Trauma – PTSD

Question:

"dickinson" <bid…@iprimus.com.au> wrote in message

news:b11tuf$u7gol$1@ID-144939.news.dfncis.de… > >I am in fact, making a conics effort to do this > That should read "conscious"……………difficulty in multi-tasking is > another symptom and with 5 kids here on school holidays, and the resultant > cacophany……….one doing piano practice in the background, one listening > to rap, and three playing snap……. > it’s a miracle that I’m able to even turn the ‘puter on!

Wassamatta? You don’t have Viagra down there? Dan

Response:

Kane: <snip> >Kids can be made defiant and > oppositional though, by certain kinds of > parenting. Especially by control freak > parents. Grandma doesn’t sound like > one…but, who knows.

Also kids with ADHD, PTSD, RAD, and FAS., cannot be be diagnosed with ODD.  I’ve read in the doctors diagnosis book (can’t think of the name of it right now), that if the child is diagnosed with any of these then ODD must be eliminated as a diagnoses.  I’ve had more than one shrink, neuro-this-and-that (been to 3 diff. types of neuro docs in the last 4 months), and therapist, that have diagnosed children with having ADHD, PTSD, or RAD along with ODD.  It really pays to read and find out about these things, especially when dealing with kids, (eg. teachers and foster parents).  One can go to 5 therapist and come out with 5 different diagnoses, that’s why I keep harping about self education.  No one knows more about a child than the person caring for them and a good teacher, mind you, there is a need for those docs and therapists though.

Response:

Sherm wrote: >Yes, on everything. In particular, that the > good foster parents often dip into their > own reserves on behalf of the children. > cps doesn’t seem to have the reserve to > do so for the children that the State is > often the parent of.

And it’s only getting worse.

Response:

Yes, on everything.  In particular, that the good foster parents often dip into their own reserves on behalf of the children.  cps doesn’t seem to have the reserve to do so for the children that the State is often the parent of. Sherm. "Kane" <pohakuyakok…@subdimension.com> wrote in message

news:7ed8d1be.0301261513.3a8456b6@posting.google.com… > "sherman" <sh…@attbi.com> wrote in message

<news:ceUY9.49691$AV4.2622@sccrnsc01>… > > Often, children that come into kinship care have been exposed to drugs > > and/or alcohol before they were born and then have attachment reactions in > > addition to neurological damage.  A complete assessment by a qualified child > > neuropsychiatrist can help separate organic and

psychiatric/psychological – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > damages.  Without a good diagnosis, any treatment will be based upon > > guessing. > > Partial fetal alcohol syndrome or effect is very difficult to diagnose and > > to treat.  The reactions to extra stressors like being in public or > > additional people in the home may trigger too much stimulation. > > Perhaps you can do some research on the net about RAD (reactive attachment > > disorder) and FAS/FAE (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effect) and see if any of this > > might fit in to behavior that you are experiencing from your grandchildren. > > Sherm. > Bingo, Sherm. In fact the brief profile the thread initiating poster > offered sounded like a good candidate for further evaluation by a > qualified therapist in FAE/FAS issues. Dollars to donuts with the > child in question. > Currently a good deal of help has been found in sensory integration > work and it’s something the family can follow up on without a huge > training commitment. It’s actually just a little more focused > intentional developmental interactions that all normal parents have > with their little babies. > The exercises are called floor time, and the cover those things the > child missed due to neglect, d & A exposure. It’s not a cure all but > some rather extraordinay things have come of it. > An author friend of mine had a multiple diagnosis child, so > dramatically traumatized by events and invironmental factors that at > 18 months she could not walk, only sit with her legs stretched out in > front of her and get around by scooting. > Just three months of sensory integration activities a few minutes a > day, and she was running, climbing and jumping with and often > surpassing the other kids. She’s in gymnatics now, at five. > Control battles with these kids is pointless. Redirection can work > with those not FAS. Those kids need a training regimen that will help > them cope and become competent at some skills, and learn … if they > ever can, impulse control. > I’m behind on this latter field. Can anyone shed some light on working > with FAS kids? Grandma needs to be referred to better evaluation of > the kids condition. ODD is too much of a catchall. I suspect a very > very few kids are truely ODD and those are simply undiscovered > neurological conditions. > Kids can be made defiant and oppositional though, by certain kinds of > parenting. Especially by control freak parents. Grandma doesn’t sound > like one…but, who knows. > Jah notice that The Plant, as usual, passed right on by that MsKite > spends large sums out of pocket on her foster kids? Typical. > Too busy making It’s own reality I guess. > Kane > > "Grandma" <Peace…@iwon.com> wrote in message > > news:83abdc.0301252311.692ab54e@posting.google.com… > > > I am desperate for help in my home with 10-yr granddaughter with ODD. > > > In counseling and have all outside help but need advice at home. I am > > > also raising a 10-yr grandson with development delayment issues. > > > Major issues-constantly trying to control everyone around her and > > > really kicks into high gear with defiance when someone comes to the > > > house or we go out in public. > > > Read books, tapes, trainings-am trying the patient,setting boundaries, > > > love, stability, etc. Nothing seems to help. > > > I am really desperate….

Response:

>I am in fact, making a conics effort to do this

That should read "conscious"……………difficulty in multi-tasking is another symptom and with 5 kids here on school holidays, and the resultant cacophany……….one doing piano practice in the background, one listening to rap, and three playing snap…….it’s a miracle that I’m able to even turn the ‘puter on! "dickinson" <bid…@iprimus.com.au> wrote in message

news:b11pjv$u57t6$1@ID-144939.news.dfncis.de… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "Susan" <Mrs-K…@webtv.net> wrote in message > news:197-3E341DF3-92@storefull-2115.public.lawson.webtv.net… > > diagnosed the child with ODD.  I along with the childs therapist > > dismissed the ODD diagnoses, but he was helpful with some of the other > > testing that he performed. > Yes, it pays not to take a psych or neuropsych’s word as gospel, but > wherever possible to seek the opinions of a multi disciplinary team > consisting of Paediatrician, Neuropsychologist, Speech Therapist, > Occupational Therapist etc. > One thing to bear in mind is that no one professional can be *fully* > conversant with all facets of the symptoms that are needed to be recognised > in order to fulfil the diagnostic criteria, and also, many symptoms > "overlap". > As a young man I was diagnosed with psycho neurosis, and have recently had > this dx confirmed (by a psych) as an "old fashioned catch all" which > nowadays would have me as suffering PTSD. This may be so, but he has > completely missed the fact that all my symptoms are also covered under the > criteria for Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The fact that my son is autistic > also leads more credence to my self dx than the psychs dx. > Although some of my symptoms are not *immediately* obvious, many folk > (autistic and carers of autistics) have recognised many symptoms in me, as I > myself do. > What I am trying to say here is that children from abusive backgrounds often > develop "survival skills" and these skills may well mask symptoms that would > be obvious in a child from a "normal" background. > As just one example, in my case, I make eye contact fairly easily (according > to how others see me), but in reality, I find it uncomfortable so to do, and > unlike a "normal" person who does this "unconsciously", I am in fact, making > a conics effort to do this. The reason that I *do* make eye contact, may > well be attributable to the fact that as a child, the matron in the > orphanage used to slap me round the head saying "look at me when I speak to > you, you shifty eyed little bastard!"………the symptom became "masked" in > order for me to survive………I suppose hers was the old fashioned version > of ABA therapy > What I am trying to say here, is that all carers and departmental workers > should be aware that there may be some underlying cause for foster kid’s > "abnormal" behaviours. Too often those behaviours are written down to > stemming from abuse, when in fact, kids in care are just as likely to suffer > from Aspergers syndrome, ADD etc as kids from "normal" backgrounds.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"sherman" <sh…@attbi.com> wrote in message <news:ceUY9.49691$AV4.2622@sccrnsc01>… > Often, children that come into kinship care have been exposed to drugs > and/or alcohol before they were born and then have attachment reactions in > addition to neurological damage.  A complete assessment by a qualified child > neuropsychiatrist can help separate organic and psychiatric/psychological > damages.  Without a good diagnosis, any treatment will be based upon > guessing. > Partial fetal alcohol syndrome or effect is very difficult to diagnose and > to treat.  The reactions to extra stressors like being in public or > additional people in the home may trigger too much stimulation. > Perhaps you can do some research on the net about RAD (reactive attachment > disorder) and FAS/FAE (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effect) and see if any of this > might fit in to behavior that you are experiencing from your grandchildren. > Sherm.

Bingo, Sherm. In fact the brief profile the thread initiating poster offered sounded like a good candidate for further evaluation by a qualified therapist in FAE/FAS issues. Dollars to donuts with the child in question. Currently a good deal of help has been found in sensory integration work and it’s something the family can follow up on without a huge training commitment. It’s actually just a little more focused intentional developmental interactions that all normal parents have with their little babies. The exercises are called floor time, and the cover those things the child missed due to neglect, d & A exposure. It’s not a cure all but some rather extraordinay things have come of it. An author friend of mine had a multiple diagnosis child, so dramatically traumatized by events and invironmental factors that at 18 months she could not walk, only sit with her legs stretched out in front of her and get around by scooting. Just three months of sensory integration activities a few minutes a day, and she was running, climbing and jumping with and often surpassing the other kids. She’s in gymnatics now, at five. Control battles with these kids is pointless. Redirection can work with those not FAS. Those kids need a training regimen that will help them cope and become competent at some skills, and learn … if they ever can, impulse control. I’m behind on this latter field. Can anyone shed some light on working with FAS kids? Grandma needs to be referred to better evaluation of the kids condition. ODD is too much of a catchall. I suspect a very very few kids are truely ODD and those are simply undiscovered neurological conditions. Kids can be made defiant and oppositional though, by certain kinds of parenting. Especially by control freak parents. Grandma doesn’t sound like one…but, who knows. Jah notice that The Plant, as usual, passed right on by that MsKite spends large sums out of pocket on her foster kids? Typical. Too busy making It’s own reality I guess. Kane – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "Grandma" <Peace…@iwon.com> wrote in message > news:83abdc.0301252311.692ab54e@posting.google.com… > > I am desperate for help in my home with 10-yr granddaughter with ODD. > > In counseling and have all outside help but need advice at home. I am > > also raising a 10-yr grandson with development delayment issues. > > Major issues-constantly trying to control everyone around her and > > really kicks into high gear with defiance when someone comes to the > > house or we go out in public. > > Read books, tapes, trainings-am trying the patient,setting boundaries, > > love, stability, etc. Nothing seems to help. > > I am really desperate….

Response:

"Susan" <Mrs-K…@webtv.net> wrote in message

news:197-3E341DF3-92@storefull-2115.public.lawson.webtv.net… > diagnosed the child with ODD.  I along with the childs therapist > dismissed the ODD diagnoses, but he was helpful with some of the other > testing that he performed.

Yes, it pays not to take a psych or neuropsych’s word as gospel, but wherever possible to seek the opinions of a multi disciplinary team consisting of Paediatrician, Neuropsychologist, Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist etc. One thing to bear in mind is that no one professional can be *fully* conversant with all facets of the symptoms that are needed to be recognised in order to fulfil the diagnostic criteria, and also, many symptoms "overlap". As a young man I was diagnosed with psycho neurosis, and have recently had this dx confirmed (by a psych) as an "old fashioned catch all" which nowadays would have me as suffering PTSD. This may be so, but he has completely missed the fact that all my symptoms are also covered under the criteria for Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The fact that my son is autistic also leads more credence to my self dx than the psychs dx. Although some of my symptoms are not *immediately* obvious, many folk (autistic and carers of autistics) have recognised many symptoms in me, as I myself do. What I am trying to say here is that children from abusive backgrounds often develop "survival skills" and these skills may well mask symptoms that would be obvious in a child from a "normal" background. As just one example, in my case, I make eye contact fairly easily (according to how others see me), but in reality, I find it uncomfortable so to do, and unlike a "normal" person who does this "unconsciously", I am in fact, making a conics effort to do this. The reason that I *do* make eye contact, may well be attributable to the fact that as a child, the matron in the orphanage used to slap me round the head saying "look at me when I speak to you, you shifty eyed little bastard!"………the symptom became "masked" in order for me to survive………I suppose hers was the old fashioned version of ABA therapy What I am trying to say here, is that all carers and departmental workers should be aware that there may be some underlying cause for foster kid’s "abnormal" behaviours. Too often those behaviours are written down to stemming from abuse, when in fact, kids in care are just as likely to suffer from Aspergers syndrome, ADD etc as kids from "normal" backgrounds.

Response:

Plant wrote:

<snip> >Diagnoses are assigned only to get > REIMBURSEMENT. ODD or > oppositional defiant disorder, dx, > enables therapist to code the > reimbusement slip properly, as Susan > has mentioned.

I didn’t say anything like that.  Therapist  get REIMBURSEMENT for visits no matter what the diagnoses is, even if there is no diagnoses. As Sherman said, this type of diagnoses should be done by a neuropsychiatrist, (although they also over diagnoses this disorder). Believe me, neuropsychiatrist get paid just for saying hello, and they get paid well.  I have yet to find one that takes state insurance, although I’m sure some do.   I just paid over $600.00 to a neruoshrink to diagnose one of my foster children, I paid it, not the state.  He diagnosed the child with ODD.  I along with the childs therapist dismissed the ODD diagnoses, but he was helpful with some of the other testing that he performed.

Response:

Oops, you’re right Kev, *EMDR* eye movement desensitization and re-processing).  It’s important to go to someone with proper training in EMDR.  It needs to be performed by someone that knows what they’re doing.  Over the last few years, I’ve had several children receive EMDR and it’s really helped quite a bit.  At first I thought it was new age hog wash.  It appears to be a form of hypnotism, but it’s not.  Some shrinks don’t like it, they think it doesn’t do anything, but I can say that it works,,,,when done correctly.   Children are much easier to treat than adults.  Unless sexual abuse is an issue, many times it can help children, sometimes sexual abuse takes many visits. But it does help and can even cure children with ODD, post traumatic stress syndrome, phobias, attachment trauma. etc. with just a few sessions, sometimes even one session.  A good therapist with lots of training is a must though.

Response:

Often, children that come into kinship care have been exposed to drugs and/or alcohol before they were born and then have attachment reactions in addition to neurological damage.  A complete assessment by a qualified child neuropsychiatrist can help separate organic and psychiatric/psychological damages.  Without a good diagnosis, any treatment will be based upon guessing. Partial fetal alcohol syndrome or effect is very difficult to diagnose and to treat.  The reactions to extra stressors like being in public or additional people in the home may trigger too much stimulation. Perhaps you can do some research on the net about RAD (reactive attachment disorder) and FAS/FAE (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effect) and see if any of this might fit in to behavior that you are experiencing from your grandchildren. Sherm. "Grandma" <Peace…@iwon.com> wrote in message

news:83abdc.0301252311.692ab54e@posting.google.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I am desperate for help in my home with 10-yr granddaughter with ODD. > In counseling and have all outside help but need advice at home. I am > also raising a 10-yr grandson with development delayment issues. > Major issues-constantly trying to control everyone around her and > really kicks into high gear with defiance when someone comes to the > house or we go out in public. > Read books, tapes, trainings-am trying the patient,setting boundaries, > love, stability, etc. Nothing seems to help. > I am really desperate….

Response:

"Grandma" <Peace…@iwon.com> wrote in message

news:83abdc.0301252311.692ab54e@posting.google.com… <snip> > really kicks into high gear with defiance when someone comes to the > house or we go out in public.

Any other "symptoms"? Aversion to social activities could be due to a number of causes.

Response:

Thank you for helping your family. It is not easy to pitch in when GD’s are with you.  You are to be commended. Consider that the child has been going through a trauma.  I don’t know how long they have been with you, but presumably there are issue with them. Can you imagine if you were wrenched away from your family at a young age.? Diagnoses are assigned only to get REIMBURSEMENT. ODD or oppositional defiant disorder, dx, enables therapist to code the reimbusement slip properly, as Susan has mentioned. How is child functioning in other spheres of live?  School, any hobby activities, etc? It is best to quietly remind child of appropriate behavior, and not engage in excess discussion. Establish ground rules from the beginning. If they make a scene, do not reinforce their bad behavior. Or you could ask your local CPS agency to help out.   (NOT!!!!  Maybe the cw’s can HELP YOU.  :-)) http://www.profane-justice.org (CO site for folks disgusted with ACS, DSS, DHS. DHHR, interventions.)

Response:

I am desperate for help in my home with 10-yr granddaughter with ODD. In counseling and have all outside help but need advice at home. I am also raising a 10-yr grandson with development delayment issues. Major issues-constantly trying to control everyone around her and really kicks into high gear with defiance when someone comes to the house or we go out in public. Read books, tapes, trainings-am trying the patient,setting boundaries, love, stability, etc. Nothing seems to help. I am really desperate….

Response:

First of all, make sure by getting a second and maybe even a third opinion, and read everything you can about ODD.  Shrinks and therapists often jump to this diagnosis.  IMO ODD is the most over diagnosed disorder that there is.  Many of my foster children have been diagnosed with this when in fact they didn’t have it.  If the child has ODD, I recommend MDR.  MDR is a newer type of therapy which when done by the right person can be very affective with ODD.   The therapist forces the patient to use both sides of their brain through tapping or little vibrating impulses, and it has to do with REM (rapid eye movement).  It’s to complicated to get into here, but it works great, especially with children. Only go to an MDR therapist with experience performing it on children. I have seen amazing success with MDR.

Response:

> Only go to an MDR therapist with experience performing it on children. > I have seen amazing success with MDR.

That’s EMDR here Susan. A word of warning……….There are people practicing EMDR (legitamately) that are not psych trained. EMDR basically works by "unknotting" memory ie It helps find the "triggers" that make individuals over react to certain situations (mountains out of molehills). It is particulalry useful as a treatment for PTSD. I myself was referred to a practitioner, but unknown to myself, the practitioner was a social worker specialising in counselling, without any formal psych training. The EMDR was amazing in that it "awoke" many (supressed) memories, but unfortuantely, the practitioner wasn’t skilled enough to help me handle them. It took two years before I got myself back on track, and for those two years, I suffered depression and rages, worse than anything I had previously experienced.

Response:

Question:

It was nice to hear from you. — Stuart J. Shillinglaw http://www.geocities.com/effectivestu/schizophrenia/

Response:

Hi folks, I’ve been ‘going through the system’ in order to get myself better. I have no insurance, no real job, not even any proper ID besides a passport. Tomorrow I go with my sister, who I haven’t seen in about 8 years, to get my birth certificate, so I’m a little scared of seeing her and of just going out in general. I first went to the hospital (Jacobi in the Bx) with my girlfriends help, after telling her my problems. That went fine and since, I’ve seen a social worker and a psychiatrist. So far everyone has been exceptionally nice to me and helpful, which suprised me, since I live in NYC (The Bronx). I thought everyone would hate me or not believe me, but I was thankfully proved wrong. Each time I see the psychiatrist or ‘get something done’, I feel a bit better, which my girlfriend has noticed. Its very hard for me to do all this, since I am prone to running away (literally) from my problems, but with the support I am getting from my girlfriend and her father, it makes it a lot easier and I think I can do all this and get ‘better’ to some extent. The psychiatrist has yet to diagnose me – he first needs me to get a physical and a neurological test to determine if the voices and hallucinations are mental or physical. If mental, then I suppose I will be medicated, if physical, then I move to getting medicated or fixed somehow. He said that I could possibly have an overactive thyroid or be vitamin deficient – neither of which I would think could cause my problems, but hey, ya learn something new every day. Next week, I goto Jacobi Hospital for the physical. He talked a lot to me and gave some sort of concentration test, which I kinda flopped at, then gave me a bottle of Zoloft since he thinks I am depressed, have anxiety attacks and am suffering from post traumatic stress, all of which he hit right on the head. So far, after a few days, the Zoloft is doing nothing that I can feel, I’m just as anxious and depressed as before, but I am told it will take a while for the stuff to affect me. My girlfriend is moving to her grandmothers at the end of the month and this Friday she is going to California to visit her mom for a week, which will leave me alone for a week straight, which scares me because A: I’m afraid she will stay there, and B: I hate being alone and depressed. Don’t quite know what I will do with myself, but I hope to visit her grandmother and goto a friends house and hang out. So what am I getting at? I’m not sure…I’m just a guy living in NYC and the ’system’ isn’t so bad, in fact, it seems to work decent, so far that is. All I want to do is to get back to normal, so I can get a good job again and get myself back to work and hopefully I will someday. Damn I’m long winded, sorry! Chris

Response:

Question:

I am almost 42+ married woman.Recently since about a year, I suffer black outs,very strong painful headaches that give very tight feelings around the forehead,vomitting and nose – bleeding, then I see double or nothing or big sparks. My hearing and eye sight have become very poor quite suddenly over the year.I bleed very easy and alot over any smallest cut.I

Question:

What’s your point? That Lutherans are German? Decreasingly so.

Response:

He’s a troll, Richard.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What’s your point? That Lutherans are German? Decreasingly so.

Response:

3 Suits Filed Against Neb. Church Three Lawsuits Filed Against Nebraska Church for Alleged Sexual Abuse by Former Officials The Associated Press LINCOLN, Neb. Nov. 2

Question:

Most people who are severely mentally ill should be on strong anti psychotics. Safer for them…safer for society….the side effects may not be all that great, but, IMHO….worth it….pencils "The degree to which we suffer indicates the degree to which we are alive. When we take drugs to ease our suffering, we stifle our psychological and spiritual life." – Peter R. Breggin M.D. BZ <ser…@error.nnet> wrote in message

<news:4flbtu43052e3s1d350e9trqjpq6v8de37@4ax.com>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Introduction > One big problem with psychiatric treatment is that patients are very rarely given much > information about the drugs that are prescribed to them. When the Second Opinion Society > got started, this quickly became a serious concern. The people we worked with had been > told so little about their medication, and we had no ready sources of information. They > needed and wanted to know about these drugs, and educating them became an essential part > of our work. But we had no good sources of simple, easy-to-read information on psychiatric > medication. > Of course there are handbooks for doctors and health professionals. Principal among these > is the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialites, commonly knows as  > way; we also needed information that people could take home with them. > To fill this need, we developed a set of "psychiatric drug sheets." These two to four page > handouts cover individual drugs, providing the essential information about indications, > dosages, precautions, and side effects. We also included several other handouts on related > topics, such as the general classes of drugs, tardive dyskinesia, general precautions for > using psychiatric drugs, and how to stop taking them if one wants to. These sheets are > assembled into a loose-leaf binder. The format allows us to add new sheets as we develop > them and as new drugs are brought onto the market, and to modify existing sheets as need > be. > The information in the sheets is a translation of information mainly from the CPS and two > other professional publications. We have done our best to keep it free of any bias, and > the information in the drug sheets does not necessarily reflect SOS’s opinions about the > drugs or their use and effects. Our intention is to provide the information in a > straightforward, clear way that can be understood by the average person. Of course we > haven’t been able to reproduce all of the detail of the professional handbooks, but we > have tried to give a fair and complete picture of each drug. > This appendix contains the sheets on the general topics and the individual sheets on the > most common drugs. Space limitations in this manual prevent us from including all of the > sheets; you can order a complete set from SOS (details appear in the bibliography). > We believe that the information in these sheets is absolutely essential. Very, very few > psychiatric patients know about the effects and risks of the medication they take. As you > look through the sheets, you may be surprised at the range of serious side effects that > are common with these drugs. In working with psychiatrized women, we feel that it’s > tremendously important that transition house staff have a real acquaintance with > psychiatric drugs and their effects. We also feel that it’s equally important for you to > be able to pass this information along to psychiatrized women. > We encourage you to photocopy these sheets and hand them out to women you work with. You > may have some apprehension that what they find in the drug sheets will be alarming. We > agree that much of it is unsettling, but women who take these drugs — or who are being > urged to begin taking them — have a right to know about them. To be able to make informed > choices about their bodies, they need to have information. > As you look through the sheets for the individual drugs, you will see that they follow a > standard format. First, you’ll find the trade name of the drug, along with its generic > name, and information that allows you to identify the drug by the form of the tablet or > capsule. > The usual dosages are listed next. This is important; in our experience, these drugs are > often prescribed at levels much higher than those recommended by the manufacturer. The > dosage information in the drug sheets may help you determine if a woman’s dosage is in the > recommended range. > Next is a listing of conditions for which the drug is prescribed — the "indications," in > other words. There is then a list of contraindications. These are conditions under which > the drug should not be used or should be used with caution. This list also shows what a > patient should not be doing while taking this medication. Note that many of these > medications set strict conditions about certain kinds of foods or other drugs. This > information can also be very useful in helping a woman who may not have been told that she > can’t drink alcohol, say, or eat certain things while taking a given drug. > A listing of the drug’s side effects comes next. We have broken these down into effects > that happen often, sometimes, or rarely. This section translates the technical language of > the CPS and other handbooks into descriptions that are easy to understand. In looking at > the list of a drug’s side effects, we’d like you to notice a couple of things. One is that > many of these drugs produce side effects that might interfere with a woman’s ability to > adjust to the transition house setting. Many drugs commonly cause sleep disturbances, > anxiety, restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, and so on. All of these are things > that can make it much harder for an abused woman to deal with and adjust to her situation. > The other point we want to make is that many of these side effects are the very signs that > make other people see a psychiatrized person as "crazy." Please keep this in mind when > working with a psychiatrized woman who is taking medication. If she behaves in an > agitated, lethargic, or seemingly strange way, it may very well be the effect of the drugs > she is taking. > As we have said often in this manual, we hope that this information will better allow you > to offer understanding and support to the psychiatrized women you work with. A familiarity > with psychiatric drugs, their dangers, and their effects will help you to empathize with a > psychiatrized woman and her experiences. And the information contained in this section can > allow her to make knowledgable choices about how she wishes to exercise her right to > control of her body. > This appendix contains the following information: > a list of the drugs covered by the current SOS drug sheets > a listing of the generic names and equivalent brand names of the drugs in the SOS drug > sheets > general precautions for using psychiatric drugs > general information on the main classes of psychiatric drugs > an information sheet on tardive dyskinesia, a permanent, very serious, and common side > effect of major tranquilizers > information on what’s involved in quitting psychiatric medication > individual information sheets on nine common psychiatric drugs > [Table of Contents] > Second Opinion Society Drug Information Sheets > Drugs marked with an asterisk are included in this appendix. A complete set of drug sheets > in a loose leaf binder is available from the Second Opinion Society for $25. To order > please contact us at s…@yukon.net, or phone us at (867) 667-2037, or write to: Second > Opinion Society, 708 Black Street, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2N8. > Akineton > Anafranil > Asendin > Aventyl > Chlorporomazine* > Clozaril > Cogentin* > Desyrel > Elavil > Elavil Plus > Eldepryl > Fluanxol > Haldol* > Lithium* >  Loxapac > Ludiomil > Luvox > Marplan > Mellaril* > Nardil > Neuleptil > Norpramin > Nozinan > Orap > Parnate > Parsitan > Piportil > Promazine >  Prozac* > Risperdal* > Ritalin* > Serentil > Sinequan > Stelazine > Stemetil > Surmontil > Tegretol > Tofranil > Trilafon > Triptil > Valium* > Xanax > Zoloft* > [Table of Contents] > Corresponding Drug Names > (Names in brackets are generic names) > Many psychiatric drugs have several names, as well as a generic name. This list shows the > various names for the common psychiatric drugs currently covered by the SOS drug > information sheets. It is not a complete list of all psychiatric drugs. > AKINETON:  (Biperiden) > ANAFRANIL:  (Clomipramine) > ASENDIN:  (Amoxapine) > AVENTYL:  (Nortriptyline) > CHLORPROMAZINE: Thorazine, Largactil, Chlorpromanyl, Novo- Chlorpromazine > CLOZARIL:  (Clozapine) > COGENTIN:  (Benztropine Mesylate), Apo Benztropine, PMS Benztropine > DESYREL:  (Trazodone) > ELAVIL:  (Amitriptyline), Levate, Apo Amitriptyline, Novotriptyn, PMS Amitripyline > ELDEPRYL:  (Selegiline), SD Deprenyl > FLUANXOL:  (Flupenthixol dihydrochloride), (Flupenthixol decanoate) > FLUPHENAZINE:  Modecate, Apo Fluphenazine, Permitil, Moditen > HALDOL LA:  (Haloperidol), Apo Haloperidol, Novo Peridol, Peridol, PMS Haloperidol > KEMADRIN:  (Procyclidine), PMS Procyclidine, Procyclid > LITHIUM:  (Lithium Carbonate), Lithane, Carbolith, Duralith, Lithane, Lithizine > LUVOX:  (Fluvoxamine maleate) > MARPLAN:  (Isocarboxazid) > MELLARIL: (Thioridazine), Apo Thioridazine, Novo Ridazine, PMS Thioridazine > NARDIL:  (Phenelzine) > NEULEPTIL:  (Pericyazine) > NORPRAMIN:  (Desipramine), Pertofrane > NOZINAN:  (Methotrimeprazine) > ORAP:  (Pimozide) > PARNATE:  (Tranylcypromine) > PARSITAN:  (Ethopropazine), Profenamine > PIPORTIL L4:  (Pipotiazine) > PROMAZINE:  (Promazine) > PROZAC:  (Fluoxetine) > RITALIN:  (Methylphenidate), Ritalin SR > RISPERDAL:  (Risperidone) > SERENTIL:  (Mesoridazine) > SINEQUAN:  (Doxepin),

… read more »

Response:

pencils4ever wrote: > Most people who are severely mentally ill should be on strong anti > psychotics. Safer for them…safer for society….the side effects may > not be all that great, but, IMHO….worth it….pencils

Most people who are severely mentally ill would WANT to be on anti-depressants or anti-psychotics; BUT for how long, which ADs or APs, and how much; the way it is now, if a soldier returns with post traumatic stress syndrome, he may be drugged for life whether he needs it or not; same thing with Ritalin–if a kid shows lack of concentration and uppitiness, they may start him and never take him off; even if they want to take him off, they may not be able to. I am presently toying with my lithium dose because after 20 yrs of taking (good drug that it is), it does go toxic under variable circumstances–so i have to take less; but how much less. We can’t speak of these drugs in generalizations nor of the people who have to take them for whatever reason. Squiggles

Response:

non sense! Most people who are severely mentally ill should be on strong anti psychotics. Safer for them…safer for society….the side effects may not be all that great, but, IMHO….worth it….pencils BZ <ser…@error.nnet> wrote in message

<news:4flbtu43052e3s1d350e9trqjpq6v8de37@4ax.com>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Introduction > One big problem with psychiatric treatment is that patients are very rarely given much > information about the drugs that are prescribed to them. When the Second Opinion Society > got started, this quickly became a serious concern. The people we worked with had been > told so little about their medication, and we had no ready sources of information. They > needed and wanted to know about these drugs, and educating them became an essential part > of our work. But we had no good sources of simple, easy-to-read information on psychiatric > medication. > Of course there are handbooks for doctors and health professionals. Principal among these > is the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialites, commonly knows as  > way; we also needed information that people could take home with them. > To fill this need, we developed a set of "psychiatric drug sheets." These two to four page > handouts cover individual drugs, providing the essential information about indications, > dosages, precautions, and side effects. We also included several other handouts on related > topics, such as the general classes of drugs, tardive dyskinesia, general precautions for > using psychiatric drugs, and how to stop taking them if one wants to. These sheets are > assembled into a loose-leaf binder. The format allows us to add new sheets as we develop > them and as new drugs are brought onto the market, and to modify existing sheets as need > be. > The information in the sheets is a translation of information mainly from the CPS and two > other professional publications. We have done our best to keep it free of any bias, and > the information in the drug sheets does not necessarily reflect SOS’s opinions about the > drugs or their use and effects. Our intention is to provide the information in a > straightforward, clear way that can be understood by the average person. Of course we > haven’t been able to reproduce all of the detail of the professional handbooks, but we > have tried to give a fair and complete picture of each drug. > This appendix contains the sheets on the general topics and the individual sheets on the > most common drugs. Space limitations in this manual prevent us from including all of the > sheets; you can order a complete set from SOS (details appear in the bibliography). > We believe that the information in these sheets is absolutely essential. Very, very few > psychiatric patients know about the effects and risks of the medication they take. As you > look through the sheets, you may be surprised at the range of serious side effects that > are common with these drugs. In working with psychiatrized women, we feel that it’s > tremendously important that transition house staff have a real acquaintance with > psychiatric drugs and their effects. We also feel that it’s equally important for you to > be able to pass this information along to psychiatrized women. > We encourage you to photocopy these sheets and hand them out to women you work with. You > may have some apprehension that what they find in the drug sheets will be alarming. We > agree that much of it is unsettling, but women who take these drugs — or who are being > urged to begin taking them — have a right to know about them. To be able to make informed > choices about their bodies, they need to have information. > As you look through the sheets for the individual drugs, you will see that they follow a > standard format. First, you’ll find the trade name of the drug, along with its generic > name, and information that allows you to identify the drug by the form of the tablet or > capsule. > The usual dosages are listed next. This is important; in our experience, these drugs are > often prescribed at levels much higher than those recommended by the manufacturer. The > dosage information in the drug sheets may help you determine if a woman’s dosage is in the > recommended range. > Next is a listing of conditions for which the drug is prescribed — the "indications," in > other words. There is then a list of contraindications. These are conditions under which > the drug should not be used or should be used with caution. This list also shows what a > patient should not be doing while taking this medication. Note that many of these > medications set strict conditions about certain kinds of foods or other drugs. This > information can also be very useful in helping a woman who may not have been told that she > can’t drink alcohol, say, or eat certain things while taking a given drug. > A listing of the drug’s side effects comes next. We have broken these down into effects > that happen often, sometimes, or rarely. This section translates the technical language of > the CPS and other handbooks into descriptions that are easy to understand. In looking at > the list of a drug’s side effects, we’d like you to notice a couple of things. One is that > many of these drugs produce side effects that might interfere with a woman’s ability to > adjust to the transition house setting. Many drugs commonly cause sleep disturbances, > anxiety, restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, and so on. All of these are things > that can make it much harder for an abused woman to deal with and adjust to her situation. > The other point we want to make is that many of these side effects are the very signs that > make other people see a psychiatrized person as "crazy." Please keep this in mind when > working with a psychiatrized woman who is taking medication. If she behaves in an > agitated, lethargic, or seemingly strange way, it may very well be the effect of the drugs > she is taking. > As we have said often in this manual, we hope that this information will better allow you > to offer understanding and support to the psychiatrized women you work with. A familiarity > with psychiatric drugs, their dangers, and their effects will help you to empathize with a > psychiatrized woman and her experiences. And the information contained in this section can > allow her to make knowledgable choices about how she wishes to exercise her right to > control of her body. > This appendix contains the following information: > a list of the drugs covered by the current SOS drug sheets > a listing of the generic names and equivalent brand names of the drugs in the SOS drug > sheets > general precautions for using psychiatric drugs > general information on the main classes of psychiatric drugs > an information sheet on tardive dyskinesia, a permanent, very serious, and common side > effect of major tranquilizers > information on what’s involved in quitting psychiatric medication > individual information sheets on nine common psychiatric drugs > [Table of Contents] > Second Opinion Society Drug Information Sheets > Drugs marked with an asterisk are included in this appendix. A complete set of drug sheets > in a loose leaf binder is available from the Second Opinion Society for $25. To order > please contact us at s…@yukon.net, or phone us at (867) 667-2037, or write to: Second > Opinion Society, 708 Black Street, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2N8. > Akineton > Anafranil > Asendin > Aventyl > Chlorporomazine* > Clozaril > Cogentin* > Desyrel > Elavil > Elavil Plus > Eldepryl > Fluanxol > Haldol* > Lithium* >  Loxapac > Ludiomil > Luvox > Marplan > Mellaril* > Nardil > Neuleptil > Norpramin > Nozinan > Orap > Parnate > Parsitan > Piportil > Promazine >  Prozac* > Risperdal* > Ritalin* > Serentil > Sinequan > Stelazine > Stemetil > Surmontil > Tegretol > Tofranil > Trilafon > Triptil > Valium* > Xanax > Zoloft* > [Table of Contents] > Corresponding Drug Names > (Names in brackets are generic names) > Many psychiatric drugs have several names, as well as a generic name. This list shows the > various names for the common psychiatric drugs currently covered by the SOS drug > information sheets. It is not a complete list of all psychiatric drugs. > AKINETON:  (Biperiden) > ANAFRANIL:  (Clomipramine) > ASENDIN:  (Amoxapine) > AVENTYL:  (Nortriptyline) > CHLORPROMAZINE: Thorazine, Largactil, Chlorpromanyl, Novo- Chlorpromazine > CLOZARIL:  (Clozapine) > COGENTIN:  (Benztropine Mesylate), Apo Benztropine, PMS Benztropine > DESYREL:  (Trazodone) > ELAVIL:  (Amitriptyline), Levate, Apo Amitriptyline, Novotriptyn, PMS Amitripyline > ELDEPRYL:  (Selegiline), SD Deprenyl > FLUANXOL:  (Flupenthixol dihydrochloride), (Flupenthixol decanoate) > FLUPHENAZINE:  Modecate, Apo Fluphenazine, Permitil, Moditen > HALDOL LA:  (Haloperidol), Apo Haloperidol, Novo Peridol, Peridol, PMS Haloperidol > KEMADRIN:  (Procyclidine), PMS Procyclidine, Procyclid > LITHIUM:  (Lithium Carbonate), Lithane, Carbolith, Duralith, Lithane, Lithizine > LUVOX:  (Fluvoxamine maleate) > MARPLAN:  (Isocarboxazid) > MELLARIL: (Thioridazine), Apo Thioridazine, Novo Ridazine, PMS Thioridazine > NARDIL:  (Phenelzine) > NEULEPTIL:  (Pericyazine) > NORPRAMIN:  (Desipramine), Pertofrane > NOZINAN:  (Methotrimeprazine) > ORAP:  (Pimozide) > PARNATE:  (Tranylcypromine) > PARSITAN:  (Ethopropazine), Profenamine > PIPORTIL L4:  (Pipotiazine) > PROMAZINE:  (Promazine) > PROZAC:  (Fluoxetine) > RITALIN:  (Methylphenidate), Ritalin SR > RISPERDAL:  (Risperidone) > SERENTIL:  (Mesoridazine) > SINEQUAN:  (Doxepin), Novo-Doxepin, Triadapin > STELAZINE:  (Trifluoperazine), Apo Trifluoperazine, PMS Trifluoperazine, Terfluzine, Novo > Flurazine, Solazine > STEMETIL:

… read more »

Response:

Most people who are severely mentally ill should be on strong anti psychotics. Safer for them…safer for society….the side effects may not be all that great, but, IMHO….worth it….pencils BZ <ser…@error.nnet> wrote in message

<news:4flbtu43052e3s1d350e9trqjpq6v8de37@4ax.com>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Introduction > One big problem with psychiatric treatment is that patients are very rarely given much > information about the drugs that are prescribed to them. When the Second Opinion Society > got started, this quickly became a serious concern. The people we worked with had been > told so little about their medication, and we had no ready sources of information. They > needed and wanted to know about these drugs, and educating them became an essential part > of our work. But we had no good sources of simple, easy-to-read information on psychiatric > medication. > Of course there are handbooks for doctors and health professionals. Principal among these > is the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialites, commonly knows as  > way; we also needed information that people could take home with them. > To fill this need, we developed a set of "psychiatric drug sheets." These two to four page > handouts cover individual drugs, providing the essential information about indications, > dosages, precautions, and side effects. We also included several other handouts on related > topics, such as the general classes of drugs, tardive dyskinesia, general precautions for > using psychiatric drugs, and how to stop taking them if one wants to. These sheets are > assembled into a loose-leaf binder. The format allows us to add new sheets as we develop > them and as new drugs are brought onto the market, and to modify existing sheets as need > be. > The information in the sheets is a translation of information mainly from the CPS and two > other professional publications. We have done our best to keep it free of any bias, and > the information in the drug sheets does not necessarily reflect SOS’s opinions about the > drugs or their use and effects. Our intention is to provide the information in a > straightforward, clear way that can be understood by the average person. Of course we > haven’t been able to reproduce all of the detail of the professional handbooks, but we > have tried to give a fair and complete picture of each drug. > This appendix contains the sheets on the general topics and the individual sheets on the > most common drugs. Space limitations in this manual prevent us from including all of the > sheets; you can order a complete set from SOS (details appear in the bibliography). > We believe that the information in these sheets is absolutely essential. Very, very few > psychiatric patients know about the effects and risks of the medication they take. As you > look through the sheets, you may be surprised at the range of serious side effects that > are common with these drugs. In working with psychiatrized women, we feel that it’s > tremendously important that transition house staff have a real acquaintance with > psychiatric drugs and their effects. We also feel that it’s equally important for you to > be able to pass this information along to psychiatrized women. > We encourage you to photocopy these sheets and hand them out to women you work with. You > may have some apprehension that what they find in the drug sheets will be alarming. We > agree that much of it is unsettling, but women who take these drugs — or who are being > urged to begin taking them — have a right to know about them. To be able to make informed > choices about their bodies, they need to have information. > As you look through the sheets for the individual drugs, you will see that they follow a > standard format. First, you’ll find the trade name of the drug, along with its generic > name, and information that allows you to identify the drug by the form of the tablet or > capsule. > The usual dosages are listed next. This is important; in our experience, these drugs are > often prescribed at levels much higher than those recommended by the manufacturer. The > dosage information in the drug sheets may help you determine if a woman’s dosage is in the > recommended range. > Next is a listing of conditions for which the drug is prescribed — the "indications," in > other words. There is then a list of contraindications. These are conditions under which > the drug should not be used or should be used with caution. This list also shows what a > patient should not be doing while taking this medication. Note that many of these > medications set strict conditions about certain kinds of foods or other drugs. This > information can also be very useful in helping a woman who may not have been told that she > can’t drink alcohol, say, or eat certain things while taking a given drug. > A listing of the drug’s side effects comes next. We have broken these down into effects > that happen often, sometimes, or rarely. This section translates the technical language of > the CPS and other handbooks into descriptions that are easy to understand. In looking at > the list of a drug’s side effects, we’d like you to notice a couple of things. One is that > many of these drugs produce side effects that might interfere with a woman’s ability to > adjust to the transition house setting. Many drugs commonly cause sleep disturbances, > anxiety, restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, and so on. All of these are things > that can make it much harder for an abused woman to deal with and adjust to her situation. > The other point we want to make is that many of these side effects are the very signs that > make other people see a psychiatrized person as "crazy." Please keep this in mind when > working with a psychiatrized woman who is taking medication. If she behaves in an > agitated, lethargic, or seemingly strange way, it may very well be the effect of the drugs > she is taking. > As we have said often in this manual, we hope that this information will better allow you > to offer understanding and support to the psychiatrized women you work with. A familiarity > with psychiatric drugs, their dangers, and their effects will help you to empathize with a > psychiatrized woman and her experiences. And the information contained in this section can > allow her to make knowledgable choices about how she wishes to exercise her right to > control of her body. > This appendix contains the following information: > a list of the drugs covered by the current SOS drug sheets > a listing of the generic names and equivalent brand names of the drugs in the SOS drug > sheets > general precautions for using psychiatric drugs > general information on the main classes of psychiatric drugs > an information sheet on tardive dyskinesia, a permanent, very serious, and common side > effect of major tranquilizers > information on what’s involved in quitting psychiatric medication > individual information sheets on nine common psychiatric drugs > [Table of Contents] > Second Opinion Society Drug Information Sheets > Drugs marked with an asterisk are included in this appendix. A complete set of drug sheets > in a loose leaf binder is available from the Second Opinion Society for $25. To order > please contact us at s…@yukon.net, or phone us at (867) 667-2037, or write to: Second > Opinion Society, 708 Black Street, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2N8. > Akineton > Anafranil > Asendin > Aventyl > Chlorporomazine* > Clozaril > Cogentin* > Desyrel > Elavil > Elavil Plus > Eldepryl > Fluanxol > Haldol* > Lithium* >  Loxapac > Ludiomil > Luvox > Marplan > Mellaril* > Nardil > Neuleptil > Norpramin > Nozinan > Orap > Parnate > Parsitan > Piportil > Promazine >  Prozac* > Risperdal* > Ritalin* > Serentil > Sinequan > Stelazine > Stemetil > Surmontil > Tegretol > Tofranil > Trilafon > Triptil > Valium* > Xanax > Zoloft* > [Table of Contents] > Corresponding Drug Names > (Names in brackets are generic names) > Many psychiatric drugs have several names, as well as a generic name. This list shows the > various names for the common psychiatric drugs currently covered by the SOS drug > information sheets. It is not a complete list of all psychiatric drugs. > AKINETON:  (Biperiden) > ANAFRANIL:  (Clomipramine) > ASENDIN:  (Amoxapine) > AVENTYL:  (Nortriptyline) > CHLORPROMAZINE: Thorazine, Largactil, Chlorpromanyl, Novo- Chlorpromazine > CLOZARIL:  (Clozapine) > COGENTIN:  (Benztropine Mesylate), Apo Benztropine, PMS Benztropine > DESYREL:  (Trazodone) > ELAVIL:  (Amitriptyline), Levate, Apo Amitriptyline, Novotriptyn, PMS Amitripyline > ELDEPRYL:  (Selegiline), SD Deprenyl > FLUANXOL:  (Flupenthixol dihydrochloride), (Flupenthixol decanoate) > FLUPHENAZINE:  Modecate, Apo Fluphenazine, Permitil, Moditen > HALDOL LA:  (Haloperidol), Apo Haloperidol, Novo Peridol, Peridol, PMS Haloperidol > KEMADRIN:  (Procyclidine), PMS Procyclidine, Procyclid > LITHIUM:  (Lithium Carbonate), Lithane, Carbolith, Duralith, Lithane, Lithizine > LUVOX:  (Fluvoxamine maleate) > MARPLAN:  (Isocarboxazid) > MELLARIL: (Thioridazine), Apo Thioridazine, Novo Ridazine, PMS Thioridazine > NARDIL:  (Phenelzine) > NEULEPTIL:  (Pericyazine) > NORPRAMIN:  (Desipramine), Pertofrane > NOZINAN:  (Methotrimeprazine) > ORAP:  (Pimozide) > PARNATE:  (Tranylcypromine) > PARSITAN:  (Ethopropazine), Profenamine > PIPORTIL L4:  (Pipotiazine) > PROMAZINE:  (Promazine) > PROZAC:  (Fluoxetine) > RITALIN:  (Methylphenidate), Ritalin SR > RISPERDAL:  (Risperidone) > SERENTIL:  (Mesoridazine) > SINEQUAN:  (Doxepin), Novo-Doxepin, Triadapin > STELAZINE:  (Trifluoperazine), Apo Trifluoperazine, PMS Trifluoperazine, Terfluzine, Novo > Flurazine, Solazine > STEMETIL:  (Prochlorperazine), Prorazin, PMS

… read more »

Response:

On 16 Nov 2002 10:31:55 -0800, pencils4e…@yahoo.com (pencils4ever) wrote: >Most people who are severely mentally ill should be on strong anti >psychotics. Safer for them…safer for society….the side effects may >not be all that great, but, IMHO….worth it….pencils

simply a chemical straightjacket approach huh? FYI are usually the victims of crime and exploitation by socalled normals ratther than the perpetrators – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->BZ <ser…@error.nnet> wrote in message ><news:4flbtu43052e3s1d350e9trqjpq6v8de37@4ax.com>… >> Introduction >> One big problem with psychiatric treatment is that patients are very rarely given much >> information about the drugs that are prescribed to them. When the Second Opinion Society >> got started, this quickly became a serious concern. The people we worked with had been >> told so little about their medication, and we had no ready sources of information. They >> needed and wanted to know about these drugs, and educating them became an essential part >> of our work. But we had no good sources of simple, easy-to-read information on psychiatric >> medication. >> Of course there are handbooks for doctors and health professionals. Principal among these >> is the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialites, commonly knows as  > way; we also needed information that people could take home with them. >> To fill this need, we developed a set of "psychiatric drug sheets." These two to four page >> handouts cover individual drugs, providing the essential information about indications, >> dosages, precautions, and side effects. We also included several other handouts on related >> topics, such as the general classes of drugs, tardive dyskinesia, general precautions for >> using psychiatric drugs, and how to stop taking them if one wants to. These sheets are >> assembled into a loose-leaf binder. The format allows us to add new sheets as we develop >> them and as new drugs are brought onto the market, and to modify existing sheets as need >> be. >> The information in the sheets is a translation of information mainly from the CPS and two >> other professional publications. We have done our best to keep it free of any bias, and >> the information in the drug sheets does not necessarily reflect SOS’s opinions about the >> drugs or their use and effects. Our intention is to provide the information in a >> straightforward, clear way that can be understood by the average person. Of course we >> haven’t been able to reproduce all of the detail of the professional handbooks, but we >> have tried to give a fair and complete picture of each drug. >> This appendix contains the sheets on the general topics and the individual sheets on the >> most common drugs. Space limitations in this manual prevent us from including all of the >> sheets; you can order a complete set from SOS (details appear in the bibliography). >> We believe that the information in these sheets is absolutely essential. Very, very few >> psychiatric patients know about the effects and risks of the medication they take. As you >> look through the sheets, you may be surprised at the range of serious side effects that >> are common with these drugs. In working with psychiatrized women, we feel that it’s >> tremendously important that transition house staff have a real acquaintance with >> psychiatric drugs and their effects. We also feel that it’s equally important for you to >> be able to pass this information along to psychiatrized women. >> We encourage you to photocopy these sheets and hand them out to women you work with. You >> may have some apprehension that what they find in the drug sheets will be alarming. We >> agree that much of it is unsettling, but women who take these drugs — or who are being >> urged to begin taking them — have a right to know about them. To be able to make informed >> choices about their bodies, they need to have information. >> As you look through the sheets for the individual drugs, you will see that they follow a >> standard format. First, you’ll find the trade name of the drug, along with its generic >> name, and information that allows you to identify the drug by the form of the tablet or >> capsule. >> The usual dosages are listed next. This is important; in our experience, these drugs are >> often prescribed at levels much higher than those recommended by the manufacturer. The >> dosage information in the drug sheets may help you determine if a woman’s dosage is in the >> recommended range. >> Next is a listing of conditions for which the drug is prescribed — the "indications," in >> other words. There is then a list of contraindications. These are conditions under which >> the drug should not be used or should be used with caution. This list also shows what a >> patient should not be doing while taking this medication. Note that many of these >> medications set strict conditions about certain kinds of foods or other drugs. This >> information can also be very useful in helping a woman who may not have been told that she >> can’t drink alcohol, say, or eat certain things while taking a given drug. >> A listing of the drug’s side effects comes next. We have broken these down into effects >> that happen often, sometimes, or rarely. This section translates the technical language of >> the CPS and other handbooks into descriptions that are easy to understand. In looking at >> the list of a drug’s side effects, we’d like you to notice a couple of things. One is that >> many of these drugs produce side effects that might interfere with a woman’s ability to >> adjust to the transition house setting. Many drugs commonly cause sleep disturbances, >> anxiety, restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, and so on. All of these are things >> that can make it much harder for an abused woman to deal with and adjust to her situation. >> The other point we want to make is that many of these side effects are the very signs that >> make other people see a psychiatrized person as "crazy." Please keep this in mind when >> working with a psychiatrized woman who is taking medication. If she behaves in an >> agitated, lethargic, or seemingly strange way, it may very well be the effect of the drugs >> she is taking. >> As we have said often in this manual, we hope that this information will better allow you >> to offer understanding and support to the psychiatrized women you work with. A familiarity >> with psychiatric drugs, their dangers, and their effects will help you to empathize with a >> psychiatrized woman and her experiences. And the information contained in this section can >> allow her to make knowledgable choices about how she wishes to exercise her right to >> control of her body. >> This appendix contains the following information: >> a list of the drugs covered by the current SOS drug sheets >> a listing of the generic names and equivalent brand names of the drugs in the SOS drug >> sheets >> general precautions for using psychiatric drugs >> general information on the main classes of psychiatric drugs >> an information sheet on tardive dyskinesia, a permanent, very serious, and common side >> effect of major tranquilizers >> information on what’s involved in quitting psychiatric medication >> individual information sheets on nine common psychiatric drugs >> [Table of Contents] >> Second Opinion Society Drug Information Sheets >> Drugs marked with an asterisk are included in this appendix. A complete set of drug sheets >> in a loose leaf binder is available from the Second Opinion Society for $25. To order >> please contact us at s…@yukon.net, or phone us at (867) 667-2037, or write to: Second >> Opinion Society, 708 Black Street, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2N8. >> Akineton >> Anafranil >> Asendin >> Aventyl >> Chlorporomazine* >> Clozaril >> Cogentin* >> Desyrel >> Elavil >> Elavil Plus >> Eldepryl >> Fluanxol >> Haldol* >> Lithium* >>  Loxapac >> Ludiomil >> Luvox >> Marplan >> Mellaril* >> Nardil >> Neuleptil >> Norpramin >> Nozinan >> Orap >> Parnate >> Parsitan >> Piportil >> Promazine >>  Prozac* >> Risperdal* >> Ritalin* >> Serentil >> Sinequan >> Stelazine >> Stemetil >> Surmontil >> Tegretol >> Tofranil >> Trilafon >> Triptil >> Valium* >> Xanax >> Zoloft* >> [Table of Contents] >> Corresponding Drug Names >> (Names in brackets are generic names) >> Many psychiatric drugs have several names, as well as a generic name. This list shows the >> various names for the common psychiatric drugs currently covered by the SOS drug >> information sheets. It is not a complete list of all psychiatric drugs. >> AKINETON:  (Biperiden) >> ANAFRANIL:  (Clomipramine) >> ASENDIN:  (Amoxapine) >> AVENTYL:  (Nortriptyline) >> CHLORPROMAZINE: Thorazine, Largactil, Chlorpromanyl, Novo- Chlorpromazine >> CLOZARIL:  (Clozapine) >> COGENTIN:  (Benztropine Mesylate), Apo Benztropine, PMS Benztropine >> DESYREL:  (Trazodone) >> ELAVIL:  (Amitriptyline), Levate, Apo Amitriptyline, Novotriptyn, PMS Amitripyline >> ELDEPRYL:  (Selegiline), SD Deprenyl >> FLUANXOL:  (Flupenthixol dihydrochloride), (Flupenthixol decanoate) >> FLUPHENAZINE:  Modecate, Apo Fluphenazine, Permitil, Moditen >> HALDOL LA:  (Haloperidol), Apo Haloperidol, Novo Peridol, Peridol, PMS Haloperidol >> KEMADRIN:  (Procyclidine), PMS Procyclidine, Procyclid >> LITHIUM:  (Lithium Carbonate), Lithane, Carbolith, Duralith, Lithane, Lithizine >> LUVOX:  (Fluvoxamine maleate) >> MARPLAN:  (Isocarboxazid) >> MELLARIL: (Thioridazine), Apo Thioridazine, Novo Ridazine, PMS Thioridazine >> NARDIL:  (Phenelzine) >> NEULEPTIL:  (Pericyazine) >> NORPRAMIN:  (Desipramine), Pertofrane >> NOZINAN:  (Methotrimeprazine) >> ORAP:  (Pimozide) >> PARNATE:

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Introduction One big problem with psychiatric treatment is that patients are very rarely given much information about the drugs that are prescribed to them. When the Second Opinion Society got started, this quickly became a serious concern. The people we worked with had been told so little about their medication, and we had no ready sources of information. They needed and wanted to know about these drugs, and educating them became an essential part of our work. But we had no good sources of simple, easy-to-read information on psychiatric medication. Of course there are handbooks for doctors and health professionals. Principal among these is the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialites, commonly knows as the "CPS" (which you will find in the bibliography to this manual). While the CPS is complete and detailed, it’s also hard to decode. It’s hundreds of pages long, the print is tiny and intimidating, and the language is technical. We needed information that was presented in a more friendly way; we also needed information that people could take home with them. To fill this need, we developed a set of "psychiatric drug sheets." These two to four page handouts cover individual drugs, providing the essential information about indications, dosages, precautions, and side effects. We also included several other handouts on related topics, such as the general classes of drugs, tardive dyskinesia, general precautions for using psychiatric drugs, and how to stop taking them if one wants to. These sheets are assembled into a loose-leaf binder. The format allows us to add new sheets as we develop them and as new drugs are brought onto the market, and to modify existing sheets as need be. The information in the sheets is a translation of information mainly from the CPS and two other professional publications. We have done our best to keep it free of any bias, and the information in the drug sheets does not necessarily reflect SOS’s opinions about the drugs or their use and effects. Our intention is to provide the information in a straightforward, clear way that can be understood by the average person. Of course we haven’t been able to reproduce all of the detail of the professional handbooks, but we have tried to give a fair and complete picture of each drug. This appendix contains the sheets on the general topics and the individual sheets on the most common drugs. Space limitations in this manual prevent us from including all of the sheets; you can order a complete set from SOS (details appear in the bibliography). We believe that the information in these sheets is absolutely essential. Very, very few psychiatric patients know about the effects and risks of the medication they take. As you look through the sheets, you may be surprised at the range of serious side effects that are common with these drugs. In working with psychiatrized women, we feel that it’s tremendously important that transition house staff have a real acquaintance with psychiatric drugs and their effects. We also feel that it’s equally important for you to be able to pass this information along to psychiatrized women. We encourage you to photocopy these sheets and hand them out to women you work with. You may have some apprehension that what they find in the drug sheets will be alarming. We agree that much of it is unsettling, but women who take these drugs — or who are being urged to begin taking them — have a right to know about them. To be able to make informed choices about their bodies, they need to have information. As you look through the sheets for the individual drugs, you will see that they follow a standard format. First, you’ll find the trade name of the drug, along with its generic name, and information that allows you to identify the drug by the form of the tablet or capsule. The usual dosages are listed next. This is important; in our experience, these drugs are often prescribed at levels much higher than those recommended by the manufacturer. The dosage information in the drug sheets may help you determine if a woman’s dosage is in the recommended range. Next is a listing of conditions for which the drug is prescribed — the "indications," in other words. There is then a list of contraindications. These are conditions under which the drug should not be used or should be used with caution. This list also shows what a patient should not be doing while taking this medication. Note that many of these medications set strict conditions about certain kinds of foods or other drugs. This information can also be very useful in helping a woman who may not have been told that she can’t drink alcohol, say, or eat certain things while taking a given drug. A listing of the drug’s side effects comes next. We have broken these down into effects that happen often, sometimes, or rarely. This section translates the technical language of the CPS and other handbooks into descriptions that are easy to understand. In looking at the list of a drug’s side effects, we’d like you to notice a couple of things. One is that many of these drugs produce side effects that might interfere with a woman’s ability to adjust to the transition house setting. Many drugs commonly cause sleep disturbances, anxiety, restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, and so on. All of these are things that can make it much harder for an abused woman to deal with and adjust to her situation. The other point we want to make is that many of these side effects are the very signs that make other people see a psychiatrized person as "crazy." Please keep this in mind when working with a psychiatrized woman who is taking medication. If she behaves in an agitated, lethargic, or seemingly strange way, it may very well be the effect of the drugs she is taking. As we have said often in this manual, we hope that this information will better allow you to offer understanding and support to the psychiatrized women you work with. A familiarity with psychiatric drugs, their dangers, and their effects will help you to empathize with a psychiatrized woman and her experiences. And the information contained in this section can allow her to make knowledgable choices about how she wishes to exercise her right to control of her body. This appendix contains the following information: a list of the drugs covered by the current SOS drug sheets a listing of the generic names and equivalent brand names of the drugs in the SOS drug sheets general precautions for using psychiatric drugs general information on the main classes of psychiatric drugs an information sheet on tardive dyskinesia, a permanent, very serious, and common side effect of major tranquilizers information on what’s involved in quitting psychiatric medication individual information sheets on nine common psychiatric drugs [Table of Contents] Second Opinion Society Drug Information Sheets Drugs marked with an asterisk are included in this appendix. A complete set of drug sheets in a loose leaf binder is available from the Second Opinion Society for $25. To order please contact us at s…@yukon.net, or phone us at (867) 667-2037, or write to: Second Opinion Society, 708 Black Street, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2N8. Akineton Anafranil Asendin Aventyl Chlorporomazine* Clozaril Cogentin* Desyrel Elavil Elavil Plus Eldepryl Fluanxol Haldol* Lithium*  Loxapac Ludiomil Luvox Marplan Mellaril* Nardil Neuleptil Norpramin Nozinan Orap Parnate Parsitan Piportil Promazine  Prozac* Risperdal* Ritalin* Serentil Sinequan Stelazine Stemetil Surmontil Tegretol Tofranil Trilafon Triptil Valium* Xanax Zoloft* [Table of Contents] Corresponding Drug Names (Names in brackets are generic names) Many psychiatric drugs have several names, as well as a generic name. This list shows the various names for the common psychiatric drugs currently covered by the SOS drug information sheets. It is not a complete list of all psychiatric drugs. AKINETON:  (Biperiden) ANAFRANIL:  (Clomipramine) ASENDIN:  (Amoxapine) AVENTYL:  (Nortriptyline) CHLORPROMAZINE: Thorazine, Largactil, Chlorpromanyl, Novo- Chlorpromazine CLOZARIL:  (Clozapine) COGENTIN:  (Benztropine Mesylate), Apo Benztropine, PMS Benztropine DESYREL:  (Trazodone) ELAVIL:  (Amitriptyline), Levate, Apo Amitriptyline, Novotriptyn, PMS Amitripyline ELDEPRYL:  (Selegiline), SD Deprenyl FLUANXOL:  (Flupenthixol dihydrochloride), (Flupenthixol decanoate) FLUPHENAZINE:  Modecate, Apo Fluphenazine, Permitil, Moditen HALDOL LA:  (Haloperidol), Apo Haloperidol, Novo Peridol, Peridol, PMS Haloperidol KEMADRIN:  (Procyclidine), PMS Procyclidine, Procyclid LITHIUM:  (Lithium Carbonate), Lithane, Carbolith, Duralith, Lithane, Lithizine LUVOX:  (Fluvoxamine maleate) MARPLAN:  (Isocarboxazid) MELLARIL: (Thioridazine), Apo Thioridazine, Novo Ridazine, PMS Thioridazine NARDIL:  (Phenelzine) NEULEPTIL:  (Pericyazine) NORPRAMIN:  (Desipramine), Pertofrane NOZINAN:  (Methotrimeprazine) ORAP:  (Pimozide) PARNATE:  (Tranylcypromine) PARSITAN:  (Ethopropazine), Profenamine PIPORTIL L4:  (Pipotiazine) PROMAZINE:  (Promazine) PROZAC:  (Fluoxetine) RITALIN:  (Methylphenidate), Ritalin SR RISPERDAL:  (Risperidone) SERENTIL:  (Mesoridazine) SINEQUAN:  (Doxepin), Novo-Doxepin, Triadapin STELAZINE:  (Trifluoperazine), Apo Trifluoperazine, PMS Trifluoperazine, Terfluzine, Novo Flurazine, Solazine STEMETIL:  (Prochlorperazine), Prorazin, PMS Prochlorperazine SURMONTIL:  (Trimipramine), Apo-Trimip, Novo-Trimpramine, Rhotrimine TEGRETOL:  (Carbamazepine), Apo Carbamazepine, Mazepine, Novocarbamaz, PMS Carbamazepine TOFRANIL:  (Imipramine HCl), Apo Imipramine, Impril, Novopramine, PMS Imipramine TRILAFON:  (Perphenazine), Apo Perphenazine, PMS Perphenazine TRIPTIL:  (Protriptyline HCl) VALIUM:  (Diazepam), Apo Diazepam, Diazemuls, Novodipam, PMS Diazepam, Vivol XANAX:  (Alprazolam), Apo Alpraz, Novo Alprazol, Nu-Alpraz

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Question:

permanently into the ether: Hi, I’m new here.  I have Bi-Polar. I can’t remember the term but I cycle pretty rapidly.  My question is have any of you attended a CRO ? Some locations refer to it as a "Drop-In-Center". What were they like and how did it help you.  There is a new one trying to get started in my town. I don’t know if it would be something that can help.  I have attended for years a pyschosocal group.  I have noticed a trend the past 2 years of the staff building up the clientelle’s self-esteem and then demanding that they follows rules that my granddaughter in pre-school would have to follow.   Now I am just trying to keep myself from entering a hosp. I am just at my wits end about grief-work over something that happended about 9 years ago.   Rena

Hello Rena- I’m not sure what a CRO is.  From your description, it sounds like you may need to attend to keep your "balance" when it comes to the doctors that hold your life in their hands.  IOW, doctors who can send you to the hospital and can order other kinds of treatment or care that you may not want.  It sounds like you are being forced into this group, in order to keep you out of the hospital and living the way you currently do.  What a nasty circumstance! I also get that you have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and maybe this group is not so good for treating that.  Maybe there is another group that would suit your situation better? Since I’m a bit confused about your exact situation, I really cant give much more free advice or opinions. Hang in there! Nancy administrator/creator/moderator alt.med.fibromyalgia.recovery.info (moderated) alt.support.depression.manic.moderated to email me from news groups, just remove the Z.

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Hi, I’m new here.  I have Bi-Polar. I can’t remember the term but I cycle pretty rapidly.  My question is have any of you attended a CRO ? Some locations refer to it as a "Drop-In-Center". What were they like and how did it help you.  There is a new one trying to get started in my town. I don’t know if it would be something that can help.  I have attended for years a pyschosocal group.  I have noticed a trend the past 2 years of the staff building up the clientelle’s self-esteem and then demanding that they follows rules that my granddaughter in pre-school would have to follow.   Now I am just trying to keep myself from entering a hosp. I am just at my wits end about grief-work over something that happended about 9 years ago.   Rena

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Question:

I’m not going to be here for awhile as I get some help. Jen

Help is good. Take care. Whiskery Hugs {{{{{Jen}}}}} — —  Whiskers

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I’m not going to be here for awhile as I get some help. Jen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – All the memories came flooding back,the sexual abuse,the ringing in my ears after the gun went off,the beating that I got after spilling a glass of milk and other beatings,the most terrifying was the memory of being raped when I was 12,.I could clearly see it in my mind as if it had only happened yesterday. Sounds like flashbacks to me, hon. I know how they feel. No,it’s not really my illness talking,I’m sixteen and for three and a half years I’ve had these memories locked away.Now I just want all the pain to stop that these memories have brought back. I’m sorry,theres only one way to make it stop. Respectfully disagree, Jen. There’s more than one way to make that horrible pain stop. The way I made the pain stop was to face the memories. I talked to therapists, I read books, I shared my experience with other survivors, I fought back. It’s a hard and painful road to walk alone, but the thing is, you’re not alone. You’re not the only one. There are a lot of us on asd who have been there, and we’re here if you need someone to listen. (((((Jen))))) Tara J. Ballance Montreal, Canada (email always open)

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snip Now I just want all the pain to stop that these memories have brought back.

snip Jen, as Toad said – this might be a good time to go to ‘casualty’. — —  Whiskers

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am depressed right now,what ever it was that my Mom and I shared that one day over and gone It ended Sunday when I went and had a coffee with my Mom at our old house that she still lives in. I was only able to stay for a half before I just had to get out of that house. All the memories came flooding back,the sexual abuse,the ringing in my ears after the gun went off,the beating that I got after spilling a glass of milk and other beatings,the most terrifying was the memory of being raped when I was 12,.I could clearly see it in my mind as if it had only happened yesterday. No,it’s not really my illness talking,I’m sixteen and for three and a half years I’ve had these memories locked away.Now I just want all the pain to stop that these memories have brought back. I’m sorry,theres only one way to make it stop. Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not here,I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow; I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain; I am the gentle autumn’s rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift oplifting rush, Of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not here; I did not die Jen

It sound like post traumatic stress has blown up on you. Do you have a mental health professional you can contact? Are you suicidal?  If so go to the closest hospital and tell them. The old pain is the worst.  toad – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s just a matter of time snip That’s you illness talking, not you. You’ve been talking about the good things in your life now; and about the folks you live with. Hold on tight, and take care Whiskery Hugs {{{{{Jen}}}}}

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Jen, I’m here for you  - do you want to talk? Nikki – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am depressed right now,what ever it was that my Mom and I shared that one day over and gone It ended Sunday when I went and had a coffee with my Mom at our old house that she still lives in. I was only able to stay for a half before I just had to get out of that house. All the memories came flooding back,the sexual abuse,the ringing in my ears after the gun went off,the beating that I got after spilling a glass of milk and other beatings,the most terrifying was the memory of being raped when I was 12,.I could clearly see it in my mind as if it had only happened yesterday. No,it’s not really my illness talking,I’m sixteen and for three and a half years I’ve had these memories locked away.Now I just want all the pain to stop that these memories have brought back. I’m sorry,theres only one way to make it stop. Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not here,I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow; I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain; I am the gentle autumn’s rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift oplifting rush, Of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not here; I did not die Jen It’s just a matter of time snip That’s you illness talking, not you. You’ve been talking about the good things in your life now; and about the folks you live with. Hold on tight, and take care Whiskery Hugs {{{{{Jen}}}}}

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I am depressed right now,what ever it was that my Mom and I shared that one day over and gone It ended Sunday when I went and had a coffee with my Mom at our old house that she still lives in. I was only able to stay for a half before I just had to get out of that house. All the memories came flooding back,the sexual abuse,the ringing in my ears after the gun went off,the beating that I got after spilling a glass of milk and other beatings,the most terrifying was the memory of being raped when I was 12,.I could clearly see it in my mind as if it had only happened yesterday. No,it’s not really my illness talking,I’m sixteen and for three and a half years I’ve had these memories locked away.Now I just want all the pain to stop that these memories have brought back. I’m sorry,theres only one way to make it stop. Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not here,I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow; I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain; I am the gentle autumn’s rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift oplifting rush, Of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not here; I did not die Jen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s just a matter of time snip That’s you illness talking, not you. You’ve been talking about the good things in your life now; and about the folks you live with. Hold on tight, and take care Whiskery Hugs {{{{{Jen}}}}}

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It’s just a matter of time

snip That’s you illness talking, not you. You’ve been talking about the good things in your life now; and about the folks you live with. Hold on tight, and take care Whiskery Hugs {{{{{Jen}}}}} — —  Whiskers

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It’s just a matter of time when I’m with my friend Joyce.Not Days,Weeks or Months but Minutes,Hours. R.E.M Everybody Hurts,one part of that song says Hold On,I have nothing to hold onto In case I go the other way, I’m sorry Joyce,meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me when I ran away. You were like a Mother to me. I Luv you Jen

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Question:

Wow, Anne, I can really relate to your scare after reading Time.  I cannot watch the news when they have stories about random shootings or things like that, it freaks me out.  I also remember once reading Reader’s Digest, this story about a woman who took her trash out, and when she came back in, a man jumped out of her closet and attacked her, so that is why I lock the door if I leave my home at all.  I just think the paranoid way I feel about it is a little excessive.     So, I am still hoping to make an appt with doctor to run my issues by them.  Although the thought of calling is causing anxiety, and the thought of being diagnosed or not diagnosed is also making me anxious.  For now, I am just going to run some errands, which I’ve been putting off all summer, and hopefully when I complete them I’ll feel better.     So, to end my ramblings…:)  Thanks for sharing Anne, and thanks to everyone here with there stories, tip, experiences, etc. -Hope

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  As far as when the anxiety started, I have had this phobia of my home being broken into even as a child.  I do recall times, even in high school where I wouldn’t sleep, and I would stay up listening for noises.  There were times I would get so fearful I would hide in my closet, or wake up my Mom to "look around." Hi Hope: I had terrible fears of home invasions as a child, too. Once when I was about 11, I read a Life magazine article on the Boston Strangler. My dad was traveling on business that week, and that night I was as panicked and freaked-out as I ever have been. I slept with my mom in her bedroom, but that was almost worse because her bedroom window opened onto the roof of our screened porch. I was literally up all night, heart racing, sure that I heard "something" making its way to our windows to come in and kill us. I think this tendency goes along with a highly sensitive and anxious personality, which I seem to have been born with. (My youngest son is, alas, the same way. His home-disaster fantasies run more to fires than break-ins.) Sometimes one’s response to these fears can border on obsessive-compulsive. Interestingly, some of the same antidepressants that help some of us with panic can help with OCD, too. I noticed quite a decrease in mild OC behaviors in myself after I’d been on an SSRI for a half-year or so… even little involuntary things like not stepping on cracks, needing to end up on a certain foot when I reached the top of a stairway, etc. It feels good to be free of these lifelong weird habits! I hope you do see a doctor, rule out physical causes, and then, if it seems to be the next step, talk to a psychiatrist about meds and/or cognitive therapy. Good luck! xo Anne

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    I think this may be making worse my symptoms:  1)When in my apt, I am afraid noises I hear are someone trying to break in.  I tend to walk around and check all possible "entrances."     2)I lock door when I go outside, even if it is just to throw away trash so nobody could break in(and I live in a safe area)     3)Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable closing bathroom door, for fear I wouldn’t hear possible noises of someone trying to break in.     Well, Sorry if I am dwelling on the bad here.  Yesterday I starting writing in a journal to try to "list" all this stuff that I am unsure if it is normal anxiety, or to the point where I just get help, and found myself easily writing four pages of stuff…..

Hope, high anxiety can excite thoughts or fears of getting caught up in out-of-control situations, and so you may find yourself taking unnecessary measures to avoid such things happening.  Obviously, someone breaking into your apartment qualifies as a genuine out-of-control situation.  But as you said, you live in a safe area and so the steps you’re taking might well be considered overkill. My guess is you’re right about the anxiety.  Talk to your GP, but do allow him to refer you to a more specialized doctor, such as a psychiatrist or phsychologist.  In my very own experience, I found that although my GP is the best doctor in town as far as I’m concerned, he was by his own admission very unprepared to treat me for my problems with anxiety. Good luck, Donny

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello, I have been experiencing some really anxious feelings, that seem to just get worse.  Especially so in the last 9 months, as I had car trouble issues, death of uncle, found out close friends has cocaine addiction, etc(there is more, but don’t want to keep rambling).    I think this may be making worse my symptoms:  1)When in my apt, I am afraid noises I hear are someone trying to break in.  I tend to walk around and check all possible "entrances."    2)I lock door when I go outside, even if it is just to throw away trash so nobody could break in(and I live in a safe area)    3)Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable closing bathroom door, for fear I wouldn’t hear possible noises of someone trying to break in.    Well, Sorry if I am dwelling on the bad here.  Yesterday I starting writing in a journal to try to "list" all this stuff that I am unsure if it is normal anxiety, or to the point where I just get help, and found myself easily writing four pages of stuff…..    I even have anxiety about calling my healthcare company to see if I can go to my general practiner about this… Thanks for any info, Hope

All the fears you listed have to do with someone breaking into your home.  You said there were trigger events that led to your anxiety, and though none of the ones you listed seem related, you did say other unmentioned things happened in your life, and I wonder if you or a loved one experienced a violation like this – a break-in or other type of personal violation.  Your sysmptoms sound, from the little you wrote, like post-traumatic stress.  You said they came on within the past nine months after a series of traumatic events. I dsiagree with Jackie on this one; I don’t think anything you wrote sounds physical.  You sound very much as though you’re having emotional problems and you seem pretty clear that they’ve manifested after specific life events. I/we certainly don’t know you well enough to pretend to know how to "cure" you, but for the sort of symptoms you wrote below I would recommend a psychotherapist as a starting place. There are many types of therapies and while the people here favor cognitive behavioral therapy–which can teach you not to be alarmed by noises or to undertand that rationally no one will come in while you’re inthe bathroom–in your case, if there’s been a trauma, you might want to discuss this through counseling and examine your own responses to the things you’ve been through. If you’ve never had symptoms like this before and they are related to specific events this could be for you a short-term reaction to specific problems.  I think, speak to someone to understand what’s happened to you and your reactions to it, and thake it from there. But find someone you trust (call them, interview them, have consultations) and listen tot hat person over anyone on the internet in terms of the treatment you need – then assess whether or not it sounds right to you.  (I don’t mean not to run things by the great people on this group, of course!) I was the victim of crimes a number of years ago and had symptoms a lot like yours.  I never felt safe.  Many things help ease this feeling – time, taking actual steps to ensure saftey, knowing when the steps you’re taking are excessive, etc.  Again, I’m just inferring from the little you wrote – that all of your fears are about your home being broken into. – Jen

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 As far as when the anxiety started, I have had this phobia of my home being broken into even as a child.  I do recall times, even in high school where I wouldn’t sleep, and I would stay up listening for noises.  There were times I would get so fearful I would hide in my closet, or wake up my Mom to "look around."

Hi Hope: I had terrible fears of home invasions as a child, too. Once when I was about 11, I read a Life magazine article on the Boston Strangler. My dad was traveling on business that week, and that night I was as panicked and freaked-out as I ever have been. I slept with my mom in her bedroom, but that was almost worse because her bedroom window opened onto the roof of our screened porch. I was literally up all night, heart racing, sure that I heard "something" making its way to our windows to come in and kill us. I think this tendency goes along with a highly sensitive and anxious personality, which I seem to have been born with. (My youngest son is, alas, the same way. His home-disaster fantasies run more to fires than break-ins.) Sometimes one’s response to these fears can border on obsessive-compulsive. Interestingly, some of the same antidepressants that help some of us with panic can help with OCD, too. I noticed quite a decrease in mild OC behaviors in myself after I’d been on an SSRI for a half-year or so… even little involuntary things like not stepping on cracks, needing to end up on a certain foot when I reached the top of a stairway, etc. It feels good to be free of these lifelong weird habits! I hope you do see a doctor, rule out physical causes, and then, if it seems to be the next step, talk to a psychiatrist about meds and/or cognitive therapy. Good luck! xo Anne

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Well, thank you everyone for responding with your opinions and advice.  I really appreciate that.  As far as when the anxiety started, I have had this phobia of my home being broken into even as a child.  I do recall times, even in high school where I wouldn’t sleep, and I would stay up listening for noises.  There were times I would get so fearful I would hide in my closet, or wake up my Mom to "look around."     So, I am not sure if it is just something I have never dealt with, and now that I have other stresses in my loving it is coming back.  Funny thing is, I haven’t hid in the closet lately:) BUT, I have in some really terriying dreams, that as soon as I wake from I get up because I am too fearfull to go back to sleep.     I guess I feel hesistant to get help because sometimes I feel perfectly fine, for days or sometimes weeks everything seems fine, and then it just starts again……how annoying….. Anyway, thanks for all your ideas, I guess I just need to "bite the bullet"(and stop using cliches;), and see what a doctor thinks about all this. -Hope

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – :I dsiagree with Jackie on this one; I don’t think anything you wrote :sounds physical.  You sound very much as though you’re having :emotional problems and you seem pretty clear that they’ve manifested :after specific life events. Dear Jen, physical problem. My exact comment was this: ~*~The first thing you should do is have a complete checkup from your doctor just to make sure that nothing physical is causing your problems~*~ I stand by what I wrote and I`ll explain why. I don`t think there is anything physically wrong with this poster but she does state she has anxiety…….and there are some physical disorders that can cause or mimic anxiety. A few years ago I had what I thought was a severe setback with anxiety and panic, I won`t go into details, but I really thought I was losing my mind, had alot of obsessions and phobia`s too. I was convinced my problems were mental……until I finally couldn`t take how I felt anymore and went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem after having some bloodwork done. My sister was having having what appeared to be OCD and post-partum depression, she went straight to a pdoc and was put on prozac. Turned out treated, she stopped the prozac and has been fine ever since and that was in 96. There is no way that any of us here can say for "sure" what is going on with the poster, especially going on one post. A good starting point for anyone that is new to anxiety, or has worsening anxiety or new symptoms is to get a thorough check-up from their doctor, especially if they haven`t been to their doctor in some time…. and then move on from there. I shudder to think how worse I would have suffered had I not gone to my doctor first…….all the therapy and psych meds wouldn`t have helped my thyroid problem. Jackie ~*~I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster lately.  The other day my mood ring exploded~*~ Jackie, You took the words right out of my mouth.  I too had severe anxiety (actually 4 months straight of one big long panic attack) from thyroid problems (hyper swing with Hashimotos).  So this is definitely something to rule out.  There are other physical ailments that can cause anxiety symptoms also, like blood sugar problems. Dawn

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:I dsiagree with Jackie on this one; I don’t think anything you wrote :sounds physical.  You sound very much as though you’re having :emotional problems and you seem pretty clear that they’ve manifested :after specific life events. Dear Jen, physical problem. My exact comment was this: ~*~The first thing you should do is have a complete checkup from your doctor just to make sure that nothing physical is causing your problems~*~ I stand by what I wrote and I`ll explain why. I don`t think there is anything physically wrong with this poster but she does state she has anxiety…….and there are some physical disorders that can cause or mimic anxiety. A few years ago I had what I thought was a severe setback with anxiety and panic, I won`t go into details, but I really thought I was losing my mind, had alot of obsessions and phobia`s too. I was convinced my problems were mental……until I finally couldn`t take how I felt anymore and went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem after having some bloodwork done. My sister was having having what appeared to be OCD and post-partum depression, she went straight to a pdoc and was put on prozac. Turned out treated, she stopped the prozac and has been fine ever since and that was in 96. There is no way that any of us here can say for "sure" what is going on with the poster, especially going on one post. A good starting point for anyone that is new to anxiety, or has worsening anxiety or new symptoms is to get a thorough check-up from their doctor, especially if they haven`t been to their doctor in some time…. and then move on from there. I shudder to think how worse I would have suffered had I not gone to my doctor first…….all the therapy and psych meds wouldn`t have helped my thyroid problem. Jackie ~*~I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster lately.  The other day my mood ring exploded~*~

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – :I dsiagree with Jackie on this one; I don’t think anything you wrote :sounds physical.  You sound very much as though you’re having :emotional problems and you seem pretty clear that they’ve manifested :after specific life events. Dear Jen, physical problem. My exact comment was this: ~*~The first thing you should do is have a complete checkup from your doctor just to make sure that nothing physical is causing your problems~*~ I stand by what I wrote and I`ll explain why. I don`t think there is anything physically wrong with this poster but she does state she has anxiety…….and there are some physical disorders that can cause or mimic anxiety. A few years ago I had what I thought was a severe setback with anxiety and panic, I won`t go into details, but I really thought I was losing my mind, had alot of obsessions and phobia`s too. I was convinced my problems were mental……until I finally couldn`t take how I felt anymore and went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem after having some bloodwork done. My sister was having having what appeared to be OCD and post-partum depression, she went straight to a pdoc and was put on prozac. Turned out treated, she stopped the prozac and has been fine ever since and that was in 96. There is no way that any of us here can say for "sure" what is going on with the poster, especially going on one post. A good starting point for anyone that is new to anxiety, or has worsening anxiety or new symptoms is to get a thorough check-up from their doctor, especially if they haven`t been to their doctor in some time…. and then move on from there. I shudder to think how worse I would have suffered had I not gone to my doctor first…….all the therapy and psych meds wouldn`t have helped my thyroid problem. Jackie ~*~I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster lately.  The other day my mood ring exploded~*~

Jackie, You took the words right out of my mouth.  I too had severe anxiety (actually 4 months straight of one big long panic attack) from thyroid problems (hyper swing with Hashimotos).  So this is definitely something to rule out.  There are other physical ailments that can cause anxiety symptoms also, like blood sugar problems. Dawn

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Hello, I have been experiencing some really anxious feelings, that seem to just get worse.  Especially so in the last 9 months, as I had car trouble issues, death of uncle, found out close friends has cocaine addiction, etc(there is more, but don’t want to keep rambling).     I think this may be making worse my symptoms:  1)When in my apt, I am afraid noises I hear are someone trying to break in.  I tend to walk around and check all possible "entrances."     2)I lock door when I go outside, even if it is just to throw away trash so nobody could break in(and I live in a safe area)     3)Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable closing bathroom door, for fear I wouldn’t hear possible noises of someone trying to break in.     Well, Sorry if I am dwelling on the bad here.  Yesterday I starting writing in a journal to try to "list" all this stuff that I am unsure if it is normal anxiety, or to the point where I just get help, and found myself easily writing four pages of stuff…..     I even have anxiety about calling my healthcare company to see if I can go to my general practiner about this… Thanks for any info, Hope

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:Hello, I have been experiencing some really anxious feelings, that seem to :just get worse.  Especially so in the last 9 months, as I had car trouble :issues, death of uncle, found out close friends has cocaine addiction, :etc(there is more, but don’t want to keep rambling). :    I think this may be making worse my symptoms:  1)When in my apt, I am :afraid noises I hear are someone trying to break in.  I tend to walk around :and check all possible "entrances." :    2)I lock door when I go outside, even if it is just to throw away trash :so nobody could break in(and I live in a safe area) :    3)Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable closing bathroom door, for fear I :wouldn’t hear possible noises of someone trying to break in. :    Well, Sorry if I am dwelling on the bad here.  Yesterday I starting :writing in a journal to try to "list" all this stuff that I am unsure if it :is normal anxiety, or to the point where I just get help, and found myself :easily writing four pages of stuff….. :    I even have anxiety about calling my healthcare company to see if I can :go to my general practiner about this… :Thanks for any info, :Hope Dear Hope, Welcome to ASAP The first thing you should do is have a complete checkup from your doctor just to make sure that nothing physical is causing your problems. I suggest you don`t let a GP treat your anxiety, they lack the knowledge to treat these disorders effectively. Fearing that someone is going to break in and checking all the time to make sure…….is "not" normal. IMO you could be suffering from OCD and/or some other anxiety disorders, but only a psych doctor can diagnosis you for sure. Don`t let yourself suffer like this, there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. You will not regret getting help for your problems once you start feeling better. Here is a link to a great website on anxiety disorders, check it out, see if you relate to any of the disorders and then discuss it with a doctor. http://panicdisorder.about.com/index.htm?once=true&COB=home&PID=2791 Take care! Jackie ~*~I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster lately.  The other day my mood ring exploded~*~

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I seem to always have a tremor and can feel my heartbeat.  My heartbeat seems to vibrate my whole body.  These symptoms get WORSE when I go lay down to sleep!   I’ve been to my internal medicine doctor and he said it was due to my depression(I am currently in therapy for double depression).  He checked my thyroid levels and they were alright.  He also did an EKG and listened to my heart, and said nothing was wrong.  He prescribed Prozac 20mg a day for my depression and is having me return for a recheck in a month.   I have never heard of anyone having this CONSTANT pounding like this.  It actually makes the depression worse, thinking about how I might have to live with these symptoms all my life. I just wondered if it was possible this is anxiety?  I thought attacks only lasted so long…NOT 24/7!!! Thanks!                ~Chris

I also experience this, though thankfully, not all the time.  Mostly I feel it in my chest and legs, though it can at times become an "all over" sensation, which is truly horrible.  I found that in my case, Prozac made this worse.  It does have a stimulant effect.  I can also take several weeks to become fully effective.  If I was you I would talk with your Doc, and suggest that something more sedating might be in order.  As always, YMMV. — Jon Guite When replying by email, please remove the trailing x from my return address

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I seem to always have a tremor and can feel my heartbeat.  My heartbeat seems to vibrate my whole body.  These symptoms get WORSE when I go lay down to sleep! I’ve been to my internal medicine doctor and he said it was due to my depression(I am currently in therapy for double depression).  He checked my thyroid levels and they were alright.  He also did an EKG and listened to my heart, and said nothing was wrong.  He prescribed Prozac 20mg a day for my depression and is having me return for a recheck in a month. I have never heard of anyone having this CONSTANT pounding like this.  It actually makes the depression worse, thinking about how I might have to live with these symptoms all my life. I just wondered if it was possible this is anxiety?  I thought attacks only lasted so long…NOT 24/7!!! Thanks!                ~Chris

The heart pounding that you describe sounds familiar to me.  Sometimes, but not always, I can feel my heart pounding in different parts of my body. Near my elbows and near my knees is very common for me.  I can also feel it in my temples sometimes.  BTW, I have anxiety disorder.  I have also been in a state of constant near panic 24 hours a day.  This is what made me go to the doctors initialy.  I am on 20mg Prozac plus 2mg Ativan at night.  I feel much better now. JP To reply by e-mail remove "nospam" from my address ——- I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow is not looking good either.

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I was diagnosed with *status panicus* and was treated with a betablocker and 40mg of Paxil. This solved the problem within a month. Please do connsult a doc as soon as possible. Best wishes, Rony. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I seem to always have a tremor and can feel my heartbeat.  My heartbeat seems to vibrate my whole body.  These symptoms get WORSE when I go lay down to sleep! I’ve been to my internal medicine doctor and he said it was due to my depression(I am currently in therapy for double depression).  He checked my thyroid levels and they were alright.  He also did an EKG and listened to my heart, and said nothing was wrong.  He prescribed Prozac 20mg a day for my depression and is having me return for a recheck in a month. I have never heard of anyone having this CONSTANT pounding like this. It actually makes the depression worse, thinking about how I might have to live with these symptoms all my life. I just wondered if it was possible this is anxiety?  I thought attacks only lasted so long…NOT 24/7!!! Thanks!                 ~Chris If everything else is ruled out it may be anxiety although 24/7 seems a long time to me. Attacks can last much longer than most literature indicates and there is even something known as *status panicus* in which you can be in total panic for months (BDDT, no fun, I can assure you). If I were you I would ask my doctor for a betablocker, a med which is prescribed for palpitations, high blood pressure, migraine and limited symptom anxiety atacks like you may or may not have. I’m not sure whether you should stick with your internist for this. Often they have very limited knowledge about anxiety disorders. I think you’d better go to a pdoc specialized in anxiety disorders to get properly diagnosed. The data you give are rather sparse so it may well be that you don’t have a real anxiety disorder but your heart complaint is common among sufferers of PAD, so who knows? I would ask about the betablocker anyway and anywhere. Philip

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I seem to always have a tremor and can feel my heartbeat.  My heartbeat seems to vibrate my whole body.  These symptoms get WORSE when I go lay down to sleep! I’ve been to my internal medicine doctor and he said it was due to my depression(I am currently in therapy for double depression).  He checked my thyroid levels and they were alright.  He also did an EKG and listened to my heart, and said nothing was wrong.  He prescribed Prozac 20mg a day for my depression and is having me return for a recheck in a month. I have never heard of anyone having this CONSTANT pounding like this.  It actually makes the depression worse, thinking about how I might have to live with these symptoms all my life. I just wondered if it was possible this is anxiety?  I thought attacks only lasted so long…NOT 24/7!!! Thanks!                 ~Chris

If everything else is ruled out it may be anxiety although 24/7 seems a long time to me. Attacks can last much longer than most literature indicates and there is even something known as *status panicus* in which you can be in total panic for months (BDDT, no fun, I can assure you). If I were you I would ask my doctor for a betablocker, a med which is prescribed for palpitations, high blood pressure, migraine and limited symptom anxiety atacks like you may or may not have. I’m not sure whether you should stick with your internist for this. Often they have very limited knowledge about anxiety disorders. I think you’d better go to a pdoc specialized in anxiety disorders to get properly diagnosed. The data you give are rather sparse so it may well be that you don’t have a real anxiety disorder but your heart complaint is common among sufferers of PAD, so who knows? I would ask about the betablocker anyway and anywhere. Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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I seem to always have a tremor and can feel my heartbeat.  My heartbeat seems to vibrate my whole body.  These symptoms get WORSE when I go lay down to sleep!   I’ve been to my internal medicine doctor and he said it was due to my depression(I am currently in therapy for double depression).  He checked my thyroid levels and they were alright.  He also did an EKG and listened to my heart, and said nothing was wrong.  He prescribed Prozac 20mg a day for my depression and is having me return for a recheck in a month.   I have never heard of anyone having this CONSTANT pounding like this.  It actually makes the depression worse, thinking about how I might have to live with these symptoms all my life. I just wondered if it was possible this is anxiety?  I thought attacks only lasted so long…NOT 24/7!!! Thanks!                 ~Chris

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  I think maybe you have a little anxiety going on. Alot of people get anxious on trips. It’s kind of an unknown thing. If I were you I would try the all natural ways first. Go to one of these stores. They have great vitamins for anxiety. Flax oil works well, you could try the saint johns wart medicine. I only say this because most anxiety pills can be addictive. Last resort see your doctor, and ask to have something for your anxiety only as needed. I don’t think you need to be on a medication all  of the time so you might want to ask about visteral, inderal, or a benzo which are ativan xanax klonopin etc. As long as you do not have a problem with addictions. I would recommend xanax.

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Sounds like you need some resperidol , you take that at night. It keeps those erotonin levels down. Yours in the brain are and have been over functioning. Good luck. I am on Lorazepam, temporarily.

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That was my first thought too……. maybe motion sickness.  But the precurser of butterflies sounds like anxiety.  Only a doc can say for sure Beth.  I know a woman who has diarrhea attacks everytime she gets in a car. Good luck with you appointment, please let us know how you make out. Love Cathy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Beth, Welcome to ASAP!  Sounds like you have some anxiety over traveling.  have you mentioned this to your doctor?  It wouldn’t hurt to talk with him about it and go from there.  It isn’t a form of motion sickness is it? smiles, Elise :Hi Everyone, :I’ve been reading some of the posts here and was wondering if maybe :this is my problem… :The "Only" Time i feel this way is if I’m travelling somewhere, Six :Flags, Las Vegas, Somewhere out of the country, You name it. oesn’t matter what the transportation is either, And I start getting :the feeling before i even leave the house. :I get massive butterflies in my stomach and get those little flip :flops you usually get when your excited. Well,, I get nauseated and I :get sick vomiting through most of the car ride, plane ride or :whatever, most of the time, ruining my trip, and my husbands.  (He’s :getting fed up of this).   I’m wondering if I have anxiety. The weird :thing is nothing else makes me get this way! Even if i’m Excited! Only :travelling! :I’ve never had anything happen to me during traveling that would make :me nervouse, like an accident or anything bad, so I don’t know why I’m :like this now.  Today, I had the same thing happen,, on a simple trip :to a beach about 45 minutes away. I’ve been there before, no biggie, :nothing special. I wasn’t especially anxious, mentally anyway, to go :there this weekend. But whamo! I threw up the whole ride and even felt :weak like fainting.  The backs of my upper arms where even numb.  I :think it’s time I talk to my doctor about this, and i will be making :an appt come Monday, But I was just wondering what you guys think? :Thanks in advance. Dear Beth, Welcome to ASAP What you describe certainly sounds like anxiety but only a doctor can tell you that for sure. Good idea to make an appt with your doctor! You should have a thorough checkup, you want to make sure there is nothing physical going on. If your doctor does feel you are dealing with anxiety it would be in your best interest to see a psychiatrist that specializes in anxiety disorders to be diagnosed and treated. Effective treatments for anxiety are medication and/or cognitive behavioral therapy. Here is a link to a great anxiety website. You might want to browse through it and see if you relate to any of it, then you could discuss it with your doctor. You will also find alot of info on that therapy I told you about at the therapy link. http://panicdisorder.about.com/index.htm?once=true&COB=home&PID=2791 Take care and good luck Jackie ~*~Do unto others as though you were the others~*~

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Hi, Beth, Welcome to ASAP!  Sounds like you have some anxiety over traveling.  have you mentioned this to your doctor?  It wouldn’t hurt to talk with him about it and go from there.  It isn’t a form of motion sickness is it? smiles, Elise

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – :Hi Everyone, :I’ve been reading some of the posts here and was wondering if maybe :this is my problem… :The "Only" Time i feel this way is if I’m travelling somewhere, Six :Flags, Las Vegas, Somewhere out of the country, You name it. oesn’t matter what the transportation is either, And I start getting :the feeling before i even leave the house. :I get massive butterflies in my stomach and get those little flip :flops you usually get when your excited. Well,, I get nauseated and I :get sick vomiting through most of the car ride, plane ride or :whatever, most of the time, ruining my trip, and my husbands.  (He’s :getting fed up of this).   I’m wondering if I have anxiety. The weird :thing is nothing else makes me get this way! Even if i’m Excited! Only :travelling! :I’ve never had anything happen to me during traveling that would make :me nervouse, like an accident or anything bad, so I don’t know why I’m :like this now.  Today, I had the same thing happen,, on a simple trip :to a beach about 45 minutes away. I’ve been there before, no biggie, :nothing special. I wasn’t especially anxious, mentally anyway, to go :there this weekend. But whamo! I threw up the whole ride and even felt :weak like fainting.  The backs of my upper arms where even numb.  I :think it’s time I talk to my doctor about this, and i will be making :an appt come Monday, But I was just wondering what you guys think? :Thanks in advance. Dear Beth, Welcome to ASAP What you describe certainly sounds like anxiety but only a doctor can tell you that for sure. Good idea to make an appt with your doctor! You should have a thorough checkup, you want to make sure there is nothing physical going on. If your doctor does feel you are dealing with anxiety it would be in your best interest to see a psychiatrist that specializes in anxiety disorders to be diagnosed and treated. Effective treatments for anxiety are medication and/or cognitive behavioral therapy. Here is a link to a great anxiety website. You might want to browse through it and see if you relate to any of it, then you could discuss it with your doctor. You will also find alot of info on that therapy I told you about at the therapy link. http://panicdisorder.about.com/index.htm?once=true&COB=home&PID=2791 Take care and good luck Jackie ~*~Do unto others as though you were the others~*~

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:Hi Everyone, :I’ve been reading some of the posts here and was wondering if maybe :this is my problem… :The "Only" Time i feel this way is if I’m travelling somewhere, Six :Flags, Las Vegas, Somewhere out of the country, You name it. oesn’t matter what the transportation is either, And I start getting :the feeling before i even leave the house. :I get massive butterflies in my stomach and get those little flip :flops you usually get when your excited. Well,, I get nauseated and I :get sick vomiting through most of the car ride, plane ride or :whatever, most of the time, ruining my trip, and my husbands.  (He’s :getting fed up of this).   I’m wondering if I have anxiety. The weird :thing is nothing else makes me get this way! Even if i’m Excited! Only :travelling! :I’ve never had anything happen to me during traveling that would make :me nervouse, like an accident or anything bad, so I don’t know why I’m :like this now.  Today, I had the same thing happen,, on a simple trip :to a beach about 45 minutes away. I’ve been there before, no biggie, :nothing special. I wasn’t especially anxious, mentally anyway, to go :there this weekend. But whamo! I threw up the whole ride and even felt :weak like fainting.  The backs of my upper arms where even numb.  I :think it’s time I talk to my doctor about this, and i will be making :an appt come Monday, But I was just wondering what you guys think? :Thanks in advance. Dear Beth, Welcome to ASAP What you describe certainly sounds like anxiety but only a doctor can tell you that for sure. Good idea to make an appt with your doctor! You should have a thorough checkup, you want to make sure there is nothing physical going on. If your doctor does feel you are dealing with anxiety it would be in your best interest to see a psychiatrist that specializes in anxiety disorders to be diagnosed and treated. Effective treatments for anxiety are medication and/or cognitive behavioral therapy. Here is a link to a great anxiety website. You might want to browse through it and see if you relate to any of it, then you could discuss it with your doctor. You will also find alot of info on that therapy I told you about at the therapy link. http://panicdisorder.about.com/index.htm?once=true&COB=home&PID=2791 Take care and good luck Jackie ~*~Do unto others as though you were the others~*~

Response:

Hi Everyone, I’ve been reading some of the posts here and was wondering if maybe this is my problem… The "Only" Time i feel this way is if I’m travelling somewhere, Six Flags, Las Vegas, Somewhere out of the country, You name it. Doesn’t matter what the transportation is either, And I start getting the feeling before i even leave the house. I get massive butterflies in my stomach and get those little flip flops you usually get when your excited. Well,, I get nauseated and I get sick vomiting through most of the car ride, plane ride or whatever, most of the time, ruining my trip, and my husbands.  (He’s getting fed up of this).   I’m wondering if I have anxiety. The weird thing is nothing else makes me get this way! Even if i’m Excited! Only travelling! I’ve never had anything happen to me during traveling that would make me nervouse, like an accident or anything bad, so I don’t know why I’m like this now.  Today, I had the same thing happen,, on a simple trip to a beach about 45 minutes away. I’ve been there before, no biggie, nothing special. I wasn’t especially anxious, mentally anyway, to go there this weekend. But whamo! I threw up the whole ride and even felt weak like fainting.  The backs of my upper arms where even numb.  I think it’s time I talk to my doctor about this, and i will be making an appt come Monday, But I was just wondering what you guys think? Thanks in advance.

Response:

Question:

Oh Alan I can’t believe the day you had!  Sending many healing thoughts your way and big hugs to you, Cheryl and your friend.  I wish I had some cheery things to say to you, but I don’t.  There is one good thing I can say, you did quite a lot in my book with anxiety as high as yours.  I don’t think I could’ve accomplished that much.  Peace to you.

Di, An update. Good news/Bad news Ted actually got his room cleaned up about as good as you can expect from a *teenager*, (14). There was still enough stuff on the floor that I couldn’t see that the nice new vacuum cleaner sucked up a wooden piece and the belt for the Tomorrow morning I have to go back downtown to another store, buy a belt or two, (more likely three), plus some extra bags because I get the sinking feeling that this cleanup is going to be longer and bigger than I’d thought originally. This time I’ll take some time at the clubhouse a coupla blocks away from the store and do some deep breathing, meditation before heading out. Luckily it’s not the hardware store. This time I’m going to a vacuum shop and I know one of the guys there, so I don’t think I’ll be quite so tense, as long as he’s there. If he’s not, I’ll still go in, get the belts etc., and head for home. Thanks for your thoughts of peace. Alan B. If you want my real email, remove all the *’s.

Response:

Hi, Alan, Good old deep cleaning time – I just finished mine up last week and then had the carpets cleaned.  it does feel good!!  My vacuum cleaner also quit on me – so I had to take a 2 day break from vacuuming in the middle of one big mess in my house…

Elise, that sounds very much like  my house right now. Sounds like you did get through the vacuum ordeal well and "little white lies" about the low blood glucose don’t hurt anyone.

Yeah, but I’m still kinda PO’d that I had that reaction. My husband is like you – he keeps receipts, books, parts on all major purchases.  And they do come in handy from time to time.

Saved me a bundle,$$$, in this vacuum ordeal. I am sorry to hear about your ex-co-worker.  I wish him well..

So do I. Good luck the cleaning and the printer.

The printer will be easy. I like doing that stuff ))) Cleaning the house? ;-(((((((( Regards, Alan B. If you want my real email, remove all the *’s.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – :Any way I’ll cut this rambling short. I just needed to share this with :ASAP. Cheryl and I have discussed it, but it still has put a damper on :the weekend. I’ll still clean, vacuum, go grocery shopping. All the :regular stuff, but I still am worried about my friend. He was the best :person I ever worked under. Period! Now I’m afraid that I might lose :him. Dear Ted, Glad to hear you had some triumphs yesterday, you can always use some of those  So sorry about your friend! If he beat cancer once, perhaps he can do it again, there is always hope. I wish him well.

Thanks Jackie, but I’m Al, Ted’s father. But, that’s OK.  It’s Saturday and we’re all in weekend mode here too. Hands type, but I can’t connect it to what I’m typing. My brains in neutral too, until Monday. Thanks, Alan B. If you want my real email, remove all the *’s.

Response:

Oh Alan I can’t believe the day you had!  Sending many healing thoughts your way and big hugs to you, Cheryl and your friend.  I wish I had some cheery things to say to you, but I don’t.  There is one good thing I can say, you did quite a lot in my book with anxiety as high as yours.  I don’t think I could’ve accomplished that much.  Peace to you. Di

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cheryl, Ted and I have begun our summer cleanup. Going in and getting the dust etc., that is in out of the way places. Just doing a real good cleaning. Everything going OK, but then the vacuum dies. Only had it 4 months, but the motor died. Poof, bye-bye, so long and gack. Had the receipt stapled to the box. I keep all boxes major and minor items with the sales bill stapled to it. Cheryl says it’s obsessive, I call it keeping everything in order so that items can be replaced or repaired under warranty. The vacuum was a cheapy. Said it collected all dust and allergens on the box, but had all the stuff vacuumed through the motor and some of it flew out the exhaust. Not really a well made piece of equipment. Had to go back to the store where I purchased it. I already knew that I wanted to return it and get a better unit. As soon as I entered the store my hands started to shake, my anxiety level went up to 11 on a scale of 1-10. Dry mouth, sweating and just wanted to get the hell out of there. Told the clerk that the hands shaking was from low blood glucose. He bought that Bulls&$%# line and I picked out the model I wanted to up sell to from their catologue. No problem there, except that this store didn’t have one but their store nearest us had a couple. One was saved for me. When I got to that store later in the afternoon, I had the clerk open the box and I wanted to make sure that everything was there and that it was built better than the last. Again anxiety right up there at 11, hands shaking and looking through the box. Everything there, so now I had to carry that box about 10 minutes to home. Did that OK. Got it assembled and working OK. Wife likes it a lot and so do I. As I was vacuuming there was a knock on the door and there was my old supervisor from the Feds. Said he had a colour printer for me, if I wanted it. LOL. I had a death grip on it a few seconds later. He said he had a newer model and that he hadn’t used this printer for about a year. I just need to clean the heads and it will work. As we were talking I noticed that he was upset about something. When I worked under him, the two of us instantly hit it off and I would start doing a repair the way he wanted it before he even told me. ESP almost! I could tell by his body language that something was going on. He’s going into the hospital for cancer surgery next week. It had been in remission for years, but had come back in another place. Again, my anxiety up to 11. I had a day that had many victories, the vacuum replacement and the printer, but the printer came with a heavy emotional payload. I don’t know if I’ll be able to visit him in the hospital. My father died when I was 15 from cancer, and since then I’ve just had a dread of getting any medical tests done. When I broke my leg, I handled it quite well after my Pdoc visited me and had my meds increased a little to help with post traumatic stress. I also visited the psych ward while there to join in group therapy for PTS patients. Any way I’ll cut this rambling short. I just needed to share this with ASAP. Cheryl and I have discussed it, but it still has put a damper on the weekend. I’ll still clean, vacuum, go grocery shopping. All the regular stuff, but I still am worried about my friend. He was the best person I ever worked under. Period! Now I’m afraid that I might lose him. I’m ending on a positive note. Cheryl’s bursitis, and tendonitist is finally starting to show signs of improvement. She’s going to physio once a week and comes back with more exercises to do. She’s getting more degrees of movement everyday. She’s on half the dose on NSAID’s she started with and I help her how ever I can. Hot water bottle on the joint for ten minutes before starting exercises, and a cold compress afterwards. I still have my therabands from my leg break and am using them to offer some resistance to get full degree of movement back. The physiotherapist said that her joint didn’t freeze, has full movement, it’s just some swelling that needs to be looked after. She’s expected to make a full recovery. Alan B. If you want my real email, remove all the *’s.

Response:

Cheryl, Ted and I have begun our summer cleanup. Going in and getting the dust etc., that is in out of the way places. Just doing a real good cleaning. Everything going OK, but then the vacuum dies. Only had it 4 months, but the motor died. Poof, bye-bye, so long and gack. Had the receipt stapled to the box. I keep all boxes major and minor items with the sales bill stapled to it. Cheryl says it’s obsessive, I call it keeping everything in order so that items can be replaced or repaired under warranty. The vacuum was a cheapy. Said it collected all dust and allergens on the box, but had all the stuff vacuumed through the motor and some of it flew out the exhaust. Not really a well made piece of equipment. Had to go back to the store where I purchased it. I already knew that I wanted to return it and get a better unit. As soon as I entered the store my hands started to shake, my anxiety level went up to 11 on a scale of 1-10. Dry mouth, sweating and just wanted to get the hell out of there. Told the clerk that the hands shaking was from low blood glucose. He bought that Bulls&$%# line and I picked out the model I wanted to up sell to from their catologue. No problem there, except that this store didn’t have one but their store nearest us had a couple. One was saved for me.   When I got to that store later in the afternoon, I had the clerk open the box and I wanted to make sure that everything was there and that it was built better than the last. Again anxiety right up there at 11, hands shaking and looking through the box. Everything there, so now I had to carry that box about 10 minutes to home. Did that OK. Got it assembled and working OK. Wife likes it a lot and so do I. As I was vacuuming there was a knock on the door and there was my old supervisor from the Feds. Said he had a colour printer for me, if I wanted it. LOL. I had a death grip on it a few seconds later. He said he had a newer model and that he hadn’t used this printer for about a year. I just need to clean the heads and it will work. As we were talking I noticed that he was upset about something. When I worked under him, the two of us instantly hit it off and I would start doing a repair the way he wanted it before he even told me. ESP almost! I could tell by his body language that something was going on. He’s going into the hospital for cancer surgery next week. It had been in remission for years, but had come back in another place. Again, my anxiety up to 11. I had a day that had many victories, the vacuum replacement and the printer, but the printer came with a heavy emotional payload. I don’t know if I’ll be able to visit him in the hospital. My father died when I was 15 from cancer, and since then I’ve just had a dread of getting any medical tests done. When I broke my leg, I handled it quite well after my Pdoc visited me and had my meds increased a little to help with post traumatic stress. I also visited the psych ward while there to join in group therapy for PTS patients. Any way I’ll cut this rambling short. I just needed to share this with ASAP. Cheryl and I have discussed it, but it still has put a damper on the weekend. I’ll still clean, vacuum, go grocery shopping. All the regular stuff, but I still am worried about my friend. He was the best person I ever worked under. Period! Now I’m afraid that I might lose him. I’m ending on a positive note. Cheryl’s bursitis, and tendonitist is finally starting to show signs of improvement. She’s going to physio once a week and comes back with more exercises to do. She’s getting more degrees of movement everyday. She’s on half the dose on NSAID’s she started with and I help her how ever I can. Hot water bottle on the joint for ten minutes before starting exercises, and a cold compress afterwards. I still have my therabands from my leg break and am using them to offer some resistance to get full degree of movement back. The physiotherapist said that her joint didn’t freeze, has full movement, it’s just some swelling that needs to be looked after. She’s expected to make a full recovery. Alan B. If you want my real email, remove all the *’s.

Response:

Hi, Alan, Good old deep cleaning time – I just finished mine up last week and then had the carpets cleaned.  it does feel good!!  My vacuum cleaner also quit on me – so I had to take a 2 day break from vacuuming in the middle of one big mess in my house… Sounds like you did get through the vacuum ordeal well and "little white lies" about the low blood glucose don’t hurt anyone. My husband is like you – he keeps receipts, books, parts on all major purchases.  And they do come in handy from time to time. I am sorry to hear about your ex-co-worker.  I wish him well… Good luck the cleaning and the printer. smiles, Elise

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cheryl, Ted and I have begun our summer cleanup. Going in and getting the dust etc., that is in out of the way places. Just doing a real good cleaning. Everything going OK, but then the vacuum dies. Only had it 4 months, but the motor died. Poof, bye-bye, so long and gack. Had the receipt stapled to the box. I keep all boxes major and minor items with the sales bill stapled to it. Cheryl says it’s obsessive, I call it keeping everything in order so that items can be replaced or repaired under warranty. The vacuum was a cheapy. Said it collected all dust and allergens on the box, but had all the stuff vacuumed through the motor and some of it flew out the exhaust. Not really a well made piece of equipment. Had to go back to the store where I purchased it. I already knew that I wanted to return it and get a better unit. As soon as I entered the store my hands started to shake, my anxiety level went up to 11 on a scale of 1-10. Dry mouth, sweating and just wanted to get the hell out of there. Told the clerk that the hands shaking was from low blood glucose. He bought that Bulls&$%# line and I picked out the model I wanted to up sell to from their catologue. No problem there, except that this store didn’t have one but their store nearest us had a couple. One was saved for me. When I got to that store later in the afternoon, I had the clerk open the box and I wanted to make sure that everything was there and that it was built better than the last. Again anxiety right up there at 11, hands shaking and looking through the box. Everything there, so now I had to carry that box about 10 minutes to home. Did that OK. Got it assembled and working OK. Wife likes it a lot and so do I. As I was vacuuming there was a knock on the door and there was my old supervisor from the Feds. Said he had a colour printer for me, if I wanted it. LOL. I had a death grip on it a few seconds later. He said he had a newer model and that he hadn’t used this printer for about a year. I just need to clean the heads and it will work. As we were talking I noticed that he was upset about something. When I worked under him, the two of us instantly hit it off and I would start doing a repair the way he wanted it before he even told me. ESP almost! I could tell by his body language that something was going on. He’s going into the hospital for cancer surgery next week. It had been in remission for years, but had come back in another place. Again, my anxiety up to 11. I had a day that had many victories, the vacuum replacement and the printer, but the printer came with a heavy emotional payload. I don’t know if I’ll be able to visit him in the hospital. My father died when I was 15 from cancer, and since then I’ve just had a dread of getting any medical tests done. When I broke my leg, I handled it quite well after my Pdoc visited me and had my meds increased a little to help with post traumatic stress. I also visited the psych ward while there to join in group therapy for PTS patients. Any way I’ll cut this rambling short. I just needed to share this with ASAP. Cheryl and I have discussed it, but it still has put a damper on the weekend. I’ll still clean, vacuum, go grocery shopping. All the regular stuff, but I still am worried about my friend. He was the best person I ever worked under. Period! Now I’m afraid that I might lose him. I’m ending on a positive note. Cheryl’s bursitis, and tendonitist is finally starting to show signs of improvement. She’s going to physio once a week and comes back with more exercises to do. She’s getting more degrees of movement everyday. She’s on half the dose on NSAID’s she started with and I help her how ever I can. Hot water bottle on the joint for ten minutes before starting exercises, and a cold compress afterwards. I still have my therabands from my leg break and am using them to offer some resistance to get full degree of movement back. The physiotherapist said that her joint didn’t freeze, has full movement, it’s just some swelling that needs to be looked after. She’s expected to make a full recovery. Alan B. If you want my real email, remove all the *’s.

Response:

That was quite a day. Damn right. Are you working with a pdoc or therapist for your anxiety ?

Yes. Both a therapist and a Pdoc. I see the Pdoc in 3 weeks for a meds review. My therapist is off on vacation, but I’ve got appointment for the 15th & 28th. I’ll be dicussing this. I used to have "11" panic attacks before I sought help from a pdoc.

It was this therapist that got me started doing journal entries and rating my anxiety levels. She reviews the reactions I have and we then discuss if my reaction was appropiate and work from there. It works quite well. You should have seen me before starting with her. ((((( Hope your friend from work gets well.

Me too. He’s in our prayers. Tony

Thanks Tony, Alan B. If you want my real email, remove all the *’s.

Response:

That was quite a day. Are you working with a pdoc or therapist for your anxiety ? I used to have "11" panic attacks before I sought help from a pdoc. Hope your friend from work gets well. Tony

Response:

:Any way I’ll cut this rambling short. I just needed to share this with :ASAP. Cheryl and I have discussed it, but it still has put a damper on :the weekend. I’ll still clean, vacuum, go grocery shopping. All the :regular stuff, but I still am worried about my friend. He was the best :person I ever worked under. Period! Now I’m afraid that I might lose :him. Dear Ted, Glad to hear you had some triumphs yesterday, you can always use some of those  So sorry about your friend! If he beat cancer once, perhaps he can do it again, there is always hope. I wish him well. Jackie ~*~Hope’ is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tunes without the words And never stops –at all~*~

Response:

Things sound very busy, Alan, but be sure to be kind to yourself.  If you accept that anxiety might happen when you get in stressful encounters, then if it does, you understand that it will pass. So very sorry about your friend.  It was so nice of you to just be a listener for him.  Sometimes when one is facing serious illness, he or she simply wants someone to listen.  You are a good friend to him, Alan. Take care, Liz – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cheryl, Ted and I have begun our summer cleanup. Going in and getting the dust etc., that is in out of the way places. Just doing a real good cleaning. Everything going OK, but then the vacuum dies. Only had it 4 months, but the motor died. Poof, bye-bye, so long and gack. Had the receipt stapled to the box. I keep all boxes major and minor items with the sales bill stapled to it. Cheryl says it’s obsessive, I call it keeping everything in order so that items can be replaced or repaired under warranty. The vacuum was a cheapy. Said it collected all dust and allergens on the box, but had all the stuff vacuumed through the motor and some of it flew out the exhaust. Not really a well made piece of equipment. Had to go back to the store where I purchased it. I already knew that I wanted to return it and get a better unit. As soon as I entered the store my hands started to shake, my anxiety level went up to 11 on a scale of 1-10. Dry mouth, sweating and just wanted to get the hell out of there. Told the clerk that the hands shaking was from low blood glucose. He bought that Bulls&$%# line and I picked out the model I wanted to up sell to from their catologue. No problem there, except that this store didn’t have one but their store nearest us had a couple. One was saved for me.   When I got to that store later in the afternoon, I had the clerk open the box and I wanted to make sure that everything was there and that it was built better than the last. Again anxiety right up there at 11, hands shaking and looking through the box. Everything there, so now I had to carry that box about 10 minutes to home. Did that OK. Got it assembled and working OK. Wife likes it a lot and so do I. As I was vacuuming there was a knock on the door and there was my old supervisor from the Feds. Said he had a colour printer for me, if I wanted it. LOL. I had a death grip on it a few seconds later. He said he had a newer model and that he hadn’t used this printer for about a year. I just need to clean the heads and it will work. As we were talking I noticed that he was upset about something. When I worked under him, the two of us instantly hit it off and I would start doing a repair the way he wanted it before he even told me. ESP almost! I could tell by his body language that something was going on. He’s going into the hospital for cancer surgery next week. It had been in remission for years, but had come back in another place. Again, my anxiety up to 11. I had a day that had many victories, the vacuum replacement and the printer, but the printer came with a heavy emotional payload. I don’t know if I’ll be able to visit him in the hospital. My father died when I was 15 from cancer, and since then I’ve just had a dread of getting any medical tests done. When I broke my leg, I handled it quite well after my Pdoc visited me and had my meds increased a little to help with post traumatic stress. I also visited the psych ward while there to join in group therapy for PTS patients. Any way I’ll cut this rambling short. I just needed to share this with ASAP. Cheryl and I have discussed it, but it still has put a damper on the weekend. I’ll still clean, vacuum, go grocery shopping. All the regular stuff, but I still am worried about my friend. He was the best person I ever worked under. Period! Now I’m afraid that I might lose him. I’m ending on a positive note. Cheryl’s bursitis, and tendonitist is finally starting to show signs of improvement. She’s going to physio once a week and comes back with more exercises to do. She’s getting more degrees of movement everyday. She’s on half the dose on NSAID’s she started with and I help her how ever I can. Hot water bottle on the joint for ten minutes before starting exercises, and a cold compress afterwards. I still have my therabands from my leg break and am using them to offer some resistance to get full degree of movement back. The physiotherapist said that her joint didn’t freeze, has full movement, it’s just some swelling that needs to be looked after. She’s expected to make a full recovery. Alan B. If you want my real email, remove all the *’s.

Response:

Question:

just adding my contact info; I could use someone to talk to if any of you are bored enough :p Email me at jessk(at)danir.net or even better, get me on AOL IM at JessKfur

Response:

oh man… I can relate to your story in a many ways, but not to any extent as that. I hope things get better. Soon after I had been wrongly arrested* and detained for 24 hours (left on the floor of the interrogation room drooling helplessly… etc) I was unable to be away from my own bed and even, to some extent away from my room. I cancelled a lot of things, even a trip out to see my sister in Montreal because I just felt sick with the thought of being out of my room. I still don’t know if I can sleep anywhere else but… I can recall that terrible night. Good luck. And stick around. (((((hugs))))) *Well okay technically the arrest was legal, but it had been because of the medication I was put on. And god, after 6 hours in the frozen interrogation room I would say about anything… anyhow I think the charges are going to be dropped soon.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all, I should’ve introduced myself more clearly before that "Help" post I made, so guess I’ll do it now… Am 18 years old, female, live in north New Jersey USA. My entire life (As far back as I can remember, and I mean preschool) I’ve been overly sensitive and an outcast from schoolmates (except in 10th/11th grade but that’s another story, I’ll explain later) I was always THE one to make fun of, it got so bad in the fourth grade that I had to make daily reports to the principal about who harassed me when, where, etc, and they called a meeting of all the parents of abusive kids to talk about it..though I guess it didn’t work. I was always (well.. after I hit 4 or 5 years old anyway) overweight, it’s genetic. I think it mostly slacked off at 7th or 8th grade, but I became the friendless outcast, the one alone in the lunchroom, etc. I had friends throughout my school days but all of them betrayed me and used me, except one who remains my friend today (if I ever saw him anyway) My outcastness attracted the attention of the school counselor, and that led to countless medications, and therapists, none of which did anything (not even side effects with the medication). Another part of the reason that my parents and counselor and etc was because I got sick very often, and missed more and more school as the years passed, and they thought I was faking. One thing that has been very difficult throughout the years is that my parents never believe me when I’m sick, or have anything wrong with me. I have collapsed from my chronic fatigue more than once and my mom just says stop being dramatic. And every time I was sick it was that "I didn’t feel like going to school". She to this day doesn’t believe I even have chronic fatigue, and it took a catscan and endoscopy (Camera down the throat) for her to believe I had anything wrong with my stomach. (I have a hiatal hernia and acid reflux disease which I take medication for; and it causes chronic painful hiccups…the stomach doctor, using her words, "refuses to help me" as far as fixing the things wrong with my stomach aside from heavily medicating it which doesn’t help the painful hiccups. The same catscan revealed that both my kidneys were full of cysts, diagnosed later as advanced adult polycystic kidney disease. Back to the storyline… I remember I hated therapy and didn’t want to go, I didn’t think I was depressed and I still don’t (back then anyway) They just mistook my sensitivity for depression, I think, or else some of those countless medications would have worked, right? For a long time I was obsessed with suicide; it wasn’t even out of depression either though it sounds odd. I was just too realistic and knew I would never amount to much (Which turned out true so far :p) and I cut (very little) for awhile, and one day I was bored and so I told my mom about it, and she took me to my therapist (a not-too-bad one at the time) and they asked me if I was safe to be alone for the weekend, not to kill myself; I knew I was too wimpy to actually do it but  said no, I wouldn’t be safe..partially because I was so bored and thought going to the hospital would be an interesting change. So I went, to the local hospital, and it was hellish. I don’t remember it clearly but they eventually transferred me to a…private hospital? I guess…it was a slightly nicer version of the first hellhole and the whole place was crazy kids. I remember my roommate was a kleptomaniac because she kept stealing my stuff and they had to lock her up because of it in another room. The nurses there were assholes, any time someone disagreed with them they forced them to take thorazine. They almost lost something very valuable that I took with me and gave to them when I arrived there for safe keeping, and my mom thinks because I demanded they find it before I left (and they did find it) that because of that I was mentally ill. So I was back home, I don’t really remember what else specifically happened, more medications, more therapists, more BS. Anyway, after a few therapists, my parents picked a particularly vicious one (Dr. Pone, in Ridgewood NJ, avoid her if you can :p) and I really hated her, and she advised my parents to use physical force to make me go to her appointments, and they did, which lead to me calling the police on my parents, and they took us to the station and they took me to the same hospital as before because my parents told the cops that I was the one with the problem and nobody would believe that my parents were actually doing anything wrong. Sure, nothing wrong with beating up your kids to force them to go to a therapist that they hate, and does more harm than good, right? So they took me to the hospital (wtf?) the same one as before, either they had noplace else to take me or they believed my parents and thought I was nuts. I was 16 as this happened.  They put me in the same unit as before, and eventually transferred me to the "long term" unit. The whole time I battled to find a way to escape my parents’ custody, and nobody would help me. I talked about divorcing from my parents, nobody would help or give advice, I guess they thought I was kidding. I found a friend’s aunt that I was close with and she was willing to become my legal guardian until I was 18. The deal would have worked out; except that my parents, who were the problem, still had custody of me and were able to say I couldn’t go, which is just about the MOST fucked up thing I’ve experienced; not being able to escape abusive parents BECAUSE the parents won’t give permission. After several other similar attempts and denials (Nobody wants to adopt a 16-yr-old) and three endless miserable months among screaming abusive kids (I can’t describe it without making this even more needlessly long than it already is, but I’ll say that place caused post-traumatic stress syndrome and nightmares, neither of which has worn off yet, and it was mostly because of the kids.) So after more messy government BS, I went home to my parents, who left me alone after that because they knew I wasn’t afraid to take action in my defense… and since they stopped forcing me into therapy, things have been peaceful and good. At some point, I think just before my first hospitalization, in 9th grade, I was transferred to a special ed school because of my mom’s belief that I was refusing to go to school and never really got sick. The school was great, and I made alot of friends there, I really enjoyed it until I finally had to drop out because of missing so many days from being sick. I’m off all medication except for my stomach (acid reflux). I have always had trouble sleeping, and took trazodone for it because it put me to sleep, but recently my doctor refused to refill my prescription for it, so it takes me several hours to fall asleep now without it, and I save my current supply for times when I actually need to wake up at a certain time the next day (rare since I dropped out of school because of being sick so often) Things were great for a long time, no problems, I was fine except for health issues which were few and far between…until I got a kidneystone. This was about 3 or 4 months ago. It was painful, and long, I went to the emergency room where I was handled poorly by doctors and didn’t recieve any pain relief for 12 hours (yes, I counted). Finally they gave me something that stopped the pain, I passed out when the pain stopped (I hadn’t slept since it started, and it woke me up after 2hrs of sleep) I stayed for two nights at the hospital, I couldn’t eat, so they fed me or something’d me through an IV. After the initial pain stopped and I woke up again after sleeping, I passed the stone on my own without pain or incident in the hospital, but I was very weak because I hadn’t eaten or drank for three days aside from through my arm :p I recovered slowly, and they sent me home. I was alright in a few days ‘cept now my sides still hurt on and off. My emotions became oddly silent; I drifted moreso into being more happy in being alone, and I mean sincerely happy. I would have loved to go off and live by myself forever. I just didn’t need people anymore and I wasn’t emotional about much at all. It continued like that until… well, first of all, scroll down a bit and read the "Help" post I made yesterday. After that I’ll continue with my story… The "Help" post explains what happened next, with the hotel, and the food poisoning, and the indescribably painful psychological side-effects… I want to go to a therapist ASAP, though I’m not sure if a psychiatrist or psychologist is better for what I need. I’m miserable, living hour-to-hour and scared stiff about whether I’ll be sick or not for the important convention I’m attending in three weeks, and

… read more »

Response:

Hi all, I should’ve introduced myself more clearly before that "Help" post I made, so guess I’ll do it now… Am 18 years old, female, live in north New Jersey USA. My entire life (As far back as I can remember, and I mean preschool) I’ve been overly sensitive and an outcast from schoolmates (except in 10th/11th grade but that’s another story, I’ll explain later) I was always THE one to make fun of, it got so bad in the fourth grade that I had to make daily reports to the principal about who harassed me when, where, etc, and they called a meeting of all the parents of abusive kids to talk about it..though I guess it didn’t work. I was always (well.. after I hit 4 or 5 years old anyway) overweight, it’s genetic. I think it mostly slacked off at 7th or 8th grade, but I became the friendless outcast, the one alone in the lunchroom, etc. I had friends throughout my school days but all of them betrayed me and used me, except one who remains my friend today (if I ever saw him anyway) My outcastness attracted the attention of the school counselor, and that led to countless medications, and therapists, none of which did anything (not even side effects with the medication). Another part of the reason that my parents and counselor and etc was because I got sick very often, and missed more and more school as the years passed, and they thought I was faking. One thing that has been very difficult throughout the years is that my parents never believe me when I’m sick, or have anything wrong with me. I have collapsed from my chronic fatigue more than once and my mom just says stop being dramatic. And every time I was sick it was that "I didn’t feel like going to school". She to this day doesn’t believe I even have chronic fatigue, and it took a catscan and endoscopy (Camera down the throat) for her to believe I had anything wrong with my stomach. (I have a hiatal hernia and acid reflux disease which I take medication for; and it causes chronic painful hiccups…the stomach doctor, using her words, "refuses to help me" as far as fixing the things wrong with my stomach aside from heavily medicating it which doesn’t help the painful hiccups. The same catscan revealed that both my kidneys were full of cysts, diagnosed later as advanced adult polycystic kidney disease. Back to the storyline… I remember I hated therapy and didn’t want to go, I didn’t think I was depressed and I still don’t (back then anyway) They just mistook my sensitivity for depression, I think, or else some of those countless medications would have worked, right? For a long time I was obsessed with suicide; it wasn’t even out of depression either though it sounds odd. I was just too realistic and knew I would never amount to much (Which turned out true so far :p) and I cut (very little) for awhile, and one day I was bored and so I told my mom about it, and she took me to my therapist (a not-too-bad one at the time) and they asked me if I was safe to be alone for the weekend, not to kill myself; I knew I was too wimpy to actually do it but  said no, I wouldn’t be safe..partially because I was so bored and thought going to the hospital would be an interesting change. So I went, to the local hospital, and it was hellish. I don’t remember it clearly but they eventually transferred me to a…private hospital? I guess…it was a slightly nicer version of the first hellhole and the whole place was crazy kids. I remember my roommate was a kleptomaniac because she kept stealing my stuff and they had to lock her up because of it in another room. The nurses there were assholes, any time someone disagreed with them they forced them to take thorazine. They almost lost something very valuable that I took with me and gave to them when I arrived there for safe keeping, and my mom thinks because I demanded they find it before I left (and they did find it) that because of that I was mentally ill. So I was back home, I don’t really remember what else specifically happened, more medications, more therapists, more BS. Anyway, after a few therapists, my parents picked a particularly vicious one (Dr. Pone, in Ridgewood NJ, avoid her if you can :p) and I really hated her, and she advised my parents to use physical force to make me go to her appointments, and they did, which lead to me calling the police on my parents, and they took us to the station and they took me to the same hospital as before because my parents told the cops that I was the one with the problem and nobody would believe that my parents were actually doing anything wrong. Sure, nothing wrong with beating up your kids to force them to go to a therapist that they hate, and does more harm than good, right? So they took me to the hospital (wtf?) the same one as before, either they had noplace else to take me or they believed my parents and thought I was nuts. I was 16 as this happened.  They put me in the same unit as before, and eventually transferred me to the "long term" unit. The whole time I battled to find a way to escape my parents’ custody, and nobody would help me. I talked about divorcing from my parents, nobody would help or give advice, I guess they thought I was kidding. I found a friend’s aunt that I was close with and she was willing to become my legal guardian until I was 18. The deal would have worked out; except that my parents, who were the problem, still had custody of me and were able to say I couldn’t go, which is just about the MOST fucked up thing I’ve experienced; not being able to escape abusive parents BECAUSE the parents won’t give permission. After several other similar attempts and denials (Nobody wants to adopt a 16-yr-old) and three endless miserable months among screaming abusive kids (I can’t describe it without making this even more needlessly long than it already is, but I’ll say that place caused post-traumatic stress syndrome and nightmares, neither of which has worn off yet, and it was mostly because of the kids.) So after more messy government BS, I went home to my parents, who left me alone after that because they knew I wasn’t afraid to take action in my defense… and since they stopped forcing me into therapy, things have been peaceful and good. At some point, I think just before my first hospitalization, in 9th grade, I was transferred to a special ed school because of my mom’s belief that I was refusing to go to school and never really got sick. The school was great, and I made alot of friends there, I really enjoyed it until I finally had to drop out because of missing so many days from being sick. I’m off all medication except for my stomach (acid reflux). I have always had trouble sleeping, and took trazodone for it because it put me to sleep, but recently my doctor refused to refill my prescription for it, so it takes me several hours to fall asleep now without it, and I save my current supply for times when I actually need to wake up at a certain time the next day (rare since I dropped out of school because of being sick so often) Things were great for a long time, no problems, I was fine except for health issues which were few and far between…until I got a kidneystone. This was about 3 or 4 months ago. It was painful, and long, I went to the emergency room where I was handled poorly by doctors and didn’t recieve any pain relief for 12 hours (yes, I counted). Finally they gave me something that stopped the pain, I passed out when the pain stopped (I hadn’t slept since it started, and it woke me up after 2hrs of sleep) I stayed for two nights at the hospital, I couldn’t eat, so they fed me or something’d me through an IV. After the initial pain stopped and I woke up again after sleeping, I passed the stone on my own without pain or incident in the hospital, but I was very weak because I hadn’t eaten or drank for three days aside from through my arm :p I recovered slowly, and they sent me home. I was alright in a few days ‘cept now my sides still hurt on and off. My emotions became oddly silent; I drifted moreso into being more happy in being alone, and I mean sincerely happy. I would have loved to go off and live by myself forever. I just didn’t need people anymore and I wasn’t emotional about much at all. It continued like that until… well, first of all, scroll down a bit and read the "Help" post I made yesterday. After that I’ll continue with my story… The "Help" post explains what happened next, with the hotel, and the food poisoning, and the indescribably painful psychological side-effects… I want to go to a therapist ASAP, though I’m not sure if a psychiatrist or psychologist is better for what I need. I’m miserable, living hour-to-hour and scared stiff about whether I’ll be sick or not for the important convention I’m attending in three weeks, and the non-refundable cruise I’m going on right after. I don’t want to get really sick at sea hours and hours away from any hospital…but in my current state I’m even more afraid of being alone for ten days while my parents go on vacation. I’m just terrified and in pain and wish to find something that can help me, to get away from this suffering and go on to do the things I really want to do without pain and fear.. ergh.. I’ll stop now, nice to meet you all, sorry for the gargantuanly huge post :p

Response: