Psychiatrists in Toronto?

[Nathan]

Fuck, anyone know a good one? I am sick of going to these fuckers only to have them tell me I need to be medicated but then finish with, "But I don't like following through with the procedure for adjusting medication so I won't help. You'll have to see someone else." So I go see someone else and they give me the same bullshit. I'm fucking having a panic attack as I write this. It's also getting in the way of work - I keep getting into trouble for not working - as well as school, relationships, BBing, etc. This shit has owned me my entire life. Sorry for my lack of stability but I know there are some canadian guys on the board who are medicated. Anyone?

Jeez, reading this over really doesn't sound like me. So, this is actually The Almighty's post - Nathan just agreed to let me use his username. Anyone buying that?

 

[SCOTTY-TWO-HOTTY]

I can't give you any help with respect to the Psychiatrist referal, I don't know of any in the GTA. However, I can give you some advice to help you with your problem... A few years back, I had the same shit happening to me. I had always been an anxious guy, but 3 years ago, it became really bad. Started to effect me with school, work, GF, etc. I just went to my Doctor(not a Psych) and told him what was happening. He prescribed some medication, I've been on it ever since. Worked like a charm.

I know finding a good Doctor, if you don't already have one, could be just as hard as finding a Psych. Just try seeing a GP(or a few)and see what materializes. I heard Bros here rave about Paxil, it supposed to work miracles with anxiety. Tell your Doc what you've been going through, tell him you want to give Paxil a try.

Good luck Nathan. Hate to see a good Brother in such a state.

Peace,
S.

 

[Nathan]

I have tried paxil and it didn't work. Also tried ltihium, zoloft and I think prozac. I have OCD, anxiety and am bi-polar. If it isn't the OCD, it's the anxiety, and when it isn't the anxiety or the OCD, it's the depression/bi-polar disorder. I am looking for a good GP and have found one that seemed cool but I have only seen him once. Maybe I should try him, but the only problem is he knows I juice and he will tell me to not juice again if I want his help most likely. The juice really doesn't affect my moods much, if anything it helps them, but I doubt he'd buy that. Thanks though.

 

[gimp]

It's difficult to to get an appointment with a Psychiatrist. The first thing to do is see a GP(family doctor). They will likely start you on a medication and refer you to a Psych. if necessary. They're are two types of medication for anxiety. Benzodiazapines(valium, ativan,rivotril). These are consisdered minor tranquilizers and only treat symptoms of anxiety. They are addictive, no doubt, after long term regular use, they are harder to kick than heroin. Anti-depressants of the SSRI type (paxil,zoloft,prozac) are all effective for anxiety, but only after 3-6 weeks. All the meds listed above when compared to psychotherapy in the treatment of anxiety were just as effective say recent studies. Anxiety is most always associated with depression. Best way to tell if you're depressed is to look at your sleeping patterns. Are you waking up early? Around 3 or 4 a.m. and not able to fall back asleep? Suffering from persistent low mood?

 

[Nathan]

Well, I know what my problem is but thanks. I AM bi-polar I've been diagnosed with it many times, at least 5 times before by psychiatrists. So yes, I am depressed. My lows last much longer than my highs. I was referred to a few psychiatrists by the same doc and saw them all. I guess I'll have to try another doc.

 

[Beezers]

I have the same inflictions as you. OCD, anxiety, and bi-polar depression/manic. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but the best thing I have done was to quit with the doctors and the drugs. This is up to you and only you. The drugs(buspar, xanax, paxil, prozac) were living hell for me. All I wanted to do was sleep. Of course if I took any stimulants I'd have an anxiety attack that lasted a good twelve hours and my OCD would become completely impossible to controll. Most doctors don't know what it feels like to be in our shoes, or to feel "owned" by various mental states of mind. They are of little help excpet when it comes to writing perscriptions...which as I said made life even harder for me. Western culture and esspecially that here in North America dictates that we medicate everything. Why? Not to "cure" disease, but to make a dollar. If horse shit was claimed to have anti-depressant effects the pharma coumpanies would be seeling it. The hardest fact for me to realize and face was that it was up to me to fight this. It was a lonely and daunting feelinig knowing that I was up against some powerfull emotions. I beat it...for the most part. I can now calm myself when my anxiety gets sever. I can calm myself when I start to get manic. And I can stay level when the depression tries to settle in. It really is mind over matter and that is what most people in our boat don't want to hear and admit. I had that attitude as well, but enough was eventually enough. The drugs were'nt working and no doctors could truely comprehend the feelings of this suffacating concoction of mental malady's. I wanted an easy way out so I refused to admit it that I could controll it myself. I do beleive thee is a nero-defficiency or twelve responsible for thses feelings we have, but I'm not convined medication is of any use other than filling the wallets of pharm company execs and doctors.

 

[Nathan]

I have the same inflictions as you. OCD, anxiety, and bi-polar depression/manic. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but the best thing I have done was to quit with the doctors and the drugs. This is up to you and only you. The drugs(buspar, xanax, paxil, prozac) were living hell for me. All I wanted to do was sleep. Of course if I took any stimulants I'd have an anxiety attack that lasted a good twelve hours and my OCD would become completely impossible to controll. Most doctors don't know what it feels like to be in our shoes, or to feel "owned" by various mental states of mind. They are of little help excpet when it comes to writing perscriptions...which as I said made life even harder for me. Western culture and esspecially that here in North America dictates that we medicate everything. Why? Not to "cure" disease, but to make a dollar. If horse shit was claimed to have anti-depressant effects the pharma coumpanies would be seeling it. The hardest fact for me to realize and face was that it was up to me to fight this. It was a lonely and daunting feelinig knowing that I was up against some powerfull emotions. I beat it...for the most part. I can now calm myself when my anxiety gets sever. I can calm myself when I start to get manic. And I can stay level when the depression tries to settle in. It really is mind over matter and that is what most people in our boat don't want to hear and admit. I had that attitude as well, but enough was eventually enough. The drugs were'nt working and no doctors could truely comprehend the feelings of this suffacating concoction of mental malady's. I wanted an easy way out so I refused to admit it that I could controll it myself. I do beleive thee is a nero-defficiency or twelve responsible for thses feelings we have, but I'm not convined medication is of any use other than filling the wallets of pharm company execs and doctors.

I agree for the most part bro. I tried a few meds back inhigh school which just fucked me up even more. And eventually I decided the same thing. So I underwent behavioral modification - did things like sat with my hands "dirty" for an hour before I was allowed to wash them. It really helped with the OCD and I can control that much better. It's the depression/bi-polar part that I'm having trouble with now. Once the OCD was somewhat in check I kinda thought I was in the clear but I have recently realized that I am still very anti-social most of the time and depressed as hell as well. I'm just trying not to flip out right now. I am bored all the time and no longer have any interest in doing anything. I was gonna drop out of school which would be stupid and I know it - I have a high gpa and have a very good chance of going to grad school at Harvard or MIT (which is where I want to go) for astrophysics and I am wanting to forget about it. My mom is bi-polar so she understands but my dad can't for the life of him understand what is going on. He never really grasped why I would freak out when I was little. Anyway, that's why I want to try meds again because this time I can't seem to deal on my own and I don't want to throw away the future I have already worked hard to achieve.

 

[SCOTTY-TWO-HOTTY]

Sounds like the blend of personality traits I have(I'm serious Bro). When I went to see my Doctor about this, the most serious problem I had was sleep: I couldn't get to sleep or stay asleep, I was averaging 45minutes/night. I became very depressed, the world is a dreadful place w/o sleep. Every aspect of my life was affected. I've been on 75mg ED of Elavil(Amitriptyline), it really helps with anxiety and depression. Ask him about Elavil, see what he says.

 

[Nathan]

Okay I will. I have the opposite. I sleep 10+ hours every night and wake up tired.

 

[georgie24]

i sleep 10 hours and wake up tired as fuck

 

[Nathan]

i sleep 10 hours and wake up tired as fuck

Are you depressed or is that the only symptom:? You could have a sleep disorder or something.

 

[BigDdaGanjalist]

If the drugs haven't done anything I'd suggest...

try and get a doctor to refer you to a group that assists in 'thought pattern therapy' a group that helps you try and understand certain things about yourself and how the mind works, it's sounds useless but with what you said anything is worth a shot.

sometimes the human mind can become used to a thought process (depressed, self-worthlessness etc.). This translates into habits too. this group tries to help identify and change that through behavioral therapy.

just trying to help. give it a shot if you haven't yet.

ez.

 

[BigDdaGanjalist]

check your pm in 2 min Nathan.

 

[Nathan]

Thanks guys. I will give each of your helpful suggestions some serious thought. It is something you can shake to a degree but meds can seriosuly help most people feel who have found the right medication for them. I mean you know what it's like to come off a cycle anyways. You get depressed as hell and it is not easy to just shake off until your hormone levels are balanced again. With this disorders though, your hormone levels won't be "balanced" without meds. It's obviously not the same thing but you get the picture. I greatly appreciate everyone's help though.