I've got a meeting next week with a Psychiatrist and I am very afraid. I'm pretty sure that she will try to get me back on Psychotropic Medications again and the prospect is chilling to me. From about 2002 until 2007 I was on drugs that really messed me up and I believe caused me to lapse into Suicidal Ideation several times. In my opinion Psychatric folk are egotistical and can act without good reason.
For the last Decade I've not been on heavy doses of stuff, though they arrogantly seem to insist that Clinical Depression never goes away. I insist that it does, that my previous troubles were due to lots of abuse. The Abuse has long since stopped and I live in a safe environment with troubles not going outside the limits of normal life.
Hopefully, I'll get through this.
Gwen
Comments
Talking to friends also helps
Socialisation helps both depression and dementia, so keep talking to us and good luck.
Angharad
Keep Communicating
Gwen, Angharad's advice is good advice. You don't have to take the drugs if any are prescribed.
C-PTSD
It sounds like complex PTSD (viz. Judith Herman Trauma and Recovery, Bessel van der Kolk The Body Keeps The Score.) It's a consequence of trauma (abuse) over a long period of time, and depression is a common symptom. Drugs are not very effective for PTSD or C-PTSD. The cure involves (a) getting out of the abusive situation and into a safe environment and (b) various (non-drug) therapies.
I've read up on it since it seems that is what I suffer from. A large part of my journey has involved finding people I feel (relatively) safe with and who I can talk about my experiences with. My current therapist has tried EMDR and hypnosis, but so far they haven't worked -- they trigger me too much.
Unfortunately, the Psychiatric profession is mostly unwilling to believe it exists, since they generally side with the abusers and blame the victims (like they did with sex abuse of children.) Mental health professionals who try to treat it tend to be shunned by the rest of the profession.
Ass Holes
Most of the Mental Health folk I have encountered are Jerks.
Gwen
Been there, done that, etc.
Gwen,
I would try to go with a psychologist instead of a psychiatrist. The reason for that is, that generally speaking a psychologist is not allowed to prescribe chemical drugs and therefore tends to be more helpful at listening to the client, being a sounding board and helping you help yourself. Unlike psychiatrists, who are medical doctors with a specialization in mental health.
Being up-front and loud and clear in the desire of NOT wanting JUST a band-aid or silver bullet to make all problems go away, but having a burning desire to identify the root cause(s) of the problem, and then either eliminate or mitigate those cause issues. Repeat ad nauseum that you want to identify the root of the problem and then work back from the deep towards the surface to correct or mitigate the issue.
I have found it to be helpful to use a word picture with terms they are familiar with and can readily understand:
Usually when I use this analogy, it gives them pause and they tend to be more willing to take their time and work with me, instead of just handing me a quick fix and calling for the next patient.
I have been suffering from depression for over 40 years by now. It never goes away! Between flare-ups the depression just goes into hibernation. So I need to constantly be on the look-out, especially at times when it comes creeping and stalking into my daily "routine" instead of scarring the crap out of me by pouncing in with a great big roar.
Also, I am very vocal in refusing to take chemical drugs for as long as possible. But I do accept that sometimes a "pill" is necessary in order to enable me to function and find ways to correct and/or mitigate the root or contributing issue so that I can live without that "pill". I am also VERY vocal about negative side effects, and demand a fix or at least a work-around.
(When I was hospitalized with Covid the hospital food caused me a very serious constipation. I finally refused to allow the laboratory doctor to take any blood samples until the head/chief doctor came to see me. When the head honcho came that afternoon somewhat irritated, I stated my grievance respectfully but very forcefully. It did not take long to receive a dietary supplement that made a laxative unnecessary, as well as a physiotherapist.)
Even though I will state my position and experience loud and clear, I try to do it in a civil and respectful manner. Sometimes I will use quasi-blackmail. And I will also walk out of a consultation. And even though it might reek of blackmail, it does tend to get the health care providers attention. Though usually, when I have to resort to such "extreme" measures, the trust is more often that not shattered to dust. Though I hope that they will be able to also learn from the experience and provide a better service for the next client.
I hope you can apply and adapt some of my experiences to your own situation.
Greetings,
Jessica Nicole
P.S. Please be careful to not dump the baby together with the bath water.