May want to post it on meds board too. Hoping your doc gets your meds staightened out. Did they work well the first time? Phillipa
Posted by Kath on February 27, 2008, at 16:28:47
In reply to Help, posted by alanjacobs on February 27, 2008, at 15:10:30
So sorry!! I'm glad you posted.
I find the Social board very supportive, although lately it's been a little quieter there than it has been at times.
You could try posting there also, as some people might see your post there who might not here.
I am glad you're going back to therapy, but I wonder if you'd feel better with another therapist. Don't know what country you live in or how easy it would be to get someone new.
Here's a totally different thing that I find helpful. It's a site with a video you can watch. Choose a time when you're alone, or tell your GF you need privacy maybe. It's quite a different approach. If you're not alone, just have the volume quite low.
Best of luck.
www.tapping.com
Hope to see you at Social maybe. :-) Kath
Posted by Sigismund on February 27, 2008, at 17:14:00
In reply to Help, posted by alanjacobs on February 27, 2008, at 15:10:30
Oh my goodness.
Haven't seen you for ages.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to be alone, but even so....
I gather you felt better on Prozac and Abilify?
If so, if I were you, I'd think about at least taking *some* of each drug.
Posted by rskontos on February 27, 2008, at 19:44:32
In reply to Help, posted by alanjacobs on February 27, 2008, at 15:10:30
alanjacobs, I too have been exactly where you are feeling today. It is a tough situation. My IRL did not exactly allow for it though. I went on an AD to try and help. I started therapy to try and help counter those feelings and often I just did sit alone and stare out the window of my bedroom. I am much better now but I have days where I do nothing. I am glad you are posting here. You will find support as most of us have felt what you are feeling. I hope you continue with therapy and maybe a meds change is in order.
rsk
Posted by Kath on February 29, 2008, at 17:29:48
In reply to Re: Help, posted by rskontos on February 27, 2008, at 19:44:32
Hi - do you think it was the AD that helped you? Or to what do attribute your feeling better?
:-) Kath
Posted by rskontos on February 29, 2008, at 19:42:22
In reply to Re: Help » rskontos, posted by Kath on February 29, 2008, at 17:29:48
Kath, No i went off the ad and got better, I think it has been therapy really. The ad helped get me out of that deep, really deep despair but not the overall depression. Talking did more. and getting the right DX. Come to find out meds don't really help my dx. I have more anxiety than depression too. Getting help with that helped tremendously too. Finding someone to listen and not feeling so alone, that made it more bearable. Time too. I gave myself time to just be whatever I was going to be, and not be so worried about it either. I do still get depressed and I tell my therapist but it lifts quicker. I am not currently on any ad's. My p-doc offers, I refuse. Not to say I won't need something at some time with the rate my flashbacks are coming, but for now I manage. Does this help.
rsk
ps sometimes I still do nothing. Or close to it. Like watch DVD's almost all day. but I know in time it will pass and I don't worry. It is a cycle I have to work through right now.
Posted by Kath on February 29, 2008, at 20:00:50
In reply to Re: Help, posted by rskontos on February 29, 2008, at 19:42:22
you seem to have such a good attitude.
My main probl is anxiety too. But last winter & this winter, add depression to the anxiety.
I've just started group therapy, so am hoping that will help me. Talking helps me too.
K
Posted by rskontos on March 2, 2008, at 9:40:53
In reply to Re: Help » rskontos, posted by Kath on February 29, 2008, at 20:00:50
Kath, I try to have a good attitude. It is hard. But I think it helps in the fight against the anxiety and depression. Well not the anxiety. I get panic attacks in the weirdest of places and i have xnanx for that. For some reason, my p-doc is not worried I will develop an addiction. So I am taking them and they help. I never realized how much anxiety I had until he pointed it out. I think the anxiety came first and untreated then the depression ensued. Just my thoughts though. He might disagree. But we do that from time to time. You see I am taking an active role in my therapy. I have to it is my makeup. So I guess maybe that comes across as a good attitude. I hope so. For I am flashbacking to some dark days and I hope I can maintain this.
I am glad you talking helps. I hope the group therapy helps you. I have a friend that is a therapist and she says group has saved her. She tried one-to-one but she said being a therapist she could not stay in the right chair. Group helps her do that. She is able to stay a patient. She has been doing it for over a year now and doing so much better last time we spoke and she refused meds. She wanted to try this first and then go to meds not both at the same time. She said then if she got better she would not really know what helped. Makes sense I guess.
Good luck.
What do you do for your anxiety. I have found this yoga I do really helps too. It is mainly breathing exercises. Helps me focus and clear my mind. Plus you feel energized afterward.rsk
Posted by rskontos on March 2, 2008, at 9:41:41
In reply to Help, posted by alanjacobs on February 27, 2008, at 15:10:30
Alan, you doing ok. You haven't been back since you posted?
Posted by Kath on March 2, 2008, at 19:16:12
In reply to Re: Help, posted by rskontos on March 2, 2008, at 9:40:53
In the group, the doctor highly recommends not taking pharmaceuticals! I was pretty surprised. She mentioned a few books about that viewpoint & I think even one book about getting off medications!
You asked what I do for anxiety. Last Monday the GT doctor taught us a really good 'template', she called it. It's to bring oneself into the present, as a tool to help not worry. I used it in the car on the way home & it actually worked.
She said it is VERY important to use the exact words she taught us.
Here it is:
It's using our senses (5) to get out of our 'head' focus in the 'now'.
Say, "Now I Am Aware of SEEING -----"
"Now I Am Aware of HEARING----------"
"Now I Am Aware of SMELLING---------"
"Now I Am Aware of TASTING--------"
"Now I Am Aware of TOUCHING-----------"
for ex:
Now I am aware of seeing the blue sky.
Now I am aware of hearing the engine of the car.
Now I am aware of smelling the hot chocolate in my cup.
Now I am aware of tasting a sweet taste from the hot chocolate.
Now I am aware of my hands touching the steering wheel.
Then I repeated it, trying to notice different things. If I couldn't notice different things, & the only thing I could notice was what I noticed before, I just said that.
Then I repeated it 2 or 3 more times.
I felt MUCH calmer. Quieter in my mind. Settled down. And those feelings stayed. When a worrying thought came into my mind, I did the exercise again 3 or 4 times.
I find it QUITE GOOD. I guess I could go through the day doing it as necessary!!!!
Next day I used it again. I did it slightly different. I found that for me, seeing & hearing were the easiest. And I noticed that when I said, "Now, I am aware of hearing the car engine" or some other sound, it pulled me into the present WAY more than any other sense. So I decided to just keep saying that one. So........
Now I am aware of hearing the windshield wipers.
Now I am aware of hearing the water splashing under my tires.
Now I am aware of hearing the gears change.
Now I am aware of hearing that truck drive by.
etc. It kept me RIGHT in the 'now' & was actually quite enjoyable. Felt one heck of a lot better than worrying!!!
I've been using it every day since, when i start to worry or feel anxious or a 'sense of impending doom'
Sometimes I have to do it for a couple of minutes, but so far, it has worked to 'chill me out' every single time I've used it. I love it because it's:
free
portable
private (unless I say it out loud, as I tend to if I'm alone or in my car)
easy
has no side effects
:-)))
I'm tending to feel more anxious as today goes by. (And yes, I have been using what I'm calling "the here & now exercise".) I'm hoping that being at group tomorrow morning will help my anxiety. I'll be really interested to see if it does.
I'm so glad yoga helps you. I had started taking Tai Chi classes. Was sick after Christmas & haven't gotten back into the swing of the Tai Chi as I forgot it, but purchased a DVD from teacher, so I can watch & learn then return to class. I hate being there & not knowing what the HECK I'm supposed to be doing!
hugs, Kath
Oh yes, I also use EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) www.tapping.com
Also TAT
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KRXdQNA3aEk
and www.tatlife.com
Please feel free to ask me any questions about these methods. K
Posted by rskontos on March 3, 2008, at 8:53:15
In reply to Re: Help » rskontos, posted by Kath on March 2, 2008, at 19:16:12
Thanks Kath, I will look into those as I have been either having an ongoing panic attack or extreme physically remembering of a memory that usually happens prior to the actual flashback. rsk
Posted by Kath on March 3, 2008, at 12:25:15
In reply to Re: Help » Kath, posted by rskontos on March 3, 2008, at 8:53:15
Hi rsk,
sorry you're going through that.
I found TAT especially healing for trauma. I worked on various heavy-duty trauma with it.
I had done some telephone work with a lady who does energy-work/healing. Worked on my Mom's illness & death (which happened when I was in my early 20's, decades ago). I have done very little grieving about Mom (we had a really close relationship & grieving or FEELING it was just too overwhelming for me). With the work I did with TAT (using the various 'it' statements) I felt a huge lightening in myself & now, can touch on the feelings that are left & that are WAY lighter than the originals.
That's the method that's on www.tatlife.com
I like the method, because one doesn't get re-traumatized. One might feel a bit of a 'wave' of something flowing through oneself, but I just breathed & it was NOT really heavy-duty. If your trauma is super-duper heavy-duty, I'm not sure about doing the TAT yourself. I suspect there's an email address on the site, which you could email to ask any questions. I'm here for any questions also.
hugs, Kath
Posted by alanjacobs on March 4, 2008, at 19:02:59
In reply to Help, posted by alanjacobs on February 27, 2008, at 15:10:30
Thanks all. Doing a bit better. Went to a support group and to pdoc and therapy.
This is the end of the thread.
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