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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by VanillaSky on October 22, 2002, at 13:28:23
Hi All,
(warning..small book ahead...<G>)
I have been visiting this site for a few years now and have learned much and took comfort in knowing that I'm not alone in my experiences.
Now that I'm officially here...hopefully I can be of some help in returning some insight and knowledge to others that I've gained.To jump in: I've had Panic/GAD since 1987 and have a hard to break phobia that has become the main trigger for my panic. (It's based on how I perceive my surroundings when driving and being outdoors - kind of a which way is up, disorienting, free floating anxiety feeling - a perceptual distortion - I feel like i'm driving on the side of ball (pictures from the shuttle don't help..<G>) This all started from a panic attack I had many years ago while driving in the fog and I became completely disoriented, like Vertigo (and yes I've had inner ear test done to rule those types of things out.) My doc says this is related to the derealization symptoms of panic disorder. I now have this imprinting event and classic anticipatory anxiety/recreation of the disorientation thought process/avoidance cycle "stuck" in my head as it were. I've had moderate success with meds, and limited success with therapy. I haven't found the "right" one in either case, due in part to med compliance (side-effects) and putting in the effort to find a therapist that works with phobias, exposure therapy, CBT, etc. I have a fairly normal life otherwise - career, surfing, relationship, family, etc..but there is burden/stress put all of those because I get by with avoidance/safety zones/xanax to get from point a to b at times - those with Panic/Anxiety know what I talking about - and I want to free myself from these chains...I just can't go another year getting by..
So here goes the questions!
1)Started Remeron 2weeks ago - 15mg@1wk and 30mg@2wk shooting for 45mg- really tired/histamine effect/some dizziness(which is adding to my anxiety!) - Followed some threads here on Remeron - Do the sides diminish at higher dosages? Has anyone had good results with Remeron/Panic Disorder?
2) Concerned with all the years of high anxiety/panic, the resulting increase in cortisol levels and the subsequent effect on memory, brain structure, etc. Are the effects permanent or reversible? How does this effect learning and new memory formation? Anyone with thoughts and ideas on this?
3) I have been in contact with the Amen Clinic in California about getting a SPECT scan - for peace of mind and to rule out other things such as ADD (which one Therapist speculated I have) - Has anyone out there had a SPECT scan or have any opinions on it..?
Shewwwww...there's my first post...that was good to get off my chest...if you made it this far..
Thanks so much!
Until next time...
Posted by meow mary on October 22, 2002, at 14:08:23
In reply to Remeron\Cortisol\SpectScans\New Member, posted by VanillaSky on October 22, 2002, at 13:28:23
I have a friend who did the Amen program. She said in retrospect she doesn't believe the scans show anything conclusive and she could have saved $3,000. (Same opinion as my doctor, and her current one). It ended up having nothing to do with the meds she's on. What it did do for her was validate that it was ok for her to take meds, because she had strong conditioning against it. But for that she paid $3,000.
Posted by Dinah on October 24, 2002, at 14:09:41
In reply to The Amen Clinic: My Friend's Experience, posted by meow mary on October 22, 2002, at 14:08:23
It is such a seductive thought. Having a sure answer to what's wrong rather than trying to guess using the limited psychiatric diagnostic tools.
Maybe someday.
Posted by meow mary on October 24, 2002, at 19:42:30
In reply to Re: I am so sorry to hear that » meow mary, posted by Dinah on October 24, 2002, at 14:09:41
I was too, although I have to admit I was relieved that I didn't have to dish out $3,000. You're right-- it is such a seductive thought. I fear many people will easily be seduced into handing over 3 grand-- I know I would have if I had not been well informed by someone who's gone through it. That is not to say that advances aren't being made into this kind of technology, and that some day we won't have to suffer the huge tolls that "guesswork" exact. But it's a shame to get people's hopes up so high over this. I guess it's really important not to buy into the hype of any one thing, or drug as a miracle-- and still manage to hang onto hope at the same time.
This is the end of the thread.
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