YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I've been taking cymbalta for about 3 months and I'm glad to report an improvement in my pain level. I haven't had a flare up since starting to take it and my daily experience of pain has lessened. For this I am so thankful. I've also increased my dose of gabapentin, so it could be the two working t...

I started taking a low dose of seroquel (25-50 mg) to help with sleep and augment the effects of cymbalta. At first, the thought of being on an antipsychotic scared me a bit. I suppose that speaks to my fear of literally losing my mind and going crazy. And did taking seroquel mean I was or might? Ye...

I thought I would write an update on my medication situation. Things have shifted for the better. Most importantly, I've finally allowed myself to feel okay about taking medication. I'm judging myself less and do not find myself fixated on 'what happens when I have to go off'. I very well may take m...

I feel like we should start a new topic here about the trials and tribulations of the woeful grad student...

Hi lipstickandcallous, And here I thought we are all perfectly well-adjusted human beings! ;) Welcome, welcome. You'll see that I responded to your other message. I'm just seeing this one and thought I'd mention that I am also a Canadian prairie girl and fellow graduate student nerd studying psychol...

Hello lipstickandcallous, Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you here, and me especially because we may not be so different from each other, at least in some ways. I, too, am an anxious person since I can remember. I am also a graduate student and understand the unique difficulties there, especially...

Agreed, although diagnoses are based on somewhat of a subjective threshold. Juan seems like a kind, sensitive person whose definitely had some challenges. It saddened me to hear about his painful memories about his father. I was happy to hear when he said he'd like to talk with a therapist. I say th...

Mooseman, try to be loving to yourself. Maybe you could find something that gives you even a tiny bit of comfort. Sounds silly, but I make myself tea. I wrap my hands around the warm mug and take in the sweet aroma. I cozy up in a blanket. Sometimes I watch a sad movie so I don't feel as alone in my...

Manual_moe, why would you say that you made yourself repulsive to the women in the audience? From my perspective, admitting to a very personal fear takes a lot of courage. It is admirable. Your so called 'over sharing' might be one way that takes you toward healing. If someone reacted negatively... ...

I am skeptical about the efficacy of antidepressants probably because of my background in psych/neuro and also because I have had no luck with these medicines. The flip side is that I'm struggling with whether or not I 'need' to be medicated, but I am reluctant to go through the experience of being ...