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

Hi all, I am a woman, 58 years of age. I was diagnosed with depression during my first session with a Psycologist at the age of 25. My goal when going to the appointment was to receive a pill that would make me stop feeling sad all the time. I didn't want to wait to be analyzed. It took some sessions with a different doctor to receive the relief I was looking for. I've been taking Zoloft and Wellbutrin for many years now and the combo seems pretty good for me. I take a Valium every now and then when I get a bad panic attack. I was feeling so good at one time that I thought I would gradually stop taking my meds. Well, that endeavor did not go well and I have the patched hole in my door to prove it So that's what's up with me. Looking forward to learning from all of you. Oh, and don't even get me started on my childhood...

Hello 1undone, welcome to our little forum!

I can empathize. I've been trying to get meds again for so long. I've been turned away from a ton of ERs, urgent cares, doctor's offices, even a couple mental health trauma places. I had an appointment a couple months back with a place that told me they did just med support when I called, but once I got there, they told me that I would have to go through 3 months of weekly group counseling before they would even prescribe anything. Trying to get help is frustrating beyond belief. I've been waiting on 1 appointment for almost 3 months now. I wish you luck, it truly is a battle.

I'm so sorry to hear that! All the info I've seen indicates our issues are usually a "chemical imbalance". I completely believe that based on my family history. Counseling probably brings in more money than a prescription does to a mental healthcare provider. Sad, right?

Hi

Yeah, I can totally relate to your feelings of wanting to gradually stop taking meds. I've been gradually upping my dose and last month, I thought I'd hit my "therapeutic dose." I thought I had "arrived." Well, this month I've slipped back into depression again and I've been going through one of the worst anxiety attacks. It pulled me right down in my place. I'm having to up my dose again and see how I do. I almost wish there were no highs because when you slip back, you feel like the biggest piece of crap ever.

I don't know how everyone else's anxieties are, but mine feels like I'm free falling and there's never an end. It's so scary and I try to hang on to other people for dear life but nothing stops me from falling and falling. It's been going on for about a week now and I'm going insane. I KNOW I'm crazy right now. Thanks for sharing your patched door story. Glad to hear I'm not the only one