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Depression Help
planetx posted:
I have been under a Dr.'s care as well as a therapist for the last 3 years and although there has been improvement that improvement has come to a standstill as the medication I am taking isn't and hasn't been working as well as it did before. In my mind my condition is worsening and yet my Dr. as well as my therapist seem to believe that medication is far less important than correct thinking. Maybe so but I feel like i am kicking a dead horse here. Anytime i mention to either one of these people that when i am in the midst of a depressive episode i am unable to think in a positive way. Are they right? Isn't there anything that can help me or am I to just think myself happy? That's not working but I can't seem to get anyone to listen to me. You are my last resort before i take matters into my own hands
4 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Depression HelpI have been under a Dr.'s care as well as a therapist for the last 3 years and although there has been improvement that improvement has come to a standstill as the medication I am taking isn't and hasn't been working as well as it did before. In my mind my condition is worsening and yet my Dr. as well as my therapist seem to believe that medication is far less important than correct thinking. Maybe so but I feel like i am kicking a dead horse here. Anytime i mention to either one of these people that when i am in the midst of a depressive episode i am unable to think in a positive way. Are they right? Isn't there anything that can help me or am I to just think myself happy? That's not working but I can't seem to get anyone to listen to me. You are my last resort before i take matters into my own hands
whynowIask responded:
Hi PlanetX, one thing I do know and I am sure others will chime in with similar advice is if you don't feel comfortable with your therapist or the advice they are giving, go somewhere else. Same goes for your Dr. Another thing you may try is to find, and go to someone called a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practioner. If you like and want to stay with your therapist, that is fine. But as far as the meds go, this person can work with you to adjust your meds. Psychologists can't prescribe meds, but the PMHNP can. And, in my opinion, your Dr. if he/she is a general practioner like mine, don't have the time or the inclination to work with you on adjusting your meds the way you need someone to work with you.
Hang in there, things can and do get better. Hope this helps!
Hang in there, things can and do get better. Hope this helps!
Report This| Share this:Depression HelpHi PlanetX, one thing I do know and I am sure others will chime in with similar advice is if you don't feel comfortable with your therapist or the advice they are giving, go somewhere else. Same goes for your Dr. Another thing you may try is to find, and go to someone called a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practioner. If you like and want to stay with your therapist, that is fine. But as far as the meds go, this person can work with you to adjust your meds. Psychologists can't prescribe meds, but the PMHNP can. And, in my opinion, your Dr. if he/she is a general practioner like mine, don't have the time or the inclination to work with you on adjusting your meds the way you need someone to work with you. <br /> <br />Hang in there, things can and do get better. Hope this helps!
planetx replied to whynowIask's response:
Thank you so much and yes this has helped. Shortly after i posted this a friend called and I relayed to him what I had posted here and he gave me the same advice. He is a nurse by profession and he said as much as you did that a general practitioner doesn't have the time or the expertise to really address my problem. I appreciate your thoughtful response and my friend will be back in town in a couple of weeks. He has recommended his Dr to me and I believe I will take him up on his offer. It's frustrating trying to relate to my Dr why I believe I need a change of medication and then for him to simply dismiss my concerns and tell me to focus on positive thoughts, Positive thoughts are important in treating depression but they are extremely hard to have in the midst of a depressive episode. What part of that does he not understand? Thank you again for very wise words and for taking the time this holiday season to address a stranger's problem. Now we are not strangers and hopefully friends.
Thank you again. Nice avatar btw
Thank you again. Nice avatar btw
Report This| Share this:Depression HelpThank you so much and yes this has helped. Shortly after i posted this a friend called and I relayed to him what I had posted here and he gave me the same advice. He is a nurse by profession and he said as much as you did that a general practitioner doesn't have the time or the expertise to really address my problem. I appreciate your thoughtful response and my friend will be back in town in a couple of weeks. He has recommended his Dr to me and I believe I will take him up on his offer. It's frustrating trying to relate to my Dr why I believe I need a change of medication and then for him to simply dismiss my concerns and tell me to focus on positive thoughts, Positive thoughts are important in treating depression but they are extremely hard to have in the midst of a depressive episode. What part of that does he not understand? Thank you again for very wise words and for taking the time this holiday season to address a stranger's problem. Now we are not strangers and hopefully friends.<br />Thank you again. Nice avatar btw
whynowIask replied to planetx's response:
Hi PlanetX. Glad you found my post helpful! Yes, I consider us friends! Your friend that is the nurse sounds very nice and aa good resource for help too. Yes, unfortunately in this age of specialization where everyone wants to be a specialist most General Practitioners simply don't have the time to work with people on a detailed level that have anything else but a cold or some other minor problem. Certainly not something as tricky as depression! Thanks for the compliment on the avatar 
That is one of my cats - I have 3
Anyway, glad to be of assistance and hope you had a nice Holiday weekend!
That is one of my cats - I have 3 Anyway, glad to be of assistance and hope you had a nice Holiday weekend!
Report This| Share this:Depression HelpHi PlanetX. Glad you found my post helpful! Yes, I consider us friends! Your friend that is the nurse sounds very nice and aa good resource for help too. Yes, unfortunately in this age of specialization where everyone wants to be a specialist most General Practitioners simply don't have the time to work with people on a detailed level that have anything else but a cold or some other minor problem. Certainly not something as tricky as depression! Thanks for the compliment on the avatar <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0"> That is one of my cats - I have 3 <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0"><br /> <br />Anyway, glad to be of assistance and hope you had a nice Holiday weekend!
planetx replied to whynowIask's response:
Thank you and I have had better holidays but not all was lost.
I found a new friend with some great advice who was kind enough to reach out to me during a low point in my life. That in it's self is to be commended but to do so during the holidays when family is in town, to take time to help a stranger, speaks volumes.
I really mean it when I say Thank You.
Best of everything to you and yours
I found a new friend with some great advice who was kind enough to reach out to me during a low point in my life. That in it's self is to be commended but to do so during the holidays when family is in town, to take time to help a stranger, speaks volumes.
I really mean it when I say Thank You.
Best of everything to you and yours
Report This| Share this:Depression HelpThank you and I have had better holidays but not all was lost.<br />I found a new friend with some great advice who was kind enough to reach out to me during a low point in my life. That in it's self is to be commended but to do so during the holidays when family is in town, to take time to help a stranger, speaks volumes.<br />I really mean it when I say Thank You.<br />Best of everything to you and yours
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