Hi Sam,

Just a few more days!

It's great to see all the replies. I know so many of us care about how you're doing. There is much wisdom here. I agree with Lara and others that you may very well be having symptoms dovetail and increase each other. Getting your D level up is a good plan. It has an impact on so many things.

Keep hanging in there. Help is coming soon.

There are other neurologists Sam. Maybe you should wait until you've started your therapy before you return to see one. It will be good for the neuro to see you are already being proactive in your MH care and exploring all your options.

I wish you the best of luck at your first appointment.
I just want to reiterate that I think that this is the beginning of better things for you!

Hey guys!


So I had the appointment today. It went pretty well (I think).



Basically, the lady was extremely nice. At first I felt very uncomfortable and anxious and felt like I was going to cry. Then once I kept talking to her I felt more and more comfortable. She reassured me that it is common for those with anxiety to have feelings like this.


I went in, she asked my tons of questions, then we got to the point discussing about my symptoms and treatment options.



She thinks that I had underlying anxiety all my life, then once I got the concussion I now have DP + Anxiety. I have gotten this unreal feeling from the concussion and because I have had chronic anxiety it is making it stay and even worse. [ This was exactly my theory ]


I mentioned both Cognitive behavioral therapy and medications and she thinks those will both be great along with other therapy treatments. Next time I go we will be starting Cognitive behavioral therapy. In the mean time, I've been researching medication.


Which medication would be good for depersonalization? She had mentioned an SSRI but from what it looks like those have not been that great for those with DP. I feel more like there is hope. I just hate the fact I have to wait a week to see her again to start feeling better.



Benzodiazepines look good for DP, but I just don't know. Maybe someone can help me?

Where I have been looking \/

http://www.dpselfhelp.com/forum/inde...rsonalisation/

Sam,

It's great to hear from you. I am so glad you had such a good appointment! It sounds like it went really well. Feeling uncomfortable at the beginning is natural but you worked through it. Progress is definitely being made.

On meds, don't stress over getting a degree in psychiatry and figuring out what would be best. This is a tricky arena and your age needs to be considered. Your doctor or ideally a specialist will have recommendations. Perhaps your counselor can recommend a child and adolescent psychiatrist who has worked with patients who have DP+anxiety and are post-concussion.

Working out medications sometimes takes trial and error so hang in there and report any side effects. Benzodiazapines are addictive and should be approached with caution. They also effect learning. We never saw them prescribed as first line treatment for your age group.

Keep us posted!

Thank you for the reply Littlepaw



I almost forgot, she also mentioned how I'm eligible for a 504! This was very much needed, as school is SO hard for me feeling so out of it. Next time I see her she will be contacting my school and discussing what extra help they can give me.



The only problem about therapy is that I cant want to go back . I cannot wait to get things rolling and hopefully feel better.

Hi Sam,

Not only does it sound like you did very well in your first Session, but eligability for a 504 plan (I had to look it up) is going to ease the stress your issues place on you. Working in combination, I can see you making great strides in your recovery.

I would not concern yourself too much with researching meds. ADs in particular can have different effects on the youthful mind, so it will be in your best interest to trust the experience of the prescribing Doctor/Psychiatrist.

Do continue to look forward to your Counselling Sessions, and keep us updated along the way.

Dave.

I'm really pleased your appointment went well Sam, and that you're on the road to recovery.

I find it a real shame you weren't already receiving accommodations in school. I actually thought you were.

In fact I remember talking with you back around July about your eligibility for an individualized education plan (IEP)or a 504 due to prolonged symptoms post concussion. At least something will be done now though and that'll make your time in school a lot easier to deal with that's for sure.

http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/pdfs/scho...o_school-a.pdf

Page 11
Returning to School After a Concussion: A Fact Sheet for School Professionals
When symptoms persist: What types of formal support services are available?

Sam,

I'm so impressed by your enthusiasm to participate in therapy Motivation to get better is so important in good treatment outcomes.

While the site you've found seems like a great resources, I think you should be cautious about how much you rely upon it (as others have suggested). There is nothing out there that can replace the experience of a good mental health professional.
You may be starting out on a SSRI now, but your therapist may recommend adding a benzo to treat your anxiety in the future. Sometimes it takes more than one drug and/or more than one try to get us where we need to be.

I think it's great that you're going to be afforded some accommodations at school… anything to ease your anxiety will help.

hi again everyone,


I just don't know. I don't get this anymore...


Everything is the same and there really is no new update, it's just that I'm thinking to myself and having a painful realization about how I feel horrible and how everything is not right.


I just cannot take this depersonalization or whatever to call it. I call it that but no one understands what that is. I cannot even wait 7 days until my next appointment because I find myself not even wanting to continue with life until then. Everything hurts me on the inside to do. From going to school, from waking up every morning, to everything else, all because I feel terrible. No other kid has to deal with this feeling but me.


I realize this could be anxiety that is causing this feeling but why? Why is it permanent? WHY ME? Why do I feel so unreal?! How can I even live with this? I've had all these questions for over a year since this started and I feel like I still have not gotten them answered.



I don't know guys. I just feel like quitting. I'm so f***ing tired of feeling this way. There is not a minute that goes by when I'm not worrying about life. I just cant even handle the thought of living with this another day, but the sad truth is that I have to.


I need help... but the awful thing is that I have no help. Sure, I have therapy and will most likely go on medication but what if that does not work? What if after I AM STILL having the same constant feeling of not even living. I would want to die. And that thought is what kills me.



I just cant deal with this anymore..

Sam, life is a journey and just do it one day at a time. It will get better.

Depression is! We can discuss the degrees, the frequency, the many causes...the effects are the same. It drags you down and tries to pull you under. And fighting it can be exhausting! Survivors win the fight...sometimes one hour at a time.
The allure of suicide is a cruel joke.