Counseling/Therapy

Hey gang, I know some of you have seen a therapist post-op to deal with different situations.  I have been dealing with allot emotionally and finally broke down and said I can't handle this by myself.

I am going to see a physocologist on January 6th.  I'm unsure of what or where this will lead but but I now that I can't deal with what I feel alone anymore.  I have also come to the conclusions that I do need to be back on anti-depressants for now.  He already feels based on visits for my son that mom needs the meds and may also be dealing with ADHD.  I've never been diagnosed ADHD but dealing with two children that have it, I can see where maybe that is the case for me too.  My mind is wired 100 MPH, it never settles down.  I start so many things at one time and have trouble coming them, become anxious and totally shut down.

How are you all dealing with the holiday stress?  I use to deal with SAD pre-op but haven't until this year again.  I have other family situations that I'm dealing with that is compounding the situation.

Some days I'd love to crawl in a hole and not come out.   Can any of you relate, gees it feels kinda crazy to feel in the dump all the time.

My favorite part of the holidays is when they are OVER!

I hate dealing with crowds. I hate not having enough money. I hate that the three teenagers decide to be nasty, whiny, unappreciative BRATS during this time of year.

I hate picking out presents for people who won't give me a clue what they want.

I hate that the kids are out of school and can't be trusted to be left home alone.

I want my own room (currently I am sleeping in what is supposed to be our dining room, so I have curtains for a door).

I wish I could tell you how to deal with the holidays. I wish I could tell ME how to deal with it.

Hang in there, it's almost over.

I hate the holidays myself. Next year if it gets any worse, I'll be headed to the psych myself.

My issue is that my mom died on Thanksgiving 1974 and each year when it comes around I get really depressed and angry..It keeps getting worse and worse each year apparently. This year was the worst in a long long time because I lost my little dog in October and then over Thanksgiving Weekend my cat (15 years old) got really ill. I managed to keep him alive till the 2nd but gave up and let him go...It's better now but for about a month, I was horrible.

I can relate to what you're saying and I do believe that working with a therapist will help alot! I don't deal with ADHD, but do have SAD and also OCD that has manifested itself in some strange ways since surgery. I bet if both of your kids have ADHD you probably do too and from what you described you sound like a classic case. Getting diagnosed and going on meds will help ALOT I'm sure!

As far as the holiday stress, Well, its only just begun. I need to get thru the 25th when we will be spending the day with my husband's family~things have gotten a little better, but I still have a sil who is, for lack of a better word, a true *****! I saw her today at my son's school party and she was her usual self~nothing nice to say about anything or anyone. Oh well, whatever~I'll get thru it and hopefully we will both have on our "happy faces" to make it pleasant for everyone around us, LOL! Its draining and exhauting though.

I hope things go well for you and that you make it thru o****il you can go on the 6th. Please give an update on what happens after you go!!!! All I know is you are one of the sweetest people I've met here at OH so I wish you nothing but the best!!! Hang in there!!!!

Seeing a counselor was the best money I ever spent post-op.  My issues weren't depression-related, but adjustment-related - the way people changed toward me after surgery really affected me.  It helped me so much to talk it all out.  I'm a big proponent for therapy.

And hey, if you need the meds, then take them.  No point in suffering!  I'm curious about what you learn about adult ADD/ADHD.  I'm having my daughter tested in January, and am pretty sure that I've been ADD undiagnosed for my whole life.

Holiday stress?  Well, yeah!  It's pretty much under control, but I think there's time for one more big freakout tomorrow!

The problem with the holidays is that people put so much weight on them. 

Really...we're talking about celebrating a day that the Pilgrims feasted with the Indians and we think about how we are thankful for what we have.  C'mon - shouldn't we be thankful everyday?  Why make such a big deal about it and cause such a hype?  I say that we should invite family and friends over for dinner more often and screw Thanksgiving.

And Christmas...we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.  How else do we celebrate birthdays?  We throw a little party, have some cake and ice cream (both SF of course) and open a few gifts.  Why do we make it into such a big deal??????  

Grrrrrr...I'm with ya on the holiday dumpsters.  I guess I'm a bah-humbug but I think it's ridiculous how huge we make these 2 days in relation to everyday life - when we should really be saving our money for useful, necessary stuff and not give in to the pressure.

My holiday pact:  I will not let the Holidays become bigger than life itself.

Who's with me?!?!?

There are a LOT OF us with ya on this one.   To add to MY STRESS I  work  RETAIL at the customer service desk.   There are days I on the drive home I just cry all the way home.  To add to my disfunctional family I have a 14 year old daughter and her grand mother NOT TALKING to each other. Very long story but Like I said there are a LOT OF us with you on this one.
I think going to the physocologist is great.  I keep telling my self I need to go to the doc and maybe get back on some meds also.
We're here for ya.
Robin

I say good for you going to see a specialist that can help you - and...if you had a broken leg you wouldn't think twice about using crutches to help you walk - meds are just the same - they help where needed, it's just that we can't physically see the need.

Thank you for posting this thread.  I know it sounds strange but it has really helped me reading how others are finding this time of year difficult too and I don't feel so alone.

I've got a daughter who has recently been diagnosed with ADHD (after being mis-diagnosed with epilepsy for over a year!!)  Weened her off the epilepsy meds - put her on the adhd meds only to find they were making her more hyper.  No help from the dr other than to say stop the meds.  Now we are worse of than we were before - at least the epilepsy meds helped with erh symptoms.  She is getting worse the older she gets.  So have to get through the holidays before we can chase up the professionals to get help with different meds or something - who knows what.

I am exhausted, trying to hold it all together for her and my DH, being pro active on the medical professionals and school professionals as she has learning difficulties too.   I am so hoping the New Year brings new things - or at least new ways for me to cope.

I have a son and daughter with ADD and I have ADHD. My daughter has been on meds for a couple years (and has made significant improvement in all aspects of life). My son and I just got diagnosed and prescribed about 3 weeks ago.

The change was instantaneous. He and I were like two rabid cats because he'd get frustrated, then get mad, then I'd get frustrated with him.. and mad.. back and forth.

My stress level has dropped 150%, I no longer procrastinate on things that seem too complicated (especially work) and we are all getting along better. The difference is AMAZING.

I will warn you though - the meds killed whatever was left of my appetite. I ended up having a hypoglycemic hit the floor kinda deal because I didn't even realize it was happening. That woke my ass up. Now I make sure I eat lol

Oh and - even though the meds (they're uppers..amphetamines) are supposed to cause sleeping issues, I have been sleeping better than ever - because my brain isn't doing all that multitasking while my body is trying to shut down.

I've read this post over and over again and I'm so relieved.  i have tried everything.  Anti-depressants.  I always joke and tell people that I'm turned about two turns too tight.   Well I read the post and then took the ADD ADHD test and scored 99.  I have been given Xanax too.  I always feel that I can't stop or get stuff really finished.  I'm all over the place.  Good news I've go a call into the therapist and am waiting for a call so that I can get testing started,  At 42 I just want everything to slow down just a little.  Make the chatter stop. 
Keep me in your prayers
Hugs