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Post by largeham on May 23, 2011 7:00:21 GMT -5
Probable depression here. I haven't had it diagnosed, but I've looked at the symptoms and I experience them pretty strongly. Also, a suicide attempt (well, sort of) makes it pretty obvious.
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Post by Mlle Antéchrist on May 23, 2011 12:53:45 GMT -5
Dealt with depression, as well as social and generalized anxiety. I'm on Effexor, which has helped a lot, particularly on the social anxiety front. Seeing a counselor helped, too. I still have some issues with my moods, but I'm able to function as a more or less normal member of society now.
Also, some shrink at the hospital tried to suggest that I have Borderline Personality Disorder during an assessment a number of years back, but he'd only spoken to me for like ten minutes, so I'm not terribly inclined to take that to heart.
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Post by DeadpanDoubter on May 23, 2011 13:08:25 GMT -5
brainy: When I went for group therapy, there were lots of people who just couldn't respond to anti-depressants, even after 3 months or more of taking them...and there was one lady who would get sick with nearly every one she tried to take. They finally started her out on 5mg of liquid Celexa, gradually building up to 10 mg liquid and then switching to 10 mg pills...it did wonders for her, it's just scary to think of how sick it can make some people. I've only responded to Wellbutrin and Lexapro so far, Lexapro much moreso than Wellbutrin (but it's super expensive, and the next best thing (Celexa) knocks me out for most of the day)...I think it's the therapy that's helped me the most. The Wellbutrin's helped get me to an even keel, baseline sort of place, and the therapy kinda builds on top of that...it's too bad I didn't start making any progress until I was forced to go to group therapy, though, as that was only a month or so ago and I'd had 7 months of one-on-one therapy before that with no progress, for no obvious reason. My counselor and case manager finally said "look, you're suicidal constantly, nothing seems to be helping, you keep trying to drop out of therapy and the last time you tried that you made plans for killing yourself...something's gotta change". So the group therapy was kind of a splash of cold water to shock myself into taking better care of myself, and now I'm actually making progress in one-on-one sessions... So I'm with brainy...if you can see a counselor, please try to go. I know there're horror stories out there (like another board member's idiot therapist treating zir like a second-class citizen and telling everyone all about their sessions together) but there is a lot of good that can be done, too, with therapy. It's your choice in the end; either way, I can at least listen. largeham: I won't ask any questions, but...a 'sort of' suicide attempt kinda sounds like what I would do when the pressure and thoughts got to be too much-- try to choke myself with a belt or cord tied around the doorknob. Not too much risk of actually killing myself, but it gave me a sense of control and would often 'scare' the 'voices' off for a while. And yes, counselors take that sort of thing every bit as serious as purposeful ODing, noose and kicked out chair, or a bullet. It's the intent that has to be addressed, not necessarily whether you feel you'd actually go through with it.
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Post by Mlle Antéchrist on May 23, 2011 13:28:16 GMT -5
There's also the concern that a quasi-suicide attempt can still end up killing a person, regardless of their intentions. When I downed 70+ aspirin as a teenager, I don't think I truly intended on dying (though it wasn't a bid for attention or simply a "cry for help", either -- it's difficult to explain, seeing as there wasn't any rationality behind it), but there was no question that I was a danger to myself. All forms of self harm should be taken seriously.
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Post by nightangel1282 on May 23, 2011 15:55:44 GMT -5
Avoidant Personality Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, and, while this isn't quite the same as the others... Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder.
Pretty much, it just makes my life a bitch.
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brainy
Junior Member
Gay, atheist, psychologist. The fundie trifecta!
Posts: 63
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Post by brainy on May 23, 2011 16:42:01 GMT -5
Also, some shrink at the hospital tried to suggest that I have Borderline Personality Disorder during an assessment a number of years back, but he'd only spoken to me for like ten minutes, so I'm not terribly inclined to take that to heart. Personality Disorders are incredibly difficult to diagnose unless they are extreme. There is quite a bit of controversy within the field about whether or not personality disorders even exist. I wouldn't be comfortable making a BPD diagnosis after 10 minutes even if I had a comprehensive psych history in front of me. @deadpan I totally agree with your sentiment about therapy. We aren't all incompetent...I hope  |
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Post by largeham on May 23, 2011 18:56:06 GMT -5
largeham: I won't ask any questions, but...a 'sort of' suicide attempt kinda sounds like what I would do when the pressure and thoughts got to be too much-- try to choke myself with a belt or cord tied around the doorknob. Not too much risk of actually killing myself, but it gave me a sense of control and would often 'scare' the 'voices' off for a while. And yes, counselors take that sort of thing every bit as serious as purposeful ODing, noose and kicked out chair, or a bullet. It's the intent that has to be addressed, not necessarily whether you feel you'd actually go through with it. That's why try and not call it depression, it could be something else or it might not be anything at all, I'm not sure. Re therapists, the problem with Western society is that men are supposed to be strong and stoic, showing mental health problems is 'womanly' and weak. And then the problem with Eastern societies is that mental health problems aren't mentioned at all, unless say you have Alzheimer or Parkinson's and you are 70 years old. |
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Post by Mlle Antéchrist on May 23, 2011 19:45:33 GMT -5
Personality Disorders are incredibly difficult to diagnose unless they are extreme. There is quite a bit of controversy within the field about whether or not personality disorders even exist. I wouldn't be comfortable making a BPD diagnosis after 10 minutes even if I had a comprehensive psych history in front of me. Incidentally, he wasn't the first psychologist I've seen who jumped to conclusions. When I was 15, I saw a psych. who told my dad (after only two sessions) that there was a "strong possibility" that I had ADD because whenever a door slammed in the office suite, I'd briefly glance in the direction the sound was coming from. She cited no other evidence for pursuing that diagnosis -- just "I notice you look over whenever a door slams". Because reacting to sudden sounds in an otherwise quiet environment is so abnormal, right? |
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brainy
Junior Member
Gay, atheist, psychologist. The fundie trifecta!
Posts: 63
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Post by brainy on May 23, 2011 20:19:06 GMT -5
Personality Disorders are incredibly difficult to diagnose unless they are extreme. There is quite a bit of controversy within the field about whether or not personality disorders even exist. I wouldn't be comfortable making a BPD diagnosis after 10 minutes even if I had a comprehensive psych history in front of me. Incidentally, he wasn't the first psychologist I've seen who jumped to conclusions. When I was 15, I saw a psych. who told my dad (after only two sessions) that there was a "strong possibility" that I had ADD because whenever a door slammed in the office suite, I'd briefly glance in the direction the sound was coming from. She cited no other evidence for pursuing that diagnosis -- just "I notice you look over whenever a door slams". Because reacting to sudden sounds in an otherwise quiet environment is so abnormal, right? Lol, well that could get me into a entire conversation about the differences between psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and social workers (who all provide therapy) and their training standards (or lack thereof in some cases). But I don't want to write a book or make broad generalizations so I won't go into that. One thing I will say is that in my respective field (counseling psyc) I sometimes see professionals who are lackadaisical about the gravity of assigning a mental health diagnosis and what the label that comes along with that means. It isn't something that should be taken so lightly and I get a little twinge of anger whenever I hear stories about "professionals" making snap diagnoses like this. |
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nomad
Full Member
{[(O)]}
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Post by nomad on May 23, 2011 20:31:24 GMT -5
I had a depressive streak when I was younger, and now some social anxiety. I'm also getting over a weird form of night terrors.
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Post by Smurfette Principle on May 24, 2011 15:53:57 GMT -5
I probably have something on the autism spectrum, probably some level of Asperger's. Also have very low self esteem and some issues with body image. Nothing that bad, though.
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Post by Rat Of Steel on May 24, 2011 15:56:45 GMT -5
I probably have something on the autism spectrum, probably some level of Asperger's. Also have very low self esteem and some issues with body image. Nothing that bad, though. have body-image issues? You, who have an entire thread on this board devoted to how cute and/or sexy you are? |
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Post by Smurfette Principle on May 24, 2011 19:21:07 GMT -5
I probably have something on the autism spectrum, probably some level of Asperger's. Also have very low self esteem and some issues with body image. Nothing that bad, though. have body-image issues? You, who have an entire thread on this board devoted to how cute and/or sexy you are? Yes. You'll note I haven't showed you my thighs yet. Or any pics of me in profile. *shudder* |
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Post by ironbite on May 24, 2011 19:39:40 GMT -5
Yes we know you look like a Jewish Princess. What's your point?
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Post by Smurfette Principle on May 24, 2011 19:49:34 GMT -5
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