[drunksunflower]

When you're blah? In general?

As far as I can tell this falls into several categories:

a) Dr
b) Other professionals
c) Family
d) Friends
e) Employer

Me:

a) As little as possible - enough to get meds if i need
b) Don't have any
c) Nothing
d) The two I did were a disaster, so none since then
e) NOTHING

I don't wanna upset anyone, I was just wondering how others disseminate information about whatever's going on with them.

[Christina86]

A) Don't go to doctors, but if you count therapists, then well I guess a fair amount
B) What other professionals?
C) Basically nothing
D) A fair deal - depends on the friend
E) Don't really have one, unless you count the chaplain (I volunteer) in which case, a good amount.

Why do you ask? I'm trying to be more communicative and not resort to lying about how I am, but wow sometimes the temptation is really great.

(((((((((((DSF))))))))))))))

a) pdoc--everything--she needs to know what is going on with me to prescribe right meds--like if I'm having suicidal thoughts or getting paranoid
b) therapist same as above. I've given permission for them to talk to each other about me so they both know how I'm doing. My internal med doc knows because the hospital had her on record as my doc & reported my OD to her. I didn't know the hospital would do that. Even if the hospital didn't report it to her, she could tell I was obviously depressed cuz I started crying in the waiting room & had to ask the receptionist to put me in a room. There was no room available so I went into a storage room until the doc could see me. Plus she is treating me for low thyroid & pernicious anemia--both can cause depression & she needs to know all the meds I'm taking for the bipolar to maker sure there will be no drug interaction when she prescribes something. OBGYN knows--again crying when he asks how I'm doing. At least he didn't get on me about my weight gain this time. Amazing how crying will affect a male doc. He did a quick exam & didn't say anything negative to me--maybe I'll try that trick when I don't want to be lectured about my weight. I'm trying to lose, but it is really slow going.
c)family--immediate family (husband, kids) know of my dx of bp, but I try to hide when I'm down so as not to bother them with my moods plus what good does it do? They can't get me out of a depression. They would just worry, but sometimes I can't hide it like when I have crying jags or start getting suspicious of my husband.
d) don't have any friends other than in my supposrt group so I can talk openly with them--they don't get freaked out if I'm expressing intense emotions.
e) employer--no way--he wouldn't understand & might start looking at me funny--I did have to lie once at work when I had a crying jag--I said I was upset because my brother got into a motorcycle accident--had to explain my tears some "rational" way.--Suzy

[heyjoe]

Doctor nothing
Therapist...enough but not everything
family nada
friends zilch
employer nothing
IRS less than nothing

I dont feel its anyones business. I dont really expect any help from family or friends so why tell them. There is a stigma attached at work and who wants to be the object of gossip.

[jacq10]

a) Nothing, i am SOOO uncomfortable w/ the doctors here.
b)Therapist - mostly everything, depending on who it is.
c) Nothing
d) a little more, but most of the time blame how i'm feeling on being tired or something.
e)Nothing

Interesting question!

Here are mine:

1. Doctor-- (I'm assuming you mean primary care physician) I will tell because a lot of times the stuff that is going on in my my head will manifest itself physically.
2. Other professionals-- I have told one of my professors because one of my depressive episodes got to the point in which it was interfering with school. I trust this professor a lot. I will normally be open about things when it gets to the point in which it interferes. Plus, I go to school for clinical psychology, so it's accepted to be honest about that sort of thing.
3. Family-- I tell my sister and husband a lot about how I feel. I don't tell my dad very much because I have this whole thing about not disappointing him. I don't really talk to my mom about it because I will end up banging my head against a brick wall.
4. Friends-- I have just started to open up with friends about this. I don't have too many friends, but the ones I do have are close. However, I do not feel comfortable going in to it with most of them. With one or two, I can talk about it.
5. Employer-- Once again, I had to be honest, as it was affecting my job. The depressive episode, combined with the side effects of a new med were causing me to come in late, and call out a couple of times. They were extremely understanding.

When I say that I tell employers/professionals-- I don't go into detail about anything. I just tell them the minimum that they would need to know if it is affecting my performance.

Oh and as far as pdoc and therapist...

I am working on telling my therapist everything. It's coming. Slowly. Very slowly.

My pdoc-- well, I try to be as open as possible with all of my symptoms, but I tend to shut down with him sometimes. My therapist helps with this, as I will ask him to update pdoc on what's going on with me so he gets a better idea of the situation.

[drunksunflower]

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canders7 said:

Why do you ask? I'm trying to be more communicative and not resort to lying about how I am, but wow sometimes the temptation is really great.


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I am just curious. I mean I would never go into more detail than necessary and I'll always blame it on work stress and stuff if i go to dr, simply because I find it too embarrassing and I'll probably start crying anyway (lame ...)

Actually I lie, I have told 2 real life friends, one because i was worried about her in a similar way (but she doesn't remember the conversation because we were smashed at the time), and the other cos he lives in another city and i only see him ever few weeks. but i've told him it's totally gone away now so that's all good.

i dunno, i just find it hard to say i guess. it's a very individual choice ...

[Juliana]

a) Dr - I tell her when I'm depressed. I'm very comfortable with her. She tracks my progress and prescribes meds.

b) Other professionals - I don't see any other professionals at this point.

c) Family and d) Friends (close) - I let them know I'm feeling depressed, overwhelmed, or whatever I'm going through. I feel guilty and selfish sometimes when I don't feel up to answering phone calls, e-mails, making plans to go out, etc., so I usually try to drop them a quick e-mail and tell them I'm not ignoring them; I still care about them; I'm just feeling down. They know what I'm like. They know I'll snap out of it and get in touch when I'm feeling better. I don't feel much like talking when I'm depressed. I sometimes talk to my dad because he has a history of depression too and he understands.

e) Employer - nothing. I just keep doing my job.

[WinterRose]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
drunksunflower said:
When you're blah? In general?

As far as I can tell this falls into several categories:

a) Dr
b) Other professionals
c) Family
d) Friends
e) Employer


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[*]a) Dr - I admit to being emotional and try to explain, but not easily in the midst of them. This is only with the pdoc. Don't want to share with any other dr. Don't even authorize the pdoc to talk to pcp.[*]b) therapist - goodness, I cry in every session! I still try to suppress it though. Both the therapist and psychiatrist are pretty much in the know because I write it all out when I'm down and email them.[*]c) family - They know I get moody - but I hide from them when I am feeling bad and won't admit to it unless they call me on it. I don't like the possibility of breaking down in front of someone. Hard enough breaking down with my therapist.[*]d) friends - No close friends right now. When I'm down I don't seem to be able to reach out though.[*]e) employer - they know I'm in treatment. I'm on part-time disability. They don't know the specific dx - although the state might since they're paying the disability pay. My immediate boss knows I'm delicate, but I hide when I'm down and they only become aware when they catch me crying or something.

Interesting question.

[GYPSYEYES]

doctor- just enough to get some meds
therapist- just enough
family -just say im stressed or not feeling well
friends -used to confide but not anymore will never again
employer - i am my own boss so yeah i talk to myself all day lol

its sad in real life we cant trust the people who are supposed to be our family and friends

[Eva1nder]

Doctor- As little as possible and I try to not go until I'm dying. (I lost my one Good doctor and when I had him I did tell him all my physical health problems and mentioned that I went through depression, but didn't go into it at all). Now that I don't have him I try to not go to doctors until I absolutely have to.

Therapist- I tell her what I want to ...I'm pretty open, but I direct the conversation when it comes to that. If I don't like the topic I move her off it quite directly. She's strong in her opinions though. Just depends on my mood ...I can be stronger.

Pdoc - only what's necessary...a brief history. I cover the basis to try to get an accurate diagnosis and help along the way. Sometimes I just don't want to be bothered, but it's not a matter of not wanting to say anything ...I just sometimes don't want to be bothered.

Family - That's Too General to just say family so I broke that down:

My son: If I'm not feeling right...I tell him I have a headache or I don't feel good. I don't tell him anything other then that. Now what he fully understands? I'm not sure. He will say Mommy is sick or he'll tell me quite often "i'll make you better". I've been sick all of his life so I'm quite sure he knows that "something isn't right".

My Dad: He knows - I don't talk to him at all about it.

My Mom: Only when I'm pissed off or frustrated or just plainly driven to have to tell her something. I don't go into it with her. She knows about it, but she can't truly get it.

They both want me to take care of myself and they do take my mental health seriously though.

My older sister: nothing ...she knows and has seen my mental health issues though.

My middle sister : I've talked with her about stuff probably more then any other family member. She gets things., but sometimes I feel like she then tries to "baby" me and I get pissed off. I only go so far about talking with her. I'd say I only talk about 30% of what goes on w/my mental health or physical health with her ever.

Friends: I try to stay clear of all mental/physical health problems. My friends know that I went through a breakdown, but it's like something you just don't discuss. I may make jokes if I'm acting strangely and say well we all know I'm crazy to explain why I'm acting angry or weird.

I actually do it a lot. My family may know something is off. And I will say I'm not feeling right and I can be more direct with them and not worry about their feelings so much whereas my friends I will just avoid them when I can't contain my emotions.

Employer- I don't have one and it's a good thing

Now then there is my memory....I may or may not have had conversations I'm not aware of with family or friends ... so cut me some slack in that area...lol