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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by allisonf on February 22, 2005, at 15:23:11
It's been awhile since I've checked in...I'm sorry. I wanted to say thank you to all of you. Back in August of 2003, I posted that I had been playing with the idea of taking too many pills (again) and my T was on vacation at the time...and you all really helped me get thru that rough period. I owe you a lot. I was thinking of it b/c I am about to give a talk about how important peer support is to me and my recovery, and I wanted to mention what a critical role you all played in keeping me from harming myself when I was at my most desperate.
I am doing ok now, better than in 2003. I am taking Geodon, Lexapro and lithium and it seems to be the right combination for now. I started working PT for a psychologist doing research (on internet peer support for women with breast cancer) and am still thinking about becoming a therapist.
I hope all of you are well. I haven't had a chance to read up on the threads, but I hope to soon and maybe post again. I think I am in a better place for it now.
Anyways, thank you all again.
Allison
Posted by Dinah on February 22, 2005, at 18:43:47
In reply to Dinah, Fallsfall, Penny, judy and stebby, posted by allisonf on February 22, 2005, at 15:23:11
Thank you!
And it's good to see you again, and even better to see that you are feeling better.
I think you'd bring a lot to the table as a therapist.
Posted by fallsfall on February 22, 2005, at 22:15:37
In reply to Dinah, Fallsfall, Penny, judy and stebby, posted by allisonf on February 22, 2005, at 15:23:11
I'm glad that you are feeling better and that we could help.
I'm glad also to hear that you are spreading the word on how the internet can be a helpful part of our lives.
Posted by allisonf on February 23, 2005, at 17:13:47
In reply to Hi Allison :) » allisonf, posted by Dinah on February 22, 2005, at 18:43:47
Hi Dinah,
So good to hear from you! How have things been with your therapist? You are still seeing the same one? How are things generally?Thank you so much for saying that about my being a therapist. I have so much self-doubt. Also, I am being more open with people about having bipolar disorder and I wonder how that will play out if I decide to do therapy. Can you be a therapist and be out about your disorder?
Hope all is going well. So great to hear from you.
Allison
Posted by allisonf on February 23, 2005, at 17:17:02
In reply to Re: Dinah, Fallsfall, Penny, judy and stebby » allisonf, posted by fallsfall on February 22, 2005, at 22:15:37
Thanks for your message fallsfall. Hope all is going well for you too. I am 100% for the internet as a means of support. I am actually working PT on a research study looking at how women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer use the internet for peer support. I think a lot of the women are finding it really helpful. Dr. Bob and everyone involved here really have been doing great things. I'm going to mention this site in my talk.
Take care--
A
Posted by Dinah on February 23, 2005, at 17:44:56
In reply to Re: Hi Allison :) » Dinah, posted by allisonf on February 23, 2005, at 17:13:47
Things generally have been better. :(
But I'm still with the same therapist and things are fine there.
Who would you want to be open with? My therapist has said he's been in therapy, but I don't know how open I would want him to be about exactly why. I guess with clients it would be like any other self disclosure - to be done if it's in the best interests of the client.
As far as other professionals are concerned, I wouldn't suppose it would be all that unusual. They'd probably be most interested in how you currently deal with stress.
But what do I know? :)
I thought about going back to school in the field, but I eventually decided that though the studies would be fascinating, I'd have a hard time face to face with the clients. Ditto with teaching.
Are you still in therapy?
Posted by allisonf on February 23, 2005, at 20:16:10
In reply to Re: Hi Allison :) » allisonf, posted by Dinah on February 23, 2005, at 17:44:56
I'm sorry to hear that things have been better and are not their best right now. :( Glad you are still ok with your therapist. I remember what a special bond you had with him.
I guess what I meant by being more open about my bipolar is that I'm in a job now where I'm using my "consumerism" (I hate that term!) in a sort of advocacy kind of way. I started a support group for parents with mood disorders and it's looking like there might be an article in the paper about it. If I were to become a therapist, you're absolutely right, it's not the kind of thing I would want to share unless it was in the client's best interest. But I know I googled my therapist. What if someone googled me and found out I was bipolar? Or am I getting WAY ahead of myself?? I guess we would just have to talk about it just enough so that the client's interests were served. It just seems so sticky. And I sort of agree with you about not being sure I want to be face to face with people all day.
Are you working now? You said you considered teaching?
I am still in therapy and it's going ok. I am still with the same woman and still have feelings of transference, tho they are not as all consuming as they once were. Sometimes I get kind of tired of going, but I know it's good for me and I enjoy seeing my therapist.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Posted by Dinah on February 23, 2005, at 23:45:52
In reply to Re: Hi Allison :) » Dinah, posted by allisonf on February 23, 2005, at 20:16:10
Just a lot of things piling up together. My daddy died mid December, my beloved dog last September or October. And I'm having real troubles getting my work done, which is wreaking havoc on my self esteem. So yes, I do work. Unfortunately it's not work I love. I'll survive, I'm sure.
I always think it's a good sign when people start to get a bit bored with therapy. It means they're turning their gaze outwards. Congratulations. :)
I was getting there myself before my father's death, though it scared me witless.
lol. Even now, when I'm not doing well... Well, yesterday I called my therapist and he wasn't in, and I had the entire conversation we would have had in my mind and didn't bother leaving a message. I repeated it for him today. :))
I have bouts of being an advocate, but I usually fold at the first sign of trouble. I think it's great that you've got more gumption than I do.
Posted by allisonf on February 24, 2005, at 12:34:33
In reply to Re: Hi Allison :) » allisonf, posted by Dinah on February 23, 2005, at 23:45:52
I'm so sorry to hear about your father passing away. And your pet. Grief is a horrible thing to get thru and definitely impacts your daily life and your work. I hope that time is a healing factor for you and things get easier soon.
Thanks for saying that about therapy. Sometimes I wish I could just break from it, but then something happens and I feel like it's not the right time. That was so funny your story about playing out your conversation with your T in your mind and feeling satisfied! LOL!
And I think you are being an advocate, helping so many people on the board. That takes a lot of courage too.
This is the end of the thread.
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