So_Up_So_Down’s Profile

Open Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Diagnosed Complex PTSD, meaning it's way long term, and they have no idea how to cure it. We just medicate it to kinda hold it back.

Treatments

Art Working / Worked

Writing helps, but a lot of times, I try to approach the "no fly zone", and just end up in space ... know what I mean?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Not Working

Basically BS - it just made things worse.

Cymbalta Working / Worked

The best combination so far for controlling the social phobia, panic attacks, and major depression ... but I am still a total recluse. Will it ever end?? I feel broken!

Effexor Working / Worked

Worked great for three years - then had to change meds.

Supportive Care Somewhat Helpful

Helped some; did some additional damage. These "professionals" really have a lot to learn about complex PTSD.

Topamax Working / Worked

Works for decreasing incidences of but not severity of migraines.

Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) Depression

Diagnosed with Complex PTSD, MDD, and GAD/PD ... which means I'm a total recluse wondering why I'm not dead yet. All I want in this world is someone to talk to - to understand, and accept and support me just as I am.

Treatments

Effexor Working / Worked

Worked for three years - then had to change meds.

Elavil Not Working

To be fair, didn't give it a real chance. I started gaining weight so fast, I quit taking it ... but not before it permanently reset my normal size from size 10 to a 14.

Electroconvulsive therapy Considering

I've been considering this, but I am hearing too much about memory loss afterwards, and that would cost me my job.

Lexapro Working / Worked

Worked for a while, but what I'm on now works better.

Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful

Helped a little. Also made other things a lot worse.

Cymbalta Working / Worked

Best combination so far to control the worst symptoms enough that I can exist. Still reclusive, but I don't wish I was dead every single day.

Open Infidelity

Still having nightmares about how it ended all these years later. He didn't just cheat - he was cruel about it. I was a fool for hanging on, hoping I would be the one he chose in the end. Instead, he beat me up and I finally understood that I had to go. Even now, I still wish it had never happened. I still hurt, and still hate.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Not Working

I think there were already too many domestic issues on the counseling plate by the time this happened for counseling to do me any good.

Support Groups Working / Worked

This group has done more for helping me heal than any other thing I have ever done.

Open Self-Injury

As a child, I'd bite my nails until they bled and burned. As a teen, I burned my arms and cut my face. As an adult, I was strictly a cutter. I believe SI is the brain's way of quick-curing itself. The brain's release of endorphins after an injury provides immediate - if temporary relief. It's not being suicidal. It's the opposite! I haven't SI'd in 2 years, but the urge is still there.

Treatments

Cymbalta Working / Worked

Currently the most successful combination. Get the brain chemicals in balance, and it DOES help!

Rubber Bands Working / Worked

Once I realized it was my brain's response to pain that was giving me relief, I realized I could substitute snapping a rubber band on my wrist or arm for cutting.

Psychotherapy Not Working

Too many counselors think "self injury" and "suicidal ideation" are the same thing. It didn't help me at all!

Open Restless Legs Syndrome

I've had RLS all my life, though I didn't know it had a name until a few years ago. From the time I was an infant, when would lay down, I always felt like I had bugs crawling all over my legs and just had to keep moving or jiggling or bouncing my feet. Found the cure that works for me quite by accident - the combination of Xanax and Cymbalta literally stopped the symptoms - which had become so severe, I was flopping like flounder in my sleep - overnight.

Treatments

Lexapro Not Working

Wasn't prescribed Lexapro for RLS; it had no impact on the condition.

Cymbalta Working / Worked

Immediate and complete relief from symptoms for going on three years. Just had to up my dose of Wellbutrin - the symptoms were starting to "creep" back ... literally!

Open Sexual Abuse

Not ready to talk about it yet, but I'm here. That's a first step.

Treatments

Abuse Counseling Not Working

Actually CREATED more trust issues than it solved, and left me feeling alienated and hopeless.

Open Bereavement

This is not comfortable to answer. I've lost three sets of grandparents, my father, my brother, my father-in-law, and two babies. Do I win a prize?

Treatments

Crying Somewhat Helpful

Grief Counseling Somewhat Helpful

Prayer Not Working

Psychotherapy Not Working

Writing Working / Worked

Self-help Somewhat Helpful

Music Somewhat Helpful

Open Eating Disorders
Type: Anorexia

I cycle between binge eating and anorexia. My real issue is Body Dysmorphic Disorder, but there's no support group for that, and I haven't found anywhere else to turn.

Treatments

Lexapro Working / Worked

Worked for a while in combination with Wellbutrin.

Psychotherapy Not Working

Cymbalta Working / Worked

'Least helps me feel normal most of the time.

Open Caregivers

Caregiver and, unfortunately, a certifiable caretaker. Not a good combination. Trying to learn to establish boundaries, but no clue what those should be.

Open Medical Mysteries

Just coming to realize there is some genetic neurological disorder that has severely impeded my life, and is now showing up in my son.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Not Working

By any name therapy counseling intervention etc. its all crap. Amateurish psychologists always feel they need to have an answer instead of really listening to the problem.

Dietary Modification Somewhat Helpful

If I could stick to it but literally everything in my normal diet is on the nono list.

Open Homeschooling

Homeschooling my teenage son after a long illness and a VERY uncooperative school system cost him his entire freshman year. Thinking about the same for my younger (10) stepson, who has ADHD & Asperger's Syndrome.