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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pingles on November 1, 2009, at 13:49:45
Hi,
I'm a twentyfive year old woman. I have some form of a life crisis with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Have been to therapists before and had talking sessions but now I would like to meet a pdoc.
I think a lot of my problems stem from my work which I can't handle now. I'm a practical nurse and takes care of elderly, being alone in charge of twenty persons at night. Also, my father assaulted me once a couple of years ago and have left scares in my soul.
Anyway, I would like to get some advices on which kind of meds that could help me pull through, at least for a few months. I don't think therapy alone will help this time.Thanks,
Pingles
Posted by Phidippus on November 1, 2009, at 14:18:13
In reply to Need help with medications, posted by pingles on November 1, 2009, at 13:49:45
It would be hard to recommend medications not knowing what your specific symptoms are. I could recommend antidepressants but you could have mood instability that requires mood stabilizers in which case antidepressants would not be the best fit. What sort of feelings have you been having?
P
Posted by pingles on November 1, 2009, at 14:29:25
In reply to Re: Need help with medications » pingles, posted by Phidippus on November 1, 2009, at 14:18:13
Hi,
When I'm at work I feel out of energy and I get panic and just want to go home, out of the building.
When I speak to others, I'm just one second away from start crying. Totally exhausted and tired.To take care of others when I'm not feeling good myself feels hard. It feels so wrong against all patients.
I feel like I don't manage to do my work as I should, with my heart and soul. I need to find balance.
I used to be a very social woman spending much time with friends. Today I'm not like that.Gonna call for help expertise tomorrow, so I will see what the best solution would be like.
Kind regards,
Pingles
Posted by Phidippus on November 1, 2009, at 14:39:14
In reply to Re: Need help with medications » Phidippus, posted by pingles on November 1, 2009, at 14:29:25
Sounds like you're having a lot of anxiety and depression and that you're getting down on yourself quite a bit, which is the depression. I would talk to you doctor about starting on an antidepressant to help treat both the anxiety and the depression.
P
Posted by pingles on November 1, 2009, at 14:44:29
In reply to Re: Need help with medications » pingles, posted by Phidippus on November 1, 2009, at 14:39:14
Thank you, I'm looking forward to get help.
Regards
Pingles
Posted by bleauberry on November 1, 2009, at 17:26:45
In reply to Need help with medications, posted by pingles on November 1, 2009, at 13:49:45
I do not believe you should see a psychiatrist or a doctor for mood problems, at least not at this point in time.
What I totally endorse, however, is that you see an Integrative MD or a Naturopath ND and have them guide you through some nutriontal/herbal strategies. In Germany for example where St Johns Wort is a prescription drug, it is prescribed 6 times more often than Prozac. Because for many people, especially those using it for the first time, it can work really well.
Other things include Rhodiola Rosea, Siberian Ginseng, 5htp+tryrosine, DLPA, specific diets and supplements. They can also do some detailed testing a regular doctor won't do, and a psychiatrist doesn't even have a clue about.
You do not want to open the psychiatric door unless: 1)You are suicidal; 2)You have tried everything else possible.
Meds will not work any better or any faster than more natural alternatives, statistically speaking. So there is no immediate rush to go that route and bypass other simpler, cheaper, safer options.
It sounds to me like talk therapy is the only thing you've tried? I think talk therapy is excellent to help someone get through the first few weeks or months of a new herb or med, but as a stand-alone fix not.
www.sjwinfo.org is a good place to visit.
Posted by Phillipa on November 1, 2009, at 21:14:10
In reply to Re: Need help with medications, posted by bleauberry on November 1, 2009, at 17:26:45
Welcome to babble I was an RN and when my thyroid went same thing happened to me. By any chance you at menopausal age? Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on November 1, 2009, at 21:53:41
In reply to Re: Need help with medications, posted by Phillipa on November 1, 2009, at 21:14:10
She said she was 25.
Posted by pingles on November 2, 2009, at 0:50:50
In reply to Re: Need help with medications, posted by bleauberry on November 1, 2009, at 17:26:45
Want to say that my mother tongue is not english so I hope i make myself understood in what I'm writing..
I find it interesting all the things you recommend. My panic and anxiety is getting worse and last night I woke up several times and started crying.
I have lost weight by finding a better diet, tried rhodiola rosea, but I have never tried St Johns Wort.My only wishes now, is to get fast help My constant worry for money is a fact, but I have the best insurance I can get in my country so I'm gonna take the help I get today. I need it now.
I get scared of myself looking how I'm feeling.
The "warning bells" has shown for months now (the most clearly ones), but I have had depressive thoughts for years.Have to go for now.
Kind regards/
Pingles
Old message:
> I do not believe you should see a psychiatrist or a doctor for mood problems, at least not at this point in time.
>
> What I totally endorse, however, is that you see an Integrative MD or a Naturopath ND and have them guide you through some nutriontal/herbal strategies. In Germany for example where St Johns Wort is a prescription drug, it is prescribed 6 times more often than Prozac. Because for many people, especially those using it for the first time, it can work really well.
>
> Other things include Rhodiola Rosea, Siberian Ginseng, 5htp+tryrosine, DLPA, specific diets and supplements. They can also do some detailed testing a regular doctor won't do, and a psychiatrist doesn't even have a clue about.
>
> You do not want to open the psychiatric door unless: 1)You are suicidal; 2)You have tried everything else possible.
>
> Meds will not work any better or any faster than more natural alternatives, statistically speaking. So there is no immediate rush to go that route and bypass other simpler, cheaper, safer options.
>
> It sounds to me like talk therapy is the only thing you've tried? I think talk therapy is excellent to help someone get through the first few weeks or months of a new herb or med, but as a stand-alone fix not.
>
> www.sjwinfo.org is a good place to visit.
Posted by pingles on November 2, 2009, at 0:55:44
In reply to Re: Need help with medications, posted by Phillipa on November 1, 2009, at 21:14:10
Hello Phillipa,
I made a number of physical tests recently to see if I suffer from a lack of something in my body. These showed nothing special.
I'm 25 years so no menopause is current.Best regards
Pingles
Posted by SLS on November 2, 2009, at 7:41:55
In reply to Re: Need help with medications, posted by bleauberry on November 1, 2009, at 17:26:45
Herbs are drugs too.
It might be prudent to gather more information before attempting to dissuade someone from seeking traditional evidence-based medical treatment.
> Meds will not work any better or any faster than more natural alternatives, statistically speaking.
Would you care to share the science to corroborate this assertion?
- Scott
Posted by SLS on November 2, 2009, at 9:13:47
In reply to Re: Need help with medications » pingles, posted by Phidippus on November 1, 2009, at 14:39:14
> Sounds like you're having a lot of anxiety and depression and that you're getting down on yourself quite a bit, which is the depression. I would talk to you doctor about starting on an antidepressant to help treat both the anxiety and the depression.
From what I can gather from Pingles' posts, I would agree. It seems that the depressive and anxious feelings persist in the absence of changes in stimuli. Everything in the environment is the same except for the individual's changes in affect, outlook, anxiety, and functionality. It is certainly possible that, were there changes in the environment, the added stress could trigger a depressive episode. It sounds rather textbook to me. I don't think a competent psychiatrist will have any problem diagnosing and treating this condition.
- Scott
Posted by pingles on November 2, 2009, at 10:31:37
In reply to Re: Need help with medications, posted by SLS on November 2, 2009, at 9:13:47
Hi,
What a day. First talking to a therapist for one hour, then I met a very nice pdoc later this afternoon.The doctor recommended me Cipralex, so from tomorrow I start with these 10 mg.
Feel completely exhausted after this day. But also satisfied, that I have been helped. I will continue to go to the therapist at least once per week and the doctor would keep in touch.
Kind regards/
Pingle , a tired one.
Posted by Maxime on November 2, 2009, at 11:33:30
In reply to Re: Need help with medications » SLS, posted by pingles on November 2, 2009, at 10:31:37
That's great news that you will be starting a med. Hopefully it will be the perfect med for you. And what's even better is that you will be seeing a therapist. You are doing everything right. I really hope you start to feel better soon. Your job must give you a lot of stress. I have so much respect for nurses. Hang in there.
Posted by Phidippus on November 2, 2009, at 12:33:24
In reply to Re: Need help with medications » SLS, posted by pingles on November 2, 2009, at 10:31:37
>The doctor recommended me Cipralex, so from tomorrow I start with these 10 mg.
That's great. I'm on Lexapro myself (other name for Cipralex) and its done wonders for me. Remember to give it time to work-about 2 to 4 weeks. You should be ready to titrate to 20 mg within that time frame.P
Posted by manic666 on November 2, 2009, at 12:48:18
In reply to Need help with medications, posted by pingles on November 1, 2009, at 13:49:45
hello baby, let me say ,your job must be hard working night,s looking after old people an your only 25,No wonder your down its depressing thought you wandering the ward at night.Sound,s like you could do with a break from your job. i hope you do well on your med, but remember it wont work straight away an you may get a few side effects, dont worry they are normal an will pass, take care an stay safe.
Posted by SLS on November 2, 2009, at 14:59:53
In reply to Re: Need help with medications » SLS, posted by pingles on November 2, 2009, at 10:31:37
Hopefully, you won't be tired for too much longer. Did your doctor classify your anxiety as being part of a separate generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)? Anxiety can occur in association with depression without there also being a comorbid anxiety disorder. For me, anxiety has been a feature of depression. When the depression resolves, so does the anxiety. However, there are times where more than one drug is necessary to treat the depression and anxiety separately.
Cipralex (Lexapro - escitalopram) has a tendency to produce an increase in anxiety briefly during the third week of treatment. It usually disappears completely. Although we are getting closer, it is still not feasible to use a biological test to identify those drugs that will work best for a given individual. There is a process of trial-and-error that must be pursued. If Cipralex does not offer you an adequate therapeutic response, there are other drugs available. Some people need 40mg to get the best therapeutic effect for depression.
I will be interested to see how well Cipralex treats your anxiety. Historically, Paxil (Seroxat - paroxetine) and Effexor (Efexor - venlafaxine) are the two antidepressants that have been used to treat GAD.
- Scott
Posted by pingles on November 3, 2009, at 1:21:03
In reply to Re: Need help with medications, posted by manic666 on November 2, 2009, at 12:48:18
Thank you all, all the kindness and support you are giving me here!
It's probably my turn to recieve care this time so I can find my true self again and may feel joy and above all to find strength to function in everyday life and get the strength to work.
The doctor explained that it will take a while and it will be weeks when it might be heavier and even more than it does now. I have a one-year special focus in my training, the right to abuse and mental health care (not that I abuse in any way) but I have nonetheless been very little contact with depression medications.
Typing this I sometimes use Google Translate (what a great Webpaige)! I do my best to try to understand everything you write to me, and it seems to work fine.
Kind regards,
Pingles
Posted by pingles on November 3, 2009, at 1:39:06
In reply to Re: Need help with medications » pingles, posted by SLS on November 2, 2009, at 14:59:53
I made some sort of test that showed that I have a clear depression located on the higher scale. My anxiety and my social phobia is a bit hand in hand also my constant concern. So he suggested Cipralex.
I cannot remember all the things he said, was crying a lot...The doctor was very involved and made himself understood. I can always get further contact and help and support I need.
Since I am a long time gone and tried to cope with my mænd I am so pleased with myself that I took the initiative to help.
It is to take one day at a time now and see. I'm studying at the side of the work, at a distance from another country, are o be amazed. But these studies are within the administrative side, because I can change jobs within a few years. This, I concluded some time ago. Have an important exam on Saturday that I'll manage. Sure, I would be lying if I said I did not have anxiety about it but I am a smart woman, I have been told, so I very much hope that I manage to pass it.Kind regards,
Pingles
Posted by pingles on November 3, 2009, at 1:40:14
In reply to Re: Need help with medications » pingles, posted by Maxime on November 2, 2009, at 11:33:30
Thank you for supporting! Means a lot.
Kind regards,
Pingles
Posted by SLS on November 3, 2009, at 5:18:40
In reply to Re: Need help with medications » SLS, posted by pingles on November 3, 2009, at 1:39:06
> Have an important exam on Saturday that I'll manage. Sure, I would be lying if I said I did not have anxiety about it but I am a smart woman, I have been told, so I very much hope that I manage to pass it.
Good luck.
:-)
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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