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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Marie1 on May 17, 2001, at 10:40:23
Is it possible to get to the ripe old age of 46 and not realize how basically f**ked up you are? I don't mean this as a rhetorical question. I initially started seeing a psychiatrist over a year ago due to an episode of major depression; I chose a psychiatrist because I thought it was only a matter of the right meds. Well, we got that corrected but I'm still going! Seems like every week I realize some new earth-shattering thing, like, my mother suicided (how does one NOT know THAT, you ask?) or I was sexually abused as a child, or...gee, wonder what"s going to come out next week? Does the rest of the world understand there's a connection between sex & love? Don't people do recreational drugs just for the hell of it? Am I really crazy? Can anyone else relate to this? Is everybody f**ked up?? Or did I just get caught? One time I told my shrink that he could probably find some sort of psychological problem to work on with anybody he lassoed in off the street. He responded that the incidence of mental health problems would be no greater than a medical doc finding physically sick people off the street. I guess it's all a matter of degree. And I've just been deluding myself all along. But no, I don't think so. I've maintained a marriage, job, children, etc. I can't be too crazy if I can do that, right? Can anyone relate? Or am I even more pathetic than I thought?
p.s. Sorry if I offended anyone with the F-word.
Posted by judy1 on May 17, 2001, at 11:26:16
In reply to Ramblings after therapy..., posted by Marie1 on May 17, 2001, at 10:40:23
You sound totally functional despite your past. And I really think that is the key to mental illness- the degree to which you are able to function in life. I have a past similar to yours but for some reason wasn't able to develope appropriate coping skills and wasn't able to keep a job, marriage(s), etc. It sounds like you were able to use a strong sense of denial to 'forget' your past, and I think it's really healthy of you to work it through now (which makes you strong, not pathetic) Best of luck on your journey- judy
Posted by bandolph on May 17, 2001, at 13:03:27
In reply to Ramblings after therapy..., posted by Marie1 on May 17, 2001, at 10:40:23
With age comes wisdom. Even for those who battle their demons. I have bipolar and add but have like you maintained a life that is enviable in some respects. Your doc is wrong aboutfinding problems.
There was a study done in Florida where they took a hundred people off the street and gave tham mri's of there lower backs. An amazing 75% had herniated discs. Only around 10 of the people knew they had a disc problem.
Just drive down any highwayand count the screwballs.Is it possible to get to the ripe old age of 46 and not realize how basically f**ked up you are? I don't mean this as a rhetorical question. I initially started seeing a psychiatrist over a year ago due to an episode of major depression; I chose a psychiatrist because I thought it was only a matter of the right meds. Well, we got that corrected but I'm still going! Seems like every week I realize some new earth-shattering thing, like, my mother suicided (how does one NOT know THAT, you ask?) or I was sexually abused as a child, or...gee, wonder what"s going to come out next week? Does the rest of the world understand there's a connection between sex & love? Don't people do recreational drugs just for the hell of it? Am I really crazy? Can anyone else relate to this? Is everybody f**ked up?? Or did I just get caught? One time I told my shrink that he could probably find some sort of psychological problem to work on with anybody he lassoed in off the street. He responded that the incidence of mental health problems would be no greater than a medical doc finding physically sick people off the street. I guess it's all a matter of degree. And I've just been deluding myself all along. But no, I don't think so. I've maintained a marriage, job, children, etc. I can't be too crazy if I can do that, right? Can anyone relate? Or am I even more pathetic than I thought?
> p.s. Sorry if I offended anyone with the F-word.
Posted by JennyR on May 17, 2001, at 17:00:31
In reply to Re: Ramblings after therapy..., posted by bandolph on May 17, 2001, at 13:03:27
I don't think it's unusual to find lots to explore inside yourself once you decide to do so. There's a lot we keep down and don't bring to consciousness until the right therapist situation. It sounds like you click with yours if you are making discovery.
Posted by Greg A. on May 22, 2001, at 14:05:19
In reply to Ramblings after therapy..., posted by Marie1 on May 17, 2001, at 10:40:23
Marie:What a coincidence! A magic age? 46 for me too and I suddenly fell apart. Or so it seemed to everyone on the outside.
I, too have a normal life – job, wife, kids. Depression and anxiety. Maybe normal as well but unrecognized and unreported by most. I think a large part of my depression has resulted from twenty years of unresolved problems and the stress of trying to keep it together. Not major, traumatic problems but too much concern about just ‘getting’ there and forgetting to enjoy the journey.
I am 48 now and have had to examine a lot of things in my life over the past 2 years. I can say that I feel the trend is up now and not down as before. I lost a couple of friends by admitting my problems – but as it turns out they were not really friends, were they?
Posted by Marie1 on May 22, 2001, at 14:39:18
In reply to The Magic Age?, posted by Greg A. on May 22, 2001, at 14:05:19
I'm glad you're trending upward :-). Maybe when I get to the ripe old age of 48, I'll be able to say the same thing. I kind of wish you hadn't mentioned the age thing, though. Tomorrow's my 47th birthday :-( !!
Marie
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