Posts by Kevin Nguyen3

restlesstiger49 said:I started feeling a lot better by the second or third day. I’ve only been on it for six days now, so things can only go uphill from here.

That's great.🙂

I am truly, genuinely happy to hear that for you.😉

Henry Lopez13 said:So, would it have been any better if he hadn't answered the psychiatrist's call to come over after hours?

That isn't really the point at all.
Of course he should have answered the call! But once he was actually sitting there in that office, he needed to lay it all out—exactly how it happened, maybe even adding a few more details than necessary.

That is the only way anyone can truly help. I’m speaking hypothetically, of course... only God knows if helping him is even possible at this stage.
The doctor went into that session expecting a filtered version of the truth, and frankly, she got exactly what she expected: just a few scattered pieces of a much larger mosaic.
Which is precisely why he was asked to come in, wasn't it?

If I had been standing there in that room, I would have jumped straight to the most important question: how can I, specifically, help my friend??
Let's hear some actual recommendations or whatever else they might suggest.

As it stands now, both of them walked out of that office empty-handed, and nothing was accomplished whatsoever.

Lawrence Bailey77 said:Kevin Nguyen3, did you really just deconstruct both him and his buddy in a few short sentences? It’s almost like you were playing The Mentalist on fast-forward here.

It isn't that I don't trust your judgment, per se, but if you'll permit me to be blunt... it all feels a bit... strained, I suppose. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but could you perhaps elaborate? I wonder if we're truly being as "thorough" as we think we are, or if we might be missing the finer points.😉

🤣

But you know how it goes—people act all interested in helping until things get heavy, then they suddenly find an excuse to bail.
Dealing with any kind of disorder isn't a game... you're either fully in it or you aren't. Period.

So many people claim they're "ready" to step up, only to change their minds once they realize it's for someone else's actual "well-being."

Just ask anyone living with BPD... one minute they adore you, and the next, they've vanished into thin air.

And how does that feel for the person who's actually suffering? Honestly, screw that.
If we don't know how to help, it's better to just step aside beforehand. Believe it or not, that's a form of help too.

quietwalker5 said:Why are you taking Jane Doe in the evening?
Maybe a beta-blocker for my heart rate?🤷 Or maybe it'll pass over time... It would be better to take propranolol in the morning, then 75 mg of Jane Doe at 4 PM (after work)... what's left is deciding what to take for sleep?
And maybe I won't even need anything, since I don't have insomnia?!?

To be perfectly honest, the post is a bit muddled, but no matter.

I used to take Pfizer at the right times—morning and afternoon—but honestly? It just absolutely crushed me. I was a total zombie all day long, and let me tell you, I have no desire to live life as a zombie.🙂

So one day, I just marched straight into my doctor's office and told her... "Look, I'm not doing this in the morning, and I'm not doing it in the afternoon... I'm only taking it at night."
She just looked at me and said... "Well, if that's how you want to play it..."

So, that's what happened. I take everything in the evening and I'm out like a light in about an hour. Then I wake up around 6 AM and I don't feel like sleeping through the entire day anymore, which means I actually got some rest and my brain finally feels refreshed from all the chaos.

When I look back, considering I was dealing with (and still deal with, though less so...) severe depression, social phobia, suicidal thoughts, staying awake all night long, hating myself and everyone else, being aggressive... walking around like a ghost... all those medications were a massive help to me, truly.

Michael Morgan5 said:The whole situation is just pure chaos.

I won't ramble too much, but we were chatting on the way to his psychiatrist appointment, and since my buddy was looking significantly better today than he did last Friday, I decided to be blunt. I told him straight up what I thought, explaining that I only wanted to say it for his own sake and that I intended to share it with the doctor as well.
He didn't push back at all; he was completely on board.
It’s a total 180 from the last time we sat down together.

To be clear, I wasn't trying to dictate treatment or anything during the session with the psychiatrist. I just offered my perspective on how he's been acting, backed it up with a few observations, and gave her a—well, let's call it a "mostly objective" description of his living situation (there were certain things I couldn't bring up while he was standing right there, but honestly, that probably doesn't even matter now).

To my absolute shock, the doctor basically shrugged it off. She told us she can't force anyone to take their medication, said we should just watch over him as best we can, and mentioned he doesn't even have to come back if he doesn't want to. 😕
She just said if things take a sudden turn for the worse, we need to make sure we get him to her office or to the ER, etc., etc.

Throughout the entire conversation between the two of them, my friend didn't utter a single coherent sentence. You could have cut the tension in that room with a knife. That's why I was so caught off guard by her reaction.

I'm honestly at a loss here. I have no idea what the next move is.

So, you tried to be "polite"—at both your expense and his—by carefully weighing your words so you wouldn't seem rude, trying to excuse his mess.
And what did that achieve?
Absolutely nothing.

Your hesitance and this deep, overly analytical brooding have only pushed him further away from health and pushed you further away from him, believe me.

He needs urgent medical treatment under professional supervision, but given the current circumstances, there is simply nothing you can do there.

Taking a stand isn't an insult; it's genuine help. It shouldn't be wrapped in cellophane or handled with kid gloves.
No one can force anyone to do anything, but you can—even brutally—show them the reality of the state they are in.
And as your title suggests, he is currently in deep sh--.

Why are you acting this way?
We know one reason... his attitude toward you and your stance on his condition.
You pulled back to avoid a repeat of... well, that.
But now, while being "withdrawn," you're already making these flawed plans under the guise of helping a friend.
Understand this: he can only be helped by the one truth sitting between you, which is serious, intensive treatment—even if it ruins the friendship, because his health has to come first.
Even if you two stop talking tomorrow, wouldn't you be happy to hear that he's doing better?
But when someone actually gets better, these kinds of messes don't happen.

"Quote:"

quietwalker5 said:At 37.5 mg, my heart rate is already elevated. I can only imagine what happens at 75.😕

Most likely... nothing at all.☕

I’m currently on 75 mg, plus 45 mg of Calixta, then there's the 200 mg of Q-pin, along with 25 mg of Lamal... and then Zonadin, though honestly, I can't even remember the dosage anymore. And the result? Absolutely nothing. Not a single thing! Does anyone else feel like they're just throwing pills at a wall at this point? It feels completely futile.

Does an organization eventually just... get used to the nonsense? Is that how it works? You start out with such high ideals, such a drive for excellence, and then, bit by bit, the chaos starts to feel normal. It’s like you stop noticing the cracks in the foundation because you've been tripping over them for so long. Does the culture just slowly rot from the inside until everyone is just nodding along to the absurdity? How does that even happen? It feels inevitable sometimes, doesn't it? Such a tragedy.😢

Michael Lewis5 said:Hey guys, I need some help.
I honestly have no idea what to do... 😢
I'm on 50 mg of Zoloft plus Xanax 2x0.25; it'll be three weeks tomorrow. Diagnosis is anxiety and depression, but the depression is hitting hard—like, full-blown major depressive episodes. Basically, after three weeks, I don't see any progress. Maybe the anxiety calmed down a tiny bit, but it's still there, and emotionally I'm just sinking deeper into apathy and total lack of motivation. It makes this whole fight feel impossible... had a phase last week where I felt absolutely nothing, just pure emotional emptiness, and I really don't like that 😢 Some physical stuff settled down, but I'm still struggling with sleep, no appetite, and constant fatigue. I went in for a checkup at the two-week mark and my doctor (and I) both agreed there’s zero movement—so we decided to stick with the meds and give the antidepressant more time to kick in. This rough patch has been going on for two months, though I've been dragging this depression and anxiety around for months before that... everything just peaked back in July. Yesterday my sister and a friend came over, and for the first time in two months, I actually felt okay. I feel most relaxed with them, and I even managed to fall asleep peacefully and catch some decent hours 🙂 but then the next morning, it's all over again. Anxiety, heaviness, apathy, exhaustion...
I'm seeing my old therapist this week once she gets back from vacation, and I'm waiting for my psychotherapy session at the Mayo Clinic on 9/16 to see how things go. My psychiatrist who handles the diagnosis and meds has me scheduled for 9/16 too.
I'm supposed to head back to work next week, but right now, I don't see myself being able to do it 😢 It scares me that there's almost no change when it comes to my willpower, which is exactly what I need most right now. I'm just scraping together enough strength to keep fighting. Of course I want to function normally again ASAP, or at least be able to get to work... the job itself isn't stressful, but dealing with a crowd of people is. Luckily, I have colleagues there who care about me and know what I'm going through.
This is my first time on antidepressants, and it's tough to judge if I should give this one more shot or switch things up...
I know I have to make all these calls myself—both regarding therapy and returning to work—but does anyone have suggestions based on their own experience?
Ask away if you need more info...
Thanks 🙂

It feels like you managed to ask a question and provide the answer all in one single sentence, didn't you?
Depression is such a brutal, absolute nightmare of a thing; unfortunately, it doesn't just vanish easily—if it ever leaves at all.
It always seems to be lurking somewhere deep inside your system, just waiting for us to screw something up, and let's face it, we are quite good at doing exactly that.

Yes, you simply have to give it more time—give yourself more time, and give the Zoloft time to actually start working. Once that happens, you won't need the Xanax nearly as much, or maybe not at all.

I suspect you might be dealing with some stress that you think you're handling fine in your own way, making you believe it isn't actually part of the problem.
But it is. It absolutely is.
Or perhaps you went through some sort of shock in the past, something you shoved deep into your subconscious and are desperately trying to forget.
Since you didn't mention that, I'm just shooting in the dark here, but it's never impossible, is it?

The medication is essentially trying to pull your head above water just enough so that your body can start fighting its own battles, if it's even capable of that.
In a hypothetically "normal" situation, that's usually how it goes, but when a crisis takes over, the anxiety—acting like a shield against everything—fails to navigate the circumstances and instead "flees" into depression.
And once that happens, things have become very serious indeed.

So, there isn't much for you to "do," since you already mentioned you don't know what to do...
Right now, you are in a waiting game, and there isn't much anyone else can do for you either. As soon as the medication starts taking hold, you will notice it quite quickly.
And once you do, your doctor will know exactly how to proceed.

Look, you aren't just dealing with a common cold here; you are facing a dangerous, malicious disorder. You might be able to lessen it or "freeze" it somewhere in your mind, but you also have to change your lifestyle, your work habits, your relationships with others (and I would certainly have plenty to say about those...) and, most importantly, your relationship with yourself.
I have this nagging feeling that your self-confidence is plummeting, though I truly believe it is completely unjustified.

ironrider11 said:If paradox is the new logic, then yeah... then it doesn't matter what it is...
The root of the mental illness... both parents [examples, indicators, teachers...] suffered traumas caused by war events.
A "career" that puts him right back in the middle of it... or a "job" where his mere involvement—directly or indirectly—inflicts trauma on someone else;
which eventually means inflicting those same traumas on himself... the exact ones he once tried to run from;
to escape, to stop them [their derivatives]........?
But the parents will be proud.
Proud because their son followed the same path that broke them in the first place. It shows them all the horrors of his own existence.
A permanent exit from the psychiatric system through a "profession" designed to teach, drill, and shove an individual...
straight into combat zones? Into the absolute darkest depths of human existence?
Proud parents who survived that vortex of madness, so they want the exact same thing for their kid?
🤷

You are conflating actual warfare with a military draft!!!
The two aren't even remotely the same thing.

And honestly, it's right there in that specific misunderstanding where the whole logic of fleeing a military career just falls apart.

restlesstiger49 said:I’m going to snag a seat right next to Kyle Grant62 and Kevin Nguyen3. 🤣
That duo is pure comedy gold. 👍

So, are we expecting any new faces tomorrow?

Ugh, sorry man, but I’ve actually got some work piling up and I won't be able to make it. 😢

Maybe next time. 😉

restlesstiger49 said:Hmm, that's interesting. When I was on it about four years ago, I actually found my appetite increased. I'm planning to start back up on it tomorrow.

Good luck, man. It really helped me out a lot, 😉

ironrider11 said:What’s with all this intense obsession over West Point?
Isn't the thread title basically saying both parents have PTSD?
Can we at least try to draw some kind of conclusion from that...
The National Alliance on Mental Illness; that could actually be a decent attempt at fixing society.
If only psychologists didn't view altruism through such a skewed lens.

No, you're approaching it from the wrong angle.
While a military academy can certainly provide assistance, that doesn't automatically mean its focus is misplaced.
I know plenty of kids who feel it's in their blood to follow in their parents' footsteps or... perhaps to prove themselves by fulfilling their parents' unreached ambitions—my own son is serving in the U.S. Army, and there is no greater sense of pride.
Perhaps, when viewed through the prism of reality, that is simply how it works.
The core issue is whether the kid actually loves it and wants to pursue it, whatever that may be. That provides excellent motivation, and it could serve as a lasting way out of the psychiatric cycle. I truly hope so.

But, I do agree with you that psychology and its various tools might succeed in altering the landscape of our environment—our society—but from what I can see, given the constant financial crises, one has to wonder if it’s even possible.
That is why books exist for when people have free time; they can help to a certain extent, and one would get used to reading, which will surely be beneficial both today and tomorrow.

redranger2 said:It isn't covered, so don't worry about that. You might want to try Vair; it might not leave you feeling so completely wiped out. For me,
it worked perfectly, and I never dealt with any daytime grogginess. I sincerely hope you have better luck with it.

With Calixt, I suffered from terrible headaches and a constant hangover sensation, and it altered my temperament so much that I became incredibly argumentative—which is strange, because I'm a pretty easygoing person.😍

Everyone, please, let's be serious here.
Vair, which I used back in the day, is absolutely no joke. In certain doses, it can actually shift your perception of reality—it can make your surroundings feel completely unreal—so honestly, experimenting with it is probably the worst thing you could do.
And besides, Vair doesn't exactly promote sleep, so there is really no point in trying it for that.

Calixta is also a very specific antidepressant and isn't right for everyone; in fact, I very rarely hear of anyone else taking it. Its main advantage is that it works well when combined with another antidepressant, but that’s really it. Beyond that, it's just like any other antidepressant.
For what it's worth, I take 45 mg, so I know exactly how it hits.

As for Q-pin, it is primarily prescribed for psychotic episodes, and strictly for that reason. It wasn't designed to help with sleep, even though so many people use it because they struggle to rest.
I have no idea what the side effects might be if someone takes Q-pin when psychosis isn't the underlying issue.
That isn't something to mess around with either.

@redranger2... oh, you little troublemaker. 🙂
Well, I suppose since you aren't on Calixta anymore, you aren't being so combative!😁

Hey, Kyle Alvarez32, I really want to know—what is actually eating at you? What is your actual problem here??
Because honestly, I just don't get it.

I don't buy this idea that you're being victimized; you aren't even that clueless, and you have the internet at your fingertips... I don't know how old you are, but based on your posts, it doesn't seem like you're lacking anything essential in life. To me, this looks more like YOUR choice rather than a result of your circumstances.

You need to realize that you are... YOU. Your parents exist in a completely different reality. You can't follow them down their path; you have to forge your own. The sooner you grasp that, the easier things will become for you.
They are unwell, and they aren't to blame for that. They make mistakes, they harbor these strange, bizarre thoughts, and they often lack a sense of self, essentially destroying themselves over problems that aren't objectively large, yet they blow them out of proportion and live stuck in the past.
Anyone suffering from PTSD lives in some distant past that simply won't let them keep pace with the flow of life today.

What you need to do is find yourself. Find your interests and start planning your life with the realization that you have to live on after they are gone—get married, have kids, and all that stuff...
Realistically, there isn't much more that can be done for them; treatment is long-term and rarely yields satisfying results.

Think about yourself, not about them. Create some mental distance. Read, learn, and view your own growth as a way to eventually help them. Don't let yourself be tormented by things that you simply cannot change.
In a situation like this, try to be a source of help and understanding.

The whole situation isn't normal, obviously, but you don't get a second life. You have to adapt to the reality you were given and find what is best for you...

Larry Lewis said:As long as you aren't bothered by the fact that restlesstiger49 is completely bald and stands about six-foot-four covered in tattoos, we're good.😉

Wait, isn't that just me?😕

Donna Vaughn28 said:My treatment plan just got a shake-up.
About a month ago, my doctor switched things around. I started on Wellbutrin XL and 25mg of Q-pin, but we kept the Mirtazapine at 0.5mg—which I’ve been taking for years now. I used to take the 1mg extended-release version, but lately, I’ve just been adjusting the dose as needed... When I first saw the list of side effects for Q-pin, I actually asked my therapist if this made sense. She just laughed and told me I was on the lowest possible dose you could imagine. Apparently, people usually start much higher, like 600 to 800mg, so the chances of me feeling anything are slim to none. Anyway, the big win is my sleep. It used to be so shallow and brief, but now it’s actually decent. I can even sleep for seven hours straight in the morning. I take my Wellbutrin in the morning per my doctor's orders, and so far, I’m happy with it. I wouldn't say I feel amazing, but those constant depressive dips aren't hitting me quite as hard. The only weird thing is my stomach... it’s been hit-or-miss, either sudden diarrhea or really bad constipation.
The instructions don't mention anything about whether I should take these on an empty stomach, with food, or if it doesn't matter at all. Also, does Q-pin cause dependency? I haven't slept this well in years, and I'd hate to end up addicted...

You're sleeping because of the Q-pin.
25 mg really is a tiny dose, but it clearly works for you, especially since you're also on Wellbutrin...

It might actually be one of the best antipsychotics out there; you can't get addicted to it, and you could technically stop taking it in a single day.
Now, as for what specific side effects occur when combined with Wellbutrin... well, nobody knows for sure, but that's why you're here to tell us, right?

But again, I'll repeat: 25 mg is such a small amount that there shouldn't be any side effects, and there won't be.

@rejoflajt-dama takes that much, so reach out to her—she'll know everything about it.

It is all right there in the patient information leaflet.

''During the initial weeks of treatment, before the medication takes full effect, you may experience an onset or
worsening of restlessness—for instance, an inability to sit or stand still (akathisia).
Notify your doctor immediately regarding this. Adjusting the dosage may provide relief.''

See? That is what it says.

But it also states this...
-suicidal thoughts
-self-harm

Those thoughts can actually be intensified ( !!! ) when you first start taking Faverin..

A 50 mg dose is standard, and you won't truly know if it's working for you until about 4 to 5 weeks have passed.
You've only been on it for 4 days; it is far too early to draw any conclusions... just try to hang in there through this initial phase and please, keep reading the medication guides.

quietwalker5 said:I used to take something for irritability
http://www.cvs.com/shop/vitamins
and it worked immediately...
People might laugh, but if you can hold out until your doctor's appointment, it might just be a vitamin or mineral deficiency.

It isn't funny at all! Magnesium is actually a total lifesaver.🙂

Lexapro is escitalopram, whereas Prozac... that's fluoxetine.

Is one more potent than the other? Honestly, how can anyone say for sure? They are distinct medications with unique chemical profiles, even if they’re all aiming for the exact same goal.
The issue often boils down to the dosage.

Look at it this way... any antidepressant should work effectively, provided you're following a psychiatrist's recommendation. It shouldn't matter what the brand name is or how much buzz it gets in commercials; most of that "reputation"—whether it's being praised or maligned—is just clever marketing anyway.

Usually, an anxiolytic is prescribed alongside an antidepressant for a short period, mostly just to bridge the gap until the antidepressant actually kicks in properly.
But here is the real danger: we often end up with the "wrong" antidepressant for our specific chemistry. What happens then? We keep taking those anxiolytics indefinitely, spiraling until we're essentially addicted.

In my view, if you don't see any improvement after a month, maybe six weeks, or two months at the absolute maximum... well, it's time to taper off that antidepressant while simultaneously tapering the anxiolytic.
In the meantime, you absolutely must contact your psychiatrist to find a suitable alternative. Once you switch to that new medication, you go back to the same process with the anxiolytics, applying those same cautious rules as before.

It isn't as simple as just getting "hooked" on a pill, regardless of the type, because the standard doses are typically quite low, which minimizes extreme risk. The far greater problem is when we take matters into our own hands and start bumping up our own dosages whenever we feel like it.

redranger2 said:From what I can gather, Fluoxetine is essentially just the famous Prozac, unless someone here knows better and can correct me.

Yes, that is spot on.

The active ingredient, fluoxetine, is used across this whole spectrum of medications, including Prozac, though it all depends on which manufacturer you're looking at.

Fluoxetine is produced by Pfizer in the States.

It goes by several different names too, like Fluoxetine, Fluoxetine, Framex, or Fluoxetine...

Your mother isn't trying to "run" your life; she’s just trying to keep you from stumbling blindly down the path you've set for yourself. Honestly? I wish I had a mother like that.

Every mother wants things done her way—it isn't about being a control freak, even if that's how it feels to you right now.

Does that actually bother you?!
What exactly is the problem here..?

If you ask me, you should spend less time criticizing her and more time reflecting on what she truly wants for your future. I highly doubt she’s looking to chain you to a radiator.
Instead of fighting AGAINST your parents, why not figure out how to work together with them for your own benefit? But based on this post... we're all just waiting for Godot...☕