Posted by MaryZee on February 23, 2003, at 22:41:14
In reply to Take psych meds from a pyschiatrist ONLY, posted by Gracie2 on February 23, 2003, at 14:28:08
Thank you Gracie. Would you mind answering a few questions for me? Is valium a psych drug? How do you find a good psychiatrist? When my siser died of breast cancer 3 l/2 years ago (she, along with my other sister - my only siblings - was my best friend)I went into counseling. My living sister is in remission from stage III breast cancer - she had it when the other sister died - to say it was horrible is an understatement. The one who died was living with my husband and me -
sort of like hospice, after she had to give up her place and her job. Anyhow, when I started counseling I was on the Prozac. The counselor knew and put it in her report. A pyschiatrist, whose job was to go from clinic to clinic and check on the patients and their meds once every six months, saw me once for about ten minutes in the entire year and a half. He barely said anything, checked my file, and that was that!! He was totally useless!! I told my counselor that. She just "looked" at me - knew she thought so too. Wish I had such an easy job. I told him about the Prozac, all my symptoms, etc. Nothing. Just said "fine" and that was that!! I don't know how to get a good pyschiatrist. Would going back for counseling, and not taking any meds, be o.k.? I know I must sound like a basketcase - maybe I am. But inspite of how I sound, I am intelligent, try hard and do want to feel better! I know there is more stress and heartache ahead of me. It's a given. I want to be able to handle it better than I did when my first sister died. My mother died when I was six and my father turned into an alcoholic after that.Think that's when all the stress started and it didn't catch up to me until I was in my twenties and started getting those panic attacks.
Thank God I have a great husband - though he doesn't really understand all the time. He is worried that I stopped all the med's. I didn't have children - probably a good thing. Wouldn't want to pass this stuff on to another person.
Insurance will not pay for the counseling - we made sacrifices so I could go when I did. Correction - it paid part of it. Don't know if is would pay for a pyschciatrist. I plan on starting with a new Internist and a good physical, does that sound right? Seeing my current Internist tomorrow morning and am going to let him know that I stopped all the med's he had me on. That should be interesting. I don't think I should get a name of a psychiatrist from him, do you? Well, I'm in my fifties and still don't have anything figured out. Have felt sick for thirty years - can stand it a little longer!
Thank you so much for reading my posts. It really helps and I am trying to take your advise. I hope you are feeling well! You sound like such a kind, "together" person! One who really cares about others. God Bless. to
poster:MaryZee
thread:201988
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030219/msgs/203211.html