I sometimes wish we had a chat room

[julleri]

I'm in a quasi-window tonight. I'm being bad. I should be preparing for a paper by reading this article I found from Yale Law Journal on the theory that only the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause was written with any kind of intent on substantive due process whereas the Fifth Amendment's same Clause was only meant in terms of procedural due process but - OMG WHO THE HELL CARES?! lol I get that image of Peter Griffin from Family Guy saying this in that scene where he's in the classroom bored out of his mind by the ramblings of a little girl. lol really? who cares?

In any event, to further my procrastination, I logged into the chat room for anxietyzone.com, a new website I joined to help quell my health anxiety woes. (I'm on to ALS now, all... fun stuff... .) However, people in the chat room were talking up SSRIs! This one is wonderful, this one did this for me, blah blah blah. Now, I understand that these drugs are always going to be out there and people are going to take them and have beneficial effects. However, I'm sure ALL OF YOU can understand my discomfort. I had to leave. I tried to explain my case of torturous years of Effexor interdose withdrawal and the painstakingly slow rate at which I had to taper from an incredibly high does, then the adverse reactions I had upon trying the Prozac switch, etc. I didn't really expect them to understand. Some were of course sympathetic. Some even somewhat understood because some had bad effects to some of the SSRIs, however didn't care and tried others. I just couldn't take it. I just had to leave.

How I sometimes wish we had a chat room on here. The forums are good enough and are absolutely great - a GODSEND - don't get me wrong. Heaven's knows where I'd be if this were 1993 and I for whatever reason had had the same reaction I had to Prozac then that I did now (I would have had to be much older...well... I was 12 in 1993, and it's not unheard of for 12 year olds to take this garbage... so sad). But sometimes it would be nice to chat in real time with you all. I have conversed with one member over the phone once or twice. I've texted him subsequent times and have texted another member. There is something to be said about the in real time aspect of support. This is why I see my therapist three times a week and she calls me once a week (well, these were HER ideas and honestly I sometimes wonder if she doesn't do it for the billing of my insurance company ... although I know she genuinely does care about me) and I sometimes call my work's HR line for our employee assistance program to get a counselor on the phone then, too. I also call a local talk line here from time to time. I'm just one who is needy, I guess. I need feedback, the telling me it's going to be alright.

Question, all: how do you handle people telling you you should maybe reconsider going on meds? My therapist has said it. People at the talk line have said it. Coworkers have said it. The employee assistance program people have said it. Family have said it. Friends... haven't. But friends really understand my struggles and realize it would not be in my best interest. lol I gotta love how my uneducated friends "get it" about these drugs so much better than those with PhDs and MDs sometimes. Anyway, how do you handle it? How do you handle being in a situation in which people just don't know our side of the story with these drugs??? It's very tough for me.

Jason

[tchrldy]

Hi Jason! Would love to hear more about due process since so many corporation/ senatos would love to do away with it...but I digress! I know your point is how present & more important a role wd plays in our life...constantly having to create treaties with it with no due process to stop its ramped abuse of our brains & bodies in its tracks!!!

A chat room would be awesome.

The only person so far who wants me to switch to another ssri is my GP who i love. I bring my daughter the nurse with me and we just smile benignly and quietly repeat I want to slowly taper at this point ...then we throw her a bone...but maybe later, if the depression returns...try another ssri. She smiles benignly back and writes my prescript for liquid paxil. I think us women can pull out the "dump blond" card, even if not blond, and get docs to give-in and just write the prescript while silently saying to themselves "she'll just have to learn the hard way!" Lol!

Good luck with your paper...sounds interesting!!

aka Katie

[Bilo76]

I believe i read in some old thread that we have a chat room on PP. Or at least used to have.
You can always create one on your own and aks people to join you.

[LCrawford67]

We've had at least three chat rooms, since I've been here and they never last. It's too hard for most in w/d to keep up with the scrolling screen and the room just dies off. So, we're not doing it again.

Bilo's right, if you want to create a chat room, it's easy enough to do.

[Bilo76]

Let me help you.

Click HERE to join a paxilwd chatroom i created for you.

pass= julleri

You can invite anyone you want or if you are feeling down; just make a thread in the lounch and ask if anybody wants to join. perhaps some do.

[julleri]

Thanks for the info, guys. A chat room isn't necessary. Just wanted to share how I felt about chatting with the others on the anxiety chat room. How do you all deal when others speak so highly of their SSRIs? Or if not highly, they just don't know our side of the story with these drugs? It's tough. Like speaking two completely different languages.

[kathleen2]

Jason, are you a law student? That's pretty cool!

[julleri]

Originally Posted by kathleen2

Jason, are you a law student? That's pretty cool!

No. Taking legal studies courses for free through my employer. Have thought about law school for years. Of course, been so sick last few years that haven't really been able to do anything about it. Taking these classes to see if this would interest me as a long-term career. Reading crap like this, though... lol Nah, it's not too bad. I was just in too playful a mood last night to read anything serious in nature.

Of course... don't know how I'll go to law school or do any other job if the ALS gets me first!!!

[LCrawford67]

Jason...you don't have ALS.

STOP IT.

[IMISSME]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

Jason...you don't have ALS.

STOP IT.

HaHa, I knew this was coming...

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by IMISSME

HaHa, I knew this was coming...

I seriously think he's trying to make me come over there!

[Bilo76]

Ahhhh,..i like you to come over here Laurie. I am always alone in my appartement. Dont see anybody.
You drink tea? And i make some badass sugarfree cookies.

Whats ALS btw?

[IMISSME]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

I seriously think he's trying to make me come over there!

Well I'll say this, with all that I have gone through (and going through) I guess I don't have health anxiety. Other then my low T and adrenal issues (which I guess are real issues so they don't count) as crappy as I feel I have never worried that I might have some obscure disease. I always look at family history and focus on those things as real, like hypertension, high cholesterol and the like.

But I do feel like crap both mentally and physically. The problem is trying to convey this to others like family and therapists. I still have a hard time describing how I feel to others. As my therapist describes, I just feel like crap! That pretty much sums it up.

[julleri]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

I seriously think he's trying to make me come over there!

LOL I honestly and truly love you guys!

I'm afraid what would happen if you could come over here.. hehe

[julleri]

Originally Posted by IMISSME

Well I'll say this, with all that I have gone through (and going through) I guess I don't have health anxiety. Other then my low T and adrenal issues (which I guess are real issues so they don't count) as crappy as I feel I have never worried that I might have some obscure disease. I always look at family history and focus on those things as real, like hypertension, high cholesterol and the like.

But I do feel like crap both mentally and physically. The problem is trying to convey this to others like family and therapists. I still have a hard time describing how I feel to others. As my therapist describes, I just feel like crap! That pretty much sums it up.

IMISSME - I am getting my testosterone checked on Friday. And please believe me that this is not health anxiety driven. I don't fear low testosterone. I won't obsess over it if it shows normal. It was just suggested by two other men when I told them some of the issues I have and have had found (the low D, the low B12). Simply was a suggestion. I even asked my therapist if it would be too extreme as far as health anxiety is concerned and seeing the doctor again and whatnot, and she said, "no, that's actually a GOOD idea." It's just a simple blood test to check and see and I really won't obsess over it.

Can someone tell me this? Why oh why don't doctors check for these kinds of issues FIRST before putting people on antidepressants? Hormone levels, vitamins D, B12, things like that? I understand that these tests aren't generally run unless they suspect something specific to that vitamin or hormone, but depression and anxiety are such vague symptoms sometimes that can stem from these things. Why don't they look at these things first? Seems sort of backwards to me that now, AFTER psych drugs, do I think about these basic things in our body as suspect. I don't know. What do you all think?

[LCrawford67]

I had my own issues with health anxiety, not quite this bad, but I do believe it's something most of us go through at one time or another. However, it's very important to recognize it for what it is and not become obsessed with it.

Bilo - I do drink tea and LOVE cookies! Especially home made cookies

No need to be afraid, Jason. But, I would pinch you every time you got carried away with a health anxiety!

[Bruno2006]

Originally Posted by julleri

I'm in a quasi-window tonight. I'm being bad. I should be preparing for a paper by reading this article I found from Yale Law Journal on the theory that only the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause was written with any kind of intent on substantive due process whereas the Fifth Amendment's same Clause was only meant in terms of procedural due process but - OMG WHO THE HELL CARES?! lol I get that image of Peter Griffin from Family Guy saying this in that scene where he's in the classroom bored out of his mind by the ramblings of a little girl. lol really? who cares?

In any event, to further my procrastination, I logged into the chat room for anxietyzone.com, a new website I joined to help quell my health anxiety woes. (I'm on to ALS now, all... fun stuff... .) However, people in the chat room were talking up SSRIs! This one is wonderful, this one did this for me, blah blah blah. Now, I understand that these drugs are always going to be out there and people are going to take them and have beneficial effects. However, I'm sure ALL OF YOU can understand my discomfort. I had to leave. I tried to explain my case of torturous years of Effexor interdose withdrawal and the painstakingly slow rate at which I had to taper from an incredibly high does, then the adverse reactions I had upon trying the Prozac switch, etc. I didn't really expect them to understand. Some were of course sympathetic. Some even somewhat understood because some had bad effects to some of the SSRIs, however didn't care and tried others. I just couldn't take it. I just had to leave.

How I sometimes wish we had a chat room on here. The forums are good enough and are absolutely great - a GODSEND - don't get me wrong. Heaven's knows where I'd be if this were 1993 and I for whatever reason had had the same reaction I had to Prozac then that I did now (I would have had to be much older...well... I was 12 in 1993, and it's not unheard of for 12 year olds to take this garbage... so sad). But sometimes it would be nice to chat in real time with you all. I have conversed with one member over the phone once or twice. I've texted him subsequent times and have texted another member. There is something to be said about the in real time aspect of support. This is why I see my therapist three times a week and she calls me once a week (well, these were HER ideas and honestly I sometimes wonder if she doesn't do it for the billing of my insurance company ... although I know she genuinely does care about me) and I sometimes call my work's HR line for our employee assistance program to get a counselor on the phone then, too. I also call a local talk line here from time to time. I'm just one who is needy, I guess. I need feedback, the telling me it's going to be alright.

Question, all: how do you handle people telling you you should maybe reconsider going on meds? My therapist has said it. People at the talk line have said it. Coworkers have said it. The employee assistance program people have said it. Family have said it. Friends... haven't. But friends really understand my struggles and realize it would not be in my best interest. lol I gotta love how my uneducated friends "get it" about these drugs so much better than those with PhDs and MDs sometimes. Anyway, how do you handle it? How do you handle being in a situation in which people just don't know our side of the story with these drugs??? It's very tough for me.

Jason

If you have yahoo or msn you can add me! I chat with a couple of people I met on here and other sites.

[IMISSME]

Originally Posted by julleri

IMISSME - I am getting my testosterone checked on Friday. And please believe me that this is not health anxiety driven. I don't fear low testosterone. I won't obsess over it if it shows normal. It was just suggested by two other men when I told them some of the issues I have and have had found (the low D, the low B12). Simply was a suggestion. I even asked my therapist if it would be too extreme as far as health anxiety is concerned and seeing the doctor again and whatnot, and she said, "no, that's actually a GOOD idea." It's just a simple blood test to check and see and I really won't obsess over it.

Can someone tell me this? Why oh why don't doctors check for these kinds of issues FIRST before putting people on antidepressants? Hormone levels, vitamins D, B12, things like that? I understand that these tests aren't generally run unless they suspect something specific to that vitamin or hormone, but depression and anxiety are such vague symptoms sometimes that can stem from these things. Why don't they look at these things first? Seems sort of backwards to me that now, AFTER psych drugs, do I think about these basic things in our body as suspect. I don't know. What do you all think?

I have no idea why they don't check. Even as I was going through all this crap my doctor didn't order any test for vitamins or hormone levels. It was my naturopath doctor who said I should check my Vit D and testosterone. My GP did check my thyroid a year ago though and everything was normal I guess. But my VitD was very low and obviously so was my testosterone. Jason, let me know what your numbers are.

But I figured since my naturopath doctor wanted me to check those things she had some experience with meds and w/d and how they effect these levels. Sure enough they were way low. But I have heard the most people's VitD levels are on the low side. Gee, even here in SoCal where the sun shines all the time. Same for you in Arizona. But I have to say the Low T was troubling. When I mentioned to my doctor that maybe my T has always been on the low side she pointed out that I father 5 children. Well, even I know that it only takes one fish and not a whole skool to father a child, LOL. But we never had any issues with conception. Happened everytime it as deliberately attempted. My GP just very matter of factly says "your testes are producing, that doesn't self correct." Laurie, have you seen these things turn around with people on this forum? I know that low T is a big deal these days cause they can use the issues to sell supplements. None of which I have been told will work other the hormone replacement.

But the idea of getting shots for the rest of my life is not one I want to entertain at this point.

To comment on your other question about why they don't test prior to using meds, I don't know. I was not prescribed Paxil for depression or expressed anxiety.

[Bilo76]

Originally Posted by julleri

And please believe me that this is not health anxiety driven.

HAha you dont even admit you have health anxiety? I finally found it on google what ALS is. You know you die within 3 years after being diagnosed with this. Its one of the worst diseases.

[mapleleafgirl25]

OMG..dont read ALS stuff...lol..i had myself convinced in withdrawal a few years back i had it...because i had such bad muscle twitches..i obsessed over it..until i went back on paxil...that is where my anxiety comes from..health stuff....so i stay off all of those sites now..dont even watch MYSTERY DIAGNOSIS anymore..lol....

[julleri]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

I had my own issues with health anxiety, not quite this bad, but I do believe it's something most of us go through at one time or another. However, it's very important to recognize it for what it is and not become obsessed with it.

Bilo - I do drink tea and LOVE cookies! Especially home made cookies

No need to be afraid, Jason. But, I would pinch you every time you got carried away with a health anxiety!

I've never had this problem before in my entire life. But, then again, I have also never had suicidal ideation, lethargy so bad you can barely get out of bed, brain fog, confusion, memory loss, dizziness, loss of sense of self, deep depression this bad, mood swings that can change as fast as you flip a lightswitch, etc etc. Guess it's part of my "withdrawal package."

[julleri]

Originally Posted by IMISSME

I have no idea why they don't check. Even as I was going through all this crap my doctor didn't order any test for vitamins or hormone levels. It was my naturopath doctor who said I should check my Vit D and testosterone. My GP did check my thyroid a year ago though and everything was normal I guess. But my VitD was very low and obviously so was my testosterone. Jason, let me know what your numbers are.

But I figured since my naturopath doctor wanted me to check those things she had some experience with meds and w/d and how they effect these levels. Sure enough they were way low. But I have heard the most people's VitD levels are on the low side. Gee, even here in SoCal where the sun shines all the time. Same for you in Arizona. But I have to say the Low T was troubling. When I mentioned to my doctor that maybe my T has always been on the low side she pointed out that I father 5 children. Well, even I know that it only takes one fish and not a whole skool to father a child, LOL. But we never had any issues with conception. Happened everytime it as deliberately attempted. My GP just very matter of factly says "your testes are producing, that doesn't self correct." Laurie, have you seen these things turn around with people on this forum? I know that low T is a big deal these days cause they can use the issues to sell supplements. None of which I have been told will work other the hormone replacement.

But the idea of getting shots for the rest of my life is not one I want to entertain at this point.

To comment on your other question about why they don't test prior to using meds, I don't know. I was not prescribed Paxil for depression or expressed anxiety.

Interesting. Why were you originally prescribed Paxil, IMISSME?

My vitamin D was low - 30 (the bottom-most value on the scale of the test that was used) upon first check. I started taking supplements and it DROPPED! to 24. So weird. I've upped the IU's I take per day and haven't retested in a long time. It should be increasing now for sure. And about vitamin D from the sun? Don't even get me started. I read somewhere that you get the most D from the torso area of the body, not arms and hands, etc. And you also need to be in the sun between the hours of 10 AM and 1 PM for the best effects. This is why most people are deficient in vitamin D. Mother nature didn't intend for us to sit in office buildings all the live-long day deprived of sunshine. And AZ sunshine? Ouch! It's too hot to be out anyway!

I will let you know the testosterone level once I know. I hope to God it's not low. I don't want another thing added to my list.

[julleri]

Originally Posted by Bilo76

HAha you dont even admit you have health anxiety? I finally found it on google what ALS is. You know you die within 3 years after being diagnosed with this. Its one of the worst diseases.

And hence my fear.

[julleri]

Originally Posted by mapleleafgirl25

OMG..dont read ALS stuff...lol..i had myself convinced in withdrawal a few years back i had it...because i had such bad muscle twitches..i obsessed over it..until i went back on paxil...that is where my anxiety comes from..health stuff....so i stay off all of those sites now..dont even watch MYSTERY DIAGNOSIS anymore..lol....

I used to love that show! I'm not kidding everyone that I'm so sick and THAT'S the reason I have health anxiety. I'd place a mighty big wager that if you were as sick as I've been you'd have it, too. Honest.

[IMISSME]

Originally Posted by julleri

Interesting. Why were you originally prescribed Paxil, IMISSME?

My vitamin D was low - 30 (the bottom-most value on the scale of the test that was used) upon first check. I started taking supplements and it DROPPED! to 24. So weird. I've upped the IU's I take per day and haven't retested in a long time. It should be increasing now for sure. And about vitamin D from the sun? Don't even get me started. I read somewhere that you get the most D from the torso area of the body, not arms and hands, etc. And you also need to be in the sun between the hours of 10 AM and 1 PM for the best effects. This is why most people are deficient in vitamin D. Mother nature didn't intend for us to sit in office buildings all the live-long day deprived of sunshine. And AZ sunshine? Ouch! It's too hot to be out anyway!

I will let you know the testosterone level once I know. I hope to God it's not low. I don't want another thing added to my list.

Don't be surprised if it is low. It seems to go with the withdrawal. I have also heard that you get VitD from the sun through your eyes but who wants to go around looking directly into the sun, LOL.

I was prescribed Paxil specifically for these so called "night terrors." A couple times a month I would have pretty bad dreams that would wake me up in a panic (although usually just woke me up a bit anxious) although a few times they were pretty bad. But it only happened a couple times a month although it had happened for as far back as I can remember. Goes along with talking in my sleep, etc. Paxil did clear it up along with a whole host of other things apparently including bruxism.

After going through this and being on this board for the last 10 months I do now understand what anxiety is all about and looking back I guess I am a bit anxious but never was it dibilitating or did I seek out help for it. I always thought depression was more of my issue anyway, but again always situational and boy, do I have a situation at the moment, withdrawal that is, LOL.