lundeliz Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Hey guys, Just thinking I may need someone I can talk to about coping with all this and learning to accept that this may take a while. I've never had a therapist, or whatever they are called. I searched on my insurance website to find someone, but what kind of doctor am I looking for? There is no one called a therapist on there. Would it be a psychologist? Sorry for my ignorance. Can anyone advise me? Thanks! 2006-Cymbalta 60mg for lyme disease2009-Quit Cymbalta c/tFeb. 2010-Reinstated 60mg CymMar.2010 to May.2012 tapered Cym to 36mgMay 2012-Crossed over to 30mg CelexaMay 2012-Oct.2013 Tapered Celexa down to 2.5mgOct.2013-Switched to 30 beads CymbaltaDec.4,2013-Stopped Cymbalta at 17 beads<p>Akathisia hit at 6 wks off and continuesNow taking melatonin when needed for sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aria Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 There are Social Workers (has a Master's Degree), Psychologists (Master's Degree or PhD), a Pastoral Counselor (Master's or PhD) and an RN (has Master's Degree). All can be called therapist or counselors and their college degrees will reflect their expertise. You need to see what area each considered themselves competent in, like Child Therapist, Grief Counselor or deals with divorce/trauma. The Master's Degree counselors usually charge less per hour than the PhD's do. It's who you feel the most comfortable with and together you make your outline on what issues this counseling will cover and for how many sessions. It's easy to get caught in years and years of therapy that's no going any where. Unable at this time to correspond by private message. Link to my Introduction thread: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2477-aria-my-psych-journey/ Reading my psychiatric records: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/5466-drugged-crazy-reading-my-psychiatric-records/ My Success Story is listed under "Aria's Recovery". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Rhiannon Posted March 7, 2014 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted March 7, 2014 Think in terms of interviewing people in order to find the right one. You'll need to find someone who has seen "behind the curtain" of the propaganda about psych drugs and that chemical imbalance myth. A lot of people in mental health still believe in that garbage. So I'd keep that in mind when you're shopping. You don't want to be talking to someone who thinks it's all your imagination or that you just need to go back on meds. Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010. Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea. Feb 15 2010: 300 mg Neurontin 200 Lamictal 10 Celexa 0.65 Xanax and 5 mg Ambien Feb 10 2014: 62 Lamictal 1.1 Celexa 0.135 Xanax 1.8 Valium Feb 10 2015: 50 Lamictal 0.875 Celexa 0.11 Xanax 1.5 Valium Feb 15 2016: 47.5 Lamictal 0.75 Celexa 0.0875 Xanax 1.42 Valium 2/12/20 12 0.045 0.007 1 May 2021 7 0.01 0.0037 1 Feb 2022 6 0!!! 0.00167 0.98 2.5 mg Ambien Oct 2022 4.5 mg Lamictal (off Celexa, off Xanax) 0.95 Valium Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lundeliz Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 Thank you guys. Not too sure where to start but you've given me some good info. 2006-Cymbalta 60mg for lyme disease2009-Quit Cymbalta c/tFeb. 2010-Reinstated 60mg CymMar.2010 to May.2012 tapered Cym to 36mgMay 2012-Crossed over to 30mg CelexaMay 2012-Oct.2013 Tapered Celexa down to 2.5mgOct.2013-Switched to 30 beads CymbaltaDec.4,2013-Stopped Cymbalta at 17 beads<p>Akathisia hit at 6 wks off and continuesNow taking melatonin when needed for sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compsports Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Hi, When I am interviewing potential therapist, I might ask them what they know about psych med withdrawal issues just to get an idea of they have some clue. Obviously, if they give you a blank look, they might not be the right person for you. CS Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010 Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006 Finished taper on June 10, 2010 Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016 Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zang909 Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 It's becoming clear to me that I need to talk to someone. Professional. On a regular basis. What's not clear to me is how I should decide who to talk to. Is there any difference, besides the ability to prescribe meds, between a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Do I need one of them, or should I just look for some kind of general "counselor"? We just got a new insurance provider this year and I'm a little lost. Circa 1995 put on Paxil; Tried various meds over the years in an effort to get away from Paxil's side effects 06/29/13 Switched from 30mg Paxil to 10mg Lexapro 10/24/13 7.5mg Lexapro 12/01/13 6.25mg Lexapro 01/01/14 5mg Lexapro 03/01/14 3.75mg Lexapro 04/01/14 2.5mg Lexapro 05/01/14 1.25mg Lexapro 05/28/14 Med-Free 02/27/15 300mg Neurontin twice daily, .25mg to .50mg Xanax as needed May 2015: 600mg Neurontin twice daily, .25mg to .50mg Xanax as needed 08/05/15: 600mg Neurontin twice daily, 30mg Paxil daily, .25mg to .50mg Xanax as needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted February 8, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 8, 2015 Hi Zang, I found this article which may help: Finding a Therapist Who Can Help You Heal I'm not a doctor. My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one. My Introduction Thread Full Drug and Withdrawal History Brief Summary Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects 2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010 Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal) May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins. Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens. Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days. April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close. VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from? VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made? VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes? VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects? VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mycatzara Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 In my experience finding a good therapist/counsellor is extremely hit and miss. In addition to finding one you get on well with and whose concepts of what is wrong and how to manage it are something you can 'click' with, there are the questions of cost and how the therapy is funded. I was very lucky to be referred to a good psychiatrist who can manage any medication issues (and is a conservative prescriber) and also does therapy, but have had very mixed results with psychologists. The one I am seeing currently works in a group practice that uses an intake interview to match you to the psychologist they think you'll be best suited to, and I'm very happy working with her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Altostrata Posted May 16, 2015 Administrator Share Posted May 16, 2015 merged similar topics. Also see How to find a good therapist This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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