Aza, I can't say I understand why you're so panicky about taking psych meds -- as my pdoc used to tell me when I used to complain about it, before ending up hospitalized twice in one year and realizing that I *needed* them -- if you had high blood pressure, you wouldn't think twice about taking meds for it. Depression is a disease too. No stigma to taking meds.

Admittedly, they don't know a lot about some of the long-term side effects (Exhibit A of that is typing to you right now!) -- but frankly, I'd rather have them than not.

I wish I could give you some hints on how not to catastrophize, but I do that on a daily basis myself, so I won't presume to give advice on it . I just know it would make our lives a lot easier if we weren't predisposed to doing that!!

Let us hear how it went at the doc -- hope all it is is shingles, although I hear that can be yucky. I've never had chickenpox, so good thing you're half a country away, in cyberland! LOL

Hugs, gf. Hang in there.

Love, Candy