Mental Health Issues
 

Anyone else dealing with mental health issues? And I am talking about real mental health issues, not "zOmG i HaVE iSHOos MoAR aTeNsHUN plEZ!!!111". I have a fairly severe Anxiety and Panic Disorder, Cyclical Endogenous Depression (fancy way of saying I have clinical depression which occurs in cycles), Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, Residual Borderline Personality Disorder and chronic Anorexia Nervosa (subtype restricting) which I have been in recovery for for the past 2 and half or so years. I've also has two Psychotic episodes (one related to the overuse of Cannabis, the other to my anxiety disorder), seeing green goblins dancing on the doorstep of my house was an interesting experience to say the least *lol* and have dealt with issues of self harm in the past. I'm not currently on any medications because I haven't had much like finding something that works without me suffering horrendous negative side effects and weird reactions.

Oh my lady and lord I sound like a walking stereotype for Goth *lol*

So anyway what's your diagnosis? and how do you deal with it? Perhaps we could make this a sort of support/vent/rant kind of thread :)

I was diagnosed with is disthymic disorder with a general anxiety disorder. There also seems to be a hint of avoidant personality disorder in there as well.

For those of you who don’t know about disthymia, it’s a low grade depression. I like to think of it as having the blahs. You’re at a constant low, but not low enough to really hinder your daily activities unless you’re having a particularly bad day.

I’ve been dealing with it for over ten years and I have been informed that I may end up living this way for the rest of my life. I have learned to deal with it in my own way despite everyone’s ranting about how I need to crawl out of my hole and just be happy. I have the feeling if I actually had a week where I was completely happy; I would go insane from not really knowing or remembering what true happiness is.

What's normal?
 

It's hard for me because right now I am having trouble concentrating. I don't have the diagnosis of attention deficit disorder but I'm on 35 mg of concerta.
I'm suddenly really getting the abilities back of being able to focus, but it seems like each evening at around the same time, right as the medicine is wearing off I have this sudden urge to scream. I can't walk straight. I start to feel a little weird. I can't slow down. I start to feel nervous about everything and can't sit still. I don't know what this is. Does anyone have any idea what's going on? My guess is that its withdrawel.

I haven't been taking concerta for the past two days but now my creative drive is down. What the hell do I do?> If I can't write, can't concentrate, I just can't do anything...I just sit around doing nothing. But I mean, I want to learn. I just am so zoned out sometimes. I'm torn between Yes, take the concerta (a long-acting ritalin) but deal with this anxiety, or, don't take it. Possibly I should learn to focus without the ritalin? I also have decided maybe I'll take the ritalin with something else that cuts the edge off of it. Basically, without it I am so blank I can't conjure up anything in my little pathetic brain.

Well for me I've always had Asperger's autism, as well as sleeping problems which may or may not fall under the catagory of insomnia, and the oh so unfortunatly common problem of depression. Over the past few months I've been going through depersonalization as well as a few other minor disorders.

Mindless: I read in another thread that you also suffer from Schizophrenia. If this is true then you should not be on Methylphenidate due to the risks of it triggering a psychotic episode. Are you actually being prescribed this medication or are you getting it illegally and self medicating? Lack of concentration can be an issue with Schizophrenia but stimulant medications aren't the answer. Have you tried one of the newer atypical anti psychotics such as Olanzapine or Seroquel? they can be quiet effective in controlling symptoms without all the negative side effects of the older drugs (or at least serious side effects such as tardive dyskensia and some of the extra pyramidal effects are rare). You should really discuss this with a Psychiatrist and make sure you are getting the right treatment.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified.) I was diagnosed last year and was put on three different medications for it.

I also think I might suffer from Depersonalization Disorder.

Anorexia is my particular poison.I would say that I have been in remission for the last 13 years,but for some reason it's starting to rear it's head again.I get hungry but when I look at the food I just can't eat it.Also that little voice is creeping back into my thoughts,the one that tells you "if you don't eat that you can lose half a kilo".People at work are starting to notice my clothes are getting loose,and keep asking me if I've lost weight.I don't want to go there (anorexia) again,so I keep trying to eat

I hear voices. That would be my big issue, and I've been diagnosed with depersonalization but I think that's a bullshit disorder.

I was once diagnosed with depression, but after experiencing very severe flashbacks and so- called pseudo- seizures (hate that term) during the last few months, as well as several other symptoms, I think I need to see my doc about possibly having ptsd after a huge trauma I experienced in the past. I mean, ending up like a trembling, crying mess in a corner even unable to put myself into bed and have my mother man- handle me onto my brother's bed and put a pillow under my head for me and a blanket over me to keep me warm just is not normal.

MY mom doesn’t believe in western medicine, so she would never put me on pills or anything like that. I don’t usually got to the doctors/hospital etc so no ones really ever had the chance to diagnose me with anything and im glad. I hate pills and I would never take them.
From my own diagnoses I would say I probably have a mild case of manic depression, but that may not be the correct term for it. I may just be a depressed person who happens to be somewhat spazy. I think I can pretty much control my depression and Im fine with it I can deal with being sad, its bound to get better eventually (I hope) I just don’t wan to be medicated. I also have anger issues which probably stem from the same source as my depression..
I’ve cut myself, starting when I was 14 and it only happens maybe ever 6 months and I have not cut in maybe 4 months. Usually something really bad will happen or all the little things build up and it sets me off. I don’t do it often but when I do I do it allot. Im not really suicidal I wouldn’t kill myself ( I don’t even think Im really a “cutter”) its more like a relief like letting something go that I cant get rid of any other way. Its like someone is hurting you and you cant do anything about you cant stop what’s happening or control anything around you. I get really angry and really sad and I just want to hit someone I want to just scream and stab and go fucking crazy but I cant do anything to these other ppl or to the world around me so I just cut myself and its almost like crying only it relieves me more it makes the anger go away. I’ve been trying to come up with other ways of dealing with the crap. Because while I think it should be legal to cut your self , its not currently legal and I don’t want to deal with the trouble other ppl would make over it. And my friends really don’t like it I told them I would stop and I don’t intend on doing it again.

Does that make any sense? I tried to explain it to my friend and he didn’t really get it.

Actually, My psychiatrist prescribed it to me.

Seroquel has a nice side affect of gaining weight so be careful, but I am also on that and it works. So I would suggest talking to your psychiatrist about it.

I've been on seroquel. believe me, I've talked to my doc. I could talk forever to him about what's going on but he wouldn't understand a word. He doesn't seem to know where I'm coming from. I think about how much worse I would have been if he was my original doctor. I'm going to switch back to a better one, or hopefully!

Seroquel has been the only thing I have ever tried that worked for me with my anxiety. I loved that medication, except I started to develop the first signs of Tardive Dyskensia and binged almost non stop on it gaining around 20 kilos. The weight gain was too much too fast for me and it sent me into a tailspin of anxiety which resulted in a psychotic break and prompted a relapse of Anorexia after 2 and half years or so of being in recovery. One year later I am only just pulling myself back out of the relapse.

Im just wondering, what is the experience to go to a psychiatrist like?? i have been told to go to psychiatrist a couple of times by my professors but every time i chicken out before the appointment

i had a friend who was on medication from something to do with depression and days after he stopped taking them he started freaking out every time we ask him "what do you want to eat?", he scared me soo much i never got the courage to go talk to a psychiatrist in fear he will pump me with pills..., i beat up a student with a chair in front of all the students in a lecturer room and i cant even remember doing that.

im just wondering how it really goes cause im really worried that i might end up hurting somebody or getting myself hurt.

Scarwall - It sounds as if your friend stopped his medication too quickly. You can't just jump off most psychiatric meds because you will get withdrawal symptoms which can include anxiety and paranoia. He should have been weaned off of the meds gradually under medical supervision. No personally I don't believe in psychiatric medication unless there is a very good reason for them, I would prefer to explore naturopathic and complementary medicine and healing techniques first. However if you are at the point where you are having blackouts, commiting violence against others and scared of hurting yourself or other people then I think you owe it to yourself and everyone else to seek psychiatric help and consider some form of medication. As for seeing a psychiatrist...the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist is that only a psychiatrist can prescribe medication but a psychologist (at least in my experience) tends to be better with talk therapy, it depends on what you are looking for and I know people who combine the two, going to a psychiatrist for medication and a counselor for the actual therapy. I can only describe the Australian experience of seeing a psychiatrist but the first port of call is your local Family Doctor or General Practioner, they will take a history of your symptoms and perhaps order some tests to be run to make sure there is no physical problem (such as over active thyroid or a tumor) causing the symptoms, at the same time he will probably right a referall for you to see a psychiartist and once you have picked who you want to see then he would send all relative medical history and test to them. The first session with a psychiatrist is usually more history taking, onset of symptoms, how they effect your life, what was you childhood like, have you ever had symptoms like this before and so on. Depending on your test results as well as the results of the interviews about your medical and psychological history a diagnosis can then hopefully be made and effective treatment started :)

I've never actually sought aid over this because I don't think that it's a tremendous interference in my life, but ever since I became nervous about starting High School nearly two years ago, I've seemingly come down with OCD. I have to count a specific number of seconds every time I wash my hands, and I feel as though something unfortunate will happen to me if I don't follow the compulsions, the routine, so to speak. But since it doesn't affect everything I do, and I really dread taking medication, I would rather live with excessive hand-washing, counting a certain number of seconds before I go to sleep at night, etc. When I was little, I was sickly; if I otherwise live a normal life without more medication I already take for a physical ailment, I would avoid it as much as possible.

I have Bi-Polar Disorder 2, which is a lot like Bi-Polar 1, except I don't get the manic swings nearly as bad. A "manic" swing for me, is starting every project I can get my hands on and being so happy that I get a few odd looks, nothing major. However, I get the depression swings pretty badly. I'll stop eating, sleep constantly (or not at all, it varies a bit from swing to swing), lose my concentration, and I'm just overcome by this feeling of helplessness, that no matter what happens, no matter how hard I try to change, or how loudly I scream, nothing will ever be ok for me and no one will even care. That would usually last for about 2 weeks before I'd come out of it and start feeling like my normal self again. I've been on Prozac to treat those episodes of depression for about two years now, but I've recently started to feel feel that it's not working as well as it could. I've already maxed out the dosage for Prozac as an anti-depressant though, so now I'm on 150 mg of Effexor while weaning off of the Prozac. I'm also on 900 mg of Lithium to kill the little tiny manic blips and also to prevent SSRI-Induced Mania, which I was definitely getting from the Prozac. I also have a slight generalized anxiety disorder, but I've pretty recently managed to get that under control (no panic attacks for almost a year now!), and as long as I keep some Xanax on me for emergencies, I can go into social situations and actually interact with complete strangers. I remember a time when it was hard just to talk nearby people I didn't know, and now I'm talking to them.

I'm not "all better" yet, and I know that. I've got a way to go still before we can call me "under control". But you know, I lived with Disthymia for nearly 10 years before it developed into something my doctors saw as an issue, so just being as happy as I am is insanely great. Like Aaroneet, I was quite the sickly child (double ear infections, chronic pneumonia, always got the flu not just once, but twice per season, the like. Oh, and the fun part, a nasty kidney infection that I thankfully don't remember much of; the fever took care of those memories for me.) And just knowing that not only is that behind me, but now I'm on my way to functioning properly as well..... wow.

'Course, I do often feel like it's the worst possible curse just to have to deal with this, regardless of if it's treatable or not. But at the moment... it's ok. Everyone has problems, right? I'm just glad that, so far, all of mine seem treatable.

I have severe ptsd [post traumatic stress disorder] and mild depression and mild OCD [hand washing and cleaning]. I was on evil Zoloft for about 2 months then i was put on mirtazon for about 6 months and then i over dosed on that, in an attempt to take my own life it didn't work i was on suicide watch for 4 days of my week's hospital stay.

I'm on Wellbutrin. YAY!!!

And I have ADD.

Could you have guessed?

I've been on Fluvoximine, Seroquel, Risperidone, Epival, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Topomax, Celexa, Paxil, Nozinan, Clonazepam, Ativan, and Trazadone. Not all at once, of course, but over a 7 year span. It was trial and error. The best combination that helped with my bi-polar was the Topomax/Celexa/Epival combination, but like many others the effects wear off and the dose needs to be increased. I got to the point where I could no longer function at work.

I no longer take medication. I've set myself up in a positive environtment, which helps immensly. I still get ups and downs, though not as much as I used to.

Well, Lucretia, we're glad you're still alive. I have a friend who's attempted suicide twice, spending a short amount of time in rehab after the second attempt. So based on what I went through when I found out what had happened with her, I'm sure your friends and loved ones are very glad to still have you. And then there's me, who doesn't really know you, but is always glad to hear a survival story. :)

Alflac duckie dude - ADD? Really? What a shock! xP

I have anxiety, and I've also gone through that phycotic episode related to cannabis and anxiety. Actually I am going through it right now ='[

That would explain your constant posts during the past week, since you returned. It would also explain your energy when you post, and where all of those ideas come from.

Clinical depression, paranoia, suicidal tendancies (two attempts in my past)...

I am full of Tha Rock! I'm like Motley Crue with a four foot boner, yo!

Wow- the people here are very 'disordered'... to say the least.
I've been diagnosed with Semantic Pragmatic Disorder [sort of like Asperger's], Attention Deficit Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, Mild Social Phobia, and well, I've had sleep disorders ever since I left my mother's womb.
I'm disordered too... yay?
=P

i have Asperger's syndrome. i got over being in denile about it some time ago. i am proud of who i am. June 18 is Autistic Pride Day!

Wow, ok, thank you childofdarkness....some strange niggling mum sense just made me look up SPD....and now at last I have a name for what makes my son the odd one out in school.

I cannot believe even though he's been in a special language unit they've not mentioned this at all....oh they've muttered and skirted 'round Asbergers and Autism...'no, no, we don't think.......um....maybe...mutter mutter' etc etc but not a mention of this. Yet on every site I've searched the symptoms fit.

I am oddly relieved. And a little emotional.

Off to have a comforting cup of tea.

I have untreated clinical depression and mild bipolar disorder. It means that I get quickly changing moods and can go from hyper to suicidal within minutes. My issues are no where near as serious as some described here, but it's making it hard to be 'normal' and keep on top of school. I also have severe insomnia, which stems from mental factors. Which is part of the reason I'm up this early. I get really bad headaches that they say are related to my insomnia and depression. I'm in a bit of denial that I understand what I have to deal with, but I refuse to get medicated. Strange thing is that when I'm on the depression end of things, my insomnia disappears and all I want to do is sleep. I have a difficult time interacting with people for long periods of time because the mood swings kick in pretty often. I don't get manic much as hyper, active, and strangely gleeful; all of which are quickly followed by periods of quiet, grumpy-ness (my sister's word), and depressed behavior. The only reason I can describe it this well is that my mom sends me to a shrink so that I don't try to kill myself again. Oh, almost forgot to mention the SI, self-injury/ cutting. I am most definately not the most stable person around.

Ah well welcome a fellow Aspergerian (it's a name I prefer over aspieand person with aspergers because if you act like it is not a part of you people treat you like you have a disease).

Also Opteron POST AN INTRO AS REQUIRED.

Oh my god....... I've fallen in among a load of fuckin' nutters.

Just kidding. Kinda.

Just about any neuroleptic will cause weight gain with the exception of perhaps Geodon. I've been on most anti psychotics known to man and well...I'm pharmaceutically fat now. I was diagnosed years ago w/ Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features, PTSD, and Dissociative identity disorder...but who cares about that kind of crap anyway.

I have severe ADD/ADHD issues, according to my fired shrink. I take no meds, nor do I care to. They make me very sleepy.

As for how it interferes with my everyday life, it doesn't, for the most part, anymore. There are of course bad days, in which I cannot, for the life of me, hold still, nor can I stay on a subject for more than five minutes. I have a tendency of being very silly and happy when I'm having a "bad day".

Most of the time though, its confined to me shaking my leg or constantly looking around, or not being able to concentrate on a conversation. Its not too bad, to be honest.

I'm still taking it although it has been making me very strange. Like I've been doing things like mumbling to myself outloud when I never do that. I've also been kind of getting moods like terrible. Although I have been able to focus better I've been feeling kind of wiped out.

I'm not sure but I think i'm bi-polar. I get the feeling sometimes, because sometimes I have real weird mood swings for no reason. Although that could just be puberty. Another one is that i'm very paranoid.

what are you paranoid of?

Sometimes I get the feeling people talk about me behind my back and say bad things about me.

That's not so bad. There are worse things you could be paranoid of. I'm sort of having the same problem but it's because I'm extremely shy.

Hail All! :cool:
Just a quick one this as I need to get to bed shortly, but thought that I'd make a contribution after quickly skimming this thread. :-)

I'm another Aspie - I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (Often shortened to AS) about three years ago. I was initially prescribed a low (500ug) daily dosage of Haloperidol, but gave that up shortly afterwards as I was getting Cannabis-esque side effects. :-O

Since then, I've been forging my own way through life and seem to be doing okay-ish...Although the rigours of normal day-to-day life pose no problem for me at all, it's the things that matter most to me (Keeping a job, making friends, finding love etc.) that I'm forever messing up on! :'-(

Strangely enough (For someone with Aspergers anyway) I find that I am able to go for nights out on my own or with friends, and never seem to have any of the anxiety problems that most Aspies are said to have...So after what ChildOfDarkness mentioned about him/herself, I may take a peek at what Wikipedia says for Semantic Pragmatic Disorder to check for the (Very remote) possibility that my diagnosis is incorrect, as I have sometimes wondered if it's actually Aspergers that I have... :-O

On more minor issues: I'm also prone to OCD-like behavior, have something of a paranoia with certain social situations (Possibly due to the AS), and tend to use obscene language a lot. (Although I don't honestly think I have Tourette's Syndrome.)

Farewell... :cool:
>> Death <<

Same here, I'm very shy, it's because there isn't much I can say to start a conversation too.

Don't try try to diagnose yourself, because while many things may have the same symptoms the symptoms themselves may be different in many way. The doctors know the fine line between similar issues, I for example could say off of my own internet informed diagnosis I have a borderline personality disorder. But my county appointed therapist knows what somone with the actual disorder acts like. Its kind of like the difference between goth metal industrial and emo, they may all have similarities but there are several major differences that an inexperienced person could not differentiate between.

Wow, we must come from a similar family tree, because I have: bi-polar, schizotypical disorder, anxiety disorder, and panic, as well as severe anger problems, ADHD, tourettes, and a hypersexuality problems.

Hurrah for mental retardation!

My family has a history of suicide and addiction, so I'm pretty much screwed. Right now I'm on the happy swing, so weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Well I don't know if mine are severe enough but I'll list them anyway. I have aspburgers syndrome (a very strange form of autism,look it up), PTSD, and I've been hospitalized for depression. I say however I'm not depressed. You'd be miserable too if your entire family died off when you were thirteen and from then on you supported youself. Not that I'm complaining.

I've struggled with anorexia (binge/purge type) for...shit, like five years now, with OCD, clinical depression, and a little self-harm sprinkled into the mix! I attempted suicide almost two years ago, and I hope that I'm never in that Geodon-induced hopelessness again.

Geodon fucks you up, man. Or, at least it did me.

Please learn to spell aspergers correctly, you're not the only one here with it and frankly the asburgers spelling of it is considered very offensive.

I had suicidal depression. I still deal with it. Have panic attacks once in awhile, not a big deal.

A big part of why it's under control now, is I went to see a medical doctor, got diagnosed and given a cure. Beyond that I've started studying Traditional Asian Medicine and found a good all around blend I take daily.

For panic attacks, I workout regularly. If a panic attack comes on, I focus on what is really around me to come out it. It is weird though. I usually just feel like I'm in a dream suddenly and nothing is real. It really isn't that bad. Got coping skills. :)

I believe I may be developing anxiety. I keep worrying about things I shouldn't. But something tells me my worried may be true, so there's slight possibility of sanity.