I'm only asking because it's a similar emotional response. I mean a true good laugh.

Unfortunately no, no real genuine laugh either.

Theta,
After reading your last couple of posts here, it sounds as if it's about more than the tears. I wonder if you've talked about the Lithium with anyone else who is taking it. Compare notes. Perhaps the dose is a little too high for you right now.

I also just read where you are now situated. If you've moved recently and are not happy where you live, that's a big thing and enough to make a person feel different, especially if you've been through a cold, dark winter.

e.g. Seasonal Affective Disorder

Thank you, Lara,
I appreciate your response.
I've not yet gotten any discussion from those taking lithium.
I all along have suspected it to be the culprit with much that I suffer.
And I've not yet been able to get what I need for to see any pdoc here, and I'm told there are in fact none on the coast.

I cannot get lithium blood levels checked until this fiasco with my medical coverage is done and I have proper coverage. Fortunately I still have meds to refill.

Yes, it is a shocking change here. The inability to cry has been for nearly ten months now, preceding this relocation. It's a terribly depression-prone region, yes.

I am in hopes today of working out the medical coverage and soon getting blood levels.
You are right, it is a very high dosage, which I have always questioned.

Thanks again for your support. I appreciate it truly.

P.S. LOL ... The coast here is in a perpetual cold, dark, rainy winter! It just doesn't go away.
This is it. Good for trees, not good for people!

That sounds as if it's a good plan!

btw, I am not sure exactly where you moved but I have to tell you that I spent some time in the Seattle area in the late '90s. I absolutely adored it really but it certainly was damp. I bought some post cards when I left showing the 4 seasons and it just showed various shades of grey. Summer/grey - Fall/grey - Winter/grey - Spring/grey. It was quite funny really.

Thanks, Lara. Those are the four seasons, I'm sure of it.

I managed after 2.5 months now to just get appointed with primary care physician, earliest appointment, June 5. Impressive.

There are no neurologists on staff here on the NW coast.
No psychiatrist.
That too, impressive.

Oh well at least I have the coverage now and can go to walk-in clinic here.

I'd really rather just go home. Oh well.

Thanks again, Lara.

Oh my, I'm sure if I could cry, I would now.
Can't get appointed here with a PCP until June.
Tried to appoint with a neuro. Nope, there isn't one on the coast. Go 60 miles over the mountains to Portland. (Don't have a car.) But first ya gotta get referred through PCP.
Same with other specialists. Gee, I may get 'tended to ' by next winter at this rate?
My friend led me to think it was a progressive area with a fine healthcare system.
No neurologist, no psychiatrist unless ya go over the mountains 60 miles to the big city.
Oh, but ya need that referral from the PCP that you can't see until June ... so maybe get in the neuro in August or September?? I just want to cry and go home where it's warm!
Thanks for the vent!

Hi Theta,
It seems as if so many things are not working out for you at the moment.

Sometimes when I get snowned under and everything seems out of my control I have
to remind myself that it will all sort out eventually... the sooner the better for you I hope.

I'm not in your country so it's difficult for me to even understand the whole process
of your health system let alone make any really useful suggestions I'm sorry.

If I needed to see a doctor today for something, I can phone any doctor's clinic in my
area until I get an appointment. (I don't live in a major city, but it is bigger than a small town).
I may even have to go sit in the clinic for a while and be treated as a "walk-in",
meaning that they'd just fit me in between other appointments.
If I can't get in anywhere today, I'd definitely have an appointment for tomorrow.

The big problem anywhere unfortunately is waiting for a Specialist appointment
and that is the same here... sometimes it's months and sometimes is many, many months.

So, all that being said, I guess you don't have the option to go to any doctor in your town
for referrals?
What about hospitals?
Do you have the option of going as an outpatient at a local hospital?
Some of our Specialists work both privately and at hospitals, so sometimes one can get
an appointment faster as a public patient.

Are there any health affiliated organizations in your area that are available to help people in need.
e.g. to help people who might not have a car or be able to drive and have no other means
of getting to the city for a faster appointment. What about a Social Worker?

I mean, what about your medications. What if you run out?

It seems to be a somewhat dire situation to be in a new place that you don't know well
and with new people, and without medical treatment. ugh.

Edited to add:
Theta, because you are in such a new area, I worry about you finding yourself in a
crisis situation without any people to help you. Not that it is going to happen, of course!

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/index.shtml

Thanks so much for your caring, Lara.
You came up with good creative possibilities, and so supportive.
I will private message you with my update.
Thanks again.

Trying today to watch on tv a lifetime fave of mine, the movie Secretariat.
It's always highly emotive for me, I grew up in Kentucky and am familiar with the thoroughbred horse farming and horseracing culture.

Perhaps it's the taper of lithium + newly added Cymbalta. I seemed to better experience my emotions and really thought I'd break into real crying several times but no more than a tear.
It's like having to sneeze and cannot!

At least I'm getting to see the movie Secretariat again, which I love.
Both the horse and his owner, Penny Chenery, are dear to my heart.

P.S. 3:30pm. Oh happy day! oh happy day! Secretariat has just won by 31 lengths his running to win The Triple Crown! And I got to cry a bit in emotive joy. Yay. Oh happy day indeed. Love all the actors and the music in that movie too. Thank you, Secretariat! You helped me run my race today.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6zHvR7K1btQ

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pNeajtcNwJ0