No Psychiatrists in Santa Cruz
Well, today was another rough one. It is now day 9 off Effexor. I still maintained a headache all day and the occasional dizziness, and a few little brain zaps here and there but overall the withdrawl symptoms seem to be getting a little bit better.
I've started a vitamin regimine the other day as suggested by my therapist and some stuff I learned online Fish Oils (OMEGA 3), Calcium/magnesium, daily vitamin, and Vitamin B complex. I also am taking acidopholis which is supposed to help with digestion.
Finding myself so super emotional, the days at work are long. My lunch breaks are short! I find myself crying a lot, feeling hopeless like this will never get better.
I tried to find a psychiatrist in Santa Cruz, well I have been for the last two months. I went thru my blue cross network, which yielded 11 providers.
2 of them have sanctions against them, 3 of them aren't taking new patients, 1 of them my primary care doc made me promise i would never see, 2 of them I've already seen and totally suck, and the other one hasn't called me back despite multiple attempts to call him. Oh yea, I think there was one more, she had 24 negative comments on her on Yelp. The only other guy I tried to see and was highly referred to was out of network, not taking new patients. Not even a call back.
So that road is exhaused now. I saw one guy and I just didn't connect with him, and he wasn't on my plan anyway. Four visits, cost me $550 for nothing.
I'm afraid to take anything because of the horrible side effects I had on Effexor this go around-esp coming off, so now I'm just sitting here trying to go it with my family doctor and therapist.
I've made it to work just about two weeks in a row (tomorrow will be two weeks). They say when your depression and anxiety get so bad you can't work and you have a lot of panic attacks that is when you should try to get more treatment.
I don't really know what to do now. I do not trust my family doc 100% on the psychodelic drugs, I feel like that should be monitored by a shrink. but that doesn't seem to be an option for me right now.
Another option would be for me to check into the anxiety/depression program at Good Samaritan in San Jose. My insurance would cover it, it would just suck because I'd have to organize this with my work and go on Disability for a couple weeks, or maybe do half days. it all depends on how they assess you. To me this option seems a little drastic I know "OOOO...the loony bin" but it would be outpatient partime. They would watch me over the med switch, I'd have more therapy, and all that. I guess they do a parttime program 9-12, then I could still work 1-5 if i wanted or work from home or something.
the good thing about this would be they would get me on the right meds, help with the switch and all.
Or I could do what my therapist wants me to do and not think about it - stop trying to figure it out and it will go away (in a nutshell).
I've started a vitamin regimine the other day as suggested by my therapist and some stuff I learned online Fish Oils (OMEGA 3), Calcium/magnesium, daily vitamin, and Vitamin B complex. I also am taking acidopholis which is supposed to help with digestion.
Finding myself so super emotional, the days at work are long. My lunch breaks are short! I find myself crying a lot, feeling hopeless like this will never get better.
I tried to find a psychiatrist in Santa Cruz, well I have been for the last two months. I went thru my blue cross network, which yielded 11 providers.
2 of them have sanctions against them, 3 of them aren't taking new patients, 1 of them my primary care doc made me promise i would never see, 2 of them I've already seen and totally suck, and the other one hasn't called me back despite multiple attempts to call him. Oh yea, I think there was one more, she had 24 negative comments on her on Yelp. The only other guy I tried to see and was highly referred to was out of network, not taking new patients. Not even a call back.
So that road is exhaused now. I saw one guy and I just didn't connect with him, and he wasn't on my plan anyway. Four visits, cost me $550 for nothing.
I'm afraid to take anything because of the horrible side effects I had on Effexor this go around-esp coming off, so now I'm just sitting here trying to go it with my family doctor and therapist.
I've made it to work just about two weeks in a row (tomorrow will be two weeks). They say when your depression and anxiety get so bad you can't work and you have a lot of panic attacks that is when you should try to get more treatment.
I don't really know what to do now. I do not trust my family doc 100% on the psychodelic drugs, I feel like that should be monitored by a shrink. but that doesn't seem to be an option for me right now.
Another option would be for me to check into the anxiety/depression program at Good Samaritan in San Jose. My insurance would cover it, it would just suck because I'd have to organize this with my work and go on Disability for a couple weeks, or maybe do half days. it all depends on how they assess you. To me this option seems a little drastic I know "OOOO...the loony bin" but it would be outpatient partime. They would watch me over the med switch, I'd have more therapy, and all that. I guess they do a parttime program 9-12, then I could still work 1-5 if i wanted or work from home or something.
the good thing about this would be they would get me on the right meds, help with the switch and all.
Or I could do what my therapist wants me to do and not think about it - stop trying to figure it out and it will go away (in a nutshell).
Replies
As it\'s so difficult to get a psychiatrist in Santa Cruz, and you are clearly in an anxious and depressive state, I would advise you to go to the programme in San Jose and you could still work part-time. You would only be an outpatient and it would probably do you so much good. I went as an outpatient to our local Mental Health Department 2 yrs ago,and they helped me to get back on track again, they were brilliant. I don\'t agree with your therapist by saying it will go away. It needs addressing in my opinion. The longer the anxiety goes on, the harder it is to recover. Just my thoughts. Take care, love, Gill
Well,
I also got a recommendation for a psychatrist in San Jose. Its a 40 minute drive but who cares. My friend went and saw him, and liked him, and her friend has seen him too and likes him. He is on my insurance and has a lot of positve feedback online. I guess its worth it to make the drive if I have too! I would rather go this route than go to the hospital I am maintaining and working full weeks. Riding my motorcycle and getting out in the world. ya i don\'t feel great, but i don\'t think i\'m severe enough for outpatient at this point.
It would be worth you having an appointment with the psychiatrist you mentioned in San Jose. I hope it all goes well for you, hugs, Gill