Posts by driftinggull21

Raymond Wilson4 said:If we are pushing for a psychiatric evaluation, we are essentially assuming there is a clinical illness involved. Looking at stormyfox13, I don't see a disease; I see someone who is dissatisfied with life or a specific part of it.
In my opinion, there's no need for a psychiatrist... but then again, that's just how I see it.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.😉
Furthermore, a psychiatrist might conclude after an exam that she is perfectly healthy.
However, she came here seeking advice for a reason. I believe that two heads are better than one, so you are welcome to contribute as well.🙂

There would certainly be plenty of people opting out.

@stormyfox13
No matter how many times I reread your opening post, I can't ignore phrases like "state of despair," "has lasted six months," "never been more unhappy or dissatisfied," and "suicidal ideation."
In my view, those are clear indicators that you need a psychiatric evaluation to establish a treatment plan. It doesn't strictly have to involve medication if you're against that; there are alternatives like psychotherapy, support groups, or outpatient programs. However, you have to start somewhere. And unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to find a psychiatrist they click with on the first try.

Delayed stress response. It isn't unusual. 🤷 Based on your description, I assume you are referring to rare crisis situations rather than just everyday "common stress." Since you can already identify these specific triggers, try to relax once they pass—spend time with someone you trust or engage in an activity that helps you unwind.
If you are in Washington, D.C., you can also present a referral at the Mayo Clinic should you experience such an acute stress reaction.

Timothy Cruz6 said:I’m not entirely sure there's a meaningful distinction between a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist. A psychiatrist should be trained as a psychotherapist as well, shouldn't they?

Not necessarily. Professionals from various other fields can complete specialized training in a specific school of psychotherapy.

For certain individuals, even subclinical doses can achieve a therapeutic effect. 😉

Timothy Cruz6 said:Can someone walk me through my results? I've read this ten times now and I still can't make sense of it. Am I okay?

It says:
- difficulties at the self level
- personality profile is colored by an experience of high-level distress (is this how I feel, or just how the psychologist perceives me during the session?)
- personality traits are dominated by signs of personality disorder (it doesn't specify which one)
- schizotypal characteristics—bizarre thinking and perception with borderline psychotic symptoms
- Goldberg psychotism index is borderline.

The above is gibberish to me. I understood most of the rest, but nowhere does it actually say what is wrong with me. What am I dealing with?

Help.🙂

Take those results to your psychiatrist during your next follow-up. It will help speed up the diagnostic process. A psychologist isn't even legally allowed to issue a formal diagnosis in their report.

She would react the way she always does. But can you even call it a relationship if she refuses to seek treatment? 🤷 They might have great chemistry in bed, but if they’re tearing the house down and fighting constantly, the dynamic is completely dysfunctional.
Honestly, it seems to me she isn't even interested in getting better or being in a relationship...🤷

I thought this kind of behavior was exclusive to Fight Club.

🤣

I will read through everything here.😁, so let's take this one step at a time.
I am not certain which specific personality type is being discussed; perhaps we should consider the context of the USA (where you see eighty people in one group)🙂🙄
At first glance, this looks like BPD to me, and that requires a psychiatrist to confirm. Regardless, you don't need a forum to recognize the level of self and hetero-destruction present here.

Furthermore, I notice the recurring themes: female gender, BPD, and fatality. In practice, those elements certainly align.

feraljackal152 said:They bumped her Risperdal from 4 to 5 mg because it seemed to be working, but she's only been on it for two weeks.
She's dealing with brutal side effects from the Haldol: muscle stiffness, tremors, and a prolactin 1900.
On top of all that, she was trying to wrap up her freshman year of high school, so being around other kids was just incredibly awkward for her.

If she's taking Haldol, they should also prescribe Cogentin to manage those stiffness issues. As for the prolactin, that's caused by the Risperdal, not the Haldol.

fadedbison50 said:It’s just irresponsible not to get tested for the CDC if you suspect you might be infected. I mean—why do you even think it's the CDC? Generally speaking, the risk is higher among gay men.

and i had sex with 4 girls without a condom.

That explains it.🤷

@analogeagle10
There is little point in overthinking this; go get tested, as it is the only way to be certain. Use protection moving forward.

feraljackal152 said:Dg F20. Does anyone actually know what happens when you taper off Haldol? She’s been on 12 mg for 9 months, then 10 mg at month 10, and now for the last two weeks it's been 7 mg, down to a 2 mg tablet this Tuesday.
And she's taking Risperdal too, obviously.
The thing is, my daughter says her head is pounding and the voices are getting louder.

It is obvious that a lower therapeutic dose is failing to control the symptoms. Either that, or a complete change in medication is required. How much Risperdal is she on? I assume somewhere between 2-6 mg.

I’ve been reading up on Lurasidone (Latuda). Has anyone here actually tried it? It looks promising to me. Since it hit the market relatively recently, it seems like a solid option for treating psychosis, especially given its safety profile. The side effects seem much milder. It doesn't "numb" you out the way drugs like Risperdal, Olanzapine, or Quetiapine do. It originated in Japan, but that's irrelevant—all that matters is whether anyone here has experience using Latuda.

Edit: Don't just tell me nobody uses it!!!

Of course nobody has.
I doubt anyone will step forward with actual experience, though I wouldn't mind if they stayed quiet.
However, Paliperidone (Invega) is approved; the only question is which Medicare formulary it will eventually land on.

I watched it last night. I was quite pleasantly surprised. Farrell was a solid choice for the role, and Tennant was equally excellent.

A bit of a vampire paradox, though: why on earth would he be eating human food and drinking beer?🤷

It was a wise decision to seek professional help. Take the medications exactly as prescribed. You should also attempt to coordinate with her regarding an EEG and a brain CT scan to rule out organic issues.

It depends.
Case 1. If someone believes they are possessed by a demon and starts calling Joe Biden 100 times a day to request an exorcism—to the point where they stop leaving their house and neglect all their actual responsibilities—it isn't hard to conclude there is a clinical disorder at play.

Case 2. If someone wears an "anti-evil eye" charm or some other talisman without letting it interfere with their daily reality, then we are simply looking at a mindset or "folklore."

And I suspect this isn't just a psychological perspective, but one shared by experts in other fields as well.😉

Kenneth Scott41 said:Has anyone here actually experienced significant weight gain while taking Zoloft? I’m aware that people can pack on as much as 65 pounds when they're on Zyprexa, so I suppose I’m just wondering if Zoloft carries that same kind of risk.

Zoloft is one of the few APs that doesn't cause increased appetite. In fact, patients on Zoloft often lose weight.

boldpilot2 said:Thanks, Timothy Wood38. Fine. (Addressing driftinggull21 as well) Wouldn't Vitaseng work at least a little? Why wouldn't I take it as a supplement, like taking vitamins? It isn't a matter of desire. 😁 The issue is that everything feels weak. It shouldn't be a major problem regarding the need for Cialis and such. I am saying it just feels "weak," you know 😁? Maybe it will pass. Still, I don't see any harm in taking a supplement. I see nothing wrong with Vitaseng, or that other one I mentioned before (though I forget the name 🙂). Why not give it a shot? My dad used to take stuff like that too. And is a psychiatrist really necessary for this? Can't my primary care physician handle it?

I assumed that during your regular check-up, you would discuss it with them and they might offer a recommendation. Given your current medication, I presume you already see a psychiatrist.🤷