About a year and a half ago I suffered my first panic/anxiety attack. Not knowing what it was I ended up in the emergency room. After a battery of tests where nothing was found, they had me bring the test results to my doctor the next day and he told me that I had probably had a panic attack. First he just gave me tranquilizers, when that didn't work well he put me on Paxil. After 6 months I was weened off the Paxil and I felt great for about 7 months but it all came back and worse this time. I thought my doctor would just put me back on my meds. and that would be that, but he decided to send me to a psychiatrist. I didn't know what to expect, I really didn't want to go, but... I don't know if this was a typical visit but, he spoke to me for about 10-15 minutes about my symptoms and a little bit about what was going on in my life at present and then wrote me a Rx for Paxil and more Atavan and had me make another appointment for a month later. After paying 197.00 before I left I really wondered why I had bothered. He didn't do any more than my doctor would have done. It seemed to me as though he was just a very expensive pill pusher.

I guess after all this rambling (sorry) I just wanted to know if this was a typical first visit with a psychiatrist. Oh, and by the way I canceled that appointment and never went back. My doctor took over dispensing my meds.

I'd like to here other stories of fist visits with these experts.

Thanks.

First the differences:

A psychiatrist comes with an MD (Medical Degree) which allows him/her to prescribe medications as such s/he has specialized in drug therapies and mental health. A Psychologist doesn’t come with an MD and can not prescribe medications instead they focus on the therapy sessions, helpful tools, blah.

A GP (Family doctor, General Practitioner) has studied a little of everything – meaning that they are not specialized in just one line of medicine – a psychiatrist has spent much more time on the study of emotional/mental health and knows far much more than your GP on that Subject. A Neurosurgeon (as example) knows more about nerves and the brain than a GP, a Rheumatologist specializes in rheumatoid ills, etcetera and so forth.

Used to be a Psychiatrist would counsel one, would spend “quality time” with a patient before writing a script, but in our modern world where there are too few doctors to go around they usually have to wing it with a 15 minute conversation and a look at your file. If you were obviously suffering from more the doctor most likely would have spent more “quality time” with you to work on what else is bothering you.

Considering that you showed improvement with Paxil and relapsed to panic attacks once off the paxil it is easy to see that you are a paxil kind of person – meaning that paxil is “proven” to work for you. However the psychiatrists as a specialist in mental/emotional medicine will, over time, evaluate your condition and if needed s/he will prescribe other medications, wean you off (when the time comes) might even take the time to listen to your woes for more than 15 minutes. While your GP (Family doctor) can and may prescribe some basic medications for short term treatment of conditions, s/he will ultimately refer you to a specialist for any given illness.

The extent of specialization in the medical field has earned me a couple of neurologists, an orthopedist, rheumatologist, a couple of phlebotomist and a few other “ists” which are specialists in their fields, each spending less than 20 minutes with me on a visit however all are knowledgeable in their field.

Personally I opt for a psychologist (therapist) over psychiatrist because I dislike taking a lot of medication (actually any medication) and I prefer to work on the issues causing my mental/emotional distresses.

I also went to one ONCE, I'm not sure if he just wasn't the "one" for me or if psychiatrists in general just aren't for me...They do work for a lot of people...but if you want to talk to someone that doesn't charge 200 bucks an hour you might want to look into a therapist who has the same schooling in therapy but just doesn't have a medical degree and can't give meds.

Blue, many people think a panic/anxiety attack is a real symptom of death, cardiac arrest. You really can't tell the difference.

What you are describing, with doc visits is the typical. Understand this, legal drug dealer. Paxil is your worst problem? You are scripted drugs that can actually kill you. Atavan is a benzo. You are a script drug addict thinking you did the right thing, getting help.

SSRI antidepressants change who you are and how you think. Been there and keep refusing them, for one reason or another. Do you take your scripted Atavan? This is a benzo and very addictive.

You think that drug withdrawal is awful with SSRIs, try being a script benzo addict. I have done two horrid drug withdrawals, with SSRIs. I get to go to detox, if I want off of scripted benzos! You might be in drug withdrawal, from two addictive drugs you doc said would help you. Congrats! You really are a drug addict!!

I am so outraged that a doctor can create an addict, but they all do. An addict is a continual customer, which doctors do create. I have been through two of my doc's SSRI drug withdrawals. It's not pretty. This doesn't help anyone, just make you insane and not the person you are. If you really want Paxil, any doc will script it, so see someone else!! I do not advise this.

I am going to detox, just to get off this script. 'Professional Help' creates drug addicts and repeat customers. Atavan is a benzo. If your doc cut you off of drugs, you may be dealing with two different drug widrawl symptoms. You are not crazy!! Drugs make you feel insane.

I could be wrong or just plain negative, but I think that your first doctor dumped you on your second doctor who dumped you back on your first doctor, all over trying to save their own arses regarding possibly overmedicating you instead of saving your arsy.

I believe that after seeing through all of this and knowing what to do about it, you can also see your way through whoever/whatever is (are) causing your panic attacks and discover what to do about the whoever/whatever.

You may be overreacting to some character trait of yours as simple as, for example, gullibility. Don't panic, but know that we all face unexpected unknowns every day, and with practice, we all learn to plan how to daily react to those which we have already experienced and most of those which we have yet to experience. Such is life. Maybe you just need to develop more self-confidence so that you can relax and better enjoy the bumpy ride.

I am a college educated RN. I am obviously intelligent or wouldn't get a degree. I am no criminal or couldn't hold a RN license.

Tsab, you can do as you wish discredit me, my education and experience all you want, but I am trying to help someone, Blue. I am a little old to be a psycho, who could get a degree, work as an RN, being a responsible person, to be an ongoing psycho reject.

Your insults do not earn you what you think, tsab. Make someone look bad and that makes you look good, right? I have seen this so many times, out of complete jerks, who think they are all that. Making anyone look bad never did work making you look good, correct? Please, cut it!!

Blue, I have been there. My drugs are drugged, with more addicting drugs. Just how screwed up do you want to be? If you don't feel you need medication, look into these drugs before taking them. Shrinks are legal drug dealer creating more addicts. They live good because of people like us, stressed out and need some help.

Be careful! It is protocol to give you SSRI antidepressants, first. Next, you are on benzos. You are another script addict! Welcome to the world of hell!!

quote:

Originally posted by Wildflower63:
I am a college educated RN. I am obviously intelligent or wouldn't get a degree. I am no criminal or couldn't hold a RN license.

Tsab, you can do as you wish discredit me, my education and experience all you want, but I am trying to help someone, Blue. I am a little old to be a psycho, who could get a degree, work as an RN, being a responsible person, to be an ongoing psycho reject.

Your insults do not earn you what you think, tsab. Make someone look bad and that makes you look good, right? I have seen this so many times, out of complete jerks, who think they are all that. Making anyone look bad never did work making you look good, correct? Please, cut it!!

Blue, I have been there. My drugs are drugged, with more addicting drugs. Just how screwed up do you want to be? If you don't feel you need medication, look into these drugs before taking them. Shrinks are legal drug dealer creating more addicts. They live good because of people like us, stressed out and need some help.

Be careful! It is protocol to give you SSRI antidepressants, first. Next, you are on benzos. You are another script addict! Welcome to the world of hell!!

Wildflower63: I hate to rain on your parade, but my comments were 100% directed to BlueIce63 and his/her question and 0% to you and your post! I usually name the individual(s) to whom I am addressing my post, if it is appropriate to do so. Your tirade should cause me to remember to do so from now on. I am sorry if someone has caused you to feel as though he/she thinks of you as an ongoing psycho reject; although some, as you say, jerks on this very website have chosen to not only think of me as a nut but also to discuss my sanity, I certainly do not choose to think of myself in such a way. As for education, I am quite educated myself, thank you. P.S. If you must chastise someone, at least spell his/her nickname correctly: make that "tsaeb"! Also, since I am very well aware of the haughty creeps who lord over others whom they either disdain or envy, feel free to send me an e-mail the next time you feel stressed and run out of members of the human race with whom to correspond.

Goodness guys, lets not get ugly.

I appreciate hearing from everyone.
Wildflower, I think you misunderstood, I don't take Atavan on a regular basis anymore and haven't in quite some time, although I do still have a bottle and take them only when needed, maybe once or twice a month.

I guess everyone's experience is different. Last year I took 20 mg. of Paxil every day for 6 months and was weened off of it with no problem and felt great. Unfortunately that only lasted about 7 months before the attacks returned, actually a little worse this time. I respect your knowledge and experience with this, but I feel I need this medication at this time, I'm back to normal and feel much better. I will once again try to get off it in another 5 months. I'm hoping next time it will last, but if not I have to say that I have had no negative experience with this medication and thank God for it. I wish I didn't have to take it of course, but I dread to think where I would be without it.

Thanks to everyone again.

Who were you talking about, let me check the spelling of an unusual name, tsaeb? I apologize for my spelling error, if that is what you want to criticize. It is an unusual name. It really is easy to have a spelling error and not be an idiot, if that is what you are complaining about.

quote:

Originally posted by tsaeb:
I could be wrong or just plain negative, but I think that your first doctor dumped you on your second doctor who dumped you back on your first doctor, all over trying to save their own arses regarding possibly overmedicating you instead of saving your arsy.

Were you referring to Blue, being dumped by doctors or me? Are you referring to people going to different docs, with multi scripts, who abuse? Who and what are you talking about, let me check the spelling again, tsaeb? I don't understand what point you were trying to make. Please explain.

Don't worry about it, Blue!! We are both trying to help, maybe in different ways.

When you are a high stress person, it is not curable, panic attacks, that are unbearable and last too long. Paxil is addictive, just so you know. Docs pass these SSRI drugs out, like candy. Paxil or any SSRI is addictive, but no abuse potential.

There will be differing times, with life changes, that will stress you to the point of panic attacks that seem to never end. Benzos, taken when needed only, work. You don't want this addiction either. I am talking about Xanax and Klonipin, the only useful drugs for panic attacks.

As an RN, I trusted my doctor. I have been off and on benzos since the age of 19 from panic attacks and stress overload that kept me from functioning. There is a need for medication, to help you. There is no reason to be a script drug addict, which your doc will make you.

Paxil made me throw my guts up, with a feeling of insanity. I got addicted to Celexa, another SSRI and addictive. These drugs are useful, for short term use only. Expect to drug taper and go through drug withdraw, the last crumb of that drug. It is horrible, for about six days.

Just to warn you, SSRI antidepressants are addictive, so expect drug withdrawal, even tapering to a crumb. All SSRI drugs change who you are and how you think. You don't feel pain anymore, at first. You don't ever feel pleasure either, which leads to deep depression. These drugs make your mind numb, with so many side effects and addiction problems.

You need help or can't function. Drugs are an ok way to go, but don't trust your doctor. I lie about using more addictive drugs he writes so many addictive scripts to me. I say that I take a horrible, addictive SSRI, just to shut him up. It is protocol. As a nurse, I get it.

I never abused drugs. I used them, with need to function. I don't always, for a few years. I don't give up a script that helps me. I don't always take them either, just tell my doc that I am doing today's medical protocol.

I have been on and off benzos three times, without a problem. This time, I have a problem. I trusted my doc. I never had a problem tapering benzos before, three times!! I am scripted a high dose. I can't get off the drug, this time.

I am going to detox, just as soon as I work up the guts to do it, go through a type of hell, wishing you were dead. I am an RN! I know drugs. I never abused drugs, just got a script, duing a very difficult time in my life. How did this happen to me? It happens to many people, script drug addicts.

It can happen to you, also. Be so careful with script drugs. Before you put that script in your mouth, read and know what you are doing to your body and mind.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Karrow,

Wildflower63: I was writing to BlueIce63 about BlueIce63's question.

When I read your post, I agreed with what you wrote. So, at worst (actually, at best), your post may have influenced what I wrote to BlueIce63 about BlueIce63's question. Since I not only agreed with what you wrote but also may have been influenced by what you wrote, there is no need for you to any longer gripe at anyone. You should be flattered. P.S. It is a good idea to ask for clarification to avoid the stress which comes from a misunderstanding which can be clarified. However, I admit that I, too, sometimes do not practice what I preach.

ok i need to comment here as well. having spent my life basically in therapy.... (lol) here's my .02:

my personal opinion, isn't too far off of what david said in the first place. the paxil was proven effective... it worked. i have seen psychiatrists.. their job isn't to delve into psychosocial issues. their job is to evaluate the psycho-medical situation, which is what he did. while i think it's sad that they charge what they do, i feel strongly that psychotropic meds should not be monitored by MD's. furthermore, i think that a person should not be on psyche drugs w/o being in therapy. you had panic attacks for a reason. imo, the whole point of being on psyche meds is to enhance therapy. most.. and i repeat MOST psyche meds are not classed as "addictive" (and please let me state here that i am an addictions therapist and i'm not going to debate the definition of addiction) if there is a chemical imbalance in your brain, that requires psyche meds to function at a level that you are comfortable with, that is not addiction any more than a diabetic patient needs insuline to function. so, in sum,.. i believe what you experienced with that psychiatrist was about par for what a psychiatrist does. the real issue, is why are you experiencing panic attacks in the first place?