They Want Me To Take Anti-psychotics

[Mrsk]

2 days ago I went in for my results of my neuropsych testing. I already knew I was depressed (battling it my whole life), dealing with conversion disorder from severe PTSD and that I have high levels of anxiety, but wasn't really prepared to see "Schizoid" on the paper (I looked it up when I got home and apparently I am a 'closet schizoid' and couldn't have fit the description better if I tried). My neuropsychologist wouldn't give me a copy of my report, but he let me see bits and pieces as he was explaining. I noticed he moved quickly so I couldn't read too much :rolleyes: and would turn the paper face down when he would talk.

He just kept saying I have a lot of work ahead of me and that he thinks medication would be extremely beneficial. I explained to him that I have tried EVERY anti-depressant available as of 3 years ago and nothing has ever helped me, ever. The only thing they did do was kill my creativity and as an artist and a writer, I can't have that. So what does he tell me? "Oh you don't need anti-depressants. You need to make an appointment with a psychiatrist for ANTI-PSYCHOTICS. Tell her that the entire class of anti-depressants are not for you. You're well beyond anti-depressants."

Me: "Did you say ANTI-PSYCHOTICS???":eek:

Him: "Well I'm not saying you're psychotic or anything, but that's the medication you need."

Me: "I guess you tell that to all the nut jobs."

And he just laughed...:cautious:

So I am taking a few days to process this info and I am not sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I am happy to finally get some help because I need it and really do want it. I did make an appointment with a psychiatrist for 4 weeks from now to discuss meds. But on the other hand...one of my greatest fears is that there is something mentally messed up with me, has been brought to light. My father always told me I was crazy and he would remove things in my room to make me ask where they were and then tell me they never existed. Being called crazy is one of the worst things someone could say to me. When I was young, we called crazy people 'schizo' and to see 'schizoid' on my results threw me for a loop. I took this test and I did my best to really think about each answer so I could answer it in the most honest manner and I got very high scores in anxiety, depression and something else I can't remember. I started to 'fog out' as he was talking. I asked him for a copy of the report and he said no because it would scare me to read some of the things on it since I do not have a degree in psychology and wouldn't fully understand what it meant.

What do you think of all this? I agree with my mother when she said I'd wear glasses if I needed to, a cast if I broke a bone, take antibiotics if I had an infection...and this is no different. But to hear I need anti-psychotics is disturbing to me. Is it really no big deal?

 

[Queen Boudica]

This bugs me. I don't know anything about it so maybe I am sounding stupid.

Is neuropsych testing a valid proven test to diagnose schizoid? Perhaps ask Anthony about this, as he would know, but sounds dodgy to me.

And the fact he would not let you see your results, equally dodgy.

What proof do you have that this guy is legit and his methods are valid and the science is behind it? Sorry I could be completely wrong and barking up the wrong tree.

 

[anthony]

Anti-psychotics are used for lots of things, especially mood stabilisation, being a primary focus. Don't become wrapped up in labels... because at the end of the day you can get better for the most part and even no longer meet the diagnostic criterion for many of the disorders you may currently have been given.

People often forget that component... it isn't permanent. Whilst PTSD is a life long thing, it doesn't mean you will suffer the symptoms for the rest of your life. It simply means there is no cure and another traumatic event / stressful period in your life could quickly bring back symptoms, thus you have PTSD again... then you get it under control for a prolonged duration, thus no longer meeting the requirements for it. It is there, but not there. For a small minority it is always there and constantly impacting their life.

This applies to many mental health aspects, being anyone can suddenly find themselves wrapped up in a label, though you have to think of them more as temporary. I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, however; by managing myself daily I don't suffer that nowadays to fit the disorder. If I don't manage myself daily then I will become depressed rather quickly. I do get depression out of the blue a couple times a year, for no real reason... part of PTSD, which knocks me off-balance, though that doesn't fit the diagnostic criterion for major depressive disorder.

Think of labels in that sense, being their true sense. They highlight an issue... you work on that issue to correct it, then the label really no longer applies if you no longer meet the diagnostic criterion... typically entailing a requirement you endure the issue that causes clinically significant impact in an area of functioning. When you get something a handful of times a year, that does not fit into that requisite, hence the label no longer applies.

 

[Innordinate]

I was on Zyprexa for awhile. The term schizoaffective has been thrown at me but not officially dx'd.....yet. I'm going back to therapy in Sept and fully expect to be put back on an anti-psychotic med again.

It worked for me before. Just the combo of meds at the time did not and I never got back to taking it once I was off. That was about a year or so ago.

It doesn't make you more or less crazy than you already are. And crazy is a relative term anyways.

 

[anthony]

The only thing you really need review about personality disorders, is did you have this / was it manifesting prior to becoming an adult. If yes... then a personality disorder can be diagnosed. If no, then a personality disorder cannot be diagnosed as it does not meet the basic criterion for such diagnosis.

 

[Mrsk]

Anthony, you have no idea how much what you said about labels helped :) (or well maybe you do, haha!)
Thank you!

 

[nimkekaa]

What a scary feeling it must have been for someone to tell you that you have something and then not explain why they feel that way. (by not letting you see the report)

I see a diagnosis as just a classifcation of symptoms that help the Dr decide which meds will probably help the most. There are so many contributing factors when trying to decide which meds are right for someone.

My son has had his diagnosis changed and the dr said it has to do with knowing my son more and my son being better able to express what he thinks and feels.

I don't think diagnosis's are an exact science but a guideline and most medication is not going to cause serious side effects if taken for a short period of time.

My thought is to try it and if it works then great and look at the side effects and way your options. If it doesn't then you have learned something and can make a different choice. But in the end if you never try then you will never know if could of helped.

I wish you all the best

 

[Lionheart]

I tend to agree with what nimkekaa has said. My psychiatrist added a low dose of an atypical anti-psychotic medication to my medicine regimen to help me with PTSD/depression symptoms and I must say it works really well, for me.

I too was hesitant at first, but they assured me that they did not think I was crazy *(not psychotic) and that the medication could be beneficial for me. So far, it has been. I hope that you have the same good experience with medications that I've had and that you will not worry too much about labels.

 

[Mrsk]

Thank you everyone. I'm feeling more positive about the whole thing and even hopeful after all your kind words :).

 

[HorseChick]

I take 100 to 300mg's of Seroquel every night. I can't take most psychiatric medicines because of terrible side-effects or allergy's. I too was a little afraid because of the stigma placed on these medicines.

Now, I am so thankful for this drug. I sleep most nights now and have less anxiety, but if I don't sleep, I take more the next night and it's no big deal. Also, they're not addictive like benzodiazepines. I can be off the Seroquel in a week but some of the girls I was in the hospital with, took over a month to stop the benzo's, and with horrible side-effects.

By the way, I was hospitalized for suicidal ideation. The other girls I mentioned were there getting off of doctor prescribed benzodiazepines like Xanax.

 

[Froggie]

My Pdoc prescribed an antipsychotic medication because my flashbacks and nightmares were too vivid, and I must admit that this really helped. I too was shocked when she explained this to me as I am not diagnosed with other mental illnesses, and lord, did they ever look for other answers before coming to the conclusion that it was PTSD ... period ... But I do understand that labels do hit hard.

 

[Chincho]

I took an antipsychotic med for a while and it really helped me. My doctor made sure I understood I wasn't psychotic before giving it to me. I stopped taking the meds about two months ago, but would not hesitate to start again if the need for them returned.