Question:
i just want to share this because i think it’s kind of interesting and might be of use to someone… i’m on my 6th shrink… i started with him when he was a resident. i saw him in a program where he did therapy with me, doled out my meds, was highly supervised, and was… well…$20 a session (therapy sessions 45 min)…so… the thing is–he was in a hospital setting … he happened to have been (and still is) at one of the best hospitals in the country. he was supervised by pharmacologists and psychiatrists and whatnot…and this made me feel a lot more self-assured about the medical treatment he was giving me. he could give me whatever the "new" thing was.. he could be more flexible… he was more paranoid about searching out symptoms and finding out what they meant… on the therapy side of things… well… he was a little green… i wanted to fire him for at least a good six months before we settled into something… i’ve been with him (doing therapy and meds) for three years now.. and although he’s in private practice, i’m lucky enough to be off the end of his pay scale…and he’s better at therapy 
…and he still works the er at the hospital.. i could have switched residents had i not found him satisfactory..i think finding young shrinks is a good idea because the knowledge about biochemistry, neurobiology, and neuropharmacology has changed so much even in the past year that getting someone right out of the gates might be a good idea (instead of some old lame codger or stick in the mud)…it’s a crapshoot… i met a man who did the same program. he said none of the shrinks he went to were willing to be "experimental" with him… they were too conservative.. and younger doctor wasn’t… the therapy thing. i think it’s vitally important to do therapy and drugs if the therapy can impact a person’s situation at that time. some people don’t want it or need it. i’ve done two day programs … i learned some stuff but i hated them 
boring. but i did learn stuff… but the therapy is crucial for me… like group is for some people…me too… anyway $20 is worth the shot… he stuck me in the hospital a year ago for being manic… he’s changed my meds…and! he’s gotten some swanky new clothes now that he’s earning his keep (geez med students don’t look so hot..)… oh and all the other shrinks…. they can wipe my ass… they failed to notice the bad family situation i was in (like i had to live with my parents for awhile and well…i’m a survivor of incest)… they gave me 7 diagnoses… and well i don’t know i had to move around a lot then maybe that was part of it… but i felt like there was a lot of band aid stuff going on and no solutions taking place… i see a neurologist as well..she’s like a ma to me..and reminds me like my shrink does that taking care of myself, getting out, eating right, sleeping right all that shit makes a difference (not like i do it or anything )… oh poo… lexi who’s been doing ptsd moments and is on her second migraine of the month! wu-hay!
Response:
hi alexia. … ..i think finding young shrinks is a good idea because the knowledge about biochemistry, neurobiology, and neuropharmacology has changed so much even in the past year that getting someone right out of the gates might be a good idea (instead of some old lame codger or stick in the mud)…
I agree. The last time I was binned, the young resident put me on the lowest dose of lithium that would keep my blood level at .6 (after I had come down from the mania). I am eternally grateful to him – minimises side-effects. the therapy thing. i think it’s vitally important to do therapy and drugs if the therapy can impact a person’s situation at that time. some people don’t want it or need it. i’ve done two day programs … i learned some stuff but i hated them boring. but i did learn stuff… but the therapy is crucial for me… like group is for some people…me too…
Different strokes for different folks. I personally think that therapy can be useful for dealing with issues in your life (including the effects of being BP) – but it’s basically unrelated to BP itself. he stuck me in the hospital a year ago for being manic… he’s changed my meds…and! he’s gotten some swanky new clothes now that he’s earning his keep (geez med students don’t look so hot..)… oh and all the other shrinks…. they can wipe my ass… they failed to notice the bad family situation i was in (like i had to live with my parents for awhile and well…i’m a survivor of incest)… they gave me 7 diagnoses… and well i don’t know i had to move around a lot then maybe that was part of it… but i felt like there was a lot of band aid stuff going on and no solutions taking place…
The good shrinks are like the good doctors, 1 in a thousand or so. i see a neurologist as well..she’s like a ma to me..and reminds me like my shrink does that taking care of myself, getting out, eating right, sleeping right all that shit makes a difference (not like i do it or anything )… oh poo… lexi who’s been doing ptsd moments and is on her second migraine of the month! wu-hay!
Sorry to hear that. Sue.
Response:
i see a neurologist as well..she’s like a ma to me..and reminds me like my shrink does that taking care of myself, getting out, eating right, sleeping right all that shit makes a difference (not like i do it or anything )…
I personally think that getting out is highly over rated. I LIKE staying at home and doing all my projects. It is quiet and I dont have any stupid ppl to get mad at. LOL I’m not a hermit–but so what if I was? I just dont like going out–something bad often happens. Besides, it hurts. Nancy to email me, remove the Z. administrator/creator/moderator alt.med.fibromyalgia.recovery.info (moderated) alt.support.depression.manic.moderated
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