Comments for Dicko's Blog http://d1ck063.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Sun, 10 May 2009 08:54:21 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Medications and a Dr’s role in all of this by Annon in Melb http://d1ck063.wordpress.com/2009/04/25/medications-and-a-drs-role-in-all-of-this/#comment-12 Annon in Melb Sun, 10 May 2009 08:54:21 +0000 http://d1ck063.wordpress.com/?p=199#comment-12 I too have recently had an issue where my Dr had me on a coctail of meds which ended with me being placed in a psych ward for 8 days to de-tox. The concoction he had me on, was literally killing me, and if I had continued with one specific anit-depressant, Endep, I would have ended up becoming more suicidal than i was. I was on Tegratol, panadine forte, sequil, endep, ocycontin, valium, and a few others. Put them all together and they are lethal. While I was in the psych ward, i was asked if I would allow some trainee psychs to do mock interviews on me as part of their training (yes it was at a large training hospital), I agreed and one thing I pointed out to them was that the General Practictioners really have no concept of the counter-interaction between drugs. And when you are dealing with a mental illness, this can not continue. Too many lives are at stake. I am still struggling on a day to day basis with panic attacks, anxiety shakes, sweats, but I am just thankful atm that I am alive. I am very lucky in the immediate family I have, P has been a wonder, dealing with the day to day stuff of a family, while trying to encourage me to keep going, while studying full time. I have also been blessed with sensational friends who have gone through and are going through something simular who ring every few days to make sure I'm still on track. While this has all been happening, I have come down with Bronchitis, and it has shown to me, that everyone around me can deal with the physical illness, but there is still such a stigma on mental illness. This shouldn't be the case, just like a diabetic needing insulin to live, my brain needs help stabalising it's chemicals so that i may live.....only one is acceptable, and one is still very much on the outer..which is a shame as so many ppl have a mental illness. You're doing well Drew, keep it up and thoughts and prayers are with you all. I too have recently had an issue where my Dr had me on a coctail of meds which ended with me being placed in a psych ward for 8 days to de-tox. The concoction he had me on, was literally killing me, and if I had continued with one specific anit-depressant, Endep, I would have ended up becoming more suicidal than i was. I was on Tegratol, panadine forte, sequil, endep, ocycontin, valium, and a few others. Put them all together and they are lethal.
While I was in the psych ward, i was asked if I would allow some trainee psychs to do mock interviews on me as part of their training (yes it was at a large training hospital), I agreed and one thing I pointed out to them was that the General Practictioners really have no concept of the counter-interaction between drugs. And when you are dealing with a mental illness, this can not continue. Too many lives are at stake.

I am still struggling on a day to day basis with panic attacks, anxiety shakes, sweats, but I am just thankful atm that I am alive. I am very lucky in the immediate family I have, P has been a wonder, dealing with the day to day stuff of a family, while trying to encourage me to keep going, while studying full time. I have also been blessed with sensational friends who have gone through and are going through something simular who ring every few days to make sure I’m still on track.

While this has all been happening, I have come down with Bronchitis, and it has shown to me, that everyone around me can deal with the physical illness, but there is still such a stigma on mental illness. This shouldn’t be the case, just like a diabetic needing insulin to live, my brain needs help stabalising it’s chemicals so that i may live…..only one is acceptable, and one is still very much on the outer..which is a shame as so many ppl have a mental illness.

You’re doing well Drew, keep it up and thoughts and prayers are with you all.

]]> Comment on Thinking….. by d1ck063 http://d1ck063.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/thinking/#comment-8 d1ck063 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 09:35:40 +0000 http://d1ck063.wordpress.com/?p=148#comment-8 I think it's our "family story" and it is good to get it out. We were there for you Shel, though at times you probably didn't feel it (and that's not having a go at you). Just know that you were, and are, not alone. There are many friends that care for you too. I think it’s our “family story” and it is good to get it out. We were there for you Shel, though at times you probably didn’t feel it (and that’s not having a go at you). Just know that you were, and are, not alone. There are many friends that care for you too.

]]> Comment on Thinking….. by You Know who http://d1ck063.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/thinking/#comment-7 You Know who Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:00:01 +0000 http://d1ck063.wordpress.com/?p=148#comment-7 Dad - Why does it feel like you are telling my story? you all saw how I was 6 months ago, and its hard reading that, because its saying the words I could never say. Dad – Why does it feel like you are telling my story? you all saw how I was 6 months ago, and its hard reading that, because its saying the words I could never say.

]]> Comment on Thinking….. by Sherri Edwards http://d1ck063.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/thinking/#comment-5 Sherri Edwards Sat, 07 Feb 2009 06:30:09 +0000 http://d1ck063.wordpress.com/?p=148#comment-5 Hey Drew, I am proud of you, your honesty in what you have written takes guts. I have suffered depression since i was 18, am now mid 30's. I know exactly what you mean. Your thoughts can take control without any warning and I have learnt that I have to be able to try and retain some wits about me, or the voices will take control and win. There have been days so bad that I can not see past the next breath, even taking the next breath was an effort, one that I had to think about and consiously ensure that I would breath in and out. At times the voices have almost won, but one thing that has kept me going on with my fight, is the support of loved ones and friends. When you are having a really bad day, you don't think that they will care if you go ahead and do something, so you may as well go ahead and do it and do it properly, cos no one wants to have to look after a self inflicted cripple (sorry can't think of the pc term) and you don't want to feel like a failure even further because you can't even get that one act right. I even fight and resist at times taking my medication, why the hell should I be on medication to help me think like a normal person? I should be able to deal with life. I should be able to cope....all those kind of self depreciating thoughts, but as my husband keeps telling me...he needs his ventolin to live and I need my meds to help me live, I mightn't like it, but I have to accept it. I strongly urge you to find someone you trust to the nth degree who is willing to be beside you through thick and thin. Someone who knows you well enough to know when you are not coping and when you are about to have a meltdown. Someone you can honestly talk things through with, or someone who will just be there for you...sitting in front of the TV eating tim tams with you. Even those "timeout" times can help make a person feel a bit more "normal" Having a "mental illness" these days does not attract the stigma it once did years ago, these days it is recognised as what it is, a chemical imbalance in the brain that needs some assistance in getting back on track.....and that may take months, years, whatever. But one thing I pleade of you...DON'T EVER DO ANYTHING STUPID, YOU HAVE TOO MANY PPL AROUND YOU WHO LOVE YOU AND CARE FOR YOU AND WILL BE WILLING TO HELP IN ANYWAY THEY CAN, BUT YOU NEED TO BE ABE TO REACH OUT TO THEM WHEN YOU NEED TO. Not reaching out because of pride or because you think ppl won't understand or that you'll think you'll be emmbaressed the follwing day is just lies from the Devil. He doesn't want you to reach out for help, he wants you to join his army and he will be as cunning and decietful as he can. he has no morals, he just doesn't want Jesus to win in your life. I find on my hard days praying is the last thing I feel like doing, but is the FIRST thing I should be doing, even if it's something as simple as "Help me". You know deep down that He is with you, that He is walking beside you through all that you are going through. You mightn't feel Him, but He's there with you. I guess all I can say, is be prepared for a roller coaster, you will have some good days and you will have some really crappy ones. Acknowledge the crappy ones, see if there is a common denominator that triggers you off into a donward spiral, but be prepared for there to be no ryhme or reason to any of it. We love you Drew, you are a sensational man who has helped me out many many times over many many years and I am here for you and the family, no matter what!!!! Praying for you my friend Love SE Hey Drew,
I am proud of you, your honesty in what you have written takes guts.

I have suffered depression since i was 18, am now mid 30’s. I know exactly what you mean. Your thoughts can take control without any warning and I have learnt that I have to be able to try and retain some wits about me, or the voices will take control and win. There have been days so bad that I can not see past the next breath, even taking the next breath was an effort, one that I had to think about and consiously ensure that I would breath in and out.

At times the voices have almost won, but one thing that has kept me going on with my fight, is the support of loved ones and friends. When you are having a really bad day, you don’t think that they will care if you go ahead and do something, so you may as well go ahead and do it and do it properly, cos no one wants to have to look after a self inflicted cripple (sorry can’t think of the pc term) and you don’t want to feel like a failure even further because you can’t even get that one act right.

I even fight and resist at times taking my medication, why the hell should I be on medication to help me think like a normal person? I should be able to deal with life. I should be able to cope….all those kind of self depreciating thoughts, but as my husband keeps telling me…he needs his ventolin to live and I need my meds to help me live, I mightn’t like it, but I have to accept it.

I strongly urge you to find someone you trust to the nth degree who is willing to be beside you through thick and thin. Someone who knows you well enough to know when you are not coping and when you are about to have a meltdown. Someone you can honestly talk things through with, or someone who will just be there for you…sitting in front of the TV eating tim tams with you. Even those “timeout” times can help make a person feel a bit more “normal”

Having a “mental illness” these days does not attract the stigma it once did years ago, these days it is recognised as what it is, a chemical imbalance in the brain that needs some assistance in getting back on track…..and that may take months, years, whatever.

But one thing I pleade of you…DON’T EVER DO ANYTHING STUPID, YOU HAVE TOO MANY PPL AROUND YOU WHO LOVE YOU AND CARE FOR YOU AND WILL BE WILLING TO HELP IN ANYWAY THEY CAN, BUT YOU NEED TO BE ABE TO REACH OUT TO THEM WHEN YOU NEED TO.

Not reaching out because of pride or because you think ppl won’t understand or that you’ll think you’ll be emmbaressed the follwing day is just lies from the Devil. He doesn’t want you to reach out for help, he wants you to join his army and he will be as cunning and decietful as he can. he has no morals, he just doesn’t want Jesus to win in your life. I find on my hard days praying is the last thing I feel like doing, but is the FIRST thing I should be doing, even if it’s something as simple as “Help me”. You know deep down that He is with you, that He is walking beside you through all that you are going through. You mightn’t feel Him, but He’s there with you.

I guess all I can say, is be prepared for a roller coaster, you will have some good days and you will have some really crappy ones. Acknowledge the crappy ones, see if there is a common denominator that triggers you off into a donward spiral, but be prepared for there to be no ryhme or reason to any of it.

We love you Drew, you are a sensational man who has helped me out many many times over many many years and I am here for you and the family, no matter what!!!!

Praying for you my friend
Love
SE

]]> Comment on the beginning…. by lgw http://d1ck063.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/the-beginning/#comment-2 lgw Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:26:03 +0000 http://d1ck063.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-2 i wait with antici----------pation i wait with antici———-pation

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