I just Would like to talk to someone who has gone through something similar to what im going through, i feel like the psychiatrists and therapists don't have anything near to an idea of what depression is like, so please if you have time PM me, or reply to my post
-Thanks, Jack

This post has been edited by Trace82: Nov 26 2008, 01:33 AM

I have been on several medications for depression, none seemed to work. I'm just wondering what doctors look at when prescribing a medication

Hi and Welcome to DF rabidcalvin

I am sorry that you feel that psychologists or psychiatrists don't understand depression, as this is one of the area's they are trained in and are the best people to deal with depression and mental illnesses. Maybe you have just had bad experiences with doctors in the past?
DF is a supportive and understanding community, please feel free to keep on talking about your depression here, that is what we are here for, to listen.

Trace

Hi rabidcalvin,
I understand what you are saying. Having been through a wide assortment of doctors over my life time, I feel I have had the very best and also had the not so great ones, but they lasted a short time with me. I have even found myself sort of evaluating them when I see them, just to see if I feel that they do understand. My psychiatrist that I am now seeing is excellent. She really cares and really does understand. I will agree though that there are MD's that can't relate 1st hand. They may have all the knowledge needed to do their job, but if they haven't suffered themself then they are responding out of their experiences with others like you. I think the key is to how caring and sincere they are to you. People shouldn't have to experience something to be able to be understanding. So if you have someone who seems to be in a different room when you are there, find a new doc. Not everyone works well with this or that person.
Hand in there!
AT

Hello again Mr. R.C.,

The first thing that jumped in my head in response to your question is that they can only work off of what is told to them. If you are holding back thoughts in your head, then you are sabotaging yourself. If you're trying to play some sort of head game with them, it is only yourself you are screwing with. I am getting the distinct feeling that you may not want to be seeing a psychiatrist or having to take meds, this could account a lot for your negative outlook on the treatment you are in. Spend sometime in deep thoughts with yourself to see if you are resisting to some degree. If you can come to terms with that, this will help you more than anything else. But back to the docs... After they have listened to your particular issues, they decide which med would work the best for you. I hope you also know that getting to the right medication is absolutely a trial and error process. It is the 'norm' for folks to have try a couple or more different meds before they settle on the right one, and then there is always tweaking needing to be done. The doctors know which meds out there are chemically created to respond to a particular area of problem in our heads. There are so many variables and even more that I don't know, that it truly takes a pro to figure out which path to take. So they 1st decide which type of meds may work for you, then they go to the particular med that has the least side affects and the most success in serving the purpose of why you take them. It helps them to know if you have any physical issues that could affect the outcome of another med. So you should tell them about any and all experiences you have had with any meds in the past. Ask them what you should be able to expect once they get into your system. Also ask when it would be appropriate to contact them about possible side affects you may have. Ideally, when someone starts a new med, the best course of action is to have you contact your doc about 3 days after you start a med and leave a phone message as to how you are feeling. At that point, you may not be feeling anything, which is a positive. That lets the doc know that you are probably on the right track. If you called and told that you have this or that ailment, then he may conclude the opposite. There should also be a follow up appt to actually see you about 2 weeks later. But remember, he can't begin to know how your body is going to respond to this or that chemical. And that is why there are so many choices out there to begin with.
The biggest and most important point is that you need to be honest and spill your guts. If you only speak when they ask you something, you are building a wall that will prevent anything from helping you. If you have a basic mistrust or are skeptical of the whole doctor-patient thing, say so to them! Certainly they can tell you how they can help you and it helps them to better understand you if you do tell them that. Even if you say right out that you feel they can't understand or appreciate what you are going through. If you should hurt their feelings than you can go see someone new! But if they are worth their salt, they will be able to put your concerns to rest.

Take some time to go and read some of the posts on the particular medications you have been on. There is a forum on just medications. These can be very interesting to read as you will see all perspectives and differences and all. You may learn why a particular med didn't work for you. I am curious as to which ones you have been on. I'm old and have been doing this med thing for way too many years. I feel as if I have been on every drug on the market, but I know that isn't true as new ones are being manufactured all the time. But let me know more specifics on yourself if you dont' mind. Or feel free to PM me too!
Good luck, better days are coming for you and that is the truth.
AT

Therapists and psychiatrists do have an understanding of depression and other mental illnesses. No doubt, many of them have also had depression during their life. It may sound strange, but many people with mental illnesses go into a mental health profession.

As far as medication, pdocs look at symptoms, cognition, behavior and level of functioning to make a diagnosis. It's mostly trial and error to find the right med that will work for you. We all metabolize and respond to meds differently. The key is giving the med more than a few weeks to work. Patience through this process is needed on the person's part. There is "treatment resistant depression" where conventional methods do not work and alternative treatments are tried.
Sheepwoman

Thank you for this post AT, this has really shed some light on my life and what I can do about it. I find it difficult talking about my life with someone, especially a doctor (well at least I imagine so as I haven't seen anyone yet).

And sorry for the minor thread hijack, just had to say that.