I now know what liberals meant when they said its easier to get a gun than a shrink.

[Sust]

In my research I found serotonin is supposed to be between 101 and 281 nanograms per mL. or CC.

That's well and all for peripheral serotonin receptors in your GI tract, spine, platelets, and peripheral sensory neurons, but then how does that relate to this blood-brain barrier that separates your brain's swimming pool of CSF from the rest of the circulatory system? If your hypothesis is that low serotonin affects the brain then wouldnt one want to sample CSF for 5-HIAA through a spinal tap?

I am not a neurologist and before seeking out one for the above, a less physically painful approach might involve your "deeper issues". I dont know if you're in psychotherapy now, but your research might be a good topic to bring up with a psychotherapist.

Also forgot to add that if you're service connected at all then you could goto the DC VA Medical Center or Bethesda Naval hospital since the VA is boosting mental health resources to vets.

 

[nanette1985]

May I suggest a PsychoPharmacologist? My autistic kid got a zillion different meds thrown at him. His psychologist sent us to a very good PsychoPharmacologist. That was the answer to our bad med problem.

Good Luck.

 

[Whisper]

May I suggest a PsychoPharmacologist? My autistic kid got a zillion different meds thrown at him. His psychologist sent us to a very good PsychoPharmacologist. That was the answer to our bad med problem.

Good Luck.

I believe psychopharmacologists are typically "just" psychiatrists who've rebranded themselves; I don't know that there's any additional formal training involved. That being said, a good psychiatrist can be worth their weight in gold.

 

[shortylickens]

Been over a month. Still cant get a hold of a shrink and my GP refuses to give me any help. He keeps referring me to people who ignore my calls.

I am so god damn tired of this nonsense.

Also, the L-tyrosine and 5-HTP I been taking doesnt help at all. At least not in the happiness department. It does give me better sleep.

 

[shortylickens]

OK, I said fuck it, and went to my GP.
He gave me a prescription for Celexa with no hassle. Didnt make me discuss my childhood, toilet habits, or dreams.

I was taking St John's wort, tryptophan and 5-HTP and they didnt help. And they made me nauseous. So now I'm off those cuz I cant mix em with SSRI's anyway.

The Celexa shouldnt have too many side effects, very mild compared to most other drugs. The only thing I need to worry about is slightly worse depression for the first couple weeks.

Amazing how easy a GP is compared to everyone else. I walk in, tell him I want anti-depressants. I'm out in 8 minutes with a prescription.

 

[shortylickens]

OK, so, my penis stopped working.

But thats a small price to pay for happiness.

 

[Saint Nick]

 

[shortylickens]

Oh please, you never wanted to see it anyways.
Prude.

 

[Mixolydian]

OK, so, my penis stopped working.

But thats a small price to pay for happiness.

thats a very common side effect of antidepressants. there is one that does not cause this, can't think of the name off the top of my head.

you feeling any better?

 

[shortylickens]

thats a very common side effect of antidepressants. there is one that does not cause this, can't think of the name off the top of my head.

you feeling any better?

Nope. Only been doing this a week. According to doc I've got one month of worse depression while my chemicals balance out, then I might start feeling better IF these particular drugs happen to work for me.

 

[shortylickens]

I moved up to the higher dosage last week.
Worked past the depression a little while ago. It feels good. Now I am starting to feel a little better each day.

Who knows?
I might actually be normal some time this year!

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I moved up to the higher dosage last week.
Worked past the depression a little while ago. It feels good. Now I am starting to feel a little better each day.

Who knows?
I might actually be normal some time this year!

Glad to hear you're feeling a little bit better.

 

[iluvdeal]

A lot of the stuff discussed in this thread (lack of actual diagnosis verifying you are low in seratonin, assessment and antidepressant rx by a GP) were covered in a Dr. Oz show on antidepressants. You should check it out:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/truth-about-antidepressants-pt-1

 

[SociallyChallenged]

A lot of the stuff discussed in this thread (lack of actual diagnosis verifying you are low in seratonin, assessment and antidepressant rx by a GP) were covered in a Dr. Oz show on antidepressants. You should check it out:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/truth-about-antidepressants-pt-1

The problem, which has already been mentioned here, is there are many other things other than low serotonin that can cause alteration of end-effect. Things like reduced number or serotonin receptors (and their location and density in the brain), inappropriate breakdown or reabsorption of the neurotransmitter, modified ability to produce serotonin, etc are present but not currently able to be tested for under in vivo conditions. And please, for God's sake, take everything on Dr. Oz with an enormous grain of salt.

 

[utahraptor]

I feel for the OP. There was a terrible 3 year period of my life in which I allowed myself to be the Guinea Pig of a prescribing doctor. She must have cycled me through 12 different medicines usually 3 at a time for depression/anxiety. They basically destroyed me and 2 suicide attempts latter I finally quit them all. I still fight occasional depression, but at least I can function now.

 

[dlock13]

I moved up to the higher dosage last week.
Worked past the depression a little while ago. It feels good. Now I am starting to feel a little better each day.

Who knows?
I might actually be normal some time this year!

How do you know you're feeling happier? How do you know it's actually working for you?

I ask this because I was prescribed anti-deps a last year (one was Celexa), the year before, but not yet this year. I never felt myself getting better. I questioned the hell out of them if they were doing anything for me at all. I did notice that I lost some sensation in my penis which was beneficial for me (I lasted longer than I ever have). Heh.

Anyway, I ask how do you know if they're working because I'm an extremely paranoid person. I've taken a few prescriptions and I have no idea if they've worked or not because I never felt any different at all. I've been seeing a therapist for the past 6 months, and I'm trying to get better. God knows if I really am though.

I have a therapy appointment today, and I'm debating if I want to tell her that I want to go to a psychologist and work through that to get meds.


Anywaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay (again), I'm glad you're feeling better and I really hope everything is working for you.

EDIT:

After typing up this post, these lyrics feel stuck in my head now.

I took the pills. I took the advice.
The panic stopped, but still I'm not right.
Racing thoughts and wasted time,
It's the same old story line.
This is my nursery rhyme,
and it goes

I believe in medication.
And I believe in therapy.
And I believe in crystal light
Cause I believe in me, yeah.
It's so uplifting, f*ck yeah.

I'm barely off the medication
And now the walls are closing in again
I can't breathe and I can't bleed.
Will you be my alibi?
Tell them that I truly tried to give in?

 

[alkemyst]

Oh, my question: Does anybody know of a search engine that gets current, active psychiatrists?

Your health insurance or a health insurance website should have a list of health care providers by type.

 

[preslove]

While I'm waiting to get SSRI's (if I need them) I am taking some L-tyrosine and 5-HTP (just got it from Amazon). If it does help me then perhaps I can avoid a life of medication.


As for the previous question: I am exercising. I exercised or worked hard every single day I was in the Navy too. Was utterly miserable for years. Am at the point where a simple lifestyle change is not enough. The exercise just distracted me from actually dealing with my deeper issues.

If you have issues you want to sort out, I'd recommend a counselor over a psychiatrist. A counselor will spend around an hour with you and talk, whereas a psychiatrist will talk to you for ~15 minutes and then give a scrip, and then you might just see their physician's assistant after that for short checkups. Talk to the counselor and ask about local psychiatrists & get the referral from them.