First, be prepared for lots of paperwork before you see the doctor (unless you received it in advance). Second, take advantage of the opportunity. Let it all out. Tell him/her everything that's on your mind and all about what you have been experiencing. Lastly, keep in mind that working with a psychiatrist is usually an ongoing process, not a one-time shot.
Good luck!
I've worked with both, and although there is some crossover, the psychiatrist is able to diagnose and treat both the psychological and the physiological aspects of mental disorders. A psychiatrist can help rule out, through various tests, any physical ailment (like a thyroid condition) that may cause depression-like symptoms as well, which is something a social worker or counselor can't do.
I like to think of a psychiatrist as another member of a team of people, which includes my general physician, therapist, and of course myself.
Welcome SmFry,
I have a friend who has had similar experiences--tried different meds, gone to different doctors, and he's still struggling. Were you ever able to establish any continuity of care? Did you, for example, visit a psychiatrist every two months for a year or so? Did you stick with your meds?
In my case, I also went through several medications over a long,ten year period. Now, I think I've finally found a combination that works, but I always remain cautious.
I encourage you to work through the program and to use the community forums. Both help me come to terms with my "condition".
Welcome iloveshoes.
What you describe sounds so familiar. How many of us who have experienced panic attacks ended up in the emergency room on a heart monitor! And what is it about driving that seems to trigger the attacks? Maybe it's because we need to be in control to drive a car and panic attacks are all about losing control?
As for the diagnosis of depression, it seems pretty common for physicians to see depression as the root cause of anxiety, whether that anxiety is generalized or intense, as with panic attacks.
Have you noticed a decrease in the frequency and intensity of your panic attacks after you started taking the medication? The symptoms of anxiety and depression and panic are often so interwoven that it takes some time to find the right meds.
iloveshoes,
You aren't a weak person because you take medication. I used to think the same thing (for far too long) and it just gets in the way of treatment and progress. None of what you experience during a panic attack is caused by a flaw in your character, I assure you. It's hard to keep this in mind, I know, when you sometimes just feel silly for thinking you are about to die at any moment without any rhyme or reason. I remember how idiotic I felt when I first went to the emergency room with chest pains and it turned out to be a panic attack. I thought, "What a wimp!"
I think the more we learn about the disorders that trouble us (whether it be depression, bipolar, GAD, panic disorder, etc) the more control we can exert over our own thoughts and behaviors, and the less guilty we feel for having problems that require professional help, including the dispensing of medications. If we could all just buck up and get over it, we wouldn't use forums like this!
JenJen,
It's so hard to function when sleep patterns are chaotic. I know it was one of the most difficult issues to address for me related to depression.
I make it a point to go to bed at around the same time and get up at the same time, weekdays and weekends. I also listen to relaxation CDs at bedtime to help me go to sleep. I'll admit it doesn't always work. I still wake up too early, and too often, but I think it helps. I'm less tired during the day, even if I didn't have a perfect night's sleep.
Lady,
I've heard the term situational depression before. If I recall, it applies to instances where specific life circumstances (like an illness, or a death in the family, or any disruptive event--from loss of a job and subsequent financial stresses, to divorce, to confronting childhood trauma, to moving to a new location, etc.) may trigger a depressive episode.
I'm sure there's more to it, and I may be completely wrong!
Lady,
I sometimes think doctors should schedule back-to-back appointments with their patients. The first is for diagnosis, the second (the very next day) to answer all the questions that come to us after the first visit!
I don't think even if the depression is "situational" that a chemical imbalance doesn't come into play. It's how we respond to situations that matters, and for those of us who suffer from depression and anxiety, our brain chemistry colors our reactions. The meds should help us gain a level of control so we can work on the triggers. At least that's what I think the meds are for.
Lady,
I wish I had the answers for you. My bipolar/depression/anxiety is distinctly "non-situational". I can't identify a thing that made me the way I am other than brain chemistry and maybe some long-standing negative patterns of thought that I can work to improve.
I hope you get a chance to talk with your therapist or doctor soon to help you sort out your thoughts.
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