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Saw New Psychologist Yesterday....UPDATE!

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Posted 1/5/2012 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I took the plunge and went to see a new psychologist yesterday. I was so nervous before leaving my house that I had to take a xanax just to be able to drive down to see him. LOL!

After sitting and talking with him for about an hour, I was told that I not only have the GAD, Panic Disorder, and Depression, that I was diagnosed with years ago, I have NEW one's to add to the "collection".

He told me that I am definately suffering from OCD and PTSD too! YAY ME!!! rolleyes

He said he feels that i've always had the OCD, but was not properly diagnosed, because it doesn't involve doing things repetatively, it's only the obsessive thoughts that I have. Also, he told me that i'm suffering from PTSD because of what I went through with my husband in Nov. of 2010, and ALOT of other things that were brought up about my past.

It was kind of painful to talk about some of the things, but at the same time, it felt so good to just get it out.

So there you have it! I now have GAD, Panic Disorder, Depression, OCD, and PTSD! Lord help me!!!  LOL!

No wonder 50 mgs of Zoloft alone wasn't touching anything this time! I'm now up to 100 mgs, and also take my xanax twice a day. Feeling pretty good though, so I can't complain.

Hope everyone is doing well! ((hugs)) Fox

Posted 1/5/2012 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Fox,

I go next week to get my Xanax... been on Paxil for my OCD. Did doc give you any meds??? Paxil has been helping but I think it needs to be upped to 30mg.

I suffer with OCD and PTSD as well so I am glad that you can understand. Well, not really glad but you know what I mean (I hope). It is hard for me to talk about some things in therapy also, but it's for the best. I think everyone could be dx with GAD... but it takes real women to have OCD lol. Mine is more obsessive as well, but when I get really anxious, I'm compulsive with cleaning.
Posted 1/5/2012 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Greenbean, I have been on Zoloft again since October, I took it three times in the past ten years, so this is my fourth time on it. I refuse to go off of it this time! LOL! I also take xanax .5 twice a day, i'm supposed to take it three times a day, but I don't. I wrote that in my post, but maybe you missed it, as it was at the bottom.

I tried Paxil years ago, before going on Zoloft. I was on that for a year, but gained 60 lbs in that year, so I switched to Zoloft. I also took Ativan in the beginning, before trying Paxil, when I was first diagnosed. We're talking 25 years ago! LOL! I've had anxiety issues since I was about 13 or 14.

And yes, I know what you mean.... you're glad that somebody understands what you're going through....I gotcha! LOL!
Posted 1/5/2012 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
My new dr feels that I will need to be on something at all times for the OCD and I'm perfectly fine with that because I never again want to be where I was three months ago. She also said the Xanax would be short term for me... but I guess I'd actually need to start it before she made those decisions! I don't think I have gained any weight yet with the Paxil... I haven't gotten on the scale though.

And yes, glad that you can understand. I used to think that no one ever could!
Posted 1/5/2012 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Foxy,

Great job on seeing the new doc and continuing to find the answers that you need.

Anytime you receive a new dx, there is bound to be some emotional feelings surrounding it. I remember when my doctor dx'd me with anxiety and situational depression associated with it. I burst out into tears! She and my husband were shocked and asked why I would cry about something I surely already knew...but hearing it officially is just different!

Give yourself some time to 'sit with it' and feel whatever you will...sadness, anger, grief...or maybe just relief that you have an answer...I think I was feeling all of those things when I had my crying fest in the doctor's office!

I hope that you continue towards healing, which I am sure you will since you now have more information to work with:)

Thanks for the update, and keep up the good work.

S.C.
Posted 1/6/2012 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
S.C. Thanks for your response. I basically knew that I was suffering from both along with everything else, but I just wanted (or actually needed) to get another opinion, and to hear a licensed psychologist tell me. I was actually relieved to hear him say it. So I didn't cry or get upset, I was actually kind of numb to it, like...."OK, we'll deal with this now too".

I just kept asking myself WHY the Zoloft wasn't working at 50 mgs again like it always did, and WHY do I have to go up to 100 mgs now AND take xanax too every day.
I knew deep down that there was more, especially with all of the intrusive thoughts that I could not, for the life of me, make go away.

But i'm seriously OK with the dx. It makes me feel better now because I know i'm not losing my mind. LOL! I actually know exactly what is wrong with me, and that gives me relief, if that makes any sense.

Hope you are doing well.....((hugs)) Fox
Posted 1/8/2012 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Fox,

I was reading some of your older posts, and OMG it was as if you took all of your thoughts and comments from me. DITTO !! I too have made several trips to the er thinking I was having a heart attack as well, due to peri menopause. Thank God that I'm not the only one having a hard time with this transition. I sometimes think that I'm the poster child of peri menopause. If there's a sympton... I have it ! I wish that this forum had a peri menopause/ menopause chat room. Oh well, thanks for making me feel like I'm not losing my mind ! :-)

Blessings, Michelle
Posted 1/8/2012 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi JW2BMA! AKA: Michelle... LOL! I

 always tell people that I could be the poster child too! I feel like I have almost EVERY symptom known to womankind!

But yes, ever since I started peri, my anxiety and panic attacks FLEW through the roof, I mean worse than they have ever been my whole 25 years of dealing with it! There is actually a website especially designed for women going through peri/menopause, there's also a forum on there too. Here's the link...

http://www.power-surge.com/

You would not believe how many women actually NEVER had anxiety/panic attacks or depression until they started going through peri. So for me, it's like 10 times worse because I already HAD all of my disorders, my primary doc AND my gynocologist told me it would be, but I didn't believe them. Guess I was wrong.

But if you want to check that out, it gives you a list of symptoms, and all kinds of other really informative stuff about what we go through during peri and actual menopause.


May the wind be always at your back......At least to cool you from the hot flashes! Hehe!  Take care, Fox

Post Edited (Fox7) : 1/7/2012 9:28:41 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/8/2012 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Fox!!
I have been in peri menopause since I was 37. I am now 45 and I am hear to tell you that the last several years have been rough. Lost both of my parents in the last two years, my dad just recently in oct. I also have suffered with alot of the same things as you since being a teenager. Peri menopause just added a huge blow to everything. I am so happy that I decided to read some older posts , knowing that i'm not alone with my struggles makes life seem , well , not so bad !! Thanks for your thoughts and feedback.

Blessings, Michelle :-)
Posted 1/8/2012 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
You're very welcome Michelle! If you ever need to talk, you can send me an email. I'd be more than happy to exchange "horror" stories, and Good ones of course. LOL Take care of you! Fox
Posted 1/9/2012 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Foxy,

I am getting here late on your post.  You and I are now twins as I carry all the same dx as you do.  Like you I had already guessed that I had PTSD going on and talk about obsessive - well that has been me for many years.  Like you, most of my obsessing is in my thoughts and I have learned to let things go much better then I used to.

I am glad you are all set up with your new Psychologist and I hope you are able to work through your issues.

I sometimes wonder if life is really this hard or is it my faulty brain that makes it seem so hard ?

Take care,

Kitt

Posted 1/9/2012 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
LOL Kitt! I think some of us are just dealt "faulty" brains, otherwise we'd be perfect! Haha!

But yea, My OCD is mostly my thoughts too. I tend to "dwell", if you will, on things. That's what people tell me anyway. I just can't get things out of my mind, I do tend to have obsessive thought alot. No matter what I try and do, it's ALWAYS there, I can't make it stop.

Although, I do find myself having issues with counting. Like for instance, if I put my deodorant on, I have to count how many times I rub it under one arm, and then make sure I rub it the same amount of times under my other arm. Same thing with blush, I have to make sure I rub the brush the same amount of times on both cheeks. It sounds nuts, but that's what I do.

OH! And speaking of numbers, I always have to have something with either a 7 in it, or it has to add up to 7, and when I was driving bus, my bus number was 21, so I loved the fact that it was 777. I don't like the number 6, even though I was born on that day, but I don't like having a 6 in anything, and it can't equal out to be 6 either. LOL!

Oh what joy OCD brings! Hope you are well! ((hugs)) Fox
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