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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 170 responses total. |
edina
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response 100 of 170:
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Jul 12 13:53 UTC 2002 |
My insurance for my mental health care is actually quite good.
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bhelliom
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response 101 of 170:
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Jul 12 14:48 UTC 2002 |
My insurance coverage is pretty decent for mental health. But they way
that administer the mental health portion of their services is not.
You have to call a specific number and tghey'll give you a list of
names from a list, and you go and see if they are taking patients. So
you can't even go to the therapist you want if they do not take your
insurance. So I dedcided that I would go on my own and find a
therapist and opay for it myself. It's not cheap, but I didn't like
the alternative and could afford to avoid it. I get the prescriptions
for antidepressants from my MD, who is cleared to speak with my
psychologist. So insurance does in fact help me out
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lynne
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response 102 of 170:
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Jul 12 18:57 UTC 2002 |
My health insurance is through MIT. They jump three feet in the air, rush
you to the mental health center, and hand out one free straitjacket for each
friend brought in with depression. Something to do with the suicide rate....
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bhelliom
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response 103 of 170:
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Jul 14 16:12 UTC 2002 |
Hey, Carolyn, have you heard about ehnotorious prof in Harvard's chem
program? A couple of this guy's studends committed suicide. This was
before either you or I got to Boston
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lynne
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response 104 of 170:
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Jul 17 19:06 UTC 2002 |
Yes; last I heard (which was a couple of years ago) he was being forced into
retirement. I've heard some pretty crazy stories about the way he treats his
students and particularly his postdocs. My undergrad advisor worked for him
for about a week (was called up for military duty, I believe?) and really
really hates him--he went to work for someone else on his return. According
to his story, he went to say goodbye before leaving and the secretary
wouldn't let him in, saying that the prof was busy. The door to the prof's
office was standing wide open and he was sitting at his desk at the time.
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jaklumen
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response 105 of 170:
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Jul 18 07:52 UTC 2002 |
I would have shouted "Fuck you, then; burn in hell," but then I'm
rather fiery if my sincerity was to be so blatantly disregarded like
that.
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bhelliom
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response 106 of 170:
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Jul 18 12:50 UTC 2002 |
Yeah . . . I heard story after story from my friends in the grad chem
program. If he's being forced into retirement, that's definitely for
the students' benefit! Grad school as it is can be rather difficult
emotionaly/mentally; you don't need professors making it worse.
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bhelliom
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response 107 of 170:
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Aug 20 20:11 UTC 2002 |
This response has been erased.
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bhelliom
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response 108 of 170:
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Aug 20 20:12 UTC 2002 |
I thought I would give this item a kick in the pants rather than add
more to the bummed item, which is chugging along at a good pace without
clogging up the works.
As noted in the bummed item recently, somewhere between my Dr. and the
pharmacist, one of my medications was screwed up. Although I was
frustrated and wanted to get this cleared up, I though this would also
be a good oportunity to find out if I needed both medications, while
making a damn concerted effort to get this cleared up and not simply
stop taking one of them. Well, nearly two weeks later and five days
since running out of my Wellbutrin, I've been taking Celexa by itself,
and still trying to clear up the mess. I am pretty sure it has
affected my mood, and my roommate, Mooncat, has noted as much. I'm
more irritable, close to crying, in the numb state all at the same time.
How have have any of you fared under similar circumstances, and what
did you do to get through them?
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scott
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response 109 of 170:
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Aug 20 22:53 UTC 2002 |
I haven't had any problems with depression, but I will say this: You stand
a much better chance if you take charge of your own health here. Grab your
doctor by the throat and demand detailed explanations; if you have any risk
of remembering them then write it all down. Keep a log of what you take each
day and how you felt, and look back at it periodically for patterns.
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lowclass
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response 110 of 170:
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Aug 21 03:57 UTC 2002 |
I'd been on Navane for about 8 years when some of the newer sedatives
came out. My Psychiatrist suggested a change to Risperdal, which I arssented
to. Even the smallest dossage turned out to be too much, an we switched to.5mg
by cutting the smallest tablet dose in half. I was one of the few who didn't
metabolize it well, and ended up calling his answering service. My only
comment was "either take me off this medication, or I'm going to admit myself"
he switched me back to Navane, and i was okay in a couple of hours.
Except for my behavior while i was on Risperdal. that helped to end
my employment at what I concidered a pretty good job, with decent bosses and
quality benefits. It's been pretty tough since then, but I'm stable on
Zyprexa, at 12.5 mg per day.
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jaklumen
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response 111 of 170:
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Aug 21 09:33 UTC 2002 |
Treating the depressive side of bipolar seems to be a trickier job. I
don't respond well to the common anti-depressants. I got addicted to
Prozac, Paxil made me aggressive, and Zoloft sent me to giddy heights
(I don't experience full-blown mania).
Currently, I take Depakote alone, but even that still has down sides--
still lethargic, and still fat. My med nurse hates it and seems to be
looking to transfer me to a new med soon.. something he and the
psychiatrist are looking at. Can't remember the name, but the sedative
side effect isn't there, and it gives a bit of a mood boost. I'll have
to look more into it (and it will be a while before we start it).
resp:109 I fully concur with what Scott says. *anyone* being treated
for any sort of mental health problem *must* be fully aware of the
treatment and meds they are receiving. It is sooo important, because
chemistry from person to person is so individualistic that this is a
black art in some respects. You need to be aware of how you are
feeling, and report this very clearly to your doctor.
Zyprexa drugs me out.
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bhelliom
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response 112 of 170:
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Aug 21 13:07 UTC 2002 |
resp:109 and resp:111 - That's what's so bloody irritating. I gave my
Dr. and psycholoist clearance to be able to speak, though I'm due to
sign another release in November. I confirmed the dosage with my
doctor a couple of weeks before this happened. I call to confirm again
if there's a dosage change, and normally I'm quick to notice if there's
been a mistake.
I know without a doubt that this dosage was, for now, the minimum
required dosage, given how I felt before adding the additional mg. for
one of the medications, and the lack of one of these prescriptions is
evident for me in how I feel, and the folks I see most often are aware
of it also. This is a great step for someone who was not always aware
of these things before.
It seems in this case that my Doctor's memory is worse than mine. I'm
trying to decide if this is my fault, or if this is a good indication
that I need to seek a new physician. I'm meeting with my therapist
tonight, so hopefully this wil be resolved before too long.
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jaklumen
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response 113 of 170:
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Aug 22 06:07 UTC 2002 |
It's difficult sometimes; don't let me kid you. You have to somehow
learn what your brain is saying. You have to trust your doctor
somewhat, but you also have to know when to give him/her the boot if
s(he) isn't providing you with the care you need. Same with counselors
and therapists too. You also get out what you put in. It can be a
dance.
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jep
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response 114 of 170:
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Aug 22 12:51 UTC 2002 |
Depression is difficult all around. It's hard to even *want* to seek
treatment; you don't have any hope and it's hard to want to bother with
doing something when you don't have any expectations.
It would be extremely hard for me to give up my current therapist and
go out to seek out another one. I'm going through overwhelming
turmoil. I don't want to change anything more than what I have to.
I have to get better. I have to go on with my life. For me, anyway,
the way I proceed is to pick a direction and try to keep moving in it.
I have to trust that my therapist and psychiatrist know what they're
doing, because I sure don't.
I'm doing better than I was 6 months ago. I believe that. I'll be
doing better yet in another 6 months. I *have* to believe that. But
sometimes, when I stop and think, it feels like I'm really just as
desperate and unmotivated and angry as I was at the start of the year,
but just masking it a little with the medication I'm taking.
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bhelliom
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response 115 of 170:
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Aug 22 13:17 UTC 2002 |
Well, as you've no doubt read already in teh Happy and Bummed items,
this bit seems to be taken care of now, much to my relief.
I agree, Jon, that it is a struggle to understand what your brain is
saying to you. I think the initial struggle is in making yourself
listen, as opposed to engaing in activities or behaviours that drown
out the "noise," so to speak.
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tod
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response 116 of 170:
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Aug 23 01:11 UTC 2002 |
This response has been erased.
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tsty
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response 117 of 170:
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Aug 23 04:54 UTC 2002 |
even less than 12 miles of rollerblading can help a LOT!
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bhelliom
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response 118 of 170:
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Aug 23 14:16 UTC 2002 |
Yes, they both can.
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bhelliom
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response 119 of 170:
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Aug 23 16:40 UTC 2002 |
I think one of the most irritating things I have to deal with are those
who don't know what this is like and assume you're not trying hard
enough. this has nothing to do with anyone here. Mooncat and I were
discussing this last night.
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jazz
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response 120 of 170:
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Aug 23 18:04 UTC 2002 |
It's true of any condition that people experience that isn't one
hundred percent visible and immediate.
Cut your finger badly at work and people will rush to your side; get
CTS or long-term spinal injuries from years of poorly designed office
equipment and people look at you as if you're trying to get out of work.
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tod
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response 121 of 170:
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Aug 23 19:17 UTC 2002 |
This response has been erased.
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lynne
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response 122 of 170:
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Aug 23 19:34 UTC 2002 |
I occasionally forget to take my zoloft for one or two days. I tend to notice
the effect pretty quickly--certainly after one day, often after two. I get
quite sad and unmotivated. Taking it again after forgetting is also likely
to lead to mini-mood-swings, which is mildly annoying.
Isn't motivation and lack thereof a fascinating problem?
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bhelliom
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response 123 of 170:
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Aug 23 21:02 UTC 2002 |
<grins>
resp:120 - That's pretty much the conclusion we'd come to. Sorry if it
sounded as if I was whining.
I've actually been very good about not forgetting. In all, I've done
so maybe once or twice. The last week simply reminded me of what life
was becoming before I started taking the Wellbutrin and Celexa.
Unfortunately that means I *do* have to take them, but that doesn't
mean I'll have to take them forever. I'm simply thankful that I had an
inkling that something was wrong, and that I took the steps to confront
it.
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anderyn
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response 124 of 170:
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Aug 23 21:19 UTC 2002 |
Actually, cutting ones' finger at work doesn't mean that folks will leap to
your side. (Speaks the voice of experience -- I cut my right index finger
badly enough to need eleven stitches last August, and I was in a brace for
six weeks, and in rehab to learn how to move it again for another two months.
It was NOT something that everyone understood -- it looked like such a little
cut, but I'd nicked the tendon.) I've had more luck with people understanding
depression, but our awareness may be heightened by the fact that we have had
one coworker suicide and two family members of another coworker suicide, as
well as a few attempts by even other coworkers.
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