Theda Baratheon Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 :D I started the anti-depressants today a long with iron and b12 supplements because it turns out I was deficient. Let's hope this shit works!!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Kilmore Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 beautifulsouth0. Those resources you listed are typically good ones (meals on wheels). Local churches start. I don't know if you are in the US or not. Most States have a Department of Human Services or some such, which means you can call your local county, usually adult or elderly services, for providers who do this. Also, your grandparents might qualify for a PCA (Personal Care Assistant). This individual is usually paid for by Medicare or Medical Assistance, some private health plans also will pay for one. If it is Medicare or MA, you usually need to contact the county of residence and have a public health nurse come and assess the party to determine the number of hours needed. I know in MN, once you are approved, you can either higher an organization to do it; or do a PCA Choice program where you can choose your PCA. Lastly, depending on the party's age, they might also qualify for a Waiver of some kind (such as the Eldercare Waiver). This again is assessed through the County Nurse, these are added funds that could be used to higher a personal shopper or pay for grocery delivery. Lastly, some grocery stores do online ordering and delivery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawkcabi Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 So I think Tramadol or Ultram is a great drug. It helps me incredibly because it not only manages my pain, but it helps my mood (more on that in a bit). The problem is Tramadol doesn't work well with anti-depressants. The mixture can be conducive for seizures apparently. So for over a year now I've gone off of antidepressants in favor of taking only Tramadol. Here's the other thing, I don't take it regularly, but only on an as needed basis. There are days when I know I'm going to need to be active all day do I'll take some at the start. Other days I'm just in real bad pain, my back is screaming in agony, things like that, so I'll take some. Whenever I take a dose of Tramadol however, I'm good for about 24 hours, I've never had a pain and/or mood enhancer be so effective on me. So it turns out I take it on average maybe twice a week. In a bad week maybe every other day, never more than that. Both my GP and my psychiatrist know I'm doing this. My psychiatrist isn't happy about it but right now it's working. Next time I talk to my psychiatrist I want to talk more about this though. The reason I am stingy with myself about taking it is I don't want to either build up a tolerance to it or form a dependence on it more than I have now. I will push through on days of moderate pain with just Acetaminophen which barely helps. I can handle that. I only wish that there was something I could take that helps my mood on a daily basis while still being able to take the Tramadol as needed for pain. However, I just might be affecting some of that on my own. Being an opiate, Tramadol is often described as having an effect of creating a "false sense of well being". I most certainly feel that most times I take it! I think it's not all the opiate though. I think I'm naturally an optimistic and happy person. It's just when I'm weighed down in pain it causes me to be inactive, the more inactive I am the more negative I am and that causes depression and sever anxiety. With the Tramadol I think part of it may be the drug effecting my mood, but the other part is actually just my naturally personality asserting itself when it doesn't have to deal with pain. Which leads me to this - when the drug wears off I begin to feel depression creep back in along with the pain returning and along with that worry and anxiety over the my life, the future, all that bad junk. However, I think to myself, remember how when you felt everything was going to be ok? It still can be that way! I think because of the Tramadol giving me a chance to feel different, I'm actually changing an artificial "false sense of well being" into a natural one. Coming off a dose I still get the return of sadness and bad anxiety, but I do feel I'm able to talk myself through it better now than I was a couple years ago. What I am wondering is, does anyone think this I'm actually doing that or just fooling myself? Just some thoughts I wanted to bounce around in this thread and also, like I said I will be bringing them up to my psychiatrist as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamSongs Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Tramadol is not an opioid, but an analgesic that creates withdrawal symptoms similar to that of opioids. That is why it was placed on the Schedule IV listing last year. Your symptoms are very real and are a physiological response to withdrawal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Tramadol is an opioid, but not an opiate (I get the two confused a lot - opiates are codeine, morphine and heroin, opioids bind to the opioid receptor and are frequently derived from opiates), but it's also an inhibitor of the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine which is why it can't be taken in conjunction with a SSRI or SNRI. It does create dependence with long term usage, and has both the withdrawals of opiates and SSRIs/SNRIs so it's a bit of a double whammy and lasts longer than the regular opiate withdrawal. So you are not just having the painkiller effect, but an actual effect like that of the anti-depressants going on. Additionally opioids themselves don't just inhibit physical pain, but pschological pain as well, it's not well known but I'm pretty sure this is one of the components of heroin addiction being so attractive for people in a bad place, the numbing bliss includes an actual painkiller for the pain they feel. I've certainly experienced that side of it with codeine (which I take for migraines). I did think tramadol took longer to form dependence though which was a reason for it's preference over other opiates in certain situations, along with providing less of a high to generate psychological addiction. Personally I'm in the minority for whom tramadol does very little, it's about as effective as other basic analgesics. Codeine is much more effective for me, and I have been taking that one a very long time without dependence issues. The oxy I'm on now I won't be so lucky though, just hoping the slow weaning schedule when I get to it makes things relatively minor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sci-2 Posted June 1, 2015 Author Share Posted June 1, 2015 I added that 7 Cups of Tea site to the google doc in my sig. Here's a cool article about the site: How 7 Cups of Tea Accidentally Grew a Community Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sci-2 Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 CBS (american tv network) partnered with Active Minds, which to my understanding is working to make mental health among college students better understood/known. They have some resources here. Figured it might be helpful as there are issues that are general, specific to culture, to the queer community, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawkcabi Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Thanks for the information about Tramadol, I'm starting to become a lot more wary of it. There are still times that I absolutely need it, but I try to hold off as much and for as long as possible. I'm starting Zoloft today. My anxiety has been through the roof, I fucking hate, hate, hate the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop and constantly feeling that it's immanent, it's had a hold of me for the longest time now. Also I've been downward spiraling into a bad depression. We'll see what happens now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 I was under the impression that dependence to a weak opoid like tramadol was very rare, especially when you compare them to other opioids ( codeine, morphine etc). Good luck with the zoloft, drawkcabi. Hope that works for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Does anyone see a therapist who is willing to talk about it and how to find one? I just started work again after the summer and I can tell already this year is going to be stressful. I find my job to be generally fulfilling but it has a high stress level and some of the things I deal with are really aggravating. Near the end of the last school year, a couple of things combined just overwhelmed me and I ended up crying to my roommate, but I don't want to bother him with this sort of thing- the reason I feel overwhelmed is that a lot of my students come from traumatic backgrounds, and being around them and their coping mechanisms rubs off on me and doesn't make me very fun to be around. Today was my first day back and I almost had to walk out of a meeting because we were doing something that made me extremely anxious- sharing personal stories in front of a group. Normally I would have been ok with this as I knew everyone there, but we had a couple teachers who I don't get along with join our group and hearing them talk about their backgrounds and how they don't think racism, sexism, etc. exist, I started freaking out. I had to miss the next part of the icebreaker activity to "go to the bathroom" and my boss was wondering where I went. The last time this happened to me was a similar situation a couple years ago where we had to share personal stories in a professional development run by a group whose methods tended to be very confrontational. This is pretty unusual for me, though- obviously I share personal stories on the internet and have been for years (although under comparative anonymity) but I am also usually pretty comfortable at work as long as I can stick to talking about students or science. I've had this job a couple of years and haven't had anything happen in front of students; it is literally just when I am with other adults that things can send me into freaking out mode. And I'm not exactly a shrinking violet at work; I am department chair, a union rep, and I'm kind of known for just saying what I think out loud in staff meetings without giving a fuck or asking for things when I need them. I've just had one or five too many of these icebreaker/community building professional development sessions in which I'm expected to spill my whole life out. The problem is, last time I used my health plan for mental health services (depression about 5 years ago), they gave me about one private meeting with a counselor and one with a psychiatrist, and then sent me to a group session. I have the same plan now. I don't want to be prescribed anything- I just want to talk to someone one on one who will not make me discuss my problems with a group. How can I request that without them thinking that the thing that will help me is talking about it in front of a group when talking about personal stressors in front of a group is literally the issue? I've had to do enough of that shit with coworkers, fellow students (back when I was a student), etc; I don't need to do it with a group of random strangers as well. Suggestions welcome, aside from "try signing up for a group session and maybe you'll like the people." I'm not a misanthrope, but I am an introvert who already spends all day in front of people and doesn't really need even more of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Given it can be hard enough to find a good therapist without the added difficulties of navigating the US system, I'm not sure sorry. I've seen two different ones - the first after my divorce when I believed my chief issues were related to sex and sexual hang ups, so the one I went to was primarily focused on relationships and sex issues. She was very helpful and seeing her was a big part of how I realised who I am, but she wouldn't have been right ongoing. The second is through the gender centre and he's really excellent for me, once again he was specialised in the area I need help in. I guess if you can find someone that specialises in the area that you feel you need to talk about, you may find some help but the insurance issue is difficult if they only give one session (wtf at that). I'm not sure if the area you need to talk through is about talking in groups, or if its about your life that you don't want to share with a group. Maybe finding a way to talk through some of your life without touching on those points would alleviate the anxiety that those situations cause? I'm happy to talk more in depth if you want, I'm not a professional but I'm someone that knows you enough to really like you but distant at the same time, and I tend to be pretty good at listening when someone needs to talk. On the me front, I got assessed for female autism and sensory processing disorder by a female autism specialist a couple of weeks ago. He said I ticked every box for SPD and if an OT thought it was appropriate he's happy to give the formal diagnosis just from one session, and that it's pretty substantial for an adult (as it normally improves with age). Autism was definitely can't rule it out, but also can't diagnose it from one session. If I am I'm high functioning enough that a diagnosis wouldn't make too much difference, but I think I'll pursue it anyway. From his demeanor on it I'd say he thought it was a bit higher than 50/50 that I do qualify, the diagnostic criteria for female autism is still being worked out as it presents quite differently to male. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I dunno, it was a while ago. I belong to a health care plan that has all the services under one roof, which is usually pretty convenient, but it also usually means they don't cover services outside of their system. Nearly everyone I know who works for the schools/city/etc is part of the same plan but also hasn't been of much help. If I call them, they will just refer me to whomever is available, which is fine- I have to start somewhere- but I'm also afraid that person will look at my record and be like, "Well you had depression 5 years ago- it's probably just that again. Go see this psychiatrist and get back on antidepressants which will also help you with anxiety." Which is not what I want. I might just go to the wellness director at school- he is supposed to be there for students mostly, but be able to refer staff for services as well, and has probably talked to teachers who have had similar issues before. How is female autism different from male? I have only worked with students, and not very many girls with autism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I'm assuming seeing a private therapist will be pretty expensive for you and that's why you're not considering that as an option? On a different note, can you request non-pharmacological treatment from the psychiatrist that they might make you see ? - they would probably make a referral to someone who is licensed for some sort of psychological therapy ( CBT, Interpersonal therapy etc - which sounds like what you're looking for as they're one on one as opposed to in a group). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Yeah, paying out of pocket for a therapist isn't something I can do unless I want to quit doing other things that make me happy, which the therapist would probably advise me to start doing again to relieve stress. :rolleyes: I'll just ask my GP for a referral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karaddin Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 How is female autism different from male? I have only worked with students, and not very many girls with autism. As I said it's not even well enough understood to have a set diagnostic criteria. The sensory issues play a big part in the diagnosis (I got the impression it's possibly close to half of it), however it doesn't result in as obviously autistic behaviour because that's modeled on male autism. There are still executive functioning issues that manifest in a variety of different ways that can just look like you are lazy and unmotivated, but actually is a deeper seated issue. There is a tendency towards hyper empathy, at least once the emotions another person is feeling are understood, which can also be true of male autism but it's more pronounced in female. This can result in a lot of playing at being a therapist for friends, much like I just offered without even realising I was doing it >_< There can still be the social issues of difficulty reading body language etc, although from what I've been told those that have difficulty with this are very good at reading the body language of other autistic people, just not allistic (non autism) people, and that works in reverse too - allistic people have a hard time reading the body language of autistic people. It's more of a different language issue rather than an inability to do it. That's all I've got at this point, getting a better understanding of it is one of the things I'd hope to get from pursuing the diagnostic route regardless of whether it says I am or not. I suspect you've had more than you realised, it's just that it's so slanted to male autism they would have gone through without anyone realising the issue there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Good luck :) GP referral sounds like the right way to go. I would imagine the previous psychiatrists you saw put it down to your depression given that anxiety and depressive illness can co-exist fairly often. I think there have been posters who have personal experience with seeing therapists - hopefully they can chime in with their experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleted01 Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Kat - Not sure about the way the US works, but are there no charities that can help you? We have the Samaritans for example. Maybe they could at least point you in the right direction. The NHS counselling service sucks balls, so I gave up trying to get it and came off the antidepressants myself. They definitely helped, but am I bollocks paying £8+ prescription charge every month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoë Sumra Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Kat - Not sure about the way the US works, but are there no charities that can help you? We have the Samaritans for example. Maybe they could at least point you in the right direction. This is a really good idea. I've just been referred via my local antenatal mental health team, and my last experience with non-fast-track departments was over ten years ago and also in the wrong country, but I had an idea that in different bits of the US you could direct an appropriate response rather than having to put up with what they offer you first - does that depend on insurance coverage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theda Baratheon Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Do we even have therapists in the UK?? Anti'depressants did nothing for me and the mental health services or whoever I helped to weren't all that helpful either and just told me to go to this group thing which was a bit out of the way for me and was during my studying in uni. I guess I could try again but I don't know if I even care enough to I like the idea of having a therapist at this point :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lessthanluke Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Do we even have therapists in the UK?? Anti'depressants did nothing for me and the mental health services or whoever I helped to weren't all that helpful either and just told me to go to this group thing which was a bit out of the way for me and was during my studying in uni. I guess I could try again but I don't know if I even care enough to I like the idea of having a therapist at this point :( Yeah my ex got assigned a therapist through her Dr. She found them very helpful so I guess it just depends on luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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