Is It Worth It To Stop Your Medicine? . . . Only Time Will Tell

I have finally reached a situationally stable period of time in my life, and asked my Dr about reducing my meds. I was taking so many – 300 mg Buproprion, 1500 mg Valproic Acid, 600 mg Carbamazepine, 1 mg Clonazepam, 600 mg Seroquel, and 200 mg Lamotrigine. Ee gad! I have been diagnosed Schizoaffective,or . . . → Read More: Is It Worth It To Stop Your Medicine? . . . Only Time Will Tell

Waiting to get better . . . What are YOU waiting for???

” . . . . soooooooooo doc . . . when is this medicine going to kick in . . . ?”

“NOW!!!!”

Oh, that it was so easy.  The above question is misplaced, however.  Over and over I meet with patients who are on various medications that are shifted and moved and changed and . . . → Read More: Waiting to get better . . . What are YOU waiting for???

So Where Has The Doctor Been??? . . . Some Personal Reflections on Depression, Health and Life In General

I had a few responses to my blarticle on providing TMS to patients in the Philadelphia area.  I actually thought there would be more . . . but articles on Vyvanse, Klonopin and Lamictal reign supreme . . . more on that another time.  Let’s start with two viewpoints and then I will get personal . . . → Read More: So Where Has The Doctor Been??? . . . Some Personal Reflections on Depression, Health and Life In General

Treatment Resistant Depression–Under Recognized and Under Treated

As a psychiatrist . . . as an empathic person . . . it is very difficult to hear stories like the one listed below:

My heart is broke and i Feel I will never leave this deep black dark hole that I cant escape… Im tearing up heavily as I write this message… Ive . . . → Read More: Treatment Resistant Depression–Under Recognized and Under Treated

A Challenge . . .

I have long searched for new and different ways to settle my mind down and to remain centered and grounded.  In my work with people who are decidedly NOT grounded, it is imperative that I maintain my focus.  This is important not only for the welfare of my patients but also for my ongoing mental . . . → Read More: A Challenge . . .

Why Don't I Get Better When All I Do Is Medicine?

I am not bipolar but am on 200 mg of Lamictal and 50 mg of Zoloft.  I have tried many meds and I never feel good.  I have read alot and done alot of research.  I have found that there is no proof of chemical imbalances or that these meds work better than a placebo. . . . → Read More: Why Don't I Get Better When All I Do Is Medicine?

Stop Whining About Your Wife and Start Getting Your Life Back

I’m depressed and I’ve had to work really hard at even getting my wife to acknowledge my condition. It has got better but yesterday we went to visit my aunty and uncle in the country. he has had long-term depression like me and it just amazed me how open they were in their house about . . . → Read More: Stop Whining About Your Wife and Start Getting Your Life Back

Measuring Success . . . "I think I'm a 5"

“So, Mrs. Kapsmanjacketter, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most depressed you have ever been, how have you been feeling since our last visit . . . ”

And so, yet another rapid fire med check begins in the land of managed care.  How many times have you, my devoted . . . → Read More: Measuring Success . . . "I think I'm a 5"

Against all odds . . . getting into the Christmas spirit

For all of you who do not celebrate Christmas . . . substitute your own holiday here.  Regardless of where you live or who you associate with, this time of the year brings rituals of togetherness, reflection, thankfulness, giving, receiving and hope.  The artificialness of this is annoying to many . . . perhaps most. . . . → Read More: Against all odds . . . getting into the Christmas spirit

Pollyanna waves the pom-poms

I have been accused of many things in my life . . . but none so on target as . . . (gulp) . . . an optimist . . . 

YIKES . . . a rare breed, these days.  What with the economic down turn, the violence in the world, the price of gas . . . → Read More: Pollyanna waves the pom-poms