Posted by sar on August 3, 2001, at 1:44:44
In reply to Re: diagnosis debacle » mila, posted by Wendy B. on August 1, 2001, at 12:30:36
> Mila,
>
>
> > Hi sar,
> >
> > the before starting meds diagnosis is right.
>
> Why? I think that you're right, the Prozac probably did push Sar into a hypo-manic state, but if you read the literature, it doesn't do that to people who are simply depressed. It does it to people who have mania hiding in the background, it *reveals* the mania.
> This is why I think neurontin or another mood stabilizer makes sense, although it's of course a non-medical opinion. Sar says she was offered depakote, but I think the neurontin at a relatively high dose would help A LOT.
it's difficult to tell because i drink to excess everyday (a depressant).
> > Prozac triggers hypomania in you, it did in me, although I am not a bipolar, borderline or histrionic, you would easily confuse me with one when I am on prozac.
even when i'm not on meds, you could dx me either borderline/histrionic when i'm drunk/sad.writing in my diary etc. prozac + klonopin allows me to act the way i would if i weren't socially phobic. i *do* have dramatic flair, but ppl generally seem to appreciate the humorous aspect of it (what? am i speaking positively of myself????).
>
> While I really appreciate most of your posts, her reaction to Prozac and yours may NOT be the same, Mila.
my reaction to prozac: near-elination of ruminating thoughts (a lifesaver), great reduction in social phobia...those are the main ones. i've been anit-meds before but after prozac, man...social anxiety is an overwhelmingly physical/ruminating-thoughts illness for me, and prozac has blown it all away....and i say as an anti-med/qus=asi-buddhist--I'd raher be on prozac/klonopin than not.
the reason i get up in the morning is to take my meds with a nice glass of OJ. i would *never* forget to take my meds. i forget appoint,ments, work schedules, dates, names, seasons--but NEVER my meds.
>
> > Prozac will eventually cure your major depression, you seem to respond to SSRI, but social phobia and GAD do not go away without therapy. SSRI masks their presence but doesn't cure them. when you'll try to go off the meds the depression might not return, but these two suckers will. and the vicious cycle will begin again. Social isolation brought by social phobia is very depressing, and GAD is as well.
> >
> > your problem is not that prozac leads to mistakes in diagnosis, but that it will interfere with therapy. First, your therapy will be geared towards dealing with the consequences of taking prozac instead of dealing with real stuff.
right now i'm wonderinmg if the near-anxiety-free social interaction is any sort of natural med for sp. when someone says, "how are you?" i say "good" and smile, instead of thinking, omigaw they know i'm such a loser they must be making fun of me!!!!i feel like i'm getting some cognition out of this. social phobia is an odd beat. i've had it all my life. it has frustrated me that i think like janis joplin but must live like emily dickenson. after 23 yrs i am *extremely* grateful that drugs have hel[ed to significatnlty reduce my sp. Unfortunately, i don't think any amount of CBT would have had the same effect.
thanks mila,
sar
poster:sar
thread:8515
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010731/msgs/8624.html