Author: exorphin
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:18 am
| tearj3rker wrote: |
| I’m interested in knowing some of your thoughts and experiences with psychiatry. <snip> |
Okay- here is a bit of what my experience has been w/ psychiatry:
After I had given my 1st- and only- child up for adoption at her birth- in Feb. of 1989,
I started using big-time. The 2 nd month after returning back home to PA- from Louisiana-
where the birth and adoption was arranged- I was admitted into the psych ward; and then,
shortly afterwards, the local inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center…
I rem. being dx’d as Bi-poar as well as Borderline Personality Disorder… So I was put on
an anti-depressant only at that time… That med helped w/my depression; but I was still
having extreme mood swings and anxiety/panic attacks, too…
Anyway, I’m going to fast-forward to about 12 years ago- when my last inpatient psych hospitalization
had occurred. I finally saw a psych doc who really seemed to understand me- from the local mental
health center- who also treated me while I was in the hospital that last time. I have been on quite an
array of "cocktails" for my mental conditions.
Fast-forward to today- and about the last 8-9 years, since that last psych hospitalization:
I see my psych doc- or his nurse- once every 3 months. I am on Celexa, Klonopin (a very low dose),
Topamax, and Trazodone at night- to help me to get to- and stay- asleep. This combo is working well.
I also see a counselor- at the same outpatient mental health center- once every 2 weeks. It has taken
me at least 3 different counselors until I’ve finally found one who *really* understands what I’m dealing
with and what I’m going thru on a day-to-day basis- as far as dealing with Bipolar and Borderline P. D.
goes. As well, she is helping me to deal with my "Substance Abuse/Dependence"- and knows that I’m
on subs, of course.
If anything, I’ve learned that I’ve needed to be "pro-active" with my mental health care.
Well, that about sums-up my experience with psychiatry, so far. I feel that I’ve been quite blessed/
"lucky"/ whatever you want to call it… So, I do not really have any complaints.
Thanks,
-ex-
