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April 24, 2005

Server migration, technical issues, etc.

I have moved the site to a new webhosting company, which was no small feat. Old posts will be available in the archives on a limited basis; there may be some glitches in the links to comments, etc., for files in the archive.

Consider this my test message and starting a new slate. I have a lot to say, the last month has been hectic with the site malfunctioning and the webhosting company not doing it's job to help me resolve the issues with running the site, as well as personal issues, but I am excited to get back into the swing of things and catch up on some thoughts I wanted to share.

lunasdad and I watched a show on television this evening called "Intervention" and this particular episode showcased the plight of a young man with a gambling addiction. It was riveting in a morbid way, watching this young man who showed so much promise as a child, self destruct before our eyes. The other story was that of a young actress with a shopping addiction.

The two stories got us thinking about two issues:

1) personal accountability. Folks, none of us is entitled to anything. We are the masters of our own fates and our problems are our own. I had a teacher once tell me to be careful when you point a finger because whenever you do, you have three pointed back at you. We make decisions that lead to consequences, it's a simple cause and effect. Sometimes, we make decisions by default, and the playing field isn't level, we don't all have the same tools for coping and living. It doesn't matter; we have to play the hand we're dealt and just do the best we can. No one else is responsible for our mistakes, failures, or shortcomings. No one is responsible for caring for us for the rest of our lives. We are not entitled to anything.

2) no one will advocate for you better than you can. I have watched several people I know go to a psychiatrist, get prescribed medications, and then be left to fend for themselves. A psychiatric doctor is more often than not interested in medication management and not talk therapy. Fewer and fewer psychiatrists are involved in the talk therapy aspect of the profession, it's why psychologists are so popular (in my opinion). I don't know how many lay people realize this when they seek psychiatric treatment. They are looking for a fix to their life's problems. They get a diagnosis, pop a pill, and expect the world to right itself. For some people, this is all they really need, which is why general practitioners sometimes prescribe anti-depressants successfully. but for the majority of the people, this is a recipe for disaster. The medication masks the real underlying issues, which in turn sit unaddressed, festering. Eventually, they find new ways to surface. People turn to self-medication. it's a downward spiral.

We have to take our health into our own hands. it's up to us to do the research we need to get better. some people aren't ready to get better, I think it's why they end up being mismanaged. they go to several doctors, are on different prescriptions that aren't helping and end up with comorbid illnesses. These people can't break the self-destructive patterns on their own, they just don't have the tools to truly get better on their own which is why interventions are sometimes necessary. For the rest of us, however, some simple research and early self-intervention can change a situation from unbearable to manageable.

I think there are several tools that are essential in recovery from a multitude of mental illnesses. The first is a supportive environment. if you surround yourself with enablers, you will never get better. The second is an honest assessment of the situation--if you lie to yourself and others, you will never get better. The third is a qualified physician--rule out physical health problems and then get a referral for a psychiatric evaluation. A real, true evaluation, by a qualified mental health professional, can be a useful tool for coming up with an agenda of issues to work on and assessing where you stand, emotionally. Then you can determine whether you need a psychologist (who cannot prescribe medication) or a psychiatrist (who can). Fourth is always a session with a talk therapist--if you can find a psychiatrist who does medication management as well as talk therapy, this might work best. Otherwise, a good psychologist who can communicate well with your other health practitioners is essential. Finally, a psychiatrist to manage medication if you find that it is necessary.

It took me a long time to figure out that I needed to go in with an agenda, I had to sit and figure out what goals I wanted to accomplish with therapy, both long and short term. I had to figure out what my expectations were for medication, understand the limitations, and build from there in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy. Medication is not a panacea--it won't cure your problems. It can help equip you with the tools you need in order to help yourself climb out of an emotional hole. It can help you look past the immediate agitation so you can work on issues for long-term gains. It can help you look outside of yourself, help you focus. It can help prime you for talk therapy and make it easier to implement strategies for healing and management of chronic mental health issues.

If you don't fix the underlying issues, you will relapse every time you stop the medication. Sometimes, it just takes time to heal, or medical issues clear up. For the most part, however, it takes active intervention and work to get yourself to a point where you can either function without the medication or manage your condition to a great degree with just a bit of help from medication. Some of us will be on medication for the rest of our lives for chemical imbalances. Addressing environmental issues will help manage chronic issues, but it can't cure everything either.

what you can't do is go to a doctor and expect them to fix you. you can't expect them to give you a pill and make you better--good health and change comes from within. This is where the personal accountability comes in. if you let a doctor prescribe you several medications, while you continue to deteriorate, and you blamce the doctor for not getting better, you are in the wrong. It's up to you to advocate for yourself. Change doctors, ask questions, push for better results, research alternative therapies...these are all your responsibility and are within your power. You cannot control whether a doctor is apathetic or disorganized, but you can control whether you visit that doctor. If your psychiatrist doesn't communicate with your general practitioner, and prescribes you medication that may interact with other medication you are taking, the blame lies within. It's up to you to take an active role in your health--make sure your doctors communicate, take notes, make certain you are clear about what medications you are taking, all medications. It's up to you to keep them aprised of health concerns, that you have high blood pressure, or are sensitive to certain types of drugs, even if they are over the counter. If you don't get involved, then you have no excuse and no one to point a finger at.

Anyway, it's just what I was thinking about, watching these young people self destruct, and listening to the excuses, and realizing just how sick they were, how symptomatic, and how unaware of it they were.

fight for yourselves. no one can do it better.

g'night.

Posted by lunasmom at 11:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack