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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by misty99 on March 1, 2002, at 7:44:10
Noa,
When I was doing a search of the archives in an attempt to find posts that answered some of my questions, I discovered one of yours that echoed my sentiments precisely. You said:
Beginning of exert:
In therapy, I have been working on accepting my illness as chronic, on bringing together these two lives I have led--the optimist who hopes/feels/wishes depression is in the past, and the desapairing depressive who feels life will never get any better and isn't worth living.It is hard, but I am learning to see both of these parts of myself as me, to not have the pendulum swing so drastically, to be able to move from depressed mood to non-depressed mood more fluidly and flexibly, to not have a bad moment signal the downward spiral, to not have to have the shadow of terror ruin my good days--terror of losing the progress, the hope.
End of exert:
How are you doing since that time? Are there any books you can recommend that do exactly what you're talking about? Therapy for me is a possible option but being unemployed makes it tough for me to consider.
Anyway, that's exactly how I feel when med problems start up again, the terror of losing the progress. I also think having LD/ADD complicates the situation because even our brains are erratic to begin with and then having to deal with pssible med failure is like dealing with gasoline on fire.
Maybe what I have to do when it happens again is to do immediate journaling and let myself express whatever negative feelings I have. I did that when I first realized I might be laid off from work and it helped immensely.
Then maybe I should focus on how I can maintain a transition period that would be reasonable until I get on the next med with hopefully the same success.
Any tips or insight you feel would be revelant are greatly welcomed. Same for the other social psychobable posters.
Misty
Posted by trouble on March 1, 2002, at 20:21:18
In reply to Noa - Questions regarding a post from 1/01, posted by misty99 on March 1, 2002, at 7:44:10
Hi Misty,
I liked that old post you posted.
You mentioned you have LD/ADD, does LD refer to learning disability? I have these diagnoses too, and haven't seen any threads about them so far. I was just wondering how the learning disability affected your life, I have lots of problems w/information processing and it makes me seem unbelievably stupid sometimes, and foolish in public. I've learned to laugh at my mistakes, but would really like to get a college degree, but not if it's a lost cause, and was just wondering if you've had any experience w/ that?thanks!
trouble
Posted by misty99 on March 2, 2002, at 7:39:15
In reply to Re: Noa - Questions regarding a post from 1/01, posted by trouble on March 1, 2002, at 20:21:18
Hi Trouble,
> I liked that old post you posted.
> You mentioned you have LD/ADD, does LD refer to learning disability? I have these diagnoses too, and haven't seen any threads about them so far.Yup!
>I was just wondering how the learning disability >affected your life, I have lots of problems >w/information processing and it makes me seem >unbelievably stupid sometimes, and foolish in >public.
How much time do you have as I could go on for hours:))? I have problems with visual and auditory processing, organization, and fine motor skills. I definately know the feeling of looking stupid. What's worse is the people who should be more understanding are laughing at you instead of with you.
>I've learned to laugh at my mistakes, but would >really like to get a college degree, but not if >it's a lost cause, and was just wondering if you've had any experience w/ that?
Definately not. I got a college degree back in the days when LD wasn't in anybody's vocabulary. Try and pick a place that suits your learning style. If you learn one way and the classes aren't taught to the way you learn, then it's going to be more difficult than usual.
I have considered returning for a master's degree but I feel my med problems are more of a barrier than my LD/ADD.
Hope this helps and let me know if I can answer any other questions.
Misty
> trouble
Posted by Penny on March 2, 2002, at 20:09:03
In reply to Re: Noa - Questions regarding a post from 1/01, posted by trouble on March 1, 2002, at 20:21:18
trouble,
You may have a learning disability, but you are by far one of the most eloquent writers I've seen in a while, and I'm in the profession! I totally agree with Misty that if you find a college that will work with you, getting a college degree is well within your grasp. If that doesn't work out, I think you should just work on getting published!
Penny
> Hi Misty,
>
> I liked that old post you posted.
> You mentioned you have LD/ADD, does LD refer to learning disability? I have these diagnoses too, and haven't seen any threads about them so far. I was just wondering how the learning disability affected your life, I have lots of problems w/information processing and it makes me seem unbelievably stupid sometimes, and foolish in public. I've learned to laugh at my mistakes, but would really like to get a college degree, but not if it's a lost cause, and was just wondering if you've had any experience w/ that?
>
> thanks!
> trouble
Posted by noa on March 4, 2002, at 14:51:43
In reply to Re: Noa - Questions regarding a post from 1/01, posted by Penny on March 2, 2002, at 20:09:03
Hi. Things are pretty good--certainly in terms of that issue, which is so central. I am not so split off anymore. It took a long time to get to this point, and if I had been limited to short term therapy, I don't know where I'd be now. Of course, it is still something for me to grapple with now and into the future---that is the point---accepting the grappling as part of life. Recently, I had a kind of panic experience in which my helpless/hopeless buttons were pushed and my amygdala took over completely, it seems. I was instantly transported to a pre-verbal emotional state seemingly impervious to language and logic. The mood lasted about 2 days and then dissipated. So you see it isn't totally gone, but at least my usual, "normal" functioning is good, and I am not cutting off my potential for depression when I am not depressed, so I am therefore not living in a state of fear-of-depression. I hope that makes sense.
I don't know of any books about this. Maybe journalling will help you--as Penny said, you are a superb writer and I know that writing is therapeutic for me. I think there is something about writing that really helps integrate different parts of our brain in processing what we experience.
As for the ADD/LD, is there a support group you can go to? Also, you could be eligible for voc/rehab services depending on how that is defined in your state. In some places, having an LD qualifies you for voc/rehab and sometimes that could mean they pay for therapy in addition to career counseling or training or supports to help you through college. But the level of service available and the eligibility probably varies a lot depending on where you live.
This is the end of the thread.
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