Mental Illness

Unndunn · 12-06-2009, 05:18 PM

Andrew, I'm glad you started this thread, and I'm really happy that others are sharing. It's not easy to talk about mental illnesses, but it's important for everyone to know about them.

I have had a problem with depression since I was a teenager and didn't get treatment for it until I was in my mid-20's. For me a combination of talk therapy and an antidepressant is what works best. Also knowing when to distract myself vs. when to explore what I am feeling is important.

I started as a psych nurse 22 years ago and have been a clinical nurse specialist in psych for the past 17 years. I have worked as a therapist throughout that time, and (surprise surprise) have specialized in mood disorders and personality disorders. I enjoy doing individual therapy and group therapy and make it my mission to teach anyone that will listen about the symptoms of various disorders and the treatments available.

The first thing anyone with a mental health diagnosis should do is find out exactly what it is and why the person treating you believes you fit the criteria. Then read everything you can find, and try to educate everyone in your life. If people don't want to listen, or you're not ready to tell them, that's fine-- move onto the next person. It's also important to know that many mental illnesses run in families and that if a family member has had good relief of their symptoms from a particular med, you might also do well on that med. Finally, remember, there's no one cause for most mental illnesses and there's usually not just one treatment for them. Study after study has shown that combining different types of treatment works the best. Examples might be: medication management plus individual therapy, or cognitive-behavioral therapy plus group therapy, etc.

Mindy · 12-06-2009, 06:21 PM

I have dealt with depression all my life and was recently diagnosed as bipolar. I still haven't been able to find a good combination of medications that work very well for me, mostly because I have no insurance and have to rely on the free clinic and the $4.00 list of meds at WalMart for meds because I can't afford the others with no insurance. I have my ups and downs, deal with suicidal thoughts all the time, no matter how "well" I'm doing. Most people don't have any comprehension what it's like to constantly live with the feelings and thoughts that you'd rather be dead. A lot of days I'd rather stay in bed with the blankets over my head than have to interact with anyone, although most of the time I'm much better since I have been on meds. Usually once a year I have to change meds because they quit working. I don't know why they work for awhile then seem to not work. I've been on antidepressants that they've had to increase the dose over and over and over and I've finally had to be taken off them. I think now, because they have diagnosed me as bipolar I have my answer, because I've been told I need to be on at LEAST 2 meds, one antidepressant and one mood stabilizer at the minimum.

I'm supposed to be going to a clinic right now that has sliding scale and will get your meds for free, but it takes a month or more for all their intake stuff. I'm planning on moving in Feb. and will have to start over anyway when I move, so I decided forget it, I'll wait til I move. I hate it when I get settled on a set of drugs, move and have to change docs, the new doc doesn't believe the drugs I'm on are right, wants to change them and I have to fight with him over the fact I'm doing well, so who cares what he thinks, lol... So, once I get moved I'll deal with the intake baloney up there so that hopefully I won't have to do it twice in a short time span.

Darth Denkay · 12-06-2009, 08:06 PM

Thanks you for sharing your story with us Mindy. I know what you mean about the "what drugs are going to work for me at the moment game." A particular cocktail tends to work 2-4 years for me and then I have to switch up. I hope they get you set up quickly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindy

I have dealt with depression all my life and was recently diagnosed as bipolar. I still haven't been able to find a good combination of medications that work very well for me, mostly because I have no insurance and have to rely on the free clinic and the $4.00 list of meds at WalMart for meds because I can't afford the others with no insurance. I have my ups and downs, deal with suicidal thoughts all the time, no matter how "well" I'm doing. Most people don't have any comprehension what it's like to constantly live with the feelings and thoughts that you'd rather be dead. A lot of days I'd rather stay in bed with the blankets over my head than have to interact with anyone, although most of the time I'm much better since I have been on meds. Usually once a year I have to change meds because they quit working. I don't know why they work for awhile then seem to not work. I've been on antidepressants that they've had to increase the dose over and over and over and I've finally had to be taken off them. I think now, because they have diagnosed me as bipolar I have my answer, because I've been told I need to be on at LEAST 2 meds, one antidepressant and one mood stabilizer at the minimum.

I'm supposed to be going to a clinic right now that has sliding scale and will get your meds for free, but it takes a month or more for all their intake stuff. I'm planning on moving in Feb. and will have to start over anyway when I move, so I decided forget it, I'll wait til I move. I hate it when I get settled on a set of drugs, move and have to change docs, the new doc doesn't believe the drugs I'm on are right, wants to change them and I have to fight with him over the fact I'm doing well, so who cares what he thinks, lol... So, once I get moved I'll deal with the intake baloney up there so that hopefully I won't have to do it twice in a short time span.

Apocalipstic · 12-07-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindy

I have dealt with depression all my life and was recently diagnosed as bipolar. I still haven't been able to find a good combination of medications that work very well for me, mostly because I have no insurance and have to rely on the free clinic and the $4.00 list of meds at WalMart for meds because I can't afford the others with no insurance. I have my ups and downs, deal with suicidal thoughts all the time, no matter how "well" I'm doing. Most people don't have any comprehension what it's like to constantly live with the feelings and thoughts that you'd rather be dead. A lot of days I'd rather stay in bed with the blankets over my head than have to interact with anyone, although most of the time I'm much better since I have been on meds. Usually once a year I have to change meds because they quit working. I don't know why they work for awhile then seem to not work. I've been on antidepressants that they've had to increase the dose over and over and over and I've finally had to be taken off them. I think now, because they have diagnosed me as bipolar I have my answer, because I've been told I need to be on at LEAST 2 meds, one antidepressant and one mood stabilizer at the minimum.

I'm supposed to be going to a clinic right now that has sliding scale and will get your meds for free, but it takes a month or more for all their intake stuff. I'm planning on moving in Feb. and will have to start over anyway when I move, so I decided forget it, I'll wait til I move. I hate it when I get settled on a set of drugs, move and have to change docs, the new doc doesn't believe the drugs I'm on are right, wants to change them and I have to fight with him over the fact I'm doing well, so who cares what he thinks, lol... So, once I get moved I'll deal with the intake baloney up there so that hopefully I won't have to do it twice in a short time span.

Thank you for sharing with us!

I also know what you mean! My meds have had to be changed many times over the years. I also have recurrent suicidal thoughts and struggle with doctor changes and so forth.

Something I have discovered recently is that if I write out my history and medicines and what has and had not worked and hand it to my new health care provider, they tend to take me more seriously and believe what I am saying.

I have no idea why...maybe it shows them I am organized and on top of managing my own issues?

Best of luck with the move, I know moves can be much more difficult for us than for most people.

Also, years ago when I had no insurance, the clinic I went to with sliding scale also had erally low prices on the latest meds. I hope it will be the same for you. Mental health drugs have come a really long way in the last 30 years.

Mindy · 12-07-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

Thank you for sharing with us!

I also know what you mean! My meds have had to be changed many times over the years. I also have recurrent suicidal thoughts and struggle with doctor changes and so forth.

Something I have discovered recently is that if I write out my history and medicines and what has and had not worked and hand it to my new health care provider, they tend to take me more seriously and believe what I am saying.

I have no idea why...maybe it shows them I am organized and on top of managing my own issues?

Best of luck with the move, I know moves can be much more difficult for us than for most people.

Also, years ago when I had no insurance, the clinic I went to with sliding scale also had erally low prices on the latest meds. I hope it will be the same for you. Mental health drugs have come a really long way in the last 30 years.

Right now the town I am in has a clinic that will actually give your drugs for as low as FREE! I also found out where I am moving has a clinic that does the same. So while I am looking for work after the move, I will at least be able to get them while job searching and waiting for insurance to kick in. Just a matter of waiting to get in initially.

Apocalipstic · 12-08-2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindy

Right now the town I am in has a clinic that will actually give your drugs for as low as FREE! I also found out where I am moving has a clinic that does the same. So while I am looking for work after the move, I will at least be able to get them while job searching and waiting for insurance to kick in. Just a matter of waiting to get in initially.

Cool!

Remember to give yourself lots of breaks and take it as easy as you can with the move and all the change.

Best to you!

Apocalipstic · 12-08-2009, 12:29 PM

Overwhelmed today.

Maybe its all the rain?
Maybe its the holidays?
Maybe I feel pushed?

Wish I could be on a warm beach with white sand, listening to the waves.

12-06-2009, 06:21 PM	#2
Mindy Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: her/she Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 194 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 49 Thanked 174 Times in 57 Posts Rep Power: 13974	I have dealt with depression all my life and was recently diagnosed as bipolar. I still haven't been able to find a good combination of medications that work very well for me, mostly because I have no insurance and have to rely on the free clinic and the $4.00 list of meds at WalMart for meds because I can't afford the others with no insurance. I have my ups and downs, deal with suicidal thoughts all the time, no matter how "well" I'm doing. Most people don't have any comprehension what it's like to constantly live with the feelings and thoughts that you'd rather be dead. A lot of days I'd rather stay in bed with the blankets over my head than have to interact with anyone, although most of the time I'm much better since I have been on meds. Usually once a year I have to change meds because they quit working. I don't know why they work for awhile then seem to not work. I've been on antidepressants that they've had to increase the dose over and over and over and I've finally had to be taken off them. I think now, because they have diagnosed me as bipolar I have my answer, because I've been told I need to be on at LEAST 2 meds, one antidepressant and one mood stabilizer at the minimum. I'm supposed to be going to a clinic right now that has sliding scale and will get your meds for free, but it takes a month or more for all their intake stuff. I'm planning on moving in Feb. and will have to start over anyway when I move, so I decided forget it, I'll wait til I move. I hate it when I get settled on a set of drugs, move and have to change docs, the new doc doesn't believe the drugs I'm on are right, wants to change them and I have to fight with him over the fact I'm doing well, so who cares what he thinks, lol... So, once I get moved I'll deal with the intake baloney up there so that hopefully I won't have to do it twice in a short time span. __________________ You must submit to supreme suffering in order to discover the completion of joy. ~John Calvin~

12-08-2009, 12:29 PM	#7
Apocalipstic Pink Confection How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, Her, Ma'am Relationship Status: Dating Myself Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Nashville Posts: 4,266 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 17,195 Thanked 11,362 Times in 2,838 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Overwhelmed today. Maybe its all the rain? Maybe its the holidays? Maybe I feel pushed? Wish I could be on a warm beach with white sand, listening to the waves. __________________

12-06-2009, 05:18 PM	#1
Unndunn Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Preferred Pronoun?: doesn't matter to me Relationship Status: single Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 122 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 149 Thanked 166 Times in 48 Posts Rep Power: 676964	Andrew, I'm glad you started this thread, and I'm really happy that others are sharing. It's not easy to talk about mental illnesses, but it's important for everyone to know about them. I have had a problem with depression since I was a teenager and didn't get treatment for it until I was in my mid-20's. For me a combination of talk therapy and an antidepressant is what works best. Also knowing when to distract myself vs. when to explore what I am feeling is important. I started as a psych nurse 22 years ago and have been a clinical nurse specialist in psych for the past 17 years. I have worked as a therapist throughout that time, and (surprise surprise) have specialized in mood disorders and personality disorders. I enjoy doing individual therapy and group therapy and make it my mission to teach anyone that will listen about the symptoms of various disorders and the treatments available. The first thing anyone with a mental health diagnosis should do is find out exactly what it is and why the person treating you believes you fit the criteria. Then read everything you can find, and try to educate everyone in your life. If people don't want to listen, or you're not ready to tell them, that's fine-- move onto the next person. It's also important to know that many mental illnesses run in families and that if a family member has had good relief of their symptoms from a particular med, you might also do well on that med. Finally, remember, there's no one cause for most mental illnesses and there's usually not just one treatment for them. Study after study has shown that combining different types of treatment works the best. Examples might be: medication management plus individual therapy, or cognitive-behavioral therapy plus group therapy, etc.