Hi, Ivysmom! So glad you found us here at EmpowHer. Thank you for your question.
I have a couple of good friends that suffer from depression, bipolar, anxiety and OCD, and so I know somewhat how you feel. They also are on many medications, and I think they too would like to throw them all out the window sometimes. It can be a pain in the neck sometimes to have to keep track of all the meds, the prescriptions, and the times of day you have to take them, even when you know they are helping you, can't it?
I have no medical training at all, OK? But I am wondering if the doctor thinks that your meds are balanced pretty well for your disorders and maybe he's worried that if she or he changes one med it will upset that balance? Do you think that might be what she/he's thinking?
Are there specific things that make you feel that your depression medicine isn't working anymore? Do you feel like it used to work better for you?
Do you like your doctor otherwise? Do you think that she/he is responsive to you in most cases? Does she/he listen to you when you have problems or questions?
If you like your doctor and want to stay with her/him, then perhaps the thing to do is to ask for an agreement, like "I'll take these meds for three more months but if I feel no change can we change the depression medicine?" and see what the response is. And be ready with specifics, because doctors are trained to treat specifics. Things like this:
1. I used to be more interested in things on this medicine and now I don't care about them any more.
2. I used to not cry as much as I do now. I am crying (this often) now.
3. I don't feel like trying to do better any more, and I used to feel that way.
If you aren't sure you want to stay with your doctor anymore, you can always find another psychiatrist who is more responsive to your needs. It's a big deal to switch doctors, as you know -- especially when dealing with depression and OCD. But sometimes we need to do it. That doesn't mean a new doctor would suddenly start switching all your meds, but it does mean they might see your case and your symptoms with fresh eyes and a fresh opinion.
Do you feel that the bipolar, the OCD and the anxiety are pretty well controlled on the meds you take now? Is it just the depression that seems to be increasing?
Comment Reply
Hi, Ivysmom! So glad you found us here at EmpowHer. Thank you for your question.
I have a couple of good friends that suffer from depression, bipolar, anxiety and OCD, and so I know somewhat how you feel. They also are on many medications, and I think they too would like to throw them all out the window sometimes. It can be a pain in the neck sometimes to have to keep track of all the meds, the prescriptions, and the times of day you have to take them, even when you know they are helping you, can't it?
I have no medical training at all, OK? But I am wondering if the doctor thinks that your meds are balanced pretty well for your disorders and maybe he's worried that if she or he changes one med it will upset that balance? Do you think that might be what she/he's thinking?
Are there specific things that make you feel that your depression medicine isn't working anymore? Do you feel like it used to work better for you?
Do you like your doctor otherwise? Do you think that she/he is responsive to you in most cases? Does she/he listen to you when you have problems or questions?
If you like your doctor and want to stay with her/him, then perhaps the thing to do is to ask for an agreement, like "I'll take these meds for three more months but if I feel no change can we change the depression medicine?" and see what the response is. And be ready with specifics, because doctors are trained to treat specifics. Things like this:
1. I used to be more interested in things on this medicine and now I don't care about them any more.
2. I used to not cry as much as I do now. I am crying (this often) now.
3. I don't feel like trying to do better any more, and I used to feel that way.
If you aren't sure you want to stay with your doctor anymore, you can always find another psychiatrist who is more responsive to your needs. It's a big deal to switch doctors, as you know -- especially when dealing with depression and OCD. But sometimes we need to do it. That doesn't mean a new doctor would suddenly start switching all your meds, but it does mean they might see your case and your symptoms with fresh eyes and a fresh opinion.
Do you feel that the bipolar, the OCD and the anxiety are pretty well controlled on the meds you take now? Is it just the depression that seems to be increasing?
July 23, 2009 - 8:29amThis Comment
Reply